WHAT’S THE STORY?

1. A Cabinet minister has said that he does not believe there is an appetite for a referendum on the State’s abortion laws. That is despite a number of protests being held this evening for a vote on repealing the Eighth Amendment.

Sharon Henderson, with her daughter Jodie, 17 months, handcuffs herself briefly to the railings outside the Four Courts in Dublin ahead of the 2002 referendum. PA Archive / Press Association Images PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

2. ICELAND has started evacuating residents as the risk of a volcano eruption grows. Yikes.

Volano eruption in Iceland in 2010. BBC News BBC News

3. NEW research, published by the Higher Education Authority today, shows that 99% of 18 to 20 year olds in Dublin 6 go to college, while only 15% of their peers in D17 do the same. That means we “urgently need to tap into the deep reservoirs of disadvantage”.

4. VIOLENCE in Gaza has kicked off again with reports of air strikes killing a pregnant woman and four children this morning.

A wounded Palestinian girl receives treatment at the emergency room of the Shifa hospital following Israeli strikes which hit Gaza City last night. Khalil Hamra / AP/Press Association Images Khalil Hamra / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images

5. THE family of journalist James Foley have pleaded with his kidnappers to spare the other hostages after a video of their son’s alleged beheading was put online. Here is his mother Diane’s full statement:

6. A man in his 40s was shot dead in Saggart last night and gardaí have sealed off the crime scene at Boherboy.

Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

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