In The News

At least 26 people are dead and thousands injured following the simultaneous detonating of pagers and walkie talkies in Lebanon. Israel is believed to be behind the attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday, which were designed as much to cause a macabre spectacle as they were to kill Hizbullah fighters. Hannah McCarthy reports from Beirut for The Irish Times. Security analyst Colin P. Clark of New York’s Soufan Center looks at why Israel made this move.Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A record 10,600 Irish people emigrated to Australia last year, according to the Central Statistics Office; the highest number since 2013. With its year-round sunshine, high wages and laid back lifestyle, it’s not hard to understand the attraction. Push factors in Ireland include the diminishing hopes of home ownership for many young people. But Australia’s economy is slowing down and property prices in Sydney are even higher than in Dublin. Irish Times columnist and returning emigrant, Brianna Parkins, outlines the Instagram V Reality of moving down under.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Washington correspondent Keith Duggan reports on what we know about the second attempt on the life of former US president Donald Trump in a matter of months. Who is Ryan Routh, the man who has been arrested after fleeing the scene of the alleged assassination attempt and charged with gun offences? And will this incident make an impact on the election? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK government has ordered a public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane, the Belfast solicitor shot dead in 1989 by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) in collusion with British forces.But why now? His family, led by his widow, have for 35 years pressed Westminster for a public inquiry to get to the truth of why Finucane was killed and to reveal the true extent of the collusion of the British state in his murder.For decades, successive UK governments had resisted a campaign by the family for a full public inquiry into the killing.London correspondent Mark Paul explains the timing – and the reaction to the announcement.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An Garda Siochana has a serious retention and recruitment problem.The Commissioner knows it, so does the Minister for Justice but despite public commitments to reach enrolment targets, ongoing recruitment campaigns and changes to admission criteria, efforts to increase the size of the force to the Government benchmark of 15,000 continue to falter.There are now fewer sworn Garda members than at the start of last year.Why? It’s a well-paying public service job, it offers career variety and progression and it offers the possibility of retiring with a full pension at 60 or even earlier.Crime and security editor Conor Lally tells In the News the many reasons why encouraging citizens to join up is an uphill battle and what it means for policing in the State.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey and Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kamala Harris needed a win on Tuesday night's US presidential election debate. After an initial honeymoon period as Democratic nominee, her campaign on the ground was running out of steam. Now she and Donald Trump are neck and neck in the polls of key battleground states. All he had to do on Tuesday night was keep his cool and stick the script provided by advisers. Instead, he made a string of rambling statements that ranged from the baseless to the downright absurd. But given how polarised the country now is, the victor of the debate depends on viewers' own political allegiances. So how much of a difference will the performances have in the minds of Americans? Can Harris' debate win do anything to change her trajectory? Irish Times Washington Corresondent, Keith Duggan, reports from Philadelphia where the debate was held.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is an award of €13 billion a big win or an embarrassing loss? The European Court of Justice (ECJ) court yesterday said that the European Commission was correct in 2016 when it ruled that Apple owed Ireland €13 billion in tax relating to underpayments during 2003-2014.The ruling represents a heavy legal defeat for Apple and the Irish Government – and a major win for the EU.But how did it get to the point that Ireland had to go to Europe to defend a tax arrangement with a multinational? Irish Times columnist Cliff Taylor explains how a big pay-day for the Government is also a reputational hit, with the court’s clear and final verdict that Ireland broke the rules and offered illegal State aid to Apple. And he looks at how to spend it. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former British nurse, Lucy Letby, is serving 15 life sentences for the murder and attempted murder of 14 babies. All of the infants were under her care when they were killed between 2015 and 2016. This summer her case was thrown out of the Court of Appeal. And yet doubts remain amongst a cohort of people who believe she may have been wrongly convicted on circumstantial evidence. Bizarre interventions on her behalf include that of the former Brexit Secretary, David Davis, on Good Morning Britain last week. Families of the victims say they are dismayed certain elements of the 10 month trial have been taken out of context and fuelled with misinformation. So why exactly do Letby's supporters believe she should walk free? We speak to miscarriage of justice investigator, David James Smith, who sat on the UK's Criminal Cases Review Commission between 2013 and 2018. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last Wednesday, a 14 year-old American student walked through the doors of his highschool in Georgia and opened fire. Terrified students and teachers ran for shelter as Colt Gray took aim, killing four people and injuring many others. The teenager, who was apprehended at the scene, used a lightweight semi-automatic rifle, a type of gun that’s become associated with school shootings.  