The national vaccination programme has begun accepting registrations for people aged 59 and over the next 10 days, those aged 50-59 can register.

Doctors have warned significantly more potent forms of cannabis available in Ireland are resulting in record levels of hospital admissions from the drug - with admission rates trebling over the past decade.

At least 23 people, including children, were killed and 65 others were hospitalised when a railway overpass collapsed onto a busy road in Mexico City last night.

The Minister for Health will today seek Government approval to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol products as soon as possible.

Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has called for a nationwide lockdown as the country's tally of coronavirus infections surged past 20 million, becoming the second nation after the United States to pass the grim milestone.

In the first of three reports exploring racism in Ireland, Our Social Affairs Correspondent Ailbhe Conneely looks at the political representation among minority groups and hate speech online.

Nursing home residents will be able to see more visitors and go on organised outings as restrictions are eased.

Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien will today bring legislation on affordable housing to Cabinet.

Tanya Watson has become the first Irish female diver to qualify for the Olympic games, following her success at the FINA Diving World Cup in Tokyo.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is under pressure to overturn rules barring travel from India, said it was "highly unlikely" travellers would face maximum penalties of five years in jail and a A$66,000 (€42,000) fine.

Chinese navy ships have arrived off Bali to help haul up a submarine that sank last month killing 53 crew, the Indonesian Navy said as it geared up for a deep-sea salvage operation.

G7 foreign ministers meet in London for their first face-to-face talks in more than two years today, with calls for urgent joined-up action to tackle the most pressing global threats.

A full schedule of train services resumes across the country today, but capacity on board remains at 25% before rising to 50% from 7 May.

€5m is to be made available to help businesses upgrade their websites to boost opportunities in online retail.

Billionaire couple Bill Gates and Melinda Gates have said in a joint statement that they have decided to end their marriage.

Jet suit developer Gravity Industries has joined forces with Britain's Royal Marines to test how their product can assist in Maritime Boarding Operations.

The European Commission has challenged the UK to align with EU food safety rules as a "far-reaching" solution that would remove the need for most of the checks and controls on food products entering Northern Ireland from Britain.

The HSE is understood to have recommended to the Department of Health that vaccines should continue to be administered under the planned age sequence, oldest to youngest in descending order.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has praised the sacrifices people have made over the past year, and said that "Now is the time to move forward, to go outdoors and to see one another again.

The European Commission is proposing that EU countries ease the current restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, to take account of progress of vaccination campaigns, as well as the epidemiological situation worldwide.