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

IRELAND

Pat Hickey PA Archive / PA Images PA Archive / PA Images / PA Images

• Sports minister Shane Ross criticised former Olympic Council of Ireland chief executive Pat Hickey for failing to engage with an investigation into the Rio Olympics ticketing controversy
• Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy warned those with a vacant second home that penalties are on the way if they don’t bring it back into use
• Excavation work began at a site in Chapelizod, Dublin, as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Trevor Deely in December 2000
• A campaign was launched to try and tackle racism on public transport
• Politicians are to be banned from taking and making phone calls in the Dáil chamber
• Two men were remanded in custody after being charged with conspiring to murder a Dublin man.

WORLD

The Perseid meteor shower as seen from Yorkshire Dales National Park, UK. This is a digital composite of 233 photographs taken over a two-hour period. Danny Lawson via PA Images Danny Lawson via PA Images

#VIRGINIA: President Donald Trump issued a warning to those who took part in white supremacist marches in Charlottesville over the weekend after coming under pressure for appearing to side with racist groups.

#PARIS: An 8-year-old girl has been killed and at least five other people have been injured after a car intentionally drove into a pizzeria in a town east of Paris.

#SIERRA LEONE: Over 300 people were killed and more than 2,000 left homeless today when heavy flooding hit Sierra Leone’s capital of Freetown.

#RULES ARE RULES: Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce’s political future is in doubt today after it emerged he has dual citizenship.

PARTING SHOT

The Sally Gap in Co Wicklow is a magnet for tourists during the summer months, who come to tackle the mountainous Wicklow Way, or to gawk at the stunning Lough Tay (aka Guinness Lake).

Nothing beats the real deal, but if you haven’t been to visit yet, this drone footage from a Kildare photographer will be sure to spark your interest.