Every morning, TheJournal.ie brings you the nine things you need to know as you kick off your day…

1. #SALES: Two thirds of urban retail shops across the country will be open for business today, enticing customers with slashed prices and once-off deal, after Retail Excellence Ireland reported that December retail sales were up for the first time in five years last weekend. Here’s a round-up of which shops are opening today.

2. #ROADS: Gardai at Ballybofey are investigating a road accident late last night at Treanamullin, Stranorlar, Co Donegal, in which a man aged in his mid-20s died. The road where the collision occurred is currently closed, pending an examination by Garda forensic collision investigators.

3. #SLOPPING OUT: New figures show the number of prisoners forced to slop out in Mountjoy Prison is at the lowest level in years. Ireland’s prisons have been criticised internationally as inhuman and degrading for making prisoners use buckets or commodes in cells which are often shared with other people.

4. #WEATHER: Met Éireann has issued a weather warning for today, predicting rain over the southwest which will spread countrywide by early afternoon. The possibility of falling as snow on the Donegal hills has also been raised.

5. #EGYPT: A new constitution drafted by the allies of President Mohamed Morsi has been approved in Egypt, meaning elections will take place in a matter of months. The draft had been opposed by leftists, liberals and Christians.

6. #NEW YORK: The man who shot dead two firefighters tending to a blaze in New York state on Christmas Eve left a note saying he wanted to burn down his neighbourhood and “do what I like doing best, killing people”, the Guardian reports. William Spengler, 62, had served 17 years in prison for murdering his grandmother before the attack.

7. #INDIA: A policeman has died following violent protests in New Delhi staged by members of the public furious over the gang rape of a woman in Indian capital, Al Jazeera reports. Subash Tomar, 47, was among 50 police officers injured in the massive protests against sex crimes, which have taken place across the country this week.

8. #JAPAN: Japan’s parliament has formally elected Shinzo Abe as prime minister today – marking the seventh change in prime ministers in just six years, reports the New York Times.

9. #SYRIA: The commander of Syria’s military police has reportedly defected and joined rebel forces, Ynet News reports. Major General Abdulaziz al-Shalal is the highest ranking military commander to defect since the beginning of the conflict.