NEED TO CATCH up? The Journal brings you a round-up of today’s news.

IRELAND

Justice Minister Helen McEntee is greeted by supporters of Undocumented Ireland after announcing a scheme to regularise long-term undocumented migrants. Leah Farrell Leah Farrell

• Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced new Covid-19 restrictions from 7 December following “very stark” advice from public health officials to introduce further curbs on socialising ahead of Christmas. You can read them in full here.
• The government is to reinstate the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for all workers who lose their jobs as restrictions are reintroduced.
• Household visits should be limited to four households at one time, including over the festive period, following advice from NPHET.
• The implementation of new rules requiring all overseas travellers to Ireland to have a negative Covid-19 test has been delayed until Sunday.
• Justice Minister Helen McEntee today announced a scheme that will see undocumented migrants get a chance to apply for citizenship.
• A man was rushed to hospital after being shot twice in Tallaght in Dublin this afternoon. Gardaí say he is in a stable condition.
• The Environmental Protection Agency warned that urgent action is needed to reverse a rise in waste generation, and significantly improve recycling rates.
• Gardaí arrested a man at Dublin Airport today, in connection with the murder of Francis Dunne in Cork back in 2019.
• A former RTÉ producer who sexually abused and exploited young children, including flying to the Philippines for the purpose of child sexual abuse, was jailed for 10 years.

WORLD

A man rides the Eisbach wave in the English Garden, Munich, Germany. The artificial wave is considered a popular hotspot for surfers and spectators all year round. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#UKRAINE: Joe Biden vowed to make it “very, very difficult” for Russian President Vladimir Putin to take military action in Ukraine, saying his administration is putting together a comprehensive set of initiatives to curb Russian aggression.

#TRAGEDY: Scotland has recorded 29 cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, with a Steps concert in Glasgow among the sources of the cases. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned they may rise “significantly” in the coming days.

#GERMANY: Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Germans to stand up to hatred at a military ceremony last night bidding her farewell after 16 years in office.

PARTING SHOT

An Italian man who wanted a coronavirus vaccine certificate without actually having the jab tried to play the system by presenting health workers with a fake arm.

Despite the realistic skin colour, nobody was fooled by the silicone limb. We wonder where he got the idea.