5 Things you need to know today

A selection of stories you need to read to be in the know on Thursday

1. Still-life of Essex town defined as most Eurosceptic in country

It was for her daughter Essie's future that Clare Whetlor decided six months ago to move to be with her family in Clacton-on-Sea, the seaside resort town on the Essex coast. "She's two. Where we used to live, the majority of children did not speak English as a first language so we felt that would have an impact on her education," Whetlor says, on the promenade beside Clacton pier. Like a large majority in the area, she voted to leave the European Union in the referendum last Thursday, an unsurprising result considering Clacton has become known variously as the most Eurosceptic town in Britain and "Brexit-on-Sea". With an ageing population that is 95 per cent white and British, the town has the only elected Ukip MP in Douglas Carswell and 16 councillors from the party. The district of Tendring, where Clacton is located, returned a majority of just under 70 per cent to leave the EU last week. On its wide wooden pier, the elderly residents mix with tourists to look out on the North Sea coast, in the area which is a popular retirement destination for people from east London. Founded as a seaside resort in 1871, the town has seen a drop in tourism as foreign holidays become more popular. For many of those walking the boardwalk, the central issue in the referendum was immigration and what they perceive as overcrowding.

For more in depth news and analysis on Brexit click here

2. Harris apologises for reply to woman’s sarcastic praise of HSE

Minister for Health Simon Harris has apologised to a terminally ill woman for a letter sent in his name which wrongly suggested she had praised her care atCork University Hospital (CUH). Anne Herlihy wrote a sarcastic email to the Minister which begins "I'm writing to inform you about the exceptional care and treatment which I received in one of Cork's acute hospitals of excellence recently." It is probable the person who responded on the Minister's behalf did not read past that paragraph as the response in the Minister's name stated: "It is indeed heartening to hear such a positive account of the excellent care and attention afforded to you from the dedicated medical and nursing staff." Mr Harris apologised to Ms Herlihy for what happened. He said what had happened had been "entirely unacceptable".

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3. Jupiter mission may unlock the solar system’s secrets

The planet Jupiter might be the second-biggest object in our solar system but we know surprisingly little about this strange, inhospitable world. Winds rip across its cloud tops at more than 600km per hour and storms perpetually rage across its visible surface. It has a crushing gravitational pull that sweeps up anything in its path, no matter how big or small. It has a magnetic field of spectacular strength that makes our own seem inconsequential. It emits so much radiation that it would fry anything left unprotected; and yet 78 per cent of the planet is made up of one of the lightest elements known, helium. A €1 billion satellite called Juno is set for a rendezvous with this very strange planet come July 4th on a mission that will unlock Jupiter's secrets. It will reveal what goes on beneath the planet's cloud tops, tell us whether it has a solid or liquid core and explain where the planet gets is magnetic fields.

For more in depth science news and analysis click here

4. Third-level college chaplaincies to be open to lay people

Lay people will be entitled to apply for State-funded chaplaincy posts in third-level colleges under changes aimed at ensuring they meet public sector recruitment rules. This follows a review to be published shortly by the Higher Education Authority that raises concern about the arrangements used in many colleges to hire chaplains. The report shows higher education authorities are spending almost €2 million a year on chaplaincy services, funded for the most part by a combination of State grants and student contributions. However, it found many institutions have "legacy" arrangements in place, which did not involve a formal process of appointment in line with public sector rules.

For more student-related news and analysis click here

5. Kurds best-placed to fight Isis along Syrian border

Since the outbreak of revolutions in the Arab world five years ago, Turkey has been unable to shield itself from violence. Although responsibility has not yet been claimed for Tuesday night's attack at Istanbul's Ataturk airport, which killed at least 41 people and injured more than 249, signs point to the Syria-based jihadist group Islamic State. Deadly bomb attacks over the past number of years in Turkey have been carried out by the terrorist group, often using Turkish citizens, who received training at camps in Isis-controlled Syria. Turkey shares a 900km-long border with Syria, 100km of which is controlled by Isis on the Syrian side. Critics say the delay in Turkey's decision to allow US warplanes use air bases close to the Syrian border last year allowed Isis to build up capabilities throughout much of 2014 and 2015.

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