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

Philip Brophy and Joe Wallace pictured with Aine Cryan and Anna Rose Hynes at the Best Dressed competition at the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show. Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

IRELAND

• On Meath Street in the heart of Dublin’s Liberties, it seemed the whole neighbourhood had lined both sides of the road outside St Catherine’s Church to say goodbye to one of Ireland’s most celebrated actresses, Brenda Fricker. 
• A draft version of the government’s recent data centre report included several key aspects which questioned continued investment in the sector but were later cut from the final version released to the public.
• Five fire engines have been deployed to tackle an industrial fire in north Co Dublin. 
• Some 74 households operating from a private well in a Co Waterford town have been told their water management company is withdrawing its services, following a dispute over increased water charges.
• The family of Irish fashion designer Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra, who died on a yacht in Montauk in New York a year ago, have launched a lawsuit against the boat’s owner. 
• The amount of tax paid into the Exchequer has increased by 6% on last year, with tax revenues to the end of July amounting to €59.6 billion. 
• Gardaí are appealing for information following a report of criminal damage at the historic Monachán graveyard in Taghmon, Co Wexford.
• The father of The Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan has died following a “short illness”.
• Just 20 properties were available to rent within Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) limits across 16 areas surveyed in June, with 17 of them located in Dublin, according to a new report.

INTERNATIONAL

Moregallo Mount fire near Italy's Lake Como. Italy has placed every one of its major cities under its highest heat alert today. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#GAZA: Unicef has reported that at least 300 children have been killed in Gaza since a ceasefire was announced in October 2025. 

#DRONES: Russia shot down 605 Ukrainian drones during the night over its territory and the annexed Crimean Peninsula, the defence ministry said Thursday.

#WEST BANK: An Israeli settler has been charged over the killing of Palestinian activist and teacher Awdah Hathaleen, in what rights groups say is the first indictment of an Israeli settler for killing a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank since October 2023.

#FIFA: Uefa, the governing body of football in Europe, has said its previous threat to boycott all Fifa competitions stands and that it still lacks confidence in Gianni Infantino’s presidency. 

PARTING SHOT

Scientists have captured images of the sun’s surface in the finest detail yet.

Researchers were able to peek at its scorching surface with the help of the National Science Foundation’s Daniel K Inouye Solar Telescope, located on the island of Maui in Hawaii.

☀️ Scientists using the @NSF Inouye Solar Telescope have made a major breakthrough in solar physics, discovering Kelvin-Helmholtz instability on the Sun's surface—a finding that could help explain explosive solar activity and other solar phenomena: https://t.co/GHDS3B7UXT pic.twitter.com/yJhD4KecVY

— National Solar Observatory (@NatSolarObs) August 5, 2026