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

1. #NEWBRIDGE: A man has been arrested in connection with a major fire in Co. Kildare that destroyed six family homes.

2. #SAYWALL: Some big news from TheJournal.ie HQ this morning – our comments section is going behind a paywall.

3. #LOS ANGELES: Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell has been taken to hospital after reportedly being found unconscious at her home.

4. #BACK ON THE BEAT: Minister Frances Fitzgerald is due to announce later today the recruitment of 250 new gardaí, RTÉ News reports.

5. #INVESTIGATION: The Irish Independent reports that French police want to travel to Ireland as part of their investigation into the death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. If Ireland does not renew full co-operation, a complaint to an EU justice watchdog is being considered.

6. #ABUSE: New reports on court cases involving children in care have been released, including cases where a father offered to abuse his own daughter on webcam, and a child found injured in a car while their parents prepared to smoke heroin.

7. #WIGGLE ROOM: The Government may not have as much room as hoped to make this year’s budget a giveaway one and cut further taxes, the Fiscal Advisory Council is warning.

8. #GERMANWINGS: Footage recorded by a passenger showing the final moments of the flight that crashed in the French alps has been recovered.

9. #RIP: The world’s oldest person, Misao Okawa, has died in Japan, a month after celebrating her 117th birthday.