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

Train driver Ken Keane joins the picket outside Connolly Train Station in Dublin. Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

IRELAND

• A second of five planned rail strikes went ahead
• Female politicians described the atmosphere in Leinster House as a boys’ club
• Gardaí arrested  three men after a shotgun was fired in a chase
• A retired judge said that no new inquiry into the Stardust tragedy is needed
• Leo Varadkar wore a poppy in the Dáil
• Bono said he was “extremely distressed” by the Paradise Papers
• A Donegal takeaway was closed after a “pond of human excrement” was found
• The Arts Minister announced she will meet with the Arts Council over allegations of harassment at the Gate Theatre
• Ryanair pilots wrote to Michael O’Leary seeking collective bargaining rights

INTERNATIONAL

The Duchess of Cornwall watches as the Prince of Wales tries out a traditional blowgun during a visit to Sarawak Cultural Village on the latest leg of their tour of the Far East. Yui Mok / PA Yui Mok / PA / PA

#TEXAS SHOOTING: A mistake by the US Air Force allowed Texas shooter Devin Patrick Kelley to buy a gun legally, it was revealed.

#WALES: A Welsh politician about whom a series of undisclosed allegations of incidents with women had been made has been found dead.

#JAILED: A man convicted of killing his 18-month-old adopted baby daughter in Wales has been jailed for a minimum of 18 years.

PARTING SHOT

Kevin the Carrot is back. The star of Aldi’s Christmas ads has a girlfriend this year.