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.