LAST UPDATE | 4 Jul 2018

EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you all the news you need to know as you start the day.

1. #WATER: Here’s how our public services are attempting to conserve water during the heatwave.

2. #VARADKAR: The Taoiseach has reportedly said he sympathises with Donald Trump about the media and accused reporters of following rumour rather than the workings of Government. [Irish Times]

3. #HATE CRIME: A new report has found Ireland has one of the highest rates of hate crime in the EU but we have not got the proper laws to address it.

4. #LIVING WAGE: The 2018 living wage has been set at €11.90 per hour, up from €11.70 last year due to the rising cost of housing.

5. #CRIMINAL ASSETS: Over €4 million was returned to the public coffers following successful seizures by the Criminal Assets Bureau.

6. #SALISBURY: An unknown substance has hospitalised two people less than 8 miles from where Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned.

7. #THAILAND: A new video taken by the Thai navy shows a members of a trapped football team laughing as they greet the camera to say they are in good health after their discovery by divers.

8. #WEATHER: Guess what? It’s going to be roasting again.

9. #SENTENCED: A man has been jailed for his part in a bank machine scam that involved distracting elderly victims before taking their cash.