EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the stories you need to know as you kick off your day.

1. #IMBALANCE The European Commission warned that Ireland is among 16 member states facing “macroeconomic imbalances”. RTE reports that it says high public and private debt levels require policy action and monitoring here.

2. #IN THE BLACK Ulster Bank made €752m in profit last year, which marks its first year in profit since 2008. Its chief executive said the strong performance was due to debt management and rising asset prices.

3. #ISLAMIC STATE Three men were arrested in the US for plotting to help the Islamic State group. One of them spoke of shooting President Barack Obama, authorities said.

4. #EGYPT Bombs exploded outside the offices of mobile phone companies Vodafone and Etisalat, and a restaurant in Cairo today, wounding two people. A fourth bomb wounded two restaurant staff.

5. #SLEEP IN People who sleep for over eight hours a day could be at a greater risk of a stroke, a new study from the University of Cambridge says. The risk doubles for older people who persistently sleep longer than average.

6. #ROGUE TRADER It’s 20 years since Nick Leeson brought down Barings Bank. He lives in Galway and writes for us exclusively about what the incident taught him.

7. #AFFAIRS Adultery has been legalised in South Korea after a controversial adultery law which criminalised extra-marital sex was removed. Nearly 5,500 people have been arraigned on adultery charges in the past six years.

8. #OUCH Madonna fell over while performing at the Brits last night – she said her cape was supposed to be pulled off by a dancer, but was too tight. “Nothing can stop me,” she said afterwards.

9. #BOOBY TRAP A man was injured when a suspected booby trap bomb exploded outside his house in Crossmaglen. The Irish News reports he could lose an eye as a result of the blast.