Health officials have urged people who are awaiting full vaccination to "take every precaution" this weekend after Ireland reported its highest daily total of Covid-19 cases in more than five months.

A teenager has died in car crash in Co Monaghan, after two cars collided on the N2.

The death toll from devastating floods in Germany has reached 133, police said this morning, bringing the total number of those killed in Europe to 153.

Scientists have long said that climate change will lead to heavier downpours. But determining its role in this week's relentless downpours will take at least several weeks to research, scientists said last night.

Tokyo Olympics organisers have revealed the first Covid-19 case in the Games Village, while seeking to reassure competitors that the pandemic-delayed event will be safe.

The British government argues that the widespread vaccination programme has changed the calculus, breaking the link between infection, hospitalisations and deaths.

Representatives of the Afghan government and the Taliban are due to meet in the Qatari capital Doha today for talks to try to end worsening violence in Afghanistan.

While Government and Opposition politicians prepare to pack up for holidays, the hope is for no emergency meetings in August to reverse any of the reopening so far, writes Sandra Hurley.

The Australian city of Sydney has ordered a shutdown of building sites, banned non-essential retail and threatened fines for employers who make staff come into the office as new Covid-19 cases keep rising three weeks into a citywide lockdown.

Next week, the UK government will announce its latest approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol. It will be the latest flashpoint following six months of strife and will signpost what kind of clash we might expect in the autumn.

US coastlines will face increasing flooding in the mid-2030s thanks to a regular lunar cycle that will magnify rising sea levels caused by climate change, according to research led by NASA scientists.

We have come through all the seasons with coronavirus and met the darkness, light, and cold and the heat of each.

The Defence Minister has rejected criticism that the Government needs to do more to encourage recruitment and retention in the Naval Service.

A further 51,870 Covid-19 cases have been reported in the UK while 48 people have died with the disease.

As a working actor, Gráinne Blumenthal is used to answering phone numbers she does not recognise. But last month, she got an unusual call.

The Department of Health has been notified of 1,173 new cases of Covid-19, with people who are awaiting full vaccination urged to "take every precaution" this weekend.

US President Joe Biden has said that social media disinformation about Covid-19 and vaccinations is "killing people".

The death toll from devastating floods in Europe soared to at least 126 today, mostly in western Germany where emergency responders were frantically searching for missing people.

The Communications Regulator has said that it is aware of the recent upsurge calls using a fake Caller ID in order to get people to answer their phones.

Russian officials hailed a "miracle" after a passenger plane made an emergency landing in a Siberian field and all 18 people on board emerged, suffering only cuts and bruises.