EVERY MORNING,TheJournal.ie brings you the nine stories you need to know as you kick off your day.

1. #STRIKE: More than 2,000 Marks & Spencer workers are to strike today with the 17 stores across the country closed as a result.

2. #LIGHTS OUT: With an all-out strike at ESB looming and a warning that all ESB generated power will be “off the bars”, Cork City Council has said homes and businesses could also be left without water because back-up generators are not installed in all of its water systems, the Irish Daily Mail reports.

3. #TEACHERS: Teachers who are members of the ASTI would be up to €200 worse off if they reject the Haddington Road Agreement again, with the Irish Times reporting over 500 second-level schools could close from mid-January.

4. #COPYRIGHT: Junior Minister Seán Sherlock has defended the enactment of controversial copyright law in an interview with TheJournal.ie, saying he received “a torrent of abuse” on social media over the issue last year.

5. #RACISM: The number of racist incidents in 2013 rose by 85 per cent, according to the Immigrant Council of Ireland, which found the majority of cases were verbal or written abuse.

6. #WAITING LISTS: Figures have revealed thousands of children with serious illnesses are still on long waiting lists with over 8,000 of them waiting for treatment across the country, despite a pledge by Minister Reilly to end year-long appointment waits, the Irish Times reports.

7. #AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: Problems with  air traffic control systems at several UK airports are causing delays, Sky News reports. Dublin Airport has confirmed that some flights to London are experiencing delays as a result.

8. #TRADE: Some 159 countries have agreed to a World Trade Organisation deal worth $1 trillion, to give developing nations a boost in global trade. BBC reports.

9. #MANDELA: South Africa is today beginning preparations to host world leaders eager to pay their respect to Nelson Mandela during ten days of mourning for the anti-apartheid icon, AFP reports.