Two days later, his father Colin Gray was arrested and charged with manslaughter and second-degree murder. This is not the first time that parents of a school shooter have been charged. Instead of addressing laws on gun ownership, US prosecutors are increasingly going after the parents of mass shooters – but will it make a difference? Guest: Emma Long, Associate Professor of American history and politics at University of East Anglia.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sinn Féin has published its plan to solve the housing crisis.Party spokesman on housing Eoin Ó Broin says A Home of Your Own, is “comprehensive, detailed and fully costed”.The headline figure is that 300,000 homes will be built in five years; a mix of social, affordable and private homes. The plan costs €39 billion.The document is nearly 110 pages long so In the News asked Irish Times economics analyst Cliff Taylor to go through it and explain the details.He also answers the key questions – is it visionary and could it work?Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hundreds of primary, secondary and special schools run by religious congregations have been named for the first time as having complaints of child sexual abuse. The scoping inquiry was set up in the wake of revelations in 2022 of historical cases at Spiritan-run schools. Its author has recommended a full Commission of Investigation be set up to provide accountability for survivors. The report recommended every school in Ireland should be covered by the inquiry's terms of reference. Irish Times contributor, Patsy McGarry, was the paper's Religious Affairs Correspondent for 25 years. He explains the latest developments, what will happen next and questions whether religious orders will pay redress to survivors, when so many have refused to compensate other victims.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you don't have young children in your life, you may be completely unaware of one of the world's biggest game platforms. Roblox is a digital playground where children can create block-like avatars, pay to accessorise them, use them to take part in role-playing games and talk to others. Therein lies the inherent danger. While it's mostly harmless fun, several terrifying cases of grooming, abuse, blackmail and even kidnapping have been highlighted in the US. This week an Irish report found most primary school children who'd had upsetting experiences online had experienced them on YouTube or Roblox. Irish Times journalist Conor Capplis argues the platform is social media by stealth, and should be regulated as such to keep users safe.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday morning, Irish Times consumer expert Conor Pope logged on to Ticketmaster, ready to take his own advice about navigating the sales platform to buy tickets for one of the Oasis gigs in Dublin next summer.He found himself behind 138,692 people in the queue and hours later, when he was finally offered tickets, they were nearly four times what he had expected to pay.Tickets had been advertised at €86.50 but they were no where to be seen and soon social media filled up with stories of people paying nearly €1,000 for two “in demand” standing tickets on the pitch in Croke Park.Oasis fans in Ireland and the UK were quick to vent their frustration at the pricey tickets and the lack of transparency in the sales process.But who is to blame – Ticketmaster, MCD, the promoters, or Oasis? And can the competition watchdog do anything?Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, an Australian man was sentenced to 17 years in prison for what has been described as one of “the worst sextortion cases” in history.   Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed sexually blackmailed victims online in more than 20 countries across the world, including Ireland. Rebecca Trigger from ABC news attended the 29 year old's trial earlier this year and details the global scale of his crimes and the devastating impact on his young victims. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A key element of the Dublin City Centre Transport Plan kicked in on Monday and Olivia Kelly, Irish Times Dublin editor tells In the News that she was out on the streets early to see how it is working.Under the plan, private motorists can no longer drive the length of the quays – both north and south – instead they must turn off at O’Connell Street and take a detour before returning to the quays.The idea is to stop motorists using the city centre as a drive through, with the knock-on effect of reducing car traffic in the city centre.That should free up space for public vehicles – particularly buses – and we hear from a Dublin Bus driver on how it is working.And what about compliance – how can motorists be convinced to obey the new rules?Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An Irish chef living in the US has been killed after being shot outside his own business in Kansas City.Shaun Brady, originally from Nenagh, Co Tipperary, was the co-owner of Brady’s KC, a popular restaurant in the Brookside area of Kansas City, Missouri.Brady was a popular and well-known figure in Kansas City's large and vibrant Irish community. His friend and Kansas City resident Pat O'Neill talks to Bernice Harrison about how the violent loss of Shaun has shocked the community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy jnr has dropped out of the race in America's key swing states, but vows to remain as an alternative choice for voters in red and blue states. Washington Correspondent for The Irish Times, Keith Duggan, analyses whether getting out of Trump's way in places like Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania will help the former president get re-elected. Or whether RFK's would-be voters will opt for the Democrats' new nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris where she currently has a tight lead. