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

Ireland

Dublin City Council’s annual ‘Opera in the Open’ lunchtime concert ‘Tosca’ by Puccini Sam Boal Sam Boal

• Following the resignation of junior minister Robert Troy, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald says that there are “very serious” questions to be asked of Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s judgement for backing the embattled former minister.
• Speculation about who could replace Troy is in full swing, with former Agriculture Minister Dara Calleary touted as the favourite to replace him.
• Members of the public, including several well known sports stars, alongside Gardaí have been informed that they will not be charged for their alleged part in cancelling of penalty points cases.
• Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman has said that he hopes to deliver a 50% reduction in childcare costs over the next two budgets
• A man in his 40s has been arrested in connection with a car-jacking in Dublin last weekend, which saw a baby abandoned on the side of the road.
• The winter utilities moratorium is set to be expanded this year, with vulnerable customers unable to be disconnected from October to March under new plans.
• Nine political parties and independent TDs received received exchequer funding totalling just over €13.4 million last year.
• Ryan Tubridy has said that he does not have any plans to leave The Late Late Show after 14 years at the helm, as RTÉ unveiled their new season of programming.
• New data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows that employment is at the highest level in 24 years, hitting 73.5% for the second quarter of the year.

International

The Retroville district in Kyiv Thomas Morel-Fort Thomas Morel-Fort

#SHINZO ABE The head of  Japan’s National Police Agency announced his resignation today after an investigation into security for former prime minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated last month.

#UKRAINE Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to increase the size of Russia’s armed forces from 1.9 million to 2.04 million as the war in Ukraine enters its seventh month.

#SEWAGE The European Commission is set to respond to complaints from MEPs about British sewage allegedly being poured into waters shared with the EU with the potential to affect several countries, including Ireland.

Parting Shot

Just a day after Ukraine celebrated its 31st independence day, Latvia has knocked over a 80 metre-tall Soviet-era World War II memorial, commemorating the victory over Nazi Germany.

The massive tower was seen by some Latvians as a symbol of Soviet occupation, while some ethnic Russians had rallied to save the memorial.

Šodien, 25. augustā, situācija Uzvaras parkā esošā obeliska demontāžas laikā vērtējama kā mierīga un bez būtiskiem starpgadījumiem. Ir fiksēti atsevišķi pārkāpumi, kuri ātri novērsti. Aizturētas četras personas. Plašāk lasiet: https://t.co/IZCZsHH3UO
*VP video no notikuma vietas: pic.twitter.com/ZvDNqfJ3h0

— Valsts policija (@Valsts_policija) August 25, 2022