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

1. #BREXIT: The UK Government has officially announced that it wants to leave the customs union in order to negotiate a new deal with the EU.

2. #RIO: The president of the Olympic Council of Ireland has apologised unreservedly to athletes and their families for the widespread ticketing issues during last year’s Olympic Games.

3. #ÁRAS: Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell has said there must be an election for the position of president of Ireland – and that’s why he is throwing his hat in the ring for the job.

4. #RACISM: Transport workers spoke to us about the racism they’ve experienced while on the job.

5. #NORTH KOREA: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said he will hold off on a planned missile strike near Guam, but warned the move would go ahead in the event of further “reckless actions” by the US.

6. #PROTEST: Protesters in North Carolina toppled a statue of a Confederate soldier overnight at a rally against racism.

7. #TAYLOR SWIFT: The pop superstar plans to make donations to multiple organisations that help sexual assault victims defend themselves after winning a lawsuit against a former radio DJ she accused of groping her.

8. #FRANCE: Terrorism has been ruled out after a car ploughed into a restaurant in Paris last night, killing a 13-year-old girl.

9. #ISLAMIC STATE: Efforts by Twitter to quickly remove IS postings are limiting the effectiveness of the group’s propaganda, new research has found.