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

Aer Lingus welcome the Lopes family at Dublin Airport ahead of their flight to Florida to support Pico Lopes. Aer Lingus Aer Lingus

IRELAND

• President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Cork along with the 26 other members of the College of Commissioners for two days of meetings.
• The eldest daughter of a garda charged with rape and child cruelty has said the family home had “an atmosphere of violence and threats” and it felt like living in a military barracks growing up.
• Dublin City Council has granted planning permission for a 14-storey purpose built student accommodation development next to Croke Park in Dublin 1 despite local objections.
• Crowds gathered at Dame Court in Dublin’s city centre this evening in protest against the end of Yamamori Izakaya’s DJ and nightclub events.
• Tds clashed in the Dáil today over government’s decision to oppose a bill that would ban hare coursing.
• Social Democrats TD Daniel Ennis is suing online campaigner and would-be presidential candidate Nick Delehanty.
• US president Donald Trump shared a special message to attendees of the US ambassador’s celebration of the 250th American Independence Day on Wednesday in Phoenix Park.

INTERNATIONAL

Rescue workers search through the rubble of a building destroyed by the earthquakes in La Guaira, Venezuela. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#UKRAINE: Russian missile and drone strikes rocked Kyiv in the early hours of this morning, killing at least 17 people and wounding dozens, after president Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Moscow was preparing a “massive attack”.

#WORLD CUP: English pubs will be allowed to stay open until the early hours of Monday morning to allow football fans to enjoy England’s World Cup knockout game against hosts Mexico, Keir Starmer announced in a video posted online today.

#TRUMP: US president Donald Trump has said he had “a conversation” with ex-president Theodore Roosevelt, who has been dead for over 100 years. 

#VENEZUELA: Rescuers pulled a 43-year-old security guard alive from a collapsed basement, ending a gruelling days-long operation that became a symbol of hope after the devastation of twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela eight days earlier. 

PARTING SHOT

Yesterday marked the first day of Ireland’s EU presidency, which Cyprus had held since the start of the year.

To mark the handover, the European Parliament wrote on Facebook: “Goodbye halloumi and welcome boxty! Starting 1 July, Ireland will hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union for the next six months.”

Take our poll and tell us: Do you prefer boxty or halloumi?