EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the stories you need to know as you wake up.

1. #PEDDLING FICTION: US President Barack Obama hit out at Republican presidential candidates for their anti-Muslim rhetoric in his final State of the Union address last night.

2. #JOB CUTS: Siptu is seeking to meet management at C&C after the company announced 144 job losses at a manufacturing plant in Co Tipperary yesterday.

3. #EMERGENCY EXIT: New emergency procedures are planned for the M50 motorway, aimed at reducing the delays caused by major accidents on the route.

4. #TURKEY BOMB: Three Russians have been arrested in connection with the suicide bomb that killed 10 people, at least eight of them Germans, in Istanbul yesterday.

5. #GULF WATERS: The US has reportedly apologised to Tehran after Iranian naval forces detained 10 US Navy sailors that had drifted into its waters.

6. #SONG FOR IRELAND: Former Westlife star Nicky Byrne has been selected to represent Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest next May.

7. #ELECTIONS 2016: The Irish Times reports that the Green Party has sent RTÉ a legal letter over its exclusion from two general election debates of party leaders, selected on the basis of Dáil representation.

8. #PETITION: The Oireachtas Public Petitions Committee will today discuss a request to have Conor McGregor’s face featured on the €1 coin.

9. #ON THE ROAD: Are you commuting this morning? Follow our live blog for the latest traffic, transport and weather news.