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brasserie Sixty6, Rustic Stone and Ukiyo are just three of the high-profile restaurant closures in Dublin this month. 577 eateries across Ireland have announced their closure over the past year, according to the Restaurants Association of Ireland. But how can so many food businesses be going to the wall when they appear so busy. Restaurateurs Vanessa Murphy and Anna Cabrera explain the tide their businesses are swimming against and the daily battle to keep afloat. Irish Times restaurant critic, Corinna Hargrave, explores the changes in consumer behaviour and market demands that are driving the shuttering of so many of our favourite places to eat.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2009 warring brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher fell out for the last time – their final argument broke up their band, Oasis.At the time Oasis albums topped the charts, they sold out the biggest venues and audiences were word-perfect in their vast catalogue of catchy anthems from Wonderwall to Don’t Look Back in Anger.In the intervening years both brothers have had solo careers and both took every opportunity to slag each other off, saying they’d never play together again.But as music journalist Eamonn Sweeney tells In the News, the past year has seen a thawing of hostilities, with hints from Liam that Oasis just might get back together. There’s a lot of money at stake.Then at the weekend, Liam tweeted a date for a big announcement – Tuesday, August 27th at the not very rock’n’roll time of 8am. Could Irish concerts be on the cards? Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon, Suzanne Brennan and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If elected president in November Donald Trump has promised to slash the US rate of corporate tax to 15 per cent.Kamala Harris has said she would raise it to 28 per cent. So why the massive difference and what could either tax rate mean for Ireland?And should we be less focused on corporation tax and more on trade policy? Trump’s promise of a 20 per cent import tax on all goods would hit hard globally – with exports from Ireland severely impacted.And could Ireland get caught in the crossfire if Trump started a trade war with China?Irish Times economics analyst Cliff Taylor looks at the different policy platforms of the two candidates and who would be better for Ireland?Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sales of EVs in Ireland collapsed in 2024 with the number of newly-licensed electric vehicles down by 24 per cent in the first seven months of the year.But why? The push towards EVs is a key plank in the Government’s climate strategy and the choice of EVs has never been wider.Early adopters worried about range anxiety but advances in technology has seen that replaced by charge anxiety – concerns about the availability of charging stations, whether that be at home or on the road. But that’s just one worry motorist have before considering an EV.The Government’s Climate Action Plan aims to have almost one million EVs on Irish roads by 2030, comprising 845,000 cars and 100,000 vans, trucks and buses.With just over six years to go before that target date, the falling sales figures raise further questions over what was already an ambitious target.Motoring writer Neil Brisco explains why the shine has gone off EV cars for Irish motorists.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, a 99-year-old German woman, who worked in a Nazi-era concentration camp office in her late teens, was confirmed guilty of being an accessory to murder on more than 10,000 counts.Irmgard Furchner worked as a secretary in the Stutthof concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland between June 1943 to April 1945, when she was aged 18 and 19. Up to 65,000 people are estimated to have died in the camp.80 years later, Furchner is still alive – and facing the consequences of her involvement in the camp.But what is the point of prosecuting Furchner, who was a teenager with little agency in those crimes?And, with at least five similar cases looming in the coming years, why are these convictions happening now?Today, on In the News, Irish Times Berlin correspondent Derek Scally discusses why this 99-year-old woman was put on trial and the implications of Germany’s belated wave of Nazi-era prosecutions.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last June, Sophie Power has just done something extraordinary – she ran 563km from Malin Head to Mizen Head in record time.It took her a record-breaking three days, 12 hours and eight minutes and she beat the existing record by an astonishing three hours. And it’s not even her most gruelling run – not by long way.The 41 year-old mother to Donnacha, Cormac and Saoirse is an ultra runner and the morning after she finished running the length of Ireland she posted on social media: “My body had about 2 hrs sleep over 3 nights so is still in shock. Finally in a proper bed I still woke up last night every 30 minutes thinking it was time to go running again.”She tells In the News how on the first two days she ran in driving rain, on the last day, heading into Cork she got heatstroke. She injured her knee less than half-way through but she kept running and outside Longford she started hallucinating.An unsporty child she took up running at 26 and astonishingly her first race was the infamous Marathon des Sables, a seven-day, 250km run in the Sahara. She has run while pregnant and a photo of her breastfeeding mid-race went viral. She founded SheRaces, an organisation to encourage women of all ages and abilities to run.This episode was originally broadcast in June 2024. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last April, Jonathan Creswell’s trial for the rape and murder of 21-year-old Katie Simpson opened in Derry’s Crown Court.    