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

IRELAND

Sinn Féin is currently the most popular political party in Ireland, according to two new polls Alamy Alamy

• Fine Gael Minister Heather Humphreys said Sinn Féin’s tabling of a motion of no confidence against Simon Coveney was a “publicity stunt”
• Smyths toy store advised shoppers to plan their Christmas purchases early due to skyrocketing shipping costs and major supply chain crunches.
• Two opinion polls found that Sinn Féin is the most popular political party in the country right now.
• 1,346 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Ireland.
• Tributes poured in for Dublin man Carl Dempsey, who died suddenly at adventure race Gaelforce yesterday.

WORLD

Pope Francis called for Alamy Alamy

#FRANCE: Anne Hidalgo, the socialist mayor of Paris, announced plans to run for president in next year’s election, joining a growing list of challengers to incumbent Emmanuel Macron.

#HUNGARY: Pope Francis met with Hungarian premier Viktor Orban – whose tough views on migration clash with those of the pontiff – at the start of a brief visit to Budapest where he will also celebrate a mass.

#AL-QAEDA: ​​The jihadist group’s leader Ayman al-Zawahri appeared in a new video marking the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, months after rumours spread that he was dead.

PARTING SHOT

Dublin’s Lord Mayor Alison Gilliland launched “Books and Browsables”, a new weekly market, in St Patrick’s Park today

Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography / Fennell Photography