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

OLYMPICS 2024

Rhasidet Adeleke Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

• Australian breakdancer Rachael “Raygun” Gunn has hit back at critics, after her unique routine led to ridicule and memeing online
• Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser has insisted that she is a clean athlete and believes it is unfair that she served a two-year ban for drug-testing whereabouts violations before returning to the sport to win an Olympic silver medal in the 400m final.
• “I didn’t achieve my dreams today but in the future I just hope that there are more podiums up there and I’ll be able to perform at my best when it’s most important.” Rhasidet Adeleke reacts to her fourth place finish in the women’s 400m final.
• Swimmers Danial Wiffen and Mona McSharry will lead Team Ireland out as flagbearers at tomorrow’s closing ceremony.

IRELAND

Thousands marched in Belfast city centre today opposing violent demonstrations that have rocked the city over the last week. PA PA

• Locals in the Tipperary town of Dundrum were told to carry out dubious “citizens’ arrests” of international protection applicants, at a public meeting attended by community members and local elected representatives. There has been an ongoing protest in the town since May against the use of a hotel previously used to house Ukrainians to house refugees from elsewhere.
• Dublin City Council will trial recycling trays next to public bins, to stop people going through bins for plastic bottles. Some people have been collecting bottles and cans from public bins in order to get money back since the Deposit Return Scheme was introduced in February. 
• To mark the release of ‘The Last Disco’, co-written by The Journal’s own Christine Bohan and Nicky Ryan, check out this abridged extract, looking into the backgrounds of the Stardust nightclub’s owners, the Butterly family.
• Ireland is struggling to meet its windfarm targets, putting at risk its goals of being the Saudi Arabia of offshore wind.
• A man in his 30s has died following a motorcycle collision in Co Longford.
• Anti-immigrant demonstrators attempted to set a mosque on fire in Belfast last night. The PSNI said that at least 31 people have been arrested so far.
• A woman in her 20s was arrested in connection with rioting in Dublin last November. She has since been released pending a file to the DPP.
• President Michael D Higgins joined mourners in Tuamgraney Co Clare, as author Edna O’Brien was laid to rest.
• A man who was arrested in connection with the murder of Josephine ‘Josie’ Ray has been released. The 89-year-old was found dead in her home in Nenagh, Co Tipperary last week.
• A release by the Residential Tenancies Board found that the top five LEAs with the most recorded private tenancies are all Dublin based, stretching north and south of the Liffey and city centre.
• Over 15,000 people gathered in Belfast city centre today to take part in an anti-racist demonstration. The city has been the scene of numerous nights of racist violence this week.

INTERNATIONAL

A rubbish filled balloon over South Korea. Alamy Alamy

#Bangladesh: The Journal spoke with Gwyn Davis, the Irish woman with a front-row seat for the revolution in Bangladesh with the United Nations.

#Trump/Harris: Donald Trump has been criticised for a sluggish campaign compared to his younger rival Harris’. The 79-year-old has held five rallies since the Republican National Convention in July, while Harris has held six this week alone.

#Gaza: Over 90 people were killed by an Israeli airstrike targeting a school in Gaza yesterday, in an attack that has drawn international disgust and condemnation.

#Korea: North Korea has sent more balloons that are reportedly filled with rubbish towards South Korea. It comes as the latest in a series of border barrages that have ignited a tit-for-tat propaganda war.

#HASHTAG: US regulators have rejected the drug MDMA as a possible treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, saying that more investigation is needed.

PARTING SHOT

The annual Puck Fair kicked off today in Killorglin, Co Kerry. The “Queen” and “King” have both been crowned.

The fair is one of Ireland’s oldest festivals. The goat, which is a wild goat caught in the MacGillicuddy Reeks before the event, was traditionally hoisted onto a platform in a cage for the whole weekend, but following protests from animal rights groups, he is now only held there for a few hours.

The King and Queen X / @lorraineelizab6 X / @lorraineelizab6 / @lorraineelizab6