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

IRELAND

Pictured are member from the Knights of the Damned Team at the Irish Game and Country Fair in Birr Castle. Sasko Lazarov / Photocall Ireland Sasko Lazarov / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

• Travel was disrupted as a two-day rail strike kicked off
• Concerns were raised over suggestions that UK hospitals would cap the number of Irish abortions they perform
• A flight was forced to divert to Shannon Airport after a woman went into labour
• Four people were arrested after drugs and guns were found in two Dublin flats
• The new Rose of Tralee revealed she is gay
• The Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association said that Ice Bucket Challenge’s had raised €350,000 for the charity
• A man was beaten and carjacked after he stopped to help a seemingly injured young man
• The community service system was described as ‘cheaper and safer’ than jail
• It was revealed that nearly 50 ambulances have 400,000 kilometres on the clock
• Mayo and Kerry will do it all again after drawing the All Ireland Senior football semi-final

INTERNATIONAL

Palestinian relatives cry during the funeral of Mohammed al-Khoudari, 17, who was killed Sunday morning in an Israeli strike on an apartment building, at his family house in Gaza. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

#GAZA: The Israeli Prime Minister says that the Gaza offensive will go on “as long as necessary”. Benjamin Netanyahu says that Israel will continue strikes until Operation Protective Edge, launched on 8 July, has ‘achieved its aims’.

#ICELAND: Iceland has scaled down the alert over volcanic eruptions, meaning that holiday makers can breathe a sigh of relief.

#EBOLA: The British healthcare worker who tested positive for Ebola in Sierra Leone has been flown home.

INNOVATION

• These are the essentials when it comes to buying a tablet for your family. 
• What is Daimler’s radical strategy for dealing with work emails when employees are on holiday? Delete them. All of them.

PARTING SHOT

Crime stats get bandied about all the time, but should you trust them? Not if you’re in America, this Vox.com piece says.