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

IRELAND

Taoiseach Simon Harris speaking to US President Joe Biden this evening in their first official phone call since he succeeded Leo Varadkar. Government Press Office Government Press Office

• Aer Lingus pilots voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action for a second time amid an ongoing pay dispute.
• Merchants Quay Ireland, a charity which helps people experiencing homelessness and addiction, has seen a huge increase in demand for its mental health services.
• Fifty-six cases of measles have been confirmed in Ireland to date this year.
• Taoiseach Simon Harris said he will engage with Coalition parties in relation to the choice of a successor to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
• A man was arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a man aged in his 70s in Co Armagh.
• The Labour Party pulled out of talks to form a “progressive alliance” on Dublin City Council citing disagreements over the council-controlled Local Property Tax.
• A Road Safety Authority survey found that seatbelt use by drivers and front seat passengers has declined from 2022 to 2023.
• Eight drivers were fined €114,000 after failing to appear in court for repeatedly dodging M50 tolls, including a woman who ignored 500 warning letters.

INTERNATIONAL

People take part in a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, demanding new elections and the release of the hostages held in the Gaza Strip, outside of the Knesset in Jerusalem. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#ISRAEL: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dissolved the influential war cabinet that was tasked with steering the war in Gaza.

#PALESTINE: The Israeli government said it will look to “strengthen” settlements in the occupied West Bank after several countries, including Ireland, recognised the state of Palestine.

#BREATH OF FRESH AIR: European environment ministers signed off on the Nature Restoration Law, finally green-lighting the hard-fought for legislation to protect and restore degraded ecosystems.

#MAYDAY: The Italian coastguard searched for between 50 and 60 missing people after two shipwrecks left 11 people dead roughly 220 km off the coast of Italy.

PARTING SHOT

The mural in Cork. UNHCR UNHCR

The UN Refugee Agency has commissioned several pieces of street art to mark Refugee Week Ireland, which takes place this week, and World Refugee Day on Thursday, 20 June.

A mural has been created in Waterford, Cork and Dublin. For each piece, an Irish artist was paired with an artist with a refugee background to work on a mural around the theme of ‘Home’. 

Elisa Babkina Elisa, a Ukrainian artist, photographer and videographer, worked on the Cork mural with Irish artist Garreth Joyce. 

Artist Elton Sibanda with the Waterford mural. UNHCR UNHCR

Elton Sibanda, a young artist from Zimbabwe who is now based in Cork, worked on the mural in Waterford alongside Dublin-based street artist and digital artist Shane Sutton. 

The third mural will be installed this Tuesday and Wednesday on Dame Lane in Dublin.

Artists Neda Naeel, a 20-year-old Afghan woman, and Holly Pereira, a Singaporean-Irish illustrator and muralist, will be there to work on the piece.