NEED TO CATCH up? The Journal brings you a round-up of today’s news.

IRELAND

Some of the crowd photographed at the launch of Our Irish Natural History, a new display of research by voluntary history and heritage groups from across Ireland, opening today in the Dead Zoo Lab at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Dublin 7.

• Three people from the same family died in a violent incident at their home in rural County Louth this morning.
• Gardaí are treating the deaths of a father and daughter in Dublin over the weekend as a murder-suicide.
• Gardaí have confirmed they have not received any reports in relation to the alleged assault and robbery of Pittsburgh Steelers player quarterback Skylar Thompson in Dublin city centre over the weekend.
• The government has committed to an inquiry into scoliosis and spina bifida care following a meeting between the parents of Harvey Morrison Sherratt, Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. 
• Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has defended government’s plan to pay families seeking asylum up to €10,000 to drop their claims and leave the state. 

INTERNATIONAL

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, from left, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance laugh before President Donald Trump holds a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the State Dining Room of the White House. Evan Vucci / AP Evan Vucci / AP / AP

#GAZA: US President Donald Trump is hosting Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu for critical talks aimed at ending the war in Gaza and developing a US plan on post-war governance in the Palestinian territory.

#MICHIGAN: At least four people were killed and several others wounded yesterday after a shooter targeted a Mormon church in Michigan.

#FOREVER CHEMICALS: The EU Environment Commissioner has revealed that she has tested positive for “toxic” forever chemicals after undergoing screening to raise awareness of the health risks linked to the man-made pollutants.

PARTING SHOT

IT’S ALMOST SHOWTIME – the three presidential candidates will face off in the first television debate of the campaign on Virgin Media One later this evening.

Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys, Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin and Independent Catherine Connolly will have the first chance to set their stalls out to the nation on a special episode of the Tonight Show at 10pm.

We’ll be liveblogging the debate here, and bringing you some highlights and analysis afterwards – so watch this space.