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

IRELAND

Broadcaster and documentary-maker Louis Theroux got familiar with a robotic pooch at Vodafone Ireland's Future Frontiers event in Dublin on Wednesday Naoise Culhane Naoise Culhane

• Robert O’Connor was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility in the killing of his family at their Co Louth home last year.
• A rickshaw driver was charged over the death of a Co Down mother of two who suffered catastrophic injuries after a Westlife concert in Dublin in September.
• Gardaí warned of significant traffic disruption across Dublin city centre next week due to EU presidency events.
• PSNI detectives investigating the suspected murder of a woman who went missing from Limerick have been granted additional time to question a man arrested in relation to the case.
• The garda watchdog accepted a request from justice minister Jim O’Callaghan to carry out an investigation into the gun holster issued to a murdered detective.
• A trace of cocaine was found in a young boy who died after his neck became entangled in the cord of a window blind in his home last year, an inquest heard.
• The government is doubling down on controversial smaller apartment sizes.

INTERNATIONAL

People walk past an American flag at an election night event Ellen Schmidt / AP Ellen Schmidt / AP / AP

#US MIDTERMS: With their resounding victories, how did the Democrats get it right, and where did the Republicans go so wrong?

#HOT OFF THE BALLOT BOX Who are the new faces elected for the Democrats, and might any challenge for the White House?

#SOUNDS FAMILIAR What seemed to be a very Irish story about data centres became a big voting issue in the US midterms.

PARTING SHOT

Patrick Bolger / Dublin Zoo Patrick Bolger / Dublin Zoo / Dublin Zoo

Let’s take a breather from the elections.

Dublin Zoo is urging Irish households to answer the ‘Call of the Wild’, saying that unused phones could be a surprising help to protect gorillas.

That is because mining for materials used in new phone devices can damage wildlife habitats and pose threats to gorillas and their habitats in Africa.

Dublin Zoo has partnered with Buyaphone.ie to offer a simple way for the Irish public to trade in their unwanted devices while supporting conservation efforts.

Visit www.dublinzoo.ie/call-of-the-wild/ for more details.