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

1. #SOCIAL WELFARE: The huge increase in the number of people reporting suspected social welfare fraud is because of the “strained financial situation” the country is in – so says Barry Cowen, Fianna Fáil’s spokesperson for social protection. There were 16,142 anonymous tip-offs in the first eleven months of this year – up from just 629 five years ago.

2. #RACING: Gambling firm Betfair has launched an investigation into a possible €25 million payout over unusual odds in a race at Leopardstown today. The odds of 28/1 were still available on a winning horse – even after it had passed the finishing post.

3. #WEATHER: Met Eireann has issued a gale warning for today with winds of between 100 and 130 kph expected to hit the country. The worst affected areas are likely to be coastal areas and the north and western parts of the country.

4. #PANDA-MONIUM: The BBC has faced a huge online backlash after it chose a panda as one of its 12 women of 2011. The BBC’s magazine section of its website chosen Tian Tian, or Sweetie, the panda who recently arrived at Edinburgh Zoo, as one of its Faces of the Year 2011. 

5. #JEDWARD: You’ve probably read the rather er, interesting Guardian editorial today praising Jedward for being “the Republic’s court jesters” who have cheered the country up through the “seemingly never-ending recession”. Quite. Well, Twitter users haven’t been too impressed with the patronising piece – and we’ve put together a slideshow of the reaction here.