Shutterstock / Yulia Davidovich Shutterstock / Yulia Davidovich / Yulia Davidovich

EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the stories you need to know as you wake up.

1. #RENTAL CRISIS: ’Rent pressure zones’ in Dublin and Cork are to be targeted in a new rental action plan.

2. #SECRETARY OF STATE: Donald Trump is set to snub Mitt Romney and pick a global oil chief (with no diplomatic experience and lots of ties to Russia) for his most senior Cabinet role.

3. #STABBINGS: Three stabbings at Cloverhill Prison involving four men over the last week are being investigated by authorities.

4. #DRUGS: There has been a 62% increase in drug-related deaths in Ireland over the last 10 years.

5. #REFUGEES: The number of refugees resettled in Ireland has doubled since 2014, but the overall number here remains low.

6. #FLOOD DAMAGE: Fianna Fáil has a private member’s bill in the Dáil today calling for more flood protections.

7. #SYRIA: The ruling Syrian regime says it is on the verge of retaking the beleaguered city of Aleppo from rebel forces after years of fighting.

8. #CHILD CARE: An addicted and homeless mother has failed in a bid to be reunited with her child.

9. #COURTS: Gardaí changed a woman’s children’s nappies after she was allegedly kidnapped a court has heard.