NEED TO CATCH up? TheJournal.ie brings you a round-up of today’s news…

Alan Place Alan Place
IRELAND

• Independent TD Stephen Donnelly withdrew from the banking inquiry following government interference.
• The government then announced that whips would not be imposed on Fine Gael and Labour members of the inquiry.
• A man was arrested for withholding information in connection with the shooting of a six-year-old boy.
• Two divers died in separate accidents, one in Cork and another in Donegal.
• A 20-year-old was arrested following a late-night assault.
• Gay Byrne announced his resignation as chairman of the RSA.
• A cyclist was seriously injured in a crash in Dublin.
• A Fianna Fáil senator called for adoptees to be given the right to access their birth certs.
• The owners of Lissadell House announced it will reopen to the public. [RTÉ News]
• The Special Olympics Ireland games drew to a close.

INTERNATIONAL

Johann Steiner smiles as his horse shakes its mane prior to the stallions fight in Aschau in the Austrian province of Tyrol. To avoid fights and injuries on the alp, the horses fight their leadership of the herd in a paddock. After the fight, the stallions stay the whole summer at an alp. AP Photo / Kerstin Joensson AP Photo / Kerstin Joensson / Kerstin Joensson

#IRAQ: Security forces launched a major counter-attack against militants, while Tony Blair said the violence was not the result of 2003 invasion.

#ISRAEL: Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Hamas for the kidnapping of three teenagers.

#PAKISTAN: An military operation has been launched following a insurgent attack on an airport last week. [Reuters]

#UNITED STATES: Radio legend, and voice of Shaggy in Scooby-Doo, Casey Kasem died aged 82.

INNOVATION

• New research suggests that robots are able to navigate better with the help of tiny scout robots. [Geek.com]
• Wish that clocks were more accurate? Quantum entanglement could be the answer (duh). [New Scientist]

PARTING SHOT

If you’re fed up waiting for hoverboards to appear on the market, you might be interested in the water-based alternative. [Geek.com]