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

IRELAND

The National Youth Orchestra of Ireland's 16-year-old Niamh O'Byrne (centre) performs at the orchestra's NYOI Summer Proms at the University Concert Hall, Limerick. Mark Stedman Mark Stedman

• Taoiseach Simon Harris and Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald spoke this morning about the ongoing protests in Coolock in Dublin against plans to house up to 500 people seeking international protection in the area.
• More fences, repairs and replacements led to price of fencing on Grand Canal increasing from €45,000 for two months to €30,000 per week this month, according to Waterways Ireland.
• Gardaí began investigating after the discovery of a man’s body in Gorey, Co Wexford.
• Outgoing EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness warned the Government about the “bigger picture” that’s at play in its one-candidate strategy for the European Commissioner nomination.

INTERNATIONAL

Lebanese photojournalist Christina Assi carries the Olympic torch, to honor journalists wounded and killed in the field, in Vincennes, near Paris. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#USA: US President Joe Biden withdrew from the race for the Democratic nomination and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. 

#UKRAINE: Russia said it had taken two villages on the front line in eastern Ukraine. 

#TRUMP: The Secret Service was under more pressure after disclosing it denied a Trump campaign request for extra security.

#PALESTINE: The Israeli military said it would begin vaccinating soldiers who have fought in Gaza against polio after the virus was found in sewage samples.

#YEMEN: The Houthis in Yemen vowed a “huge” response to an Israeli airstrike on the port of Hodeidah that killed six people yesterday.

PARTING SHOT

Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

IT’S A DAY of rest, and you may be in the mood for a quiet corner and a comfy chair.

We’ve hand-picked some of the week’s best reads for you to savour in this week’s Sitdown Sunday.