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

IRELAND

Nelly McGrath (age 7) from Dublin in the sunshine on Burrow Beach, Dublin. Leah Farrell Leah Farrell

• George Gibney appeared at an 11-minute hearing in a Florida courthouse to confirm that he has agreed to be extradited back to Ireland to face 79 sexual abuse charges.
• Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he is “dismayed” by the burning of an effigy of migrants on a bonfire in Co Tyrone and also warned about the threats posed to public health and safety by large bonfires more generally.
• High temperatures prompted weather warnings today as forecasters predicted even hotter weather this weekend. 
• Independent Galway West TD Catherine Connolly was the first candidate to publicly declare that she will run in the presidential election.
• A man was jailed for 20 months for attacking and threatening to kill his then partner in their home at a time when he was a serving garda.
• Gardaí said they were investigating a series of assaults in Arklow, Co Wicklow.
• A Condition Red forest fire warning was issued today due to the warm weather.
• Three men died as a result of separate fatal road collisions in counties Dublin, Meath and Waterford in the last two days.

INTERNATIONAL

Carlos Alcaraz made it through to the Wimbledon final after beating Taylor Fritz today Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#PALESTINE: The UN reported that almost 800 people have been killed at aid distribution sites in Gaza since a US-Israeli-backed aid organisation began operations there in late May.

#UK: R&B singer Chris Brown denied further charges over an alleged bottle attack at a London nightclub.

#GREGG WALLACE: The BBC reportedly banned Gregg Wallace from working at the organisation again, citing a lack of “confidence” the presenter can change his behaviour following allegations of sexual misconduct.

#AURSTRALIA: A lost German backpacker was found alive but “ravaged by mosquitoes”, 12 days after going missing in remote bushland in Western Australia.

PARTING SHOT

“CAPITOL HILL IS Israeli-occupied territory.” So once observed the American conservative commentator and 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential candidate, Pat Buchanan, in his typically biting, provocative fashion.

Although the controversial progenitor of “Trumpism” was attacked by his foes for what they deemed a bigoted remark, there is an absolute truth within it.

For the Israeli lobby, of which AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) is the most well-known component, wields extraordinary clout in Washington, DC and in statehouses across the United States. By way of example, AIPAC spent millions of dollars to “primary” and defeat two congressional Democrats last year who they considered overly sympathetic to the Palestinian cause in the wake of the horrific events of 7 October 2023.

It is wrong to assert that Ireland no longer has any influence in the US. We do, but like virtually everyone else, we operate at a much lower level than Israel.

You can read Larry Donnelly’s full Voices article here.