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

IRELAND

Mundy, with his dog Wren, launching the Ranelagh Arts Festival today, which will run from 17-25 September. Leon Farrell Leon Farrell

• Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Irish Government “can look forward to a much higher dividend” from ESB as its after-tax profits have tripled in the first half of the year.
• Hundreds of people gathered in Co Meath to protest against the HSE proposal to close the emergency department in Navan’s Our Lady’s hospital.
• The Minister for Justice Helen McEntee secured approval to publish an action plan to counter the threat of internal corruption within An Garda Síochána.
• Paramedic crews were left angered after they were sent to a callout from someone suffering from a “bad hangover”, which left the ambulance crew out of action for nearly three hours.
• Gardaí renewed their appeal to the public for assistance in tracing the whereabouts of Michael Flynn, who has been missing from Dublin for ten days.
• RTÉ said it is “in ongoing contact” with gardaí over the safety of its staff, as a video has emerged of a crowd of people confronting one of the national broadcaster’s camera operators and other members of the media.
• A man who claimed he was sexually abused by a Catholic priest almost 50 years ago settled his High Court damages action for €350,000.
• New Covid-19 vaccine boosters which protect against strains of the Omicron variant will be rolled out from next month.

INTERNATIONAL

Emergency workers have a rest during the exhumation in the recently retaken area of Izyum. Evgeniy Maloletka / PA Evgeniy Maloletka / PA / PA

#IZYUM Ukrainian investigators began exhuming bodies following the discovery of a mass grave in a pine forest outside the recaptured town of Izyum.

#ITALY At least 10 people died and four were missing after heavy rain sparked major flooding in central Italy.

#CHINA TELECOM A fire engulfed a skyscraper in the central Chinese city of Changsha today, with authorities saying that no casualties had yet been found.

#QUEEN QUEUE People are expected to queue for 24 hours from this evening to see Britain’s Queen Elizabeth lying in state in London’s Westminster Hall.

PARTING SHOT

After a hugely successful first three shows, Garth Brooks will perform his penultimate gig this evening in Croke Park.

If you’re one of the country music fans going to tonight or tomorrow night’s concert, here’s what you need to know.