But as we heard in yesterday’s episode, it only sat for one day. In today's episode, part 2, journalist Tanya Fowles explains how the prosecution's opening statements painted a terrifying picture of what really happened to Katie Simpson at the hands of her sister's long term boyfriend. And we also hear how Creswell, a manipulator and serial abuser, used the women in his life to help cover up his crimes.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. This episode was originally published in June 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In August 2020, in a small housing estate in Derry, 21-year-old Katie Simpson was found in a critical condition. According to the man who discovered her, her brother-in-law Jonathan Creswell, the young woman had attempted suicide.Six days later, Katie died in hospital from her injuries. The community was shocked that this outgoing and talented showjumper had taken her own life. But all was not as it seemed. The publicly charismatic and well-connected Creswell, a jockey and former showjumper, had a dark and violent past.Although the PSNI were quick to treat this case as suicide, news of Katie’s death raised suspicions within the community. Journalist Tanya Fowles tells In the News how she tried again and again to raise the alarm about Creswell – but it took until March 2024 for the violent abuser to appear in court in Derry to face charges of rape and murder.Why did it take so long to bring him to justice and why did the trial end after just one day?Presented by Bernice Harrison, produced by Suzanne Brennan.This episode was originally published in June 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published in May 2024.A pair of trainers for the price of a sandwich; a Dyson-dupe hair straightener for a fraction of the real thing – just about everything you can think of buying, and random, bizarre things you couldn’t even imagine exist, are for sale via Temu, the ecommerce app that is taking over the online shopping world. With millions of bargains, it promises buyers can “shop like a billionaire”.In January 2024, the app recorded nearly 47.8 million downloads worldwide. Once you buy from Temu, the bombardment of emails begins, offering deals and discounts on already rock-bottom prices.But authorities worldwide have been quick to investigate; to warn for example that some toys and electrical goods on the site do not meet safety standards. And the US State Department has cautioned that the labour conditions in some of the factories that make the goods for the third-party sellers on Boston-headquartered Temu could amount to forced labour.So while the prices might be attractive, the quality of some of the products and relentless sales techniques are less so according to Irish Times consumer editor Conor Pope who explains Temu’s business model and why it has got such a hold so quickly.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the most recent murder case where cannabis use was judged to be a factor, the court ruled that Diego Costa Silva killed his wife while in a state of cannabis-induced psychosis at their home in Finglas, Dublin on November 4th, 2021. A jury found him not guilty of Fabiola De Campos Silva’s murder, by reason of insanity. His was one of a number of murder cases to come before Irish courts in the past year where cannabis-use was judged to be a factor.Dr Colin O’Gara, head of addiction services at St John of God Hospital in Dublin, tells In the News about the dangers of new, more potent strains of cannabis, what is cannabis-induced psychosis and the link between use of the drug and existing mental health issues.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dublin’s office market is likely to get worse before it gets better with no relief in sight until 2027 amid a collapse in demand and a glut of new developments coming on stream. The Central Bank has aired its concerns over the situation. So will there by a crash in the office market sector and what might that mean for the economy?John McCartney from BNP Paribas Real Estate explains why the fall in demand is part of a cycle and explores the forces – including troubles in the ICT sector and post-pandemic WFH – that have brought us to this tipping point.Irish Times columnist Una Mullally is in no doubt that the crash has already begun and that poor planning has blighted Dublin with empty newly-built office blocks dotting the city while housing is so desperately needed.Both explain where they are coming from and how we can move on.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. This episode was originally published in March 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published in April 2024. In Libya, former members of the Irish Defence Forces, including men who served in the elite Army Rangers Wing have been providing training for a militia headed up Libyan strongman, Khalifa Haftar.It’s a lucrative business for the company called Irish Training Solutions but the work is an apparent breach of a United Nations arms embargo imposed on the volatile African country.Naomi O’Leary broke the story in the Irish Times on Wednesday and the official response was swift. Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin called the revelations “deeply shocking”, saying that they cause “reputational damage to Ireland and our Defence Forces”.O’Leary tells In the News about the sort of military training being provided by these former Irish soldiers, who is behind Irish Training Solutions, how much money is involved and, with providing military training in Libya specifically prohibited by the UN, what it means for the reputation of the Irish Defence Forces.