Ireland

EU adopts legal course against UK over Brexit deal delays

EU objects to Britain unilaterally extending a grace period beyond April 1 for trade checks on goods the UK sends to Northern Ireland, which under Brexit is subject to the bloc’s trade regulations.

Thailand clears AstraZeneca as possible clotting side effects divide Europe

Thailand announces plans to go ahead with AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine despite other countries suspending its use over safety fears.

Northern Ireland loyalists withdraw support for Belfast Agreement

Citing Brexit as their reason, loyalist paramilitaries, including outlawed groups, pull back support for Northern Ireland's 1998 peace deal that ended violence between groups fighting for a united Ireland and those opting to stay with the UK.

All-natural Covid-19 vaccine made from honeycombs shows promising results

Ireland’s Cellnutrition Health’s natural vaccine is showing promising results during test trials on animals by combatting the ever-mutating coronavirus, bacteria fungi and certain parasites.

Ireland probe: Some 9,000 children died at Church-run homes in 1920-90s

Irish PM Micheal Martin says the country must "face up to the full truth of our past," as a long-awaited report recounted decades of harm done by church-run homes for unmarried women and their babies, where thousands of infants died.

More areas in England to enter Tier 4 lockdown – latest updates

Novel coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 78 million people globally and claimed over 1.7 million lives. Here are the updates for December 23:

'Shuggie Bain' writer Douglas Stuart wins Booker Prize

The novel’s sweep, vivid characters and unflinching look at poverty have been compared to the work of Charles Dickens.

Veteran journalist Robert Fisk dies aged 74

Fisk, who died in Dublin, was highly regarded for his conflict reporting but also became controversial for his Syria coverage and criticism of US and Israel policies.

Ireland investigates how Facebook handles children's data on Instagram

Ireland's Data Protection Commission has received complaints that Instagram is making children's personal data public.

EU, UK leaders to hold Brexit, free trade talks

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will hold video talks with Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson as they seek a breakthrough in post-Brexit trade negotiations after the EU launched legal action

John Hume, who worked to end Northern Ireland Troubles, dies aged 83

Hume, as the leader of the SDLP, was one of the key architects of the 1998 Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement that ended decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland.

Ryanair will not cut UK-Spain flights despite British quarantine

Ryanair's statement comes after Britain abruptly imposed a two-week quarantine on all travellers arriving from Spain after a surge of coronavirus cases.