Every morning, TheJournal.ie brings you the nine stories you need to know as you start your day.

1. #CRASHES Three people have been killed in road crashes in the last 24 hours. They happened in Louth and Kerry. There’s reports of heavy fog in many areas this morning, and drivers are being urged to take care.

2. #HEALTH Almost 300 hospital beds could close next year if the Government goes ahead with spending cuts of several hundred million euro, the Department of Health is warning. The Irish Times has the full story.

3. #OSCAR The judge in the Pistorius trial is due to rule this morning if he is guilty of culpable homicide, after clearing him yesterday of murder.

4. #CHARM OFFENSIVE Michael Noonan is in Italy today as he ramps up the government’s effort to repay a portion of Ireland’s bailout loans early, potentially saving €1.5 billion over the next five years.

5. #ESCAPED An intensive manhunt is underway in Ohio for a teen convicted of killing three students at a suburban Cleveland high school, after his escape from prison.

6. #KNIFE-EDGE Another day, another poll, as the battle continues in the Scottish referendum debate. The latest survey puts the ‘no’ camp ahead by 52 per cent to 48, the BBC reports.

7. #ISLAMIC STATE The CIA has tripled its estimate of the number of Islamic State fighters on the ground in Syria and Iraq. Up to 31,500 active fighters may be involved, the agency says.

8. #NUDES REPORTS: So, there was a naturist conference in Leitrim. Twitter is awash with naked punnery this morning, as a result.

9. #THE OUTLOOK Another fine day on the way, as our Indian summer continues. The good weather’s set to continue into the weekend too, with temperatures of up to 22 degrees tomorrow.