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The global heroin supply is under threat. But observers of international narcotic trends warn that drugs addicts will replace heroin with - synthetic opioids including Fentanyl and nitazenes - are even worse. Crime Editor Conor Lally explains why these drugs may soon be making headlines in Ireland.This episode was originally published in June 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new process to strip citizenship from Irish citizens has been passed by the Oireachtas more than three years after the previous system was struck down by the Supreme Court.The system will allow the State to revoke the citizenship of Islamic terrorist Ali Charaf Damache, something it has been trying to do since 2018. A convicted terrorist, Algerian-born Damache is in jail in the US where his Irish citizenship helped earn him a shorter sentence through a plea bargain.About 40 other revocation cases are also pending for a range of other issues, for example where an applicant has been later found to have given false information. In this episode from January 2024, Irish Times crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher explains how Irish citizenship can be revoked, on what grounds it might happen and how the planned new system will change the process.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Malachy Browne heads up the New York Times’s visual investigations unit where he and his team investigate key events, from breaking news at home to war atrocities abroad, to piece together second-by-second what really happened.The work exposes the truth of events, particularly ones that are shrouded in misinformation, conspiracy theories and official denials. He and his team have won two Pulitzer Prizes.Investigations, presented on the New York Times website, range from uncovering the devastating sequence of events of the atrocity at Bucha in the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine to plotting exactly happened in 2017 when a gunman opened fire at a concert in Las Vegas killing 60 people.On In the News he talks about these projects and more while explaining just how his team works, from 3D modelling and AI to painstakingly exploring satellite images and mining phone records, and how the Limerick man who began his career in Dublin before moving to New York works to stay one step ahead in a media landscape flooded with fake news.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. This episode was originally published in May 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In May, Google launched AI Overviews – software which uses artificial intelligence to answer people’s questions quickly, skipping the step of scrolling through links. The new search system has made headlines for generating hilariously incorrect answers, a glitch Google says it is taking swift action to remedy. But this bumpy start will quickly be ironed out, says Irish Times writer Hugh Linehan who wrote this week about the “Googlepocalypse” sweeping the United States. The introduction of this pilot version of Google’s AI Overviews tool has already “significantly harmed” small businesses and content creators who have seen a collapse in web site traffic, and has been described as an extinction-level event for news media. These “devastating effects” are heading quickly our way, says Linehan. So, what is the Googlepocalypse and how will it change how the average person searches the internet? And will a reliance on AI to answer our questions only further enhance the misinformation plaguing the online world?Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. This episode was originally published in May 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published in March 2024.Health and family editor Damian Cullen had already ticked off a long list of diets before he hit on intermittent fasting and three years later, and 16kg lighter, he has stuck to the plan. He eats in an eight-hour window. At the more extreme end of intermittent fasting, former British prime minister Rishi Sunak follows the so called “monk fast” of eating nothing for a 36-hour period every week.As a way of losing weight, timed eating is probably the weight loss method of the moment; it follows a long list of diets, some of which became wildly popular for a time and then slid off the menu.Cullen explains how it works for him, while dietician Sarah Keogh gives the expert view. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Were Irish colonisers too? A new book reveals our forgotten dark historyIn discussions around empire and colonisation, including popular movements such as Black Lives Matter and Rhodes Must Fall, Ireland likes to think itself on the “right” side of history, as colonised victims of empire.But as Trinity College Dublin historian Prof Jane Ohlmeyer explores in her new book, Making Empire: Ireland, Imperialism, and the Early Modern World, it’s not as simple as that.On the island of Monsterrat in the West Indies, for example, St Patrick’s Day is a national holiday - the only country outside Ireland to mark the day officially. But the parades there are to celebrate an unsuccessful revolt by enslaved islanders against the European whites - mostly Irish - who colonised it in the 17th century.There are stark examples too of the Irish in India - and other countries too - acting more like colonisers than colonised.Irish Times reporter and historian Ronan McGreevy interviewed Ohlmeyer and talks here about a troubling aspect of Irish history.