EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the nine things you need to know as you start your day.

1. #RIP: The funeral of former minister Brian Lenihan takes place today at 11am. Former Taoisigh Brian Cowen, Bertie Ahern and Albert Reynolds were among the hundreds who attended the removal yesterday evening. Celebrant Fr Eugene Kennedy told the congregation that in the days before his death, Lenihan was not worried about dying. “His sole concern was the pain and distress it was going to cause” his family, the priest said.

2. #GREECE: After being downgraded – again – by Standard & Poor’s ratings agency, Greece has become the lowest-rated country in the world. Reuters reports that Greek’s rating is even lower than Ecuador’s, which has been shut out of the international markets since defaulting two years ago.

3. #ATTACK: A teenage boy has said he is sorry for beating up a woman in Co Donegal so severely that she has lost 50 per cent of the use of her left arm. The boy stole the woman’s handbag in the attack which left her hospitalised for nine days, according to the Independent.

4. #EMIGRATION: The number of Irish people emigrating to Britain has risen to its highest level in over ten years, according to a report in the Irish Times. The figure rose by a quarter last year to almost 14,000.

5. #AIRPORTS: Galway Airport will appeal to the government to reverse its decision on cutting state funding to the airport, RTÉ reports. The airport has warned it could be forced to close with the loss of 180 jobs without state support.

6. #US 2012: The first major debate of the US presidential election campaign took place last night with the seven Republican Party candidates presenting a largely unified attack against President Obama’s economic policies and healthcare reforms, according to the New York Times.

7. #ABUSE CLAIMS: Children from UK institutions who were sent to Australia over a 40-year period and claim they were physically, mentally and sexually abused in Australia are suing the Commonwealth and New South Wales governments, as well as the charity that was responsible for their care. ABC reports that some of those sent by the charity to Australia say they were forced to leave school and work on huge farms.

8. #PLANKING: Parents in New Zealand have expressed their anger at a planking competition organised by their children’s school. Planking involves people lying still in unusual – sometimes dangerous – places and posting photos of their endeavours online. The New Zealand Herald reports that the school says it showed the students images of what was ‘responsible’ planking as a guide.

9. #WHAT WOMEN WANT?: Burger King claims to have finally answered the age-old question of what it is women really want: spam burgers. But don’t all rush out at once, ladies! The Daily Mail reports that the burger is currently only available in Japan.