Every afternoon TheJournal.ie brings you 5 things you really need to know by 5pm.

1. # NORTHERN IRELAND: The British Home Secretary Theresa May has said there is a “strong possibility” that Britain could be attacked by terrorists seeking regime change in Northern Ireland.

The Home Office has raised the terror threat from ‘moderate’ to ‘substantial’.

2. # PALESTINE: An Independent Palestinian state could be possible within a year, according to US President Barack Obama.

Speaking to the UN General Assembly, Obama said: “… Next year, we can have an agreement that will lead to a new member of the United Nations – an independent, sovereign state of Palestine, living in peace with Israel.”

3.  # BAILOUT REPUBLIC: Bond yields hit another all-time record high today – reaching 6.552% this morning.

4. # HEROIN: Heroin use and homelessness are on the rise in Ireland.

Drug treatment charity Merchants Quay blames “the rising tide of desperation” in the country for a surge in people seeking treatment for heroin addiction and homelessness support.

(Bearing that in mind…)

5. # BRITISH MONARCHY: Our hearts don’t bleed for the Queen of England – who has just had her application for a poverty grant turned down.

The Independent saw documents that showed officials had told the Queen that poverty grants were intended to help low-income families, as well as to pay for the heating of schools, hospitals and projects overseen by housing authorities.

Not, they might have added, to top up the £15m spent every year for the upkeep of palaces and such…