Taoiseach Enda Kenny launches National Trails Day with help from Eabha Last and Daniel Hayes.

Image: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

EVERY EVENING, TheJournal.ie brings you a round-up of the day’s biggest stories, as well as the bits and pieces you may have missed.

• Germany’s EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger has agreed with calls for the national flags of Ireland and the other bailed-out member states to fly at half-mast on EU buildings. Oettinger says the symbolic gesture would act as a deterrent to countries who cannot control their finances.
• The British Army has apologised to the family of a man shot dead by a soldier in Derry 40 years ago. A recent investigation into the death found that Billy McGreanery was not armed, as had been claimed by the soldier involved at the time. The family welcomed the apology, but said it comes too late for McGreanery’s late mother and brother.
• Brendan O’Carroll has told TheJournal.ie about his desire to run for the Dáil and explained why he gave €7,000 to a man indebted to loan sharks.
• Independent Presidential candidate Mary Davis will not follow Seán Gallagher in asking councils to drop their support for her, saying says the nominations are a way for councils to share her vision for the Presidency. Gallagher has asked councils to withdraw their support for him to allow other prospective candidates to seek support.
• Here’s a creative time lapse video made by Kim Pimmel using soap bubbles, dye and magnets:

• A bankruptcy official in the US wants one of David Drumm’s houses in Cape Cod to go on sale for $4 million – but doesn’t want the former Anglo chief executive to get any of the proceeds.
• Ireland player Fergus McFadden writes about the squad’s first week at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand today for TheScore.ie and says the team has been making the most of bungees, luges, rafts “and stuff”.
• The former Bishop of Derry Dr Edward Daly has called for an end to mandatory celibacy for Catholic priests and says there should be “a place in the modern Catholic Church for a married priesthood and for men who do not wish to commit themselves to celibacy”. In today’s poll, we asked if you agreed with Daly and 83 per cent said ‘yes’.
• News International chairman James Murdoch is due to face further questioning from British MPs about the phone hacking allegations against the now-defunct News of the World newspaper.
• Molly Naylor, who survived the 7/7 terrorist attacks in London six years ago has spoken to TheJournal.ie about her life after the bombings. Naylor has also brought her experiences to the ABSOLUTE Fringe in Dublin.
• Economist and UL lecturer Stephen Kinsella captured this worrying image of one of his classes earlier today. Those with their hands up are signalling they plan to emigrate – about 50 to 70 per cent of the class, he says:

• Iran has set bail of $500,000 for each of two US backpackers who have been convicted of espionage charges. The two claimed they had accidentally wandered across the Iranian border while hiking in Iraq.
• You can follow tonight’s Champions League action with TheScore.ie‘s liveblog throughout this evening.
• The model and author Sophie Dahl has launched a campaign to raise £500,000 to preserve the hut her grandfather Roald Dahl used to write his many bestselling children’s books. Her campaign drew a bit of a backlash on Twitter today – Roald Dahl Day - as people questioned why the Dahl family and estate could not pay for the preservation project themselves.
• ABSOLUT Fringe has rescheduled the Macnas event cancelled last weekend due to high winds for Sunday 25 September.
• A group of about ten bystanders rescued a man trapped beneath a burning car in Utah yesterday. Both the car and the man’s motorbike caught fire after the two vehicles collided, and the dramatic rescue was caught on film.

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