EVERY DAY, TheJournal.ie brings you nine things we really think you ought to know with your morning cup of coffee.

1. #IRENE New York City has effectively shut down as it braces itself for the impact of Hurricane Irene, which is expected to make landfall on Long Island later today. Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina have already been lashed by high winds and rough seas, and at least ten people are thought to have died, including an 11-year-old boy who died when a tree crashed into an apartment where he was sheltering.

2. #LIBYA Libya’s leader Colonel Gaddafi is reportedly ready to begin talks on the transfer of power, according to the BBC. Rebels believe that Gaddafi is still in the Tripoli area, which is facing severe fuel, food and water shortages. There is also speculation that he may be in his hometown of Sirte, with rebels planning an assault on the town if negotiations with tribal leaders there fail.

3. #AHERN The Sunday Times reports today that former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has received more than €270,000 in expenses since he stepped down. Colin Coyle reports that the expenses, which are separate from his salary or pension, went on secretarial services and mobile phone bills. Two secretarial assistants are provided to Ahern by the Department of the Taoiseach.

4. #STABBING The man stabbed to death in Tallaght in the early hours of Saturday morning had been involved in a “slagging match” after a night in a local pub, according to the Sunday World. John Murdoch, 23, was found stabbed at the Cushlawn Dale Estate, where he and some friends had been involved in an altercation with another group.

5. #INDIA An Indian anti-corruption activist has ended a hunger strike after 12 days. Anna Hazare accepted a glass of coonut water mixed with honey from two small girls, reports the Times of India, after MPs in India expressed support for changes to anti-corruption legislation.

6. #DEBT FORGIVENESS A poll in the Sunday Independent has shown that 70 per cent of people support debt forgiveness for those unable to meet mortgage repayments. Earlier this week a letter to the Irish Times – in which a Tralee man detailed the spectre of hunger at his families door as they struggled to make ends meet – raised the issue of families going hungry in order to keep a roof over their heads. Earlier this week readers of TheJournal.ie appeared to be evenly split on the issue of debt forgiveness.

7. #DUBLIN BUS The number 19 bus will travel its route for the last time in Dublin today, despite efforts by a campaign, backed by councillors and TDs. Dublin Bus has said that the route, which travels from Jamestown Road to Bulfin Road, will be serviced by other buses. The campaign said that the number 19 has been travelling the route, either as a bus or a tram, since the 1930s.

8. #ON YER BIKE ENDA Taoiseach Enda Kenny will be getting around on two wheels today as he takes part in the Sean Kelly Tour in Waterford today. RTÉ reports that it’s the largest cycling event in the country with proceeds going to Down Syndrome Ireland.

9. #AIR GUITAR Aline ‘The Devil’s Neice’ Westphal has been crowned the world air guitar champion in Finland. The Telegraph reports that the German woman took the prize with her take on Foo Fighter’s Pretender. All contestants also had to rock out to Rage Against the Machine’s Without A Face. The ability to play actual guitar is not a requirement for the contest.