In The News

Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht was one of the hundreds of prisoners who walked free thanks to a pardon from US president Donald Trump.His online marketplace facilitated the sale of everything from illegal drugs to weapons, hacking equipment to stolen passports, all delivered to your door at the push of a button. He had more than a million customers worldwide.The campaign for his release began as soon as his double life sentence was handed down in 2015. They came from his family; his mother Lyn was tireless in her lobbying and also from the Libertarian Movement whose the support Trump sought in the run up to the presidential election.New York Times technology reporter David Yaffe Bellany explains the background.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

***Please note some listeners may find this episode distressing*** Seven babies, delivered since January last year at Portiuncula University Hospital in Galway, suffered a brain injury as a result of oxygen deprivation (HIE). Six were immediately referred to Dublin for a treatment known as neonatal cooling. The numbers are far in excess of what might statistically be expected which raises questions about the provision of maternity services at the hospital. The HSE has announced an inquiry into the delivery of these babies as well as two stillbirths in 2023. But this is the second time in a decade that concerns about maternity provision at the Ballinasloe hospital have been raised. In 2015, an inquiry - the Walker review - found staffing issues, a lack of training and poor communication among maternity staff, which contributed to the death of three babies. Warren Reilly and his wife Lorraine lost two baby girls, Amber and Asha, at Portiuncula hospital within two years of each other, and they took part in the 2015 Walker review. He tells In the News how this week’s revelations have been devastating. Irish Times journalist Sarah Burns reports on this unfolding story.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The wealth of the world’s billionaires grew at roughly $5.7 billion (€5.5 billion) per day last year, according to Oxfam’s annual report on the financial affairs of the richest people on earth.Meanwhile, the number of people living in poverty has barely changed since 1990, according to the World Bank.Oxfam’s latest research reveals the number of Irish billionaires has risen from nine to 11 in the past year, and that their combined wealth has increased by more than a third to just over €50 billion.Oxfam is using the report, issued to coincide with the annual Davos gathering of the super wealthy, to argue for new taxes on the rich. But, while better-off people generally pay more tax on their incomes, the world’s billionaires pay extremely low levels of income tax and, on some occasions, none at all.How does a system exist where the super wealthy pay a lower tax rate than a teacher or a retail worker?And will a tax for the super-rich ever happen or are things only going to get worse with Donald Trump sitting in the White House, surrounded by billionaires?Irish Times writer specialising in economics and finance Cliff Taylor explains why the richest people on earth are able to avoid paying tax.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brenna  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The worst storm to hit Ireland in decades, Storm Éowyn left over a million homes and businesses across the island without power. A new humanitarian group has been established as part of the National Emergency Coordination Group to help deal with the immediate hardship caused by the storm. But what measures need to be taken immediately to avoid similar large scale power outages as these extreme weather events happen with greater frequency? And why was Ireland’s infrastructure, particularly our energy network, so vulnerable to Storm Éowyn? Dr Julie Clarke, assistant professor in engineering in climate action in Trinity College Dublin, joins the podcast to discuss how Ireland needs to prepare for future storms of this magnitude. We're also joined by journalist Arlene Harris who's home in Co. Clare is without power, and who has been seeking food, warmth - and a plug socket to charge her phone - in an 'humanitarian hub' in Ennis.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan and Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Trump campaigned on immigration. He promised mass deportations, zero tolerance and border security. His first acts in office included several executive orders related to immigration, focused on the US’s southern border and giving officials the power to quickly deport migrants who came in under Biden-era programme.Deportations in his first week included rounding up migrants with criminal records.Undocumented Irish in America typically don’t come in across the southern border. Instead they travel from Ireland under the 90-day ESTA visa waiver programme and simply stay on. Many of them acquire social security numbers and driving licences and work and live illegally in the US, sometimes for decades.But immigration lawyer John Foley tells In the News that 'Irish illegals' are now “low-hanging fruit”, in part because the ESTA process includes waiving any legal rights to appeal if the recipient is caught having overstayed the 90 days.For “Lorcan” (not his real name) an Irish man who has lived in the US illegally for five years, it’s about staying under the radar and building a life – with the acceptance that the price includes not being able to come home to Ireland for key family events including weddings and funerals.He is not worried about Trump’s promises to expel illegal aliens, saying the first to go will be those who have committed crimes and who do not contribute to US society.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After 15 months of warfare, humanitarian aid is finally getting through to Gaza.By Wednesday, 2,400 trucks had crossed the border and aid agencies are ramping up delivery of essential supplies following the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel that began on Sunday.The need is enormous as are the logistical difficulties in delivering food and medical supplies in a region where there are no longer roads and where vast tracts of demolished buildings dot the landscape.Families, like the Badr family, father, mother and three of their 10 children, who have been living in refugee camps for safety from unrelenting Israeli air attacks, are returning to their homes to find nothing left expect piles of rubble. For some families, the return means searching through the rubble for the bodies of their loved ones.Unicef’s Rosalia Bollen is on the ground in Gaza and she explains the challenges in delivering aid in war-torn Gaza, the very real threat of famine and the impact 15 months of war has had on children.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last summer a teenager walked into a children's Taylor Swift-themed dance class in a quiet Liverpool suburb, and murdered three girls under the age of ten. Axel Rudakubana also stabbed eight other young girls and two adults that tried to help them. This week the 18 year old pleaded guilty to the murderous rampage, as well as attempted murder and possession of terrorist materials and the bioweapon ricin. Following his admission, many troubling details have emerged about the teenager and the missed opportunities that might have prevented the atrocity. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised an inquiry into the failings of the UK terror-monitoring system. Irish Times London correspondent Mark Paul explains how this tragic case goes beyond the crime itself, to collide with politics, immigration, race, extreme online violence and social media.Presented by Bernice Harrison and produced by Aideen Finnegan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday, Donald Trump stood before a packed Rotunda room in the US Capitol building and announced the beginning of a new “golden age” for Americans standing on “the verge of the four greatest years” in the nation’s history.Speaking after being sworn in as the 47th president of the United States, Trump outlined his plans for a new era where the United States would “reclaim its rightful place as the greatest, most powerful, most respected nation on earth”.The US will expand its territory and carry its flag “into new and beautiful horizons,” he said in his inauguration speech, adding that the nation would “pursue our manifest destiny into the stars”.The US president then issued a flurry of executive orders, ranging from a pardon for the people who stormed the Capitol on January 6th 2021 to the declaration of a national emergency on the nation’s southern border where he said “all illegal entry” would be immediately halted.What else will these executive orders change about the way people live their lives in the US and around the world?Irish Times Washington correspondent Keith Duggan discusses the first 24 hours of the new Trump administration.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TikTok users across the United States breathed a sigh of relief on Sunday when US president Donald Trump pledged he would issue an executive order to allow the app to continue operating. The Chinese-owned video app temporarily went dark late on Saturday but has been given additional time to find a buyer before facing total shutdown. If the ban holds, business and technology journalist Ciara O'Brien says it could precipitate the platform's decline in countries including Ireland. In 2020, President Trump tried to ban TikTok over concerns it was sharing Americans’ personal information with the Chinese government. So, why has he taken this U-turn? Meanwhile, a day before taking office, the 78 year-old has launched his own meme-coin called $Trump.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While walking through Dublin city, journalist Quentin Fottrell was scammed.A pleasant sounding, nicely dressed man stopped him and started chatting. Didn’t Quentin remember him? After all, the man said, he had worked on his house some years ago. Not wanting to be rude and a little embarrassed at forgetting a face, Quentin continued the chat which slowly turned to the fact that the man had forgotten his wallet and needed some help to get home. It was only when he had walked away, €40 lighter, that Quentin realised he had been scammed.He wrote about the experience in The Irish Times and his article elicited multiple replies from men who had also been scammed by the same man in Dublin city centre.Donal Cronin was one such reader. Although he is a communications expert and deeply knowledgable in the psychology behind persuasion, he too fell victim to the smooth-talking scammer. He took a photograph of the man while they were chatting and Quentin was able to confirm it was the same confidence trickster.Quentin and Donal came into studio to explain how the scam worked and how they feel now having being duped.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After 15 months of bloodshed, a ceasefire will commence in Gaza on Sunday. The pause in hostilities for an initial six week period will allow food and medical aid in to desperate Palestinians. They will also be allowed to return to what is left of their homes. But with previous ceasefire agreements failing, the peace is precarious. The release of hostages held by Hamas is among the conditions on which the long-awaited deal is based. The first of 33 hostages to be released in the first stage of the deal, among the near 100 still held captive by Hamas, will be released on Sunday. The names of those to be released have been given to Israeli authorities, but families do not know if they will be receiving their loved ones alive or dead.Journalist Mark Weiss says despite the ceasefire being supported by 70% of Israelis, many feel it is a bad deal. So why is it happening now? What has changed for Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree a deal with Hamas at this stage? Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Declan Conlon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two years ago, climate scientist and activist Dr Peter Kalmus moved his family away from Los Angeles because as California’s climate kept growing drier and hotter, he was afraid that his much loved, indeed idyllic sounding, neighbourhood would burn. He had lived in Altadena for 14 years.Now, from his new home in North Carolina, he has had the deeply upsetting experience of watching Altadena razed, as climate-driven wildfires caused death, destroyed homes and ruined livelihoods.Kalmus tells In the News that even he – who has spent his career warning about the deadly impact of our fossil fuel dependence – didn’t expect fires of this scale. It is he says proof that climate models which consistently predict the sort of temperatures that will alter life on earth, have tended to err on the side of optimism.Our inability – in a world shaped by the interests of big business, billionaires and the fossil fuel industry – to grasp the threat caused by carbon emissions, means he says that nowhere is safe from unpredictable, and even devastating weather events. The LA fires won’t be the last.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The next government of Ireland is taking shape. