EVERY DAY, TheJournal.ie brings you nine things you need to know with your morning cup of coffee.
1. #RENTING The average monthly rent in Ireland has hit €825, and Dublin rental prices have risen significantly – that is according to the latest Daft report, out today. It could be bad news for students, who will be searching for accommodation in the coming weeks.
2. #DOCTORS Doctors from the National Association of General Practitioners have launched a nationwide campaign, ‘General Practice in Crisis’, which comes after their stark warning to the Health Minister over long hours. The association warns that cutbacks drastically “reduce their ability to treat patients” and could lead to GP surgery closures.
3. #EDUCATION You might be getting your CAO results this morning – if so, good luck! – or know someone who is. Around 76,000 students will discover what third-level institute they will be accepted into. Also in education, the State Exams Commission has blamed human error for mistakes on this year’s Leaving and Junior Cert exam papers, adding that it had seen a large loss of staff in the last three years.
4. #EGYPT The family of Irish citizen Ibrihim Halawa say they are worried about the teen’s safety after he was taken into custody in Cairo during the unrest over the weekend. They told the Herald that they fear he may be tortured. Ibrahim’s sisters Somaia, Fatima and Omaima are in the same prison, but have been accounted for.
5. #CONSULTANTS Ministers have spent more than €1 million of taxpayers’ money a week on consultants, the Daily Mail reports today. It says that the €56 million a year bill for consultants only covers 11 ministers, and that Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney spent €13m on consultant fees.
6. #INDIA A train has ploughed into a crowd of Hindu pilgrims in Bihar, killing 35 people and triggering a riot as people went on the rampage, according to officials. Six carriages had been set on fire and staff fled the station fearing attacks following the incident.
7. #PISTORIUS Oscar Pistorius is to appear back in court in South Africa this morning, where it is expected he will be indicted for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day this year. Today also marks what would have been Steenkamp’s 30th birthday.
8. #PERU Michaella McCollum Connolly and Melissa Reid are expected to face court tomorrow in connection with €1.7 million of cocaine allegedly found in their luggage. Connolly’s lawyer Peter Madden has expressed concern to the Irish Times about the process, saying that the Tyrone woman would be protesting her innocence.
9. #NEW ZEALAND New Zealand has seen dozens of same-sex couples say ‘I do’ today as it became the first Asia-Pacific country – and 17th country in the world – to legalise gay marriage. The wedding venues included some unusual places, such as an airliner cruising at 30,000 feet and an historic bath house.
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