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

Dean Glynn (age 21) from Wexford pictured with his guitar after winning the Irish Contemporary Music Prize at the the Summer Feis. Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

IRELAND

• The family of a man left seriously injured by a stabbing in Belfast on Monday night have said they are “completely devastated by the horrific attack”.
• A 30-year-old man appeared in court earlier charged with attempted murder in north Belfast.
• Small crowds have gathered across several parts of Northern Ireland this evening following riots in Belfast yesterday – police have deployed water cannons near Stormont, a vehicle has been set alight in Belfast and bricks and projectiles have been thrown at police in Derry.
• In Dublin, a march from O’Connell Street to Leinster House caused significant traffic disruption and road closures earlier this afternoon.
• A court heard that a seven-year-old child stabbed during an attack at Parnell Square in Dublin in November 2023 is now non-verbal, uses a wheelchair and is fed through a tube after suffering brain damage as a result of the incident.
• Speaking to The Journal today, Tánaiste Simon Harris said that stamp duty relief for first-time-buyers is not on the cards in this year’s budget.
• The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) has written to the housing minister expressing concern over provisions in new housing legislation that would require social housing applicants to prove they are legally and habitually resident in Ireland.
• Taoiseach Micheál Martin said today that EU presidency events that will take place around the country over the next six months will not distract the government from key priorities on the domestic agenda.
• Over 40,000 tickets have been purchased on pre-sale for Katie Taylor’s Croke Park swansong against Flora Pili.
• Former runner and Olympian Ciarán Ó Lionáird has died aged 38.
• Irish Defence Forces helicopters have been practising shooting down drones in recent weeks as part of their preparation for next month’s EU Presidency.

INTERNATIONAL

Trump pictured during a press conference in the White House this afternoon. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#IRAN: Donald Trump has said the United States will renew attacks on Iran, accusing Tehran’s peace negotiators of “playing us for suckers.”

#GATES: Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates said that he “never victimised anyone” as he faced questioning from US lawmakers over his ties to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

#GOOP: Hollywood actor and wellness entrepreneur Gwyneth Paltrow is facing criticism after appearing in a new advertising campaign for a luxury apartment development in Israel as the country’s genocidal war in Gaza continues and violence escalates in the occupied West Bank.

PARTING SHOT

The grey squirrel dominates large sections of the eastern and midland counties. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

 Should grey squirrels be killed in Dublin and Wicklow? Officials want to hear from you.

Members of the public are being asked for their views on a new feasibility study, commissioned by the four Dublin councils, Wicklow County Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), which will assess whether grey squirrels can be controlled or potentially eradicated from the wider Dublin-Wicklow area.

Grey squirrels, which were introduced to Ireland from North America in the early 20th century, are classified as an invasive species and are blamed for the decline of the native red squirrel.

Read more here.