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

IRELAND

Pictured at Dublin Zoo is western lowland gorilla Bangui, getting into the spirit of Halloween. Dublin Zoo is celebrating Halloween from 28 to 30 October. Patrick Bolger Patrick Bolger

• A garda told the Ashling Murphy murder trial that the accused man Jozef Puska agreed that he committed the murder and also told the officer: “I feel guilty and I say I regret it”.
• Reports of a coalition row on the issue of accommodation for Ukrainian refugees are “very much exaggerated”, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told the Dáil this afternoon. 
• The funeral cortege of Tina Satchwell passed through her home town in Co Cork as family, friends and neighbours gathered to say goodbye to “a lovely” woman.
• Drogheda locals called on the Government and the Minister for Transport to abolish the M1 motorway charges into and out of the town, with protesters saying the toll is “completely unfair”.
• A former solicitor went on trial accused of the theft of over €27 million from several banks and building societies 17 years ago.
• Concerns have been raised about potential loopholes in the Government’s legislation related to safe access zones outside facilities where abortions are conducted.
• The Government’s redress scheme for survivors of mother and baby institutions will not open for applications until 2024, missing its deadline of this year.
• Independent Kerry TD Danny Heal-Rae called on the Government to conduct a “serious cull” of deer in Ireland, which he said are causing collisions on roads and damaging farms. 

INTERNATIONAL

A Palestinian stands outside a building destroyed Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#GAZA France is set to send ‘support’ to Gaza hospitals as a top Palestinian diplomat met with International Criminal Court officials.

#HOUSE SPEAKER US Republicans elected Republican Mike Johnson as House speaker, elevating a deeply conservative but lesser-known leader to the seat of US power and ending for now the political chaos in their majority.

#TRUMP The judge in Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial fined the former president $10,000 today, saying Trump violated a limited gag order barring personal attacks on court staffers.

#FTX Sam Bankman-Fried , the founder of cryptocurrency trading platform FTX, plans to testify at his fraud trial, his lawyer told a US federal judge today.

PARTING SHOT

The Dark Hedges at sunset Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Potential bad news for Game of Throne fans, as a report handed in to a local council in Northern Ireland has advised that eleven trees are felled in the Dark Hedges.

Six of the trees are under a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), which is issued to protect certain trees in cases where their removal would be likely to have a significant impact on the local environment and the public’s enjoyment of it.

The consent of the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is required before felling or pruning a tree under a TPO in the area, with the council’s planning committee convening today.