In Russia, a dissenting employee yesterday entered a studio during Russia’s most-watched evening news broadcast, holding up a poster saying “No War” and condemning Moscow’s military action in Ukraine. The incident was an astonishingly unusual breach of security at the tightly-controlled state broadcaster Channel One. You can watch the moment here. 

Meanwhile, a tanker carrying 15,000 tonnes of Russian diesel has docked at Dublin Port and is currently being unloaded. Last week, SIPTU called for the Government to block access to the STI Clapham, which departed the Russian port of Vysotsk on 3 March. The union said its members and other workers who were “expected to unload this vessel” were angry and upset at being put in this position.

A new survey finds more than half of Irish employers are planning to increase employees pay in 2022, as they struggle to attract and retain staff. Salaries are generally increasing, with employers raising staff pay as a result of performance, promotion or as a counter-offer to keep employees. A further 35 per cent of employers have not yet decided on pay increases, according to the report.

A report by the Government’s Special Rapporteur on Child Protection has recommended that a State inquiry into illegal adoptions be established.

Overseas, nearly 30 million people are under lockdown across China, as surging virus cases prompted the return of mass tests and hazmat-suited health officials to city streets on a scale not seen since the start of the pandemic. 

And finally, today’s pocket of zen is a lovely little solidarity example from a primary school in Italy.