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

1. #TRANSPORT: Major transport disruption is expected as a number of Irish Rail and Dublin Bus services have been cancelled or delayed due to secondary picketing to do with the ongoing Bus Éireann strike, now in its eighth day.

2. #CRASH: The recovery of the bodies of five family members who died in a helicopter crash in Wales while en route to Dublin is continuing this morning.

3. #TRUMP: Ousted White House national security adviser Michael Flynn has reportedly offered to provide testimony to officials investigating alleged ties between Russia and Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, in exchange for immunity from prosecution.

4. #RESCUE 116: The funeral of Captain Mark Duffy, the Coast Guard pilot who died when the Rescue 116 helicopter crashed off the Mayo coast a fortnight ago, has taken place in Louth.

5. #SOCIAL HOUSING: The government hasn’t built any social housing units with the money it got from selling Bord Gáis Energy, despite promising that’s how it would be used.

6. #SPEED LIMIT: Dublin City Council has extended the 30km/hr speed limit in the city to residential areas and in the vicinity of schools.

7. #WEST BANK: Israel has approved the first West Bank settlement in two decades, amid criticism from Palestine and the White House.

8. #CONTROVERSIAL: Comedian Ricky Gervais has defended himself after he came under fire for a joke about dead babies in his latest show.

9. #WEATHER: There’ll be heavy rain in many areas today, with thundery downpours in some places.