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

IRELAND

Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald speaking to the media at the garden of remembrance before a demonstration for peace and neutrality. Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie / © RollingNews.ie

• A 60-year-old father was “savagely” beaten in front of his terrified family when three machine gun-armed intruders forced entry into their home in Shankill, Dublin, on Wednesday, gardaí have alleged.
• An ‘emergency rally‘ against hate and racism was held in Belfast following days of racially charged violence in Northern Ireland. 
• The Minister for Health has indicated that a version of an unpublished report detailing concerns at Children’s Health Ireland may be published this week. 
• Police in Northern Ireland have said that more officers were injured as heavy masonry and fireworks were thrown during disorder last night. 
• People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy has called on the Tánaiste to “put pressure” on Egyptian authorities to allow the Global March to Gaza to take place after he was released from detention in Egypt.
• The “fight to defend Ireland’s neutrality is on”, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald told a rally in Dublin.
• The chair of the Irish Red Cross Charlie Flanagan has apologised for the “tone” of a tweet calling Dublin TD Paul Murphy’s trip to Egypt to participate in a march calling for aid to be supplied to Gaza a “circus”. 

INTERNATIONAL

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz pauses as he speaks about the killing of state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark at the State Emergency Operations Centre. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#MINNEAPOLIS: A gunman in Minnesota shot two Democratic state lawmakers and their spouses today, killing one and her husband and wounding the other in what officials said were targeted attacks.

#TEHRAN: Israel’s Defence Minister has warned that “Tehran will burn” and its residents will pay dearly if Iran continues its missile strikes, after both sides exchanged heavy fire overnight. 

#AHMEDABAD: The death toll from the Air India plane crash in the northern Indian city of Ahmedabad has risen to 279.

PARTING SHOT

Some of the whacky items on display The Journal The Journal

A NEW MUSEUM in Dublin promises something “different” for locals and tourists alike.

The Museum of Curiosities on Pembroke Street, which opened at the end of May, houses an array of strange and scary items spanning centuries.

“There are some very niche Facebook groups out there,” says Paul Mangan, who founded the museum. “I’ve been collecting strange stuff all my life.”

The Journal’s Mairead Maguire paid the museum a visit and has reported back on its strange and curious contents.