EVERY WEEKDAY EVENING, TheJournal.ie brings you the five stories you need to know before you head out the door.

1. #CRITICAL: Doctors say former Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher is fighting for his life as he remains in an induced coma in a Grenoble hospital after a skiing accident.

2. #DEADLINE: Political parties in Northern Ireland are in the final hours of talks on a range of contentious issues ahead of a final deadline set for this evening by former US diplomat Richard Haass for all sides to reach agreement.

3. #COURT: A 30-year-old man has appeared in court charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life following a stand-off in Sligo on Saturday during which shots were fired at Gardaí. [RTÉ]

4. #RUSSIA: The International Olympic Committee has said it is confident that the Games in Sochi in Russia will be ‘safe and secure’ after at least 31 people were killed in two separate attacks in Volgograd in the space of 24 hours.

5. #CÉAD MÍLE FÁILTE: The Irish tourism industry has said 2013 was the best year for tourism in Ireland since the recession began with almost 7 million visitors from overseas.