EVERY DAY, TheJournal.ie brings you nine things you need to know with your morning cup of coffee.

1. #TEACHERS: Industrial action by ASTI teachers begins today. From now on, teachers will refuse to attend meetings outside of normal school hours or take on any extra duties without additional pay.

2. #ATHLONE: The man that was charged with the sexual assault of two young girls in Athlone last weekend is to get police protection in prison. [The Examiner]

3. #PERU TWO: A Peru court has pressed Michaella McCollum Connolly and Melissa Reid for a fuller confession of guilt yesterday, after a prosecutor refused to accept their plea last week.

4. #COWEN: A formal portrait of former Taoiseach Brian Cowen could cost up to €10,000.

5. #ARREARS: One third of home loans are two years in arrears, warns the Central Bank. [The Examiner]

6. #FISCAL CUTS: More than one third of voters say the government should stick with or increase the €3.1 billion target in Budget 2014, according to a new poll. [The Irish Times]

7. #POLLING: Dublin City Council have apologised after sending out polling cards for deceased people.

8. #ITALY: The Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta is tipped to win the parliamentary confidence vote that is due to take place today.

9. #NEW YORK: While the US shutdown isn’t having much impact on the markets, it is affecting some tourist attractions, such as the Statue of Liberty, which is closed. [Voice of America]