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

1. #IRISH WATER More speculation over water charges today, with the Irish Times saying that the coalition is considering fixed-rate water fees until 2018. This comes after Joan Burton saying that a family of four will pay less than €200 on water.

2. #USA It was a disastrous US midterm elections result for Barack Obama – the Republicans won the senate, seizing at least seven seats from Democrats.

3. #RUHAMA Over 300 women affected by trafficking and prostitution needed the help of organisation Ruhama last year, which it says is an increase of 18% on the previous year.

4. #GAZA Amnesty International says that Israel committed war crimes in its offensive on Gaza, and showed a “shocking disregard for Gaza civilians”. This has been rejected by Israel.

5. #ASK.FM The CEO of Ask.com has said that they parted ways with the owners of the controversial Ask.fm site. He also said on Morning Ireland that Ask.com are aware and working on issues around cyberbullying on such sites.

6. #MUMPS The number of people diagnosed with mumps has doubled this year – 400 cases in all, said the HSE. It is urging people to get vaccinated.

7. #FUGITIVE A US man accused of kidnapping his son from Seattle was found with the boy on the remote South Pacific atoll of Neiue, 5,500km from home. It comes after an international search was launched for them.

8. #STRESS Returned Irish emigrants are more likely to have problems with alcohol, according to a study which looked at 8,000 Irish people over a 10-year period.

9. #TRIAL The jury in the trial of Aurimas Andruska, who is accused of murdering Jolante Lubiene and her daughter Enrika last year, will begin their deliberations today.