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. This episode was originally published in March 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland has come from a place where movies were regularly censored out of puritanical panic, to classifying gay sex scenes as suitable for a 16 audience. The Irish Film Classification Office is now asking the public about “the suitability of existing classification guidelines” as it drafts new advisories for the modern era. Irish Times chief film correspondent, Donald Clarke, explains IFCO's latest report, takes a look at the movies that historically fell foul of the censors and reveals the most complained-about films of last year,Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Content warning: This episode contains details of child sexual abuse and may cause some listeners distress."They called him God, and the room where he molested them the ‘chamber of horrors,’" says journalist Justine McCarthy, who has followed the trials of Derry O'Rourke since the 1990s. The former Irish international swimming coach preyed upon young girls he trained, and was only jailed for the first time in 1998. Ultimately he served just nine years for offences that spanned decades. But yesterday he was sentenced to another ten for the rape of a teenage girl 35 years ago. McCarthy recounts his crimes, their impact and the heroic efforts of his victims to ensure the modern-day Swim Ireland is a safe haven for today's swimming champions.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Protesters across Venezuela have been met with a violent crackdown by security forces following the disputed re-election of Venezuela's president Nicolas Maduro. Tallies show the real winner was the opposition, led by the popular and charismatic Maria Corina Machado. The economy has collapsed after years of mismanagement leading to 1 in 4 Venezuelan's emigrating, in what's one of the biggest migrant crises in the world right now. Tom Hennigan, who reports from South America for The Irish Times, says there's little doubt anymore that Maduro is a dictator who clings to power by force rather than the will of the people.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For nearly ten months, the eyes of the world have remained fixed on the devastating war and human catastrophe unfolding on the Gaza Strip.However, this war has not just destroyed the lives of people in Gaza – daily life for the three million Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank has also transformed since the October 7th Hamas attacks on Israel.The territory’s economy has collapsed, unemployment is soaring, Jewish settler violence is on the rise and Palestinians say they are trapped by mobility restrictions.Earlier this month, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel’s settlement policies and occupation of the territories were in breach of international law. The court’s announcement is historic, but non-binding, so will it bring about change?And what is daily life like for Palestinians living in these occupied territories?Today, on In The News, Irish Times international reporter Sally Hayden discusses the week she spent reporting from the West Bank and the implications of the Gaza war on Palestinians in the region.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chinese graduates are heading to the factory floor. During the first quarter of 2024, the number of people under 25 applying for blue-collar jobs rose by 165 per cent compared with the same period in 2019.This is partly a response to increased demand for workers in the manufacturing and service sectors driven by the dramatic growth of ecommerce in China. There are now eight times more jobs in distribution than there were in 2019.But what about white collar jobs – the ones these young people might have aspired to when they embarked on their expensive degrees? And what do their parents think about this new employment trend?Irish Times correspondent Denis Staunton is based in Beijing and he talks to Bernice Harrison about changes in the Chinese workforce that are causing ripples throughout the entire society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After more than a year of crisis at RTE and handwringing about how to fund it into the future, the government has decided the license fee should stay and the model of funding continue as it always has. While the status quo remains for the consumer, media minister Catherine Martin revealed the state will pump €725 million euro into the broadcaster over the next three years. But will this golden envelope be enough to put RTE on a sustainable path and is the failure to address the impact of the digital age a missed opportunity? The Irish Times' Laura Slattery explains this week's long-awaited funding announcement.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday, Sinn Féin launched its new immigration policy document. The proposals, which come eight weeks after the party’s poor performance in the June local elections, call for a system where “fairness is paramount”, people are “treated with dignity” and where “local communities are treated with respect”.The plan also proposes to “end private profiteering” by private landlords housing asylum seekers and a move to state-run accommodation.Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said audits should take place beforehand, examining the housing, healthcare and transport facilities available in a community before any centres are established. She also made it clear centres should be located in more affluent parts of the country.The proposal comes in the aftermath of more unrest at the site of a proposed accommodation centre, this time in the Dublin suburb of Coolock.How would this plan work and might it change voters’ minds in the upcoming general election?Jennifer Bray, political correspondent, discusses the key takeaways from Sinn Féin’s immigration plan.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland’s Olympic medal hopes have never been higher. Many of the athletes are already household names, including Rashidat Adeleke, Kellie Harrington and Paul O’Donovan, while others will be new names for those watching on the sofa, including Daniel Wiffen and Jack Woolley. According to Irish Times sports journalist Ian O’Riordan it’s not a question of if Ireland wins a medal, it’s when the first one will be claimed. And Paris is set to put on a show this Friday night: the opening ceremony kicks off on Friday with a flotilla down the Seine.