EVERY WEEKDAY evening, TheJournal.ie brings you the five things you need to know by 5pm.

1. #WHIPLESS: Labour TD Tommy Broughan has lost the party whip after voting against the renewal of the bank guarantee scheme today, contrary to the party line. In our poll today on the scheme’s extension, almost two-thirds said they did not think it should be approved, while a quarter said the guarantee should be extended.

2. #MISAPPROPRIATION: Gardaí in Gorey have arrested a man in connection with the alleged misappropriation of around €1.5 million from the town’s post office.

3. #SANCTIONS: EU foreign ministers have announced a number of new sanctions against Iran and Syria today. The sanctions follow increased pressure on Iran in the wake of an attack on the British embassy in Tehran on Tuesday, and renewed efforts to push the Syrian government to cease its violent crackdown on political dissent.

4. #COLLAPSE: The Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee is to outline the terms of reference for a public inquiry into the causes of the financial collapse after TDs were told this morning that the committee has the power to carry out such an investigation, despite last month’s Oireachtas powers referendum rejection. Meanwhile, look who is doing (relatively…) well in the eurozone now.

5. #DRUG TUNNEL: US authorities have discovered an incredible 600-yard tunnel used to smuggle drugs across the Mexican border. Check out some photos of the tunnel, which took between six months and a year to build. The tunnel’s discovery also led to the seizure of 32 tonnes of marijuana.