EVERY WEEKDAY EVENING, The Journal brings you the five biggest stories of the day.

1. #UKRAINE Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told a historic joint sitting of the Oireachtas that Russia is “using hunger as a weapon” and that Ireland “has not remained neutral” on the disaster unfolding in his country. For live updates on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine click here. 

2. #COURT A jury at the Central Criminal Court has failed to reach a verdict in the trial of a 16-year-old accused of murdering Urantsetseg Tserendorj during a winter lockdown in 2021. 

3. #OFFALY A man accused of murdering teacher Ashling Murphy has been served with a book of evidence and sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court.

4. #EMERGENCY The Mater Hospital has appealed to the public to avoid attending their emergency department due to a combination of Covid-19-related staff absences and high volumes of people attending the ED.

5. #TAX TAKE The Irish Exchequer recorded a surplus of €200 million in the first three months of the year after tax receipts jumped over 30% compared to the same period last year.