A member of Óglaigh na hÉireann, the Irish Defence Forces, was killed while carrying out UN peacekeeping duties in Lebanon on Wednesday night. Private Seán Rooney (23), from Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal, was involved in a “serious incident” at approximately 9:15pm Irish time, when two-vehicle convoy carrying members of the 121stContinue Reading

Our third COVID Christmas – here's how things might play out

Elena Shashkina/Shutterstock The UK is now approaching its third Christmas of the COVID pandemic. And this year feels different. There’s little question we’re in a better position compared with 2020 and 2021. In 2020, Christmas plans were significantly curtailed, with a range of restrictions in place across the UK. ButContinue Reading

COVID: what we know about new omicron variant BF.7

Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock Since the COVID variant omicron emerged in late 2021, it has rapidly evolved into multiple subvariants. One subvariant, BF.7, has recently been identified as the main variant spreading in Beijing, and is contributing to a wider surge of COVID infections in China. But what is this new variant,Continue Reading