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

1. #FRANCE: French people will begin voting today in the first round of the most unpredictable presidential election in decades, with the outcome seen as vital for the future of the beleaguered European Union.

2. #CITIZENS’ ASSEMBLY: Assembly members will today make recommendations on how they believe Ireland’s abortion laws should be changed.

3. #MATERNITY HOSPITAL: Details of the agreement that would see the new national maternity hospital be built at the St Vincent’s Hospital site, which is owned by the Sisters of Charity, have been published in the Sunday Independent. The report notes that a clause in the deal protects the hospital’s clinical services from “religions, ethnic or other discrimination”.

4. #REDRESS: In related news, the Irish Mail on Sunday reports that the €3 million owed by Sisters of Charity to the redress scheme for institutional abuse survivors has essentially been paid. The newspaper says the nuns’ legal costs for the Ryan Commission, estimated to be in the region of €5 million, will be offset against the money they owe.

5. #LABOUR: Labour leader Brendan Howlin has hit out at former coalition partner Fine Gael – and “racist” US President Donald Trump – in the keynote speech at his party’s national conference.

6. #LONDON: Arthur Collins, the boyfriend of reality TV star Ferne McCann, has been arrested in connection with an acid attack in an east London nightclub earlier this month.

7. #COURT: A county Kildare man who was involved in setting fire to a car outside the home of a woman has been sentenced to eight months in prison.

8. #GAMERCON: A month on from the GamerCon fiasco, customers are still waiting for their money back.

9. #TRAINS: A new campaign by Irish Rail is aiming to highlight the dangers of people trespassing and crossing train tracks, with drivers speaking out about their fear of hitting people on the tracks.

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