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

Race for the Áras…

• Dana Rosemary Scallon has insisted that the fact she is a dual-citizen of the US and Ireland is not an issue and that in fact it will work to her advantage in the presidential campaign. The citizenship had not been disclosed prior to a report in today’s Irish Times.
• Gay Mitchell’s campaign has refuted allegations that members of Fine Gael are predicting the MEP’s candidacy is doomed. Director of Elections Charlie Flanagan said today: “The party is foursquare behind Gay Mitchell as presidential candidate.”
• Less than three weeks to go but you’ve only got until Monday if you actually want to vote for the next president of Ireland and in the two referenda due to take place on 27 October. Here’s all the information you need about registering.
• Michael D Higgins has said on Twitter today that contrary to reports the former government minister stopped drawing his ministerial pension in full in April of last year.
• Elsewhere, in the #aras11 Twittersphere Dana has finally signed up and last night tweeted to say she had complained to RTÉ that the broadcaster had not given her equal time to other candidates so far.

In today’s other news…

• Actors, comedians, business types and politicians have all gathered at Dublin Castle today to take part in the Global Irish Economic Forum aimed at harnessing ideas about how to boost the Irish economy. Here’s what the Tánaiste had to say earlier.
• Meanwhile, we’ve been pondering one suggestion at the forum that we should all be learning Chinese.
• Three women have been awarded the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize including the president of Liberia, Ellen Johnson, the first democratically elected head of state in Africa who has been praised for her work as a reformer and peacemaker.
• The government has said it has no plans to hold an inquiry into allegations that the bodies of hundreds of babies born to unmarried women in Ireland were used in medical experiments after they died up until the 1960s.
• Tesco has said it “greatly regrets” misleading prices that were displayed on products on sale at some of its supermarkets in Ireland. The retail giant was fined at Dublin District Court today following inspections by the National Consumer Agency.
• The family of the murdered human rights solicitor Pat Finucane is to meet with British prime minister David Cameron next week. The family wants a full, independent inquiry into Finucane’s death in 1989.
• Here’s a quick video to get you psyched up for the big match tomorrow morning in Wellington. We’ve been asking the key question, are you staying up all night to watch Ireland v Wales or getting an early night?

• A small town in the US state of Illinois has had to be evacuated following a train derailment in the area. Witnesses reported explosions but there were no initial reports of injuries.
• Police in Ohio are investigating a dispute between two rival Amish groups – where one is accused of breaking into the others’ quarters and cutting their hair.
• An Irish Examiner columnist has been suspended over alleged plagiarism. Steve King is said to not be answering calls from the newspaper since the substantial allegations were made by journalist Brian Whelan.
• Passengers travelling through Dublin airport’s Terminal 2 are currently being greeted by the faces of Ryan Tubridy, Enda Kenny, Miriam O’Callaghan and many others as part of an exhibition by photographer Kevin Abosch of some of the country’s best known faces.
• Four out of five jobseekers don’t care if a potential employer looks at their social networking profiles. But we’ve been asking you today if you mind an employer having a gawk at what you’re upto on Facebook, Twitter and the like?
• Heard about the time Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney met up with Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi? Clooney has revealed all. Meanwhile the Italian premier has a novel new name for his party which involves the female genitalia. We think, think he’s joking.
• A cryptic tweet from the account of a British government minister has sent the Twittersphere into overdrive wondering just what Chris Huhne is talking about.
• Finally, a big night for the Republic of Ireland who face Andorra tonight. As most of you are unlikely to be among the mere hundred or so fans out there tonight, why not follow the action on our liveblog over on TheScore.ie.

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