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

1. #EGYPT: A group of protesters gathered outside the Egyptian embassy in Dublin this afternoon calling for the release of the four Irish citizens being held in Cairo. A Turkish diplomat who met with the four Halawa siblings said they are in good health and are expected before the local prosecutor’s office today.

2. #STRIKE: Marks & Spencer employees have voted overwhelmingly to picket at four stores being closed down by the company in Dublin, Westmeath and Kildare. The industrial action will take place in September.

3. #TAXES: Telecoms giant Vodafone made a confidential settlement with the British government over the amount of tax paid on an Irish subsidiary which was based in Dublin, the Guardian has revealed.

4. #CHARGED: A 19-year-old man has appeared in court charged with assaulting a woman at Birr Vintage Festival in Offaly earlier this month, RTE reports. The attack left the woman – who emigrated to Canada from Birr years ago but was returning for a holiday – with serious eye injuries.

5. #PISTORIUS: The trial of Oscar Pistorius, accused of the pre-meditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has been set for March next year following a brief hearing at a court in South Africa.