EACH WEEKDAY EVENING, TheJournal.ie brings you five stories you really should check out by 5pm.

1. #UNEMPLOYMENT: The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show that unemployment is at its highest rate since last December, with the number of people signing on the Live Register rising by 1,6000 in August.

2. #ARAS2011: Micheál Martin, leader of Fianna Fáil, has just announced to reporters at Leinster House that the party will not run an internal candidate in the upcoming presidential election.

3. #HOSPITALS: Some non-critical facilities within the HSE West hospital structure are to be relocated within the month in a bid to reduce waiting times at University Hospital Galway, it has been revealed today. Meanwhile, new CSO data says 30 per cent of adults have a medical card – and that hospital waiting lists are getting much longer.

4. #DEBT FORGIVENESS: Finance Minister Michael Noonan has said today that banks need to distinguish between those who cannot – and those who will not  - pay their mortgages. Meanwhile, economist Ronan Lyons writes in TheJournal.ie about the myths and figures being thrown about in the debate about whether there should be mortgage debt forgiveness.

5. #SINÉAD O’CONNOR: The singer has explained the reasons behind her decision to pull out of a planned Late Late show appearance, writing today in her blog an RTÉ staff member was “patronising, insulting and disrespectful” to her. O’Connor that said believed the broadcaster’s reason for wanting her on the show was to exploit her recent public search for a partner, and make her appear as a “crazy performing monkey”.