EVERY DAY, 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.

• Presidential hopefuls David Norris and Dana Rosemary Scallon received a boost today on news that at least 12 councils are to meet next week to discuss nominating them as candidates for the election next month. There are now strong indications that both candidates will secure enough support to be on the ballot paper.
• Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu has invited Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to talks at the United Nations headquarters in New York today. During his address to the General Assembly, Netanyahu said, “Now we’re in the same city. We’re in the same building. Let’s do it today. In the United Nations.”
• In a column for TheJournal.ie, Niamh Fleming-Farrell in Beirut and Ronan Delaney in Dublin examine what today’s application by President Abbas for full UN membership and statehood will mean to third-generation Palestinian refugees living in camps in Lebanon.
• Members of the Irish Defence Forces have carried out controlled explosions on dangerous chemicals discovered in two schools today – one at Coolock in Dublin and another at Macroom in Cork.
• Ireland is to draw down about £403 million of the £7 billion loan being provided from the British government in the next few weeks, finance minister Michael Noonan indicated today.
• In some good news today, the latest figures from the CSO show that almost two million people visited Ireland this summer – an increase of more than 9 per cent on the same period last year.
• An auction of distressed Irish properties was held today and of the 74 lots available, 58 were sold, including one apartment block in Stoneybatter which went for €1.15 million. The Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin did not have enough room for the number of bidders and curious onlookers who turned up:

• Ireland has increased its financial aid for victims of the Horn of Africa famine by €1 million – bringing the State’s total contribution in 2011 to €10 million.
• The US state of Texas has changed rules on death row so condemned prisoners will no longer be allowed to choose their last meals. The decision came after one senator took issue with a hefty order from a convicted murderer.
• Today’s reader-generated review of an ABSOLUT Fringe Show has some high praise for When Irish Hearts are Praying, describing is as “truthful, comical and thought-provoking”.
• According to one Irish doctor working in 1883, physicians should have been taking more note of spontaneous human combustion. His 19th-century work has come to light following the case of a Galway pensioner who died as a result of the bizarre phenomenon last December.
• Check out one architect’s plans for the derelict building that could have been turned into Anglo Irish Bank’s HQ. The ‘Trees on the Quays‘ project would feature a ‘vertical park’ and a ‘Meeting Room For Very Important Decisions’.
• Swimwear company Speedo has been at loggerheads with an Australian blogger, claiming he is undermining the brand name by using it on his fetish websites.
• Here’s the latest offering from the much-loved characters of Sesame Street – their interpretation of ‘G’ (Aside: Glee fans may love it or hate it – we’re not sure).
• A talented group of filmmakers from Ireland has reached the final of an international competition to find the best and “unimaginably extravagant” replica of a Queen music video. Here’s their rather impressive  reproduction of Sheer Heart Attack: