NEED TO CATCH up? The Journal brings you a round-up of the day’s stories.

IRELAND

Maritess McCarthy from Cork and Nadine King from Dublin won Best Hat and Best Dressed at the award at the RDS Dublin Horse Show today Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

• Microsoft is providing cloud storage services to Israel’s military intelligence agency in data centres in Ireland and the Netherlands.
• The cost of a pound of butter has risen over the course of the last year, according to data released by the Central Statistics Office.
• Spanish police said that gardaí in Ireland arrested a man linked to a major organised crime drug smuggling group in Spain.
• Schools participating in the ‘Hot School Meals’ scheme for the first time this year are facing a delay with its rollout due to a change in procurement rules.
• AIB staff have expressed frustration at the bank’s return-to-office policy after being told they will not be able to work from the company’s 49 staff hubs or 170 bank branches on days when they are mandated to work in the office.
• Gardaí have launched a murder investigation into the death of Ian Walsh, who was found dead at his home in Co Tipperary earlier this week.
• Prescribing of pain medications in Ireland has risen significantly over the past decade, with usage rates now outpacing those in England.

THE WORLD 

Bleaching in a Acropora colony at Lagoon Reef at the northern Great Barrier Reef in far North Queensland, Australia Australian Institute of Marine Science / PA Australian Institute of Marine Science / PA / PA

#GAZA Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel intends to move ahead with a complete military takeover of Gaza.

#CLIMATE CHANGE This July was the third hottest on record after a string of record-breaking temperatures. 

#UKRAINE WAR US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to meet in the next few days.

#AUSTRALIA The Great Barrier Reef has experienced its greatest annual loss of live coral across most of its expanse in four decades of record-keeping. 

PARTING SHOT

Organisers of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann are trying to break another world record at the festival by assembling the largest céilí band ever – could you be part of it?