EVERY DAY, TheJournal.ie brings you nine things you need to know with your morning cup of coffee.

1. #SHUTDOWN: After sixteen days of a partial government shutdown, a deal has been agreed to end the US political crisis. CNN reports that Congress passed a bill end the shutdown and raise the federal debt limit, and it was signed by President Barack Obama.

2. #GILLIGAN: A deal on the sale of veteran criminal John Gilligan’s Jessbrook estate could be completed within days, the Herald is reporting this morning. According to the estate agent, a new owner could be in place by the end of the week.

3. #DOCTORS: There’s been a breakthrough in the talks between the HSE and doctors’ union the IMO. Agreement was reached on the final sticking point, regarding the sanctions hospitals will face for breaching working time rules for junior doctors. The deal will now be put to union members for a vote.

4. #NANNY: The trial of Irish nanny Aisling McCarthy Brady – who is accused of violently injuring a young baby in her care, who subsequently died – could take place in spring of next year. It’s been ‘tentatively scheduled’ for 7 April. McCarthy Brady has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

5. #PLANE: 49 people are feared dead after a plane crash in Laos. Seven French citizens, six Australians and five Thais were among those thought to have been killed when the Lao Airlines plane came down in stormy weather near Pakse airport.

6. #LOCAL: The Government’s expected to publish the Local Government Bill today, The Irish Times reports. The legislation will make way for the abolition for 80 town councils and a reduction in the number of councillors in the country from 1,650 to 950. It was approved by Cabinet on Tuesday.

7. #DRUGS: Turns out James Reilly was dead set against the idea of a prescription charge not long ago. An old TV interview with the Health Minister has resurfaced in which he pledges to get rid of the unpopular levy. It’s since risen from 50c to €2.50.

8. #FOOD: Ireland is expected to receive an increase in the funding it gets from the EU for food and basic assistance, RTÉ reports. The country has received €14 million from the fund in the last seven years. The increase is due to a rise in the number of people qualifying for the money.

9. #MARRIAGE: A priest in Clare is offering his parishioners low key, recession-style weddings. According to the Irish Examiner, Fr Conor Cunningham is introducing ‘community weddings’ which take place after Sunday mass and ‘micro weddings’ which include just the couple and their two witnesses.