Every morning, TheJournal.ie brings you the nine stories you need to know a little before 9am.

1. #GAZA STRIP The PLO has backed demands by Hamas for a truce under specific terms. Meanwhile, a ‘die-in’ protest against the ongoing situation will take place in Dublin tonight, and will feature several speakers including ex-rugby player Trevor Hogan.

2. #MH17 A national day of mourning is being marked in the Netherlands today for the victims of the MH17 tragedy. Meanwhile, the plane’s black boxes are being sent to British aviation investigators for analysis.

3. #HOMELESSNESS There has been a sharp rise in the number of homeless people turning to Focus Ireland for help. Its annual report, out today, says that it dealt with 10,000 people last year – that’s an increase of 25% since 2012.

4. #TRAGIC The teenager who died in yesterday’s quad crash has been named as Kenneth Ryan (17). He died after the quad bike he was driving crashed on a public road in east Limerick. His uncle was one of the emergency service members who attended the incident, says the Daily Mail.

5. #PEACHES GELDOF The inquest into the death of Peaches Geldof will take place today in Gravesend Town Hall. The daughter of Paula Yates and Bob Geldof was found dead at her home in Kent in April.

6. #LEFT ALLIANCE Independent TDs deny that they are setting up a new political party that could be called ‘Left Alliance’. Despite reports suggesting this, Kildare North TD Catherine Murphy said “there isn’t a party being formed called the Left Alliance that I am involved in”.

7. #SEA FOG The Coast Guard is warning people to stay away from areas affected by sea fog, after a number of people had to be rescued because of it. Three girls were rescued from Sandymount Beach last night, while a woman was also taken to hospital after she fell on rocks in Dalkey.

8. #BANKING A takeover bid of Ulster Bank by a management-supported private equity firm is being considered by Royal Bank of Scotland, the Irish Examiner reports. The price for the bank would be in the rage of €500m to €2.5bn.

9. #LET IT BE A pine tree planted in memory of Beatle George Harrison has to be replanted… because the original was killed by beetles. It had grown to 10 feet before it was struck down by an insect infestation.