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

IRELAND

Sligo Rovers have recently established the club's first team for players with Down Syndrome. It's open to male and female players aged over 16 and they train on Wednesday evenings in Sligo. Sligo Rovers Sligo Rovers

• The number of people living in emergency accommodation increased last month to a record 14,009.
• A former Circuit Court judge who was convicted of sexually abusing six young men when he was a teacher 30 years ago was jailed for four years.
• The ESB said it did not give permission for a Red Bull skydive that took place at the Poolbeg Chimneys today, and that it wasn’t approached either.
• Questions were raised over how the Houses of the Oireachtas decides what international flags to display in Leinster House after the Palestinian flag was placed on show today beside the Israeli flag. 
• Taoiseach Simon Harris said Ireland should “keep an open mind” in relation to the practice of offshoring the processing of asylum seekers in countries outside the European Union. 
• Body worn cameras for frontline gardaí have been rolled out in Dublin as part of a trial for the technology.
• The Health Minister commenced sections of the law to ban the sale of tobacco and vaping products by self-service, which will come into effect in September 2025.
• A new EU study found that 40% of working people in Ireland aged between 25 and 34 still live with their parents.
• Far-right election candidates “have absolutely no answers” to the country’s problems, according to Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman who said he believes they will “get a shock” come count day.
• The new 2FM lineup for the summer season was revealed, a week after confirmation that the station was facing four big departures from its daytime schedule.
• The GAA confirmed ticket prices for the 2024 All-Ireland hurling and football finals will increase to €100.
• The founder of Brennan’s Bread, Joseph A. Brennan, died at the age of 82. 

INTERNATIONAL

Police and firefighters are deployed following an incident on Mannheim's market square. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#GAZA: US president Joe Biden called on Hamas to accept a newly proposed three-phased truce deal with Israel.

#TRUMP TRIAL: Less than a day after being found guilty of 34 charges in his hush money trial, Donald Trump railed against his criminal conviction in a rambling speech. 

#TRUMP REACTION: We also took a look at how the Trumpsters were taking the news of his conviction (spoiler: not well).

#GERMANY: An attacker with a knife wounded several people in a square in the south-western German city of Mannheim. Police shot at the attacker, who also was hurt.

#UK LABOUR: Diane Abbott is “free” to stand as a Labour candidate in the General Election, leader Keir Starmer said after a days-long row over her political future overshadowed Labour’s campaign.

PARTING SHOT

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We’re in for some sunshine this bank holiday weekend, according to Met Éireann.

It will be dry and sunny for most of today, with long spells of sunshine forecast for tomorrow and temperatures of 20 degrees in parts.

It’s weather like this that sparks the thought – will we throw a few burgers on the BBQ?

Whether it’s sausages, steaks, veggie burgers, corn on the cob or chicken that takes your fancy, in today’s poll we wanted to know if you’ll be firing up the BBQ this weekend.

Take part here or see how others have been voting.