Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky made a fresh appeal for talks with Moscow today, while Russia said its soldiers had entered the centre of besieged port city Mariupol.

With all the subtlety and nuance of a sledgehammer, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a stark warning this week to those in his own country who might disagree with his war in Ukraine.

China reported two Covid-19 deaths today, its first in more than a year, underlining the threat posed by an omicron outbreak that has triggered the country's highest case counts since the pandemic's outset.

While many people will be enjoying the St Patrick's weekend festivities with a beer or two, how many of us have ever given much thought to the waste created in the brewing process?

RTÉ's Foreign Editor Eimear Lowe recently travelled to Afghanistan, where she visited UNICEF's operations as aid agencies warn that the country is on a knife edge following the Taliban takeover last summer.

A spokesperson for the Government has said that Taoiseach Micheál Martin is "feeling well and continuing with his work in Washington" after he tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said rescue work is ongoing to save hundreds of people still believed to be trapped under the rubble of a bombed theatre in the besieged city of Mariupol.

US President Joe Biden has laid out to Chinese leader Xi Jinping the "consequences" of any backing for Russia in its war against Ukraine, the White House said, as Beijing showed no sign of joining Western condemnation of the invasion.

rachael Blackmore, Willie Mullins and the Irish stole the show on the final day of the Festival.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney is visiting Warsaw to meet his Polish counterpart Minister Zbigniew Rau and to speak to humanitarian organisations assisting those fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Dublin City Council has defended its policy on mural art, which has included prosecutions for unauthorised works.

Finland has been named the world's happiest country for the fifth year running, in an annual UN-sponsored index that ranked Afghanistan as the unhappiest, closely followed by Lebanon. Ireland ranked 13th.

President Michael D Higgins has led tributes to Irish diplomat Jim Kelly, who has died suddenly.

Sacked P&O staff have taken part in a protest at Larne Port in Co Antrim following the company's announcement yesterday that it was dismissing 800 staff.

A woman in her 20s has died in a single-vehicle crash in Co Mayo.

The International Energy Agency is calling on countries to adopt a ten-point plan to cut demand for oil.

Oksana Ampilogova arrived in Ireland with her son a week ago, after they fled their home in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Families who lost loved ones in Dealgan House nursing home in Dundalk, Co Louth say they are still looking for answers, almost two years on from a devastating Covid-19 outbreak.

All the updates as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine with bombardments of key cities.

Moderna has sought emergency use authorisation from US health regulators for a second Covid-19 booster shot, as a surge in cases in some parts of the world fuels fears of another wave of the pandemic.