President Michael D Higgins has defended his decision not to attend a commemorative church service in Armagh next month with Britain's Queen Elizabeth, and does not intend to revisit the decision, a spokesman has said.

Two men have been charged with the murder of journalist Lyra McKee in Derry in April 2019.

The first civil lawsuit is due to begin in a court in Vienna over a notorious outbreak of coronavirus at the popular Austrian ski resort of Ischgl in March 2020, where thousands of people from 45 countries claim to have become infected.

Thousands of people living in parts of Co Meath have expressed frustration and anger after months of water disruption.

From museum visits to dance displays, architecture to circus performance, Culture Night aims to show the richness and diversity of Ireland's cultural heritage.

Africa faces a 470 million shortfall in Covid-19 vaccine doses this year after the Covax alliance cut its projected shipments, raising the risk of new and deadly variants, the World Health Organization has said.

Australian officials will trial a home quarantine system for fully vaccinated international travellers arriving in Sydney, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said, as the country moves to reopen its borders despite persistent Covid-19 cases.

Childcare should be seen as an essential public service that is adequately funded by the State, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has said.

A prominent US lawyer who allegedly attempted to stage his own murder has been charged with insurance fraud and lying to the police in the latest twist in a bizarre crime saga.

A new consultation has been launched on strengthening the rights of employees in Ireland.

Three Chinese astronauts have returned to Earth after completing the country's longest-ever crewed mission, the latest landmark in Beijing's drive to become a major space power.

It's not yet clear whether the recent Sláintecare resignations are merely a stumbling block - or a death knell for the proposed healthcare reforms, explains Conor McMorrow.

The National Public Health Emergency Team has agreed to recommend that the Government proceeds with its plan for a further lifting of restrictions from next Monday, given the latest data on Covid-19.

Members of the US Congress have written to the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling on the British government to reaffirm its commitment to the Stormont House Agreement and reverse a proposed amnesty to address the legacy issues of the Troubles.

The Department of Health has confirmed 1,413 new cases of Covid-19.

Britain's minister for relations with the EU has announced a programme to change or abolish EU laws that currently apply in the UK after Brexit , which David Frost said were "not right for the UK".

The Government did not advise President Michael D Higgins to decline an invitation to attend a church service to mark the centenaries of the partition of Ireland and the formation of Northern Ireland.

The Italian government has approved some of the strictest anti-Covid measures in the world, making it obligatory for all workers either to show proof of vaccination, a negative test or recent recovery from infection.

Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris said he is "considering very strongly" making a complaint against Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy for what he says was a misuse of Dáil privilege.

A sharp upturn in infections due to the Delta variant and a slowdown in vaccinations have pushed governments to make Covid shots mandatory for health workers, other high-risk groups or dining out. Here are some countries' vaccine mandates.