Updated 09.00 am

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

1. #BUDGET 2015: Speculation abounds about what’s coming from Government tomorrow, here’s what people are saying in the south-east.

2. #EBOLA: US President Barack Obama has issued a directive to hospitals after a ‘breach of protocol’ is blamed for the Ebola infection of a Texas healthcare worker.

3. #PISTORIUS: Oscar Pistorius is back in court to begin his sentencing hearing.

4. #ABORTION: An Irish Times poll has shown that 68% of people are in favour of a vote on whether abortion should be allowed in cases of rape or a fatal foetal abnormality.

5. #ANGLO: Gardaí are preparing a warrant for the extradition of former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm according to the Irish Independent. Gardaí have refused to make an official comment on the reports.

6. #HONG KONG: Dozens of masked men have rushed protester barricades at Hong Kong’s main pro-democracy site forcing police to intervene.

7. #HOUSE BUILDING: The building of houses grew by nearly 5% last month, the fastest level of growth since 2000.

8. #GRADE INFLATION: Freedom of Information requests for The Irish Times have found that students are more likely to receive firsts in DCU and UCC.

9. #SANTA’S HELPERS: The Santa House Express at Palmerstown House and Estate in Kildare is looking for 50 people to help out in the run up to Christmas.