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

• Veteran broadcaster Gay Byrne says he is surprised by calls for him to join the presidential race, but that if “the majority of Irish people” wanted him to take the post, he would listen to them.  ”I would have to consider it seriously because it would be extremely demeaning and rude to the office of President were I not to do so,” he said.
• Independent candidate Mary Davis writes in TheJournal.ie this week about how the presidential race has focused more on personality and less on what a person would do “if honoured with the position of President”. This, she says, must change.
• A West Cork-based travel website has announced that it is to cease trading after 13 years with the loss of 14 jobs. MyGuideIreland.com, which has offices in Skibbereen and Boston, said that the “loss of key merchant account facilities” had led to the decision to appoint a liquidator.
• Up to 1,500 people showed up to protest against the closure of 24-hour emergency services at Roscommon County Hospital today.
• A man has been arrested by police investigating the murder of leading loyalist Bobby Moffett in Belfast last year.
• The United States has lost its AAA credit rating for the first time ever today, after being downgraded by Standard & Poor’s following a tumultuous week in financial markets. The US had held a AAA rating – the highest possible – since 1917. All eyes will now be on the markets on Monday morning, when stock trading resumes.
• A set of photographs featuring a ten-year-old model and printed in the latest edition of French Vogue has sparked outrage and reignited debate about the sexualisation of children in the media. The images show pre-teen Thylane Lena-Rose Blondeau wearing heavy make-up, draped in golden fabric and reclining on an animal print rug.
• Director Ian Palmer spent 12 years filming fighters in Ireland and the UK. Writing for TheJournal.ie today, he sheds a rare insight into the world of bare-knuckle fighting – its rules, regulations and family ties.
• Over the past week, Obama turned 50, Mubarak faced trial and ladies broke out the millinery for the Dublin Horse Show… see our collection of the most expressive photographs – The Week in Photos.
• Birthdays are important – but especially when they’re milestone birthdays. For formerly conjoined twins Maria de Jesus and Maria Teresa Quiej-Alvarez, today is an extra special day as they celebrate their 10th birthday. They were separated during a 23-hour operation in 2002.
• One third of Americans polled about smartphones said they would prefer to go a week without sex than go without their beloved smartphone for seven days. What would you give up?
• And finally, ever wondered if a mariachi band could serenade a beluga whale? Here’s your answer…

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