Two women and a man have died and three children were injured following a two-car collision near Kells in Co Meath yesterday afternoon.

The world ushered in 2022 with scaled-back celebrations due to new restrictions aimed at slowing soaring Covid cases - although hope remained for a better new year.

President Michael D Higgins has welcomed what he called a "significant day" for the Irish language as it achieved full status as an official language of the European Union from midnight last night.

The state funeral for Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a hero of the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, is taking place in St George's Cathedral, Cape Town, where for years he preached against racial injustice.

All social welfare weekly payments will increase this week with the increased payments benefitting an estimated 1.3 million pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and jobseekers.

Looking back over my work diary for 2021, it's all Covid and mica, then mica and Covid, every other week, with a few other stories thrown in, and, on a personal level, it's been horrible, to put it politely.

Ireland's Covid-19 testing system is continuing to come under pressure with no PCR test appointments available anywhere in the country this morning.

Although the supply of newly built properties has been fairly decent in the context of lockdowns, the overall supply of homes has seen property prices ending the year with double digit percentage increases.

Officials in India says at least 12 people have died in a stampede at a religious shrine as pilgrims gathered to offer prayers for the new year.

Much work is required in exploring and building a unity of hearts and minds towards a shared vision for the future on the island of Ireland, according to the Catholic Primate of All Ireland.

Minister for Education Norma Foley will meet public health officials next Tuesday in advance of the reopening of schools.

The booster vaccine programme will open to all remaining age groups earlier than expected, the Minister for Health has announced.

2021 was the safest year on Irish roads since records began, with the number of road deaths last year down 11% on 2020.

GPs and infectious diseases experts have expressed concern about the changes to the rules around Covid-19 testing.

The Department of Health has confirmed 20,110 new cases of Covid-19.

A positive PCR Covid test result will no longer be a necessity to qualify for Enhanced Illness Benefit, under new changes announced this evening by the Minister for Social Protection.

How 2022 is being welcomed by people across the globe.

Comedic actress Betty White, who starred in globally popular sitcom The Golden Girls, has died just three weeks away from her 100th birthday.

Free birth control for all women under 25 will be available in France from tomorrow.

Britain has marked its hottest New Year's Eve on record with temperatures already reaching 15.3C, the Met Office has confirmed.