Bangladeshi Hindu devotees apply vermillion to each others’ faces during Durga Puja festivities in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The festival commemorates the slaying of a demon king by lion-riding, ten armed goddess Durga, marking the triumph of good over evil. (AP Photo/A.M.Ahad)

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

THINGS WE LEARNED:

#TEACHERS: Over 1,000 trainee and qualified teachers have attended a demonstration in central Dublin opposed to what they see as unequal pay measures. The ‘Valuing Education’ protest was held to underline the difference in pay scales for teachers, depending simply on when they get their first full-time job.

#CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL: The Taoiseach has denied reports suggesting the government had commissioned a new report to assess possible sites for the National Children’s Hospital. The denials came after RTÉ had reported that former Dublin City Council boss John Fitzgerald had been asked to assess certain sites.

#BAILOUT: The Department of Finance has published the letter in which Brian Lenihan formally asked the Troika for a bailout – and a three-page letter to the ECB in which he explained why he was doing so. Here’s the current situation about which bailout documents have been released and which remain under wraps.

#NAMA: The chief executive of NAMA has said the agency was “angry and disappointed” that an ex-employee had allegedly removed data from the agency without authorisation. Brendan McDonagh said the scandal involving Enda Farrell had “cast a shadow” over NAMA’s work in recent months.

#GERMANY ♥ ENDA: They really do. First he’s presiding over a ‘special case’; now the association of German magazine publishers have named him their ‘European of the Year’. In case you feel left out, though, they’ve stressed that the award is meant to recognise the role of Ireland (as a whole) in the European Project. Herzlichen Glückwünsch, everyone!

#SAORVIEW: Well, it’s all over. No more seeing Tommy and PJ on the telly – the analogue TV signals have been turned off for good. Miriam O’Callaghan was given the job of shutting off the analogue signals at 10am this morning – and this is how it all went down. (Here’s what we think should be broadcast on the old airwaves now that they’re not being used any more.)

THINGS WE LOVED:

• If ever a website did exactly what it says on the tin, Cat-Bounce.com is it. Bounce ALL THE CATS.
• Mario Balotelli’s demure earphones. The Italian will be hoping to propel Manchester City to a win away at Ajax in tonight’s big Champions’ League game. TheScore.ie’s got live coverage of all eight clashes.
• Not to be too self-congratulatory, but Adrian Russell’s guide to Irish sport on TV is too good not to plug. Did you miss the digital switchover? Fear not – this page has everything you’ll miss.

A polar bear shakes its head in its enclosure at Berlin Zoo in Germany. A monument to the polar bear Knut was unveiled at the zoo this morning. Polar bear Knut became a global celebrity before his sudden death last year. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

THINGS WE SHARED:

• We’re pretty sure that this isn’t Mitt Romney’s actual plan to win the female vote, but it’s pretty funny nonetheless.
• Google’s not content to have Street View on the… well, streets. Previously they’ve sent a tricycle around Croke Park… now they’re sending cameras on backpacks around the Grand Canyon.
• It’s the Secretary General of the United Nations, doing the Gangnam Style dance. No, really. (Also available in gif format!)

(YouTube: RussiaToday)