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan and Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Sunday evening, shortly before 7pm Irish Time, US president Joe Biden posted a letter on X confirming his intention to withdraw from the 2024 presidential election campaign.With 21 of Biden’s fellow Democratic politicians publicly calling for him to step aside, the 81-year-old’s announcement was not unexpected – his candidacy had become untenable.Shortly after his announcement, Biden formally endorsed Kamala Harris, his vice-president, to replace him on the ticket. However, other party voices are calling for an opening nomination process in advance of the Democratic national convention on August 19th.What are the pros and cons of Harris taking over as Democratic candidate in the race to the White House? What does the former California senator stand for and could she beat Donald Trump?Quite simply, are Americans ready to elect a black, Asian-American woman to the White House?Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comhaltas na nGaedheal (CnG) is a newly-established group of right-wing extremists in Ireland. It focuses on physical confrontation and is part of a growing international network of so-called “active clubs”.The Active Club movement mixes extreme right-wing positions with a focus on masculinity and physical fitness, particularly mixed martial arts. The CnG group frequently posts photographs of its members engaged in combat sports training. Great care is taken to blur faces and other identifying marks. In some cases, participants’ footwear is even blurred to conceal their identities.Members of the group have shown up at several anti-immigrant protests, including in Coolock last March. CnG does not just want a dramatic reduction in immigration, it wants mass deportations, according to an associate of the group who spoke with The Irish Times.In this episode, Irish Times Crime and Security correspondent Conor Gallagher assesses just how much of a threat these groups of self-styled “Irish patriots” are and how the Garda is handling this wave of far right groups. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Belfast and Derry rappers Kneecap have been in the news for many things in the past year: they took a case against the previous UK government for intervening to block an arts grant; they led a boycott at South By Southwest in Texas over the festival sponsor's links to the Gaza bombardment; they played Glastonbury, released their debut album, Fine Art, and their debut feature film, Kneecap, is about to hit cinemas after an award-winning outing at the Sundance Film Festival. They arrived to that event in a jeep designed to look like a PSNI vehicle. Una Mullally has been following Kneecap since they were an underground act. She says their film “will be a landmark moment for the Irish language, Irish cinema, and Irish music”.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In April, Simon Harris became Taoiseach - today he is 100 days in office. It’s a milestone beloved of political commentators as a yardstick to measure achievements, assess style and predict what might come.The “first 100 days” political metric originated in the US but as Irish Times political reporter Jack Horgan Jones says, Harris, the media savvy, PR aware, “TikTok Taoiseach” will be all to aware of the date in his very busy calendar.So what have been his achievements? What has he kicked to touch as a general election looms on the horizon? And has he changed the mood in Government?Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Garda representatives say officers were left potentially exposed "to extremely volatile and dangerous conditions" in Coolock in north Dublin on Monday night. A long-running sit-in protest at a factory due to be converted to asylum seeker accommodation turned violent after a confrontation with up to 200 gardai. 21 people have since been charged in court. Irish Times security and crime editor, Conor Lally, was an eyewitness to the disturbances. He says 'fast gas' canisters and kerbing were among the missiles thrown at gardai, and there's mounting alarm within the force at a 'growing, complex and volatile' security threat posed by those exploiting immigration fears. This episode contains some brief strong language.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday evening, in the small American town of Butlers in Pennsylvania, former president Donald Trump narrowly escaped death after a bullet grazed his head during a rally speech.The horrifying assassination attempt, which Trump escaped with only superficial issues, sent shock waves across an already deeply divided United States. One Trump supporter lost his life in the attack, and several others were injured.What do we know about Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old who tried to shoot the former president?How will Saturday’s shooting impact the November presidential election and could it bolster support for the Trump campaign? And how much did the divisive and extreme rhetoric on both sides of the political divide contribute to Saturday’s shooting?Today, on In The News, could the bullet that grazed the head of Donald Trump fire him back to the White House?Irish Times Washington Correspondent Keith Duggan discusses the assassination attempt on Donald Trump’s life.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

According to property website MyHome.ie, house asking prices rose by 7.3 per cent year on year in the second quarter, the fastest pace of growth recorded in two years.And buyers report that the price they actually pay often way exceeds the original asking price as many buyers chase too few properties so that percentage rise is likely to be an underestimation.This year the Government is spending more than €8 billion to address the housing crisis and inflation is running at 1.5 per cent – so why are prices not coming down? Economics columnist Cliff Taylor explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.