Your top stories on Thursday: Opposition parties gear up for November election; Irishman serving in Ukrainian presumed dead

Opposition parties are in the midst of “extensive” general election preparations with posters already ordered and full manifestos nearing completion.
Taoiseach Simon Harris has insisted that the general election will be next year, but sources both within the Coalition and within Opposition parties are now planning for a date in mid-November.
A senior Sinn Féin figure said the party would be “mad not to” prepare for an autumn election. Everyone else was doing the same thing, the person added.
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