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Costumed soldiers at St Patrick's Cathedral reenact the battle between two feuding families, the Butlers and Fitzgeralds, as part of National Heritage Week. Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland
The Daily Fix

The Daily Fix: Wednesday

In today’s wrap-up: Journalists released from Tripoli hotel; Cloyne archbishop agrees: ‘O’Callaghan should have quit’; injunction bans Samsung Galaxy sales in Ireland, and can you be hurt by bullets fired into the air?

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

  • As the battle for outright control of Tripoli rages on, pro-Gaddafi loyalists have allowed the release of 35 foreign journalists who had been trapped in a city-centre hotel. As rebels win more and more control of the city, there’s still no sign of Gaddafi himself.
  • The Archbishop currently in charge of running the Diocese of Cloyne says Monsignor Denis O’Callaghan should have resigned as the diocese’s officer overseeing the safeguarding of children back in 1996. The letter from Archbishop Dermot Clifford comes after O’Callaghan today wrote to the Irish Catholic acknowledging he should have quit.
  • A man was injured by an explosive device left outside his home in Navan, Co Meath this morning. This evening RTÉ News reports that the man is a former Garda informant.
  • Four people have been arrested, and six rescued, by police in Belfast investigating a major pan-European human trafficking ring.
  • A third man has been arrested in connection with Sunday’s incident at Ballymore Eustace, when Gardaí fired gunshots during an investigation into organised crime.
  • The global patent war between the world’s smartphone manufacturers is raging on. Today a Dutch court granted Apple a preliminary injunction blocking the export of three Samsung Galaxy smartphones to several European countries – including Ireland. It kicks in in seven weeks – giving Samsung a chance to change the software on the phones.
  • North Korea, which hasn’t participated in anti-nuclear talks for a few years now, says it’s willing to return to six-party talks aimed at ending its nuclear programme.
  • There’s no danger just yet, but the crew of the International Space Station could face food and oxygen shortages in a few months’ time. Today a Russian spacecraft, carrying three tons of supplies, failed to reach orbit and crashed back to Earth – probably leading to the suspension of shipments. Without the NASA space shuttle there’s no other way of getting stuff up there.
  • TV broadcasts from Tripoli for the last few days have featured many happy rebels shooting celebratory gunfire into the air. You’ve probably wondered, at some point – isn’t that dangerous? Can’t falling bullets hurt you? Here’s some investigation.
  • Drivers in Arizona have been told there’s no need to panic – after a public display sign warned them of a ‘rogue panda rampage’.
  • An Alaskan woman has been convicted of child abuse, after she taped herself pouring hot sauce into her adopted son’s mouth. It’s thought that the act may have been a desperate attempt to appear on the Dr Phil show.
  • Going to Barbados? You might not want to. The Department of Foreign Affairs wants you to avoid travel because of Hurricane Irene.
  • Facebook’s unveiled yet more – more! - changes to its privacy settings. Here’s our guide to what’s going on.
  • Some Paddy Power customers managed to make thousands out of the bookie last night, after its website mistakenly offered exceptionally generous odds in the middle of a soccer match. The bets (and winnings) were rescinded when the error came to light, but some savvy gamblers managed to withdraw their winnings before Paddy Power could claim them back.
  • The only thing cooler than this handy tool – which figures out when you should go to sleep, in order to wake up feeling refreshed – is its URL. Check it out.
  • Finally tonight, some advice for the next time you’re enjoying an impromptu classical music concert (well, you never know). Don’t take a phone call – because you could face this rather anti-social treatment: