Today’s headlines: Taoiseach in 10-day Covid lockdown; Ukrainian lawmakers detail ‘medieval’ tactics used by Russian soldiers in raping elderly women

Here are Independent.ie’s top stories this Friday morning.

Taoiseach is spending White House visit in lockdown as Covid chaos hits

Taoiseach Micheál Martin is in lockdown for 10 days in Washington DC as the Irish camp ran into trouble after becoming the second member of the delegation to test positive for Covid-19.

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Russian missiles this morning hit Lviv, a city that has so far been spared significant fighting

Russian missiles hit an area near the airport in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv early in the morning, the city’s mayor said. Western sources and Ukrainian officials said Russia’s attack has stalled since its troops invaded on February 24, further daunting its expectations of a quick victory and the ouster of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government.

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Ambulance delays of up to 14 days as overcrowding and Covid-19 take their toll

Hospital overcrowding is forcing vital ambulances to be delayed for up to 14 hours in some areas of the country.

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Ukrainian lawmakers detail ‘medieval’ tactics used by Russian soldiers in raping elderly women

Ukrainian lawmakers have detailed the “medieval” tactics used by Russian forces, including sexual violence, as the Kremlin continues its brutal invasion of the eastern European country.

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Officials paid more for polluting cars

Officials and public officials are rewarded for driving the most polluting cars with travel expenses that favor larger engines.

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Ireland has the lowest rate of drivers being checked for drunk driving

The level of enforcement of measures against drunk driving and speeding in Ireland is among the lowest in Europe. A study by the European Transport Safety Council also found that the number of fines per capita for a variety of traffic offenses has decreased over the past decade.

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Forwarders threatened to block St. Patrick’s parade days before the €18 million grant was announced

Hauliers warned the government they would block Dublin port and halt the St Patrick’s Day parade two days before a €100-a-week subsidy to the sector was announced, the Irish Independent can reveal.

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The future of P&O routes is at stake after the ferry giant laid off 800 employees

Hundreds of Irish P&O passengers have been canceled with the future of Irish routes now uncertain after the shipping giant laid off 800 workers and then replaced them with cheaper agency staff.

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Historians are asking for help solving the mystery of Tipperary’s old IRA map

Historians have asked for help solving the mystery of special markings on a Revolutionary War IRA map of Tipperary.

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Music marathon tribute to Ashling Murphy

More than 100 traditional musicians gathered in Tullamore on St. Patrick’s Day for a unique marathon in memory of school teacher Ashling Murphy.

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“Mom, that’s too violent” – parents complain to the film supervisor

A foot amputation scene that is not “exaggerated or baseless”, a ban on seeing a child The Suicide Squad and “terror and guilt” from a person who brought their child to see an unexpectedly violent film were among the criticisms leveled by Ireland’s film censors last year.

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Ukrainian soldiers wish Ireland a “happy St. Patrick’s Day” from the trenches.