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

Dr Garret FitzGerald, 1926-2011:

• The political world has been paying tributes to the late former taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Dr Garret FitzGerald, who died this morning at the age of 85 following a short illness.
• Current Taoiseach Enda Kenny said FitzGerald possessed a “towering intellect” and a “passionate devotion to public Ireland”, while the visiting Queen Elizabeth too paid her respects, describing him as a “true statesman [who] made a lasting contribution to peace”.
• It has been confirmed this evening that FitzGerald will be given a full state funeral on Sunday at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Donnybrook. He will lie in repose at the Mansion House on Saturday where the public will have the opportunity to file past his coffin.
• Twitter users have also been paying tribute to the late leader, with the terms “gentleman”, “statesman” and “servant” all trending at various junctures.
• Here, to honour the late two-term taoiseach, is a gallery of Dr Garret FitzGerald’s political life in photographs.

The Royal Visit, Day 3:

• The news of Dr FitzGerald’s passing has almost overshadowed the ongoing visit of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh to this country. This morning Her Majesty paid a visit to the National Stud Farm in Co Kildare – which has endured loss of its own with the star stallion Verglas passing away on Tuesday.
• The Duke of Edinburgh, meanwhile, remained in Áras an Úachtaráin where he attended an event for winners of the President’s Award, Gaisce – modelled on an award offered in his own name in the UK.
• This evening the royal couple are attending a music and fashion gala at the National Convention Centre.
• Here’s our rolling gallery of the photographs of the day – and, indeed, of the day’s best Royal-related tweets so far.

In other news today…

• The government has this evening confirmed that President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle will attend a public event at College Green in Dublin next Monday afternoon. Admission will be free and no tickets will be required – entry via Dame Street will begin at 2pm. There will be entertainment, but the government hasn’t yet confirmed who – though Jedward already have…
• But he’s been busy. In a major and wide-ranging speech, Obama has promised to take greater action to assist the reforms and transition to democracy in the Middle East – including a challenge to Israel and Palestine to set aside their difference and to finally reach a two-state solution.
• The state could be in line for a fine from the European Court of Justice over its failure to deal with septic tanks and wastewater treatment systems in accordance with a European Commission directive.
• Five people under 17 were admitted to adult psychiatric units in the weeks after December 1 – despite a legal ban on the practice.
• Three people have been arrested in Kildare in connection with investigations into dissident republican activity.
• Is the end of the paper and ink at hand? Amazon has revealed that sales through its Kindle e-book store are now higher than its sales of physical books.
• Gabrielle Giffords has successfully undergone surgery to replace part of her skull – news confirmed, in a remarkably 21st-century way, by her husband Mark Kelly, who’s currently in outer space.
• The FAI has offered good news to fans attending next week’s Carling Nations Cup match between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland: if you hang onto your ticket stub, you’ll gain free access to two other internationals at the Aviva Stadium next week.
• The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland has resolved a complaint over the controversial ejection of Mary Byrne from last year’s X Factor – deciding that the sudden change from outright public voting to a judges’ sing-off was within the show’s rules.
• Yes, it’s ‘Ryanair’ and ‘scam’ in the same headline: the airline has warned of an email hoax that tells recipients they’ve won a car through an in-flight draw – and then asks them to pay £500 to deliver their “prize”.
• Finally tonight… have you ever seen an octopus exploit its camouflage? You have now: