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

IRELAND

Minister McConalogue addressing the 42nd MacGill Summer School.

• Changes were announced to the COVID-19 vaccination programme, including a second booster for 50-64 year-olds. 
• New proposals to be published next month will maintain the pension age at 66, with the ability to defer your pension until the age of 70.
• There were calls for an Oireachtas Committee to ‘establish who knew what and when’ about AIB plans.
• The Agriculture Minister hit out at Putin’s “weaponising” of food in the Ukraine War.
• A march took place in Belfast in memory of those who have died in drug-related deaths and to demand action from Stormont. 
• Gardaí appeal for the public’s assistance in locating a 49-year-old woman who has been missing from Co Kildare since Wednesday.
  

INTERNATIONAL

A firefighter tries to extinguishes a forest fire near the beach resort of Vatera in Greece. AP / PA Images AP / PA Images / PA Images

#MONKEYPOX The virus was declared as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organisation. 

#BIDEN US President insisted he “feels much better than I sound” as he met with his top economic team after contracting coronavirus.

#UKRAINE Russian missiles struck the Odessa port, a key Black Sea terminal, one day after Moscow and Kyiv penned a deal to resume grain exports blocked by the war.

#WILDFIRES Greece’s Fire Service is tackling four major blazes, including one that led to more than 450 people being evacuated at an island holiday resort.

#CANADA Pope Francis will express his sadness over the horrors of church-run Indigenous residential schools in Canada. 

PARTING SHOT

One of the best to ever do it, Brian Cody called time on his legendary reign as Kilkenny manager, during which he won 11 All-Irelands and 18 Leinster titles.

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO