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The 9 at 9 An appeal from the CMO, fresh riots in the Netherlands and a farmers’ protest in Dublin.

GOOD MORNING.

Here’s all the news that you need to know as you start your day.

A message from the CMO

1. Dr Tony Holohan has issued an appeal to the public this morning to take actions to help reduce the spread of Covid-19, which is placing an “enormous burden” on the health system. In a statement the Chief Medical Officer also urged people who have symptoms of the illness not to do an antigen test and instead to book a PCR test online or through their GP and isolate.

“Unfortunately, our data suggests that the majority of people who are using antigen tests at present are symptomatic and that of those, the majority who get a ‘negative’ result are incorrectly assuming that this means they no longer have to self-isolate or get a PCR test – potentially placing many others at risk of Covid-19,” he said.

Fresh riots in the Netherlands

2. In a second night of riots over coronavirus measures, Dutch police were pelted with stones and fireworks. The Netherlands went back into Western Europe’s first partial lockdown of the winter last Saturday with at least three weeks of curbs, and is now planning to ban unvaccinated people from entering some venues, the so-called 2G option.

Peaceful protests took place in a number of cities earlier in the day but demonstrations turned violent in some areas later in the evening. Five police officers were injured and at least seven people arrested.

Reaction to mother and baby home scheme

3. Survivors of mother and baby homes have said they were disappointed by the details of the government’s €800 million redress scheme, which was announced on Tuesday.

Speaking to The Journal‘s Órla Ryan, one woman said basing the amount of compensation mothers receive on their length of stay in an institution was “disgusting” and “absolutely disgraceful”.

“They don’t give a damn. It comes down to the same thing, ‘get on with it and get over it’.

Farmers’ protest

4. A convoy of tractors and farm vehicles will arrive in Dublin’s city centre at lunchtime today in a protest against the government’s stances on the Common Agricultural Policy and the Climate Action Plan.

The Irish Farmers’ Association has called on the government to provide funding and a ‘farm-level plan’ that farmers can work towards.

Covid cases in schools

5. There has been a shift this week in how Covid-19 cases in schools are being dealt with by school management and public-heath authorities. Principals can tell parents there is a confirmed case in their school and antigen tests are to be used in schools.

Our reporter Gráinne Ní Aodha has taken a look at what we know about how Covid is behaving in school settings.

A reported sighting of Peng Shuai

6. State-affiliated media in China has posted a video clip purporting to show tennis player Peng Shuai at a tennis tournament as a guest.

The tennis star had not been seen publicly since she made allegations against a former Chinese vice-premier two weeks ago.

Article 16

7. The UK’s Brexit negotiator David Frost has said the UK will have to safeguard its position “in other ways” if it is not able to reach an agreement with the EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

It comes hours after campaigners gathered at the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic to warn the UK government against triggering Article 16.

Bird flu in Monaghan

8. Cases of bird flu have been detected among a flock of turkeys on a farm in Co Monaghan, the Department of Agriculture has confirmed. The highly pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 has already been confirmed in birds across the island and in Europe in recent weeks. 

Restriction zones are being set up around the area where additional movement control and surveillance measures will be put in place.

Appeal for missing person

9. Gardaí are appealing for the public’s help tracing the whereabouts of a 24-year-old man who went missing from the Clondalkin area of Dublin on Tuesday.

Hasif Khan is described as 5 foot 7 inches in height with a slim build, black hair and brown eyes.

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute william looby
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:31 PM

    Please stop searching twitter posts and pretending that it is news. Be a journalist, not a hack.

    187
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    Mute Batdroid
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    Dec 21st 2015, 3:02 PM

    Twitter the one big fartbox echo chamber

    70
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    Mute Gary
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:43 PM

    “Fartbox echo chamber” lol. Very good. You definitely nailed it.

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    Mute Crom Cruach
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    Dec 21st 2015, 8:18 PM

    You do realise that you’re logged in via Twitter, yes?

    6
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    Mute Batdroid
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    Dec 22nd 2015, 12:08 AM

    Yes I know. I only use it for here. I don’t enter the dreaded fartbox

    3
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    Mute family guy
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:32 PM

    What does it matter what skin colour she has. As long as she can act.

    157
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    Mute Grigori Rasputin
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:35 PM

    Or can actually do magic.

    127
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    Mute Fozz
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:37 PM

    and cast spells…

    52
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    Mute TheBull
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:40 PM

    The vast majority of the people complaing went even see it. They just like complaing.

    60
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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:42 PM

    colour doesn’t matter…but they could of went with 3 younger actors no??!

    26
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    Mute luke frankus
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:57 PM

    @Rob. No, actually!. It’s supposed to be about their life when their older. Harry has a wife and school aged children!. But only the people who actually read the article would know that…

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    Mute Joe MacCarthaigh
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:07 PM

    The character of Hermoine is white, always has been always will. This is just pandering to the pc crowd.

    83
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    Mute Joe MacCarthaigh
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:08 PM

    If it’s about their life when their older how will they explain Hermoine changing skin tone? Rachel Dolezal stuff.

    55
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    Mute luke frankus
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:10 PM

    You obviously didn’t read the article either, Joe.

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    Mute Joe Phillips
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:13 PM

    Joe, you should have a word with JK. She thinks that whoever invented the character never actually specified skin tone but she obviously hasn’t seen your notes, which I presume she must have received before inventing the character.

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    Mute Joe MacCarthaigh
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:20 PM

    I’ve seen all the films, Hermoine is white as snow.

    42
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    Mute Debi Nikita
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:28 PM

    She’s magic, Joe. She can change into anything she wants. That’s the beauty of being magical.

    28
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    Mute family guy
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:30 PM

    It’s only a book and film will people chill out. There are alot more serious things going on.

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    Mute Imperator Isachukwu
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:31 PM

    Exactly the view most folk would have family guy. Unfortunately Social Justice types are jumping on the race bandwagon with glee.

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    Mute Nicholas J Campbell
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:04 PM

    She’s not a real person. She could be played by any race or any person. Didn’t see you giving it socks when daredevils kingpin was black in the movie in the mid 00′s or the fact that nick fury is now Samuel L. Get over it. Fictional characters people. They are created to be reinvented forever. It’s a pat on the back of a novelist to see diverse versions of their characters come to life. Narrow minded moaning weirdos who have a problem with that. It’s not even a PC patrol thing, it’s a freedom of creation and appropriation thing.

    21
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    Mute Meehawwl O'Buachailla
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:06 PM

    Okay joe, it’s a spolier alert but here ya’ go. Harry in adulthood has cast a spell on Hermione changing her skin colour to black. There, is that easier for you?

    12
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    Mute Amanda Horan
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    Dec 21st 2015, 6:11 PM

    Yes Joe and the play is based on the books, not the film.

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    Mute willr
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    Dec 21st 2015, 3:31 PM

    The guy playing Ron Weasley got Brown hair… Where are the Ginger defenders?

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    Mute Tricia Golden
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:16 PM

    Guy playing Ron (Paul Thornley) looks like he has more grey hair to me (and I am a ginger….. a ginger who is going fecking grey!)

    23
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    Mute Drew TheChinaman :)
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:46 PM

    I think it’s good casting…

    But is someone not allowed be of the other opinion without needing ‘putting in their place’ by politically correct social justice touting hipsters on Twitter?

    God I really hate Twitter, and the publishing of tweets on articles/media. It just breeds more of these people who think their tweets and opinions really influence anyone….

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    Mute Imperator Isachukwu
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:28 PM

    Amen. The Social Justice crowd take the most innocuous things and ruin them. Far more people complaining about the complainers than are complaining abput the casting. Most people dont care if the actress is black or white. SJW’s are the ones reducing it to a race issue.

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    Mute Tricia Golden
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:22 PM

    Imperator Isachukwu – I’m impressed by your trolling BTW. Very subtly done.

    3
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    Mute Leo Massey
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:41 PM

    Ah JK trying to get back some PR ‘right on’ points after backing the murderous apartheid Israeli regime.

    50
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    Mute Lurfic
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:08 PM

    I’m pretty sure that as a highly accomplished billionaire she has f all need for your approval of her political views.

    45
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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:08 PM

    No need for publicity the tickets have the biggest presale of tickets in the history of the west end. I think it has 2 years pre sold already

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    Mute Leo Massey
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    Dec 21st 2015, 3:17 PM

    Nor I yours chimp

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    Mute Leo Massey
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    Dec 21st 2015, 3:20 PM

    Highly accomplished billionaires should be entitled to do anything they want. They’re above us all, and reproach, due to their billions.
    She might spit on you if you ask her nicely.

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    Mute Imperator Isachukwu
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:30 PM

    Doesn’t say anywhere that Ron doesn’t transition to being a woman after hogwarts. Ron should be a woman now.

    45
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    Mute Fozz
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:38 PM

    Pretty sure Ron being a boy was mentioned several times…

    20
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    Mute Imperator Isachukwu
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:47 PM

    Yes but he could have transitioned after leaving hogwarts. Would be stunning, brave and important if they made Ron a trans woman.

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    Mute Rock Stoneballs
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    Dec 21st 2015, 3:55 PM

    I’m actually offended they didn’t.

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    Mute Tricia Golden
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:19 PM

    Ron is clearly identified in the books as being a red haired male.

    Herminone is clearly identified as being a brown haired female.

    She is not identified as being white. She was merely played by a white actress in one interpretation of the books.

    19
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    Mute IrishGravyTrain
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    Dec 21st 2015, 5:48 PM

    Transgender is so 2014. Its all about Gender Fluid now. Keep up will you.

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    Mute Lorem Ipsum
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:38 PM

    “THIS IS SO IMPORTANT”

    Yeah, I dunno why I was getting so preoccupied with all that Syria stuff

    33
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    Mute luke frankus
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:00 PM

    Great aul trick this one! When a film or programme is dying out just switch one of the characters to be black and everybody will take notice…

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    Mute Anthony Byrne
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    Dec 21st 2015, 3:28 PM

    A complete and absolute non-article

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    Mute Paddy Kavanagh
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:41 PM

    sounds like an ali g moment.

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    Mute David Harkin
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:35 PM

    More to the point, when will the film version be released???

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    Mute ThatGuy
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    Dec 21st 2015, 3:49 PM

    The film version of a play, based on a movie that’s based on a book. :-D

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    Mute Meehawwl O'Buachailla
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:08 PM

    I’m looking forward to the outtakes reel after that then.

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    Mute Paul Darby
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:41 PM

    Aren’t the all a bit old to be playing any of these parts.

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    Mute Daniel Mccullagh
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:38 PM

    You obviously haven’t read the article. It takes place after the books

    28
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    Mute Carol Oates
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:35 PM

    I have zero issue with the casting. I think she’ll be wonderful. As others have said the character’s skin color isn’t specified and it doesn’t take away from the fact Emma Watson did a great job with the role. What I don’t like is some gleeful articles I’ve read today about how all is right now and taking a dig at Emma Watson because she’s white. Racism goes both ways. On the other hand, I can’t be good with a person of color James Bond, because unlike Hermione, the character of Bond could not be a poc based on decriptions.

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    Mute bandido
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    Dec 21st 2015, 6:22 PM

    When will the outrage commence for the other two characters being white?

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    Mute danny fitz
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    Dec 22nd 2015, 10:00 PM

    Only news here is JK Rowling now referring to herself in the third person.

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    Mute Bobby wilson
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    Dec 21st 2015, 10:52 PM

    What difference doest make about the colour of someone skin, as long they can act well……

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    Mute Anonymous Man
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    Dec 21st 2015, 10:22 PM

    Orange is the new Black…

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