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and nine Independents will go into coalition and we now have a blueprint for the next five years with the Programme for Government. The Healy Rae brothers are in, with Michael also negotiating a junior ministry. But what other concessions might they have brokered in exchange for their support? What is a super-junior ministry and does Ireland really need an extra one? Which pre-election promises have made the cut and which have been left out? Political editor Pat Leahy joins us to explain everything we know so far about the 34th Dáil.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Consumer journalist Conor Pope says he loves a good bandwagon and it was in that spirit that three years ago he – and his wife – thought they’d give Dry January a go.The idea – to give up alcohol for the first month of the year, as a post Christmas detox – has gained traction over the years and for most who try it, and who make it through to the end of the dreariest month, February 1st signals the opening of a favourite tipple and a return to drinking as usual. Not so for Conor.The February 1st target gave way to staying off alcohol until the summer and then he stopped counting.Not drinking had become a habit and he found that he was having a good time. He’s still, very happily, off alcohol. It did bring its challenges. In an alcohol-soaked culture, not drinking can prompt a range of reactions from suspicion to derision, but the benefits he says far outweigh any awkward questions.The three years has also given him time to reflect on his drinking habits, which began as it does for many, as a teenager raiding his parents’ drinks cabinet.The rewards, he says, are a clear head, more energy and, theoretically, a healthier bank balance. He estimates that the Pope household has saved €10,000 in the three dry years.Conor came into studio to tell In the News about his new alcohol-free life and with a huge response from readers to his Irish Times article on his Dry January that has gone on forever, why it’s touched a nerve.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Healy-Rae may be offered a junior ministerial role in the next government. The Kerry TD is in talks with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on entering a coalition with other independents. The deal would likely involve favourable terms for his constituency in exchange for his support, and that of his brother Danny. The horse trading is one element of the government formation talks that are proceeding faster than expected. Political correspondent Jack Horgan Jones says we could see a deal struck by tomorrow and a government in place as early as next week. But who would be Taoiseach first in a new arrangement between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, which Independents could land a ministerial portfolio and why is controversial Tipperary TD Michael Lowry playing such a central role in the deal-making?Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

News that the Garda is to send a file to the DPP following its investigation into the findings of the Moriarty tribunal will test the memory of even the most avid news watcher.The tribunal, which lasted 14 years and cost the taxpayer millions, explored in jaw-dropping detail the relationship between prominent business people and politicians. It filed its report in 2011.One politician featured prominently: Michael Lowry, and the tribunal found that he “secured the winning” of the State’s second mobile phone licence for Denis O’Brien’s company, Esat Digifone. It also found that Lowry, a former Fine Gael minister, was given money by O’Brien, with the payments “demonstrably referable” to his winning of the licence. Both men have disputed the findings.It is not known if there is any recommendations in relation to Lowry in the file submitted to the DPP.Lowry is a vote topper in his native Tipperary as an Independent TD and he has been in the news since the recent election, labelled a kingmaker because he is leading negotiations on behalf of the nine-strong Regional Independents group, with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.So, will this latest development in the Moriarty tribunal saga impact on his role in government formation?Colm Keena reported on the Moriarty tribunal from its inception in 1997 to 2011. He explains what it did and why, and who exactly is Michael Lowry.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday, Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads, was ending its fact-checking programme and going back to its roots – promoting free expression.And the reason? That fact-checking had led to “too much censorship” and “too many mistakes”.He positioned himself as a supporter of free speech, an American virtue that’s a world away from Europe, a tech backwater with ever-creeping censorship.But critics say the move is a cynical ploy to curry favour with incoming US president Donald Trump – and with millions of people using these social media platforms every day it risks ushering in “an age without facts”.Irish Times tech journalist Ciara O’Brien goes through Zuckerberg’s five-point plan for Meta and explains why the newly bullish Meta boss is changing the way his business operates.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amber (not her real name) is among the first people to use Ireland's long-awaited Supervised Injection Facility in Dublin. Speaking to Irish Times social affairs correspondent, Kitty Holland, Amber says up until now her day has been taken up by procuring heroin and crystal meth and then strategising about where she can consume them. Suffering from substance abuse since her teens, she says the new centre at Merchants Quay Ireland will change her life. "I am so tense when I am injecting I have had a needle break in my arm. Being able to relax, there is no price on the peace that would come with that.” The SIF was first proposed in 2015 and hasn't been without controversy. Objections to the centre came from stakeholders like the local primary school, where parents fear it will increase dealing and dangerous behaviour in the area. But those behind the pilot project say it will take intravenous drug use off the streets, encourage addicts to link in with local services and prevent deaths by overdose. Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this week, tech billionaire Elon Musk publicly withdrew his support for the Reform UK party, posting on his social media platform that Nigel Farage “doesn’t have what it takes”.Musk’s decision not to back, or financially support, Britain’s right-wing reform party came as he continues a barrage of online attacks against prime minister Keir