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Dublin: 7 °C Wednesday 22 May, 2013

The 9 at 9: Monday

Good morning…here’s nine things to know today.

Image: kowitz via Flickr/Creative Commons

EVERY DAY, TheJournal.ie brings you nine things you need to know with your morning cup of coffee.

1. #SYRIA: The Syrian army has said it has taken control of rebel-held areas of Aleppo but opposition fighters have denied the claims, stating that they launched a new assault from the Salaheddin district last night. Meanwhile, the United Nations reports that 200,000 have fled the violence in the past two days.

2. #QUINN FAMILY: Thousands of people gathered in the Cavan village of Ballyconnell yesterday evening to show their support for the local Quinn family. A number of high-profile GAA personalities, including Tyrone manager Mickey Harte and former player Colm O’Rourke, attended the rally, listening to Seán Quinn Senior’s address as the crowd chanted his name. See the pictures here.

3. #FALLING: Ryanair has reported a 30 per cent drop in profits for the first quarter of its financial year. The budget airline blamed the less-than-expected €99 million profit on higher fuel costs, while fare growth was dampened because of discounted tickets and the continuing recession.

4. #JOBSWATCH: A new IBEC report has outlined how Ireland’s food and beverage industry will create 30,000 new jobs over the next eight years if export growth targets are achieved.

5. #SYRINGE ATTACK: A Spar employee, who was stabbed in the head with a blood-filled syringe during a robbery in the Dublin city centre shop where he worked on Saturday night, is still in a serious condition in hospital. Jahanzaib Butt and another staff member wrestled the raider to the ground until Gardaí arrived on the scene, reports the Irish Independent.

6. #INDIA: An express train bound for Chennai in India caught fire overnight, killing 47 passengers and injuring at least 26 more.

7. #COLORADO: James Holmes, the 24-year-old student accused of carrying out a mass shooting in an Aurora cinema earlier this month, killing 12 people and injuring another 58, is to make his second court appearance in the US today. He faces charges of first-degree murder, as well as attempted murder charges, but it will be some time before prosecutors decide if they will seek the death penalty.

8. #FIZZY DRINKS: According to a report in the Irish Independent, the Government has decided not to ban fizzy drink vending machines in schools as they provide much-needed revenue to secondary schools.

9. #DAY THREE: Lost keys and empty seats aside, day two of the Olympic Games was a good one with a few shock results in the pool, as well as solid performances from Irish competitors Adam Nolan (boxing), Chloe Magee (badminton), Eoin Rheinisch (canoe slalom), Camila Speirs (eventing) and Peter O’Leary and David Burrows (sailing).

And day three is shaping up well too. TheScore.ie has all the information, including event times, so you can plan your day around the sports action and Team Ireland’s performances.

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Comments (14 Comments)

  • Hmmm leave vending machines cos they create revenue for schools !!!!!
    What a statement , obese teenagers , health issues , disgrace that it has come down to a vending machine to keep secondary schools financed …
    Years of healthy eating plans in primary all thrown out the window for a few euro in secondary …

    Reply
  • That article about the school vending machines really bothers me too. Just shows what the government really thinks. They know they can’t /don’t support schools properly, so they leave vending machines to do the job for them. I know children like having these machines in school even if I don’t, , but really after that comment from the government the vending machines should be boycotted.

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  • So the revenue of the school is more important then the health of kids. Nice very nice.
    How about they sell water, from the vending machines and have fresh local produce delivered each day. Still make money, provide healthy options and boost farmers profits.
    Take a look at the long term effects of sugary sweets and drinks, obesity through the roof, Health service crippled. Government don’t have a fook’n clue.

    Reply
    • Would the 2 red thumbs like to comment on what is wrong in what I’ve said? You guys probably supply the machines and the junk that’s put in them ;)

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    • Gary – probably libertarian-type anti-nanny staters. The simple fact is our government is quite comfortable with a semi-privatised educational model (where church or other groups foot a large chunk of what would otherwise be a governmental bill) and they’re not going to rock that boat. While at this time a fully government-funded education system like most of the developed world have is not an option for Ireland (and Libertarian types would object on “political” grounds if we were to contemplate such a move) it is something we really need to address in the future. Your point is absolutely valid, and would probably increase revenue for the schools too.

      Reply
    • Fair point Felicity, but where do we draw the line? Without intervention a school could say OK we have a bit of land there lets offer it to McD’s for a drive thru. We may as well go all out and put knives, condoms, hash a few Alcho pops in too as that’s what the kid want. If they buy it from the school shop our profits will be up :)

      Reply
  • Leaving fizzy drinks in the vending machines in schools is the equivalent of leaving cigarettes on general sale to provide revenue for the Government… neither makes sense..

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  • Just putting this out there..
    I wonder what would happen if all the parents sent a formal letter to the schools instructing them not to allow their children access to vending machines during school hours.

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  • yes lets put in all things bad 4 kids into vending machines once there making money, the irish gov u are such sad sick individuals

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  • Have worked in a secondary school where all fizzy drinks and lucozade sport (more sugar than the fizzy ones) were taken out of vending machines and replaced with water and juices. After a moany week or so the students got used to it and the bottles were still flying out….

    Reply
  • Maybe the schools should sell cigarettes as well? Plenty of revenue to be made and forget about the health issues.

    Reply

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