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The Evening Fix: Friday

Things we learned, loved and shared today.

Trinergy, a creative dance group from south east London, performing at the Olympic Park in east London where they won the final of the nationwide competition, somewhereto_ show off. (Photo: David Parry/PA Wire)

HERE ARE THE things you need to know as we round off the day in three easy steps.

THINGS WE LEARNED

#GOLD: Team Ireland has won their first medal of the London Paralympic Games – and it’s a gold. Swimmer Bethany Firth from Co Down, the team’s youngest member, won the Women’s 100m backstroke final this evening.

#BREACH: Utility company Airtricity is being investigated by the Data Protection Commissioner following a breach of some customer information. A company spokesperson said the issue affected a “small number” of customers but did not clarify how many.

#COMPENSATION: Ulster Bank customers who were forced to visit a branch more often to access their current accounts over the summer due to technical problems within the group are being given a one-off payment of €25 “in recognition of the inconvenience” caused by the technical issue.

#BEHEADINGS: The Pakistani Taliban have released a video showing what appeared to be the severed heads of a dozen soldiers after clashes between the army and Taliban militants who had crossed into Pakistan from Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Reuters reports that two children were beheaded in separate incidents in Afghanistan this week.

#WILDFIRE: Thousands of people have evacuated from their homes and one person has died due to major wildfires near the Spanish resort of Marbella. The fire broke out yesterday afternoon and spread across several municipal districts due to dry conditions and strong winds:

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THINGS WE LOVED

  • Eastwooding has become the latest viral craze following last night’s speech by Clint Eastwood at the Republican Convention in Florida, featuring an empty chair. Here are some of our favourite #Eastwooding moments.
  • Mayor of London Boris Johnson got pretty expressive during a game of sitting volleyball with Eastenders/Carry On actress Barbara Windsor after the women’s event at the Excel Arena, London today during the Paralympic Games. (Photos: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire)

The Evening Fix: Friday
1 / 4
  • 1. Boris and Barbara

  • 2. Boris and Barbara

  • 3. Boris and Barbara

  • 4. Boris and Barbara

THINGS WE SHARED

  • Today is Transfer Deadline Day for soccer players being moved to and from Premier League teams. We’ve been following, and sharing, TheScore.ie‘s liveblog of the day’s comings and goings.
  • If you haven’t seen this video of two hamsters attempting to control one wheel before, then you’re in for a treat. We were particularly impressed by the determination of the one little guy who continues to run despite his friend spinning around uncontrollably on the outer rim (at about 0.27):

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