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

IRELAND

Eloise O'Dwyer (3) pictured at the turning on of Sandymount resident William Tilly's Christmas lights. The 86-year-old has been decorated his home for the last eleven years in aid of Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services. Mark Stedman Mark Stedman

• Orange and Yellow weather warnings have been issued for the country on Tuesday and some of Wednesday as an Atlantic depression called Storm Barra arrives.
• Public health officials confirmed 5,156 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland this afternoon.
• Minister Michael McGrath said the government would lift the “precautionary” restrictions announced on Friday if further clarity on the Omicron variant “does not meet our worst fears”.
• Taoiseach Micheál Martin said it was “clear as daylight” that if people do not get vaccinated they are jeopardising their health and the health of others.
• People travelling to Ireland from this morning are now required to have a recent negative Covid-19 test result.
• Anyone arriving in Northern Ireland from abroad will be required to undergo a pre-departure Covid test from Tuesday, it was confirmed today. 
• Several anti-mask primary school teachers have formed a campaign group on Facebook to protest against children wearing face coverings in schools.
• An ambulance turned up to a life-threatening event more than an hour after being called on more than 300 occasions over the first six months of this year.
• A government repatriation flight for people looking to return to Ireland from Morocco left yesterday with 156 passengers on board.
• Dublin’s oldest Christmas market returned to Henry Street at full trading capacity this weekend.

WORLD

People leave for temporary shelters after Mount Semeru eruption in Java, Indonesia. At least 13 people died and 98 others were injured after Mount Semeru erupted. Xinhua News Agency / PA Images Xinhua News Agency / PA Images / PA Images

#BRUSSELS:  Belgian police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse protesters in Brussels today after most demonstrators marched peacefully to protest against tightened Covid-19 restrictions designed to counter a surge in coronavirus infections.

#AFGHANISTAN: The Taliban government rejected condemnation by Western nations over dozens of alleged “summary killings” of former security force personnel documented by rights groups since they returned to power.

#RIP: Long-time Kansas Senator and Republican nominee for US president Bob Dole died aged 98.

PARTING SHOT

The Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed on 6 December 1921, and to mark the centenary An Post has issued a pair of commemorative stamps

The stamps designed by leading designer Ger Garland are the latest in a series marking Ireland’s Decade of Centenaries.

The first features the signatures of the Irish Treaty delegates – Arthur Griffith (leader), Michael Collins, Robert Barton, Eamonn Duggan and George Gavan Duffy, and the British representatives – David Lloyd George (Prime Minister), Austen Chamberlain, Lord Birkenhead and Winston Churchill. While the second is a reproduction of Arthur Griffith’s aspirational message after the treaty signing.

Here’s a handy timeline of some of the important events around the time.

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