There is increased confidence that the planned easing of restrictions for June remains low to medium risk, the National Public Health Emergency Team has said.

Hotels, B&Bs, self-catering accommodation and hostels can reopen from today, as the gradual lifting of Covid-19 restrictions on the tourism and hospitality sector begins.

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors has insisted its members cannot be tested for drugs without a reason.

Melbourne was ordered to remain in lockdown for another week, as Australian authorities try to stamp out a quick-spreading coronavirus strain they described as an "absolute beast".

A giant sinkhole that was expanding by dozens of metres each day has alarmed residents in a rural area of central Mexico where it was threatening to swallow a house.

Israel's Health Ministry said it had found the small number of heart inflammation cases observed mainly in young men who received Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine were likely linked to their vaccination.

Children's Health Ireland has said activity has been reduced across its three main paediatric hospitals for the rest of this week until key systems get back up, after the recent cyber attack on the Health Service Executive.

Senior British government sources say technical discussions around 30 areas of disagreement with the European Union on the Northern Ireland Protocol have resulted in definite progress on just two of the issues.

Wildlife ranging from bluebells and bumblebees to snow leopards and emperor penguins are under threat from climate change, according to a new report.

US President Joe Biden's administration has announced it was halting petroleum development activity in the Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, reversing a move by former president Donald Trump to allow drilling.

Israeli politicians battling to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were locked in last-ditch talks to hammer out their "change" coalition composed of bitter ideological rivals.

People aged under 25 are almost six times more likely to be in temporary work than their older counterparts, according to a new study on decent work by the ESRI and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.

A ransomware attack on the company that disrupted meat production in North America and Australia originated from a criminal organisation likely based in Russia, the White House has said.

Eleanor Merriman struggled with reading and writing throughout school and was not diagnosed with dyslexia until she was 19. She has now written a book with dyslexic readers in mind.

An organisation for people with disabilities has said action is needed over hiring graduates with disabilities.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said he expects the "vast majority" of people who are in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment to be back in employment by September.

The Cabinet has agreed that owners of new homes built since 2013 will now have to pay Local Property Tax.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has said that Ireland is in a "positive position" in relation to the coronavirus but "a number of key uncertainties and risks" remain.

Though we've been hearing the phrase 'outdoor summer' since February, crowded city streets have exposed gaps that may dent those ambitions, explains Conor Wilson.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin is pledging to pay back thousands of euro in meal expenses in a bid to contain the fallout from revelations about her family's taxpayer-subsidised breakfasts.