Ballet dancers rehearse for a performance due to start in London tonight. (Photo: John Stillwell/PA Wire)

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

THINGS WE LEARNED

#ST PATRICK’S: Serious human rights abuses are taking place at St Patrick’s Institution in Dublin which houses prisoners aged between 16 and 21, the Inspector of Prisons has warned. In a hard-hitting report published this evening, Judge Michael Reilly said weak management, the prison culture and the prevalence of drugs mean the institution no longer provides safe, secure or humane custody for prisoners.

#LOCAL GOVERNMENT: The number of local authorities is to be slashed from 114 to just 31 in what the government says is the most radical overhaul of local government since the Victorian era. Environment Minister Phil Hogan says the plans will save the state €420 million over four years.

#TECHNICAL GROUP: Independent TD Finian McGrath has quit as chairman of the Dáil’s technical group saying he is “completely fed up” with the actions of Mick Wallace. Wallace resigned from the group after his company’s VAT under-declaration became public but now wants to rejoin.

#WEATHER WARNING: Met Éireann has warned that between 30 and 50mm of rain will fall in parts of the south and east of the country over the next 30 hours. Some local flooding is possible while coastal flooding also remains a threat, particularly tonight.

#PROFITS: NAMA has recorded a profit of €222 million for the first half of 2012.

#REFERENDUM: The Referendum Commission has written to the country’s broadcasters asking them to devote more time to the information bulletins by the commission amid fears that the lack of debate around the children’s rights referendum could lead to a low turnout.

#APPLE: Apple is expected to launch its iPad Mini next week after it sent invitations out this evening for an event scheduled on 23 October which promises the technology giant has “a little more to show you”.

THINGS WE LOVED

• It’s already being hailed as the cleverest presidential campaign ad so far in the US with more than 73,000 Facebook likes in just a few hours. Here’s RomneyTaxPlan.com. We won’t spoil the surprise.
• From BBC.co.uk, here’s eight ways China is changing your world.
• This video by Bodyform in response to an unhappy post on their Facebook page is rather excellent. Altogether now: WOOOOAAAAOAHHHH BODYFORM-AH.

THINGS WE SHARED

• The rather excellent #tweetsfromtenyearsago was trending in Ireland over the past 24 hours. Here’s a few of our favourites:

• For anyone who missed Felix Baumgartner’s jump from 128,000 feet, here’s the entire thing in one minute and thirty seconds:

(Video: redbull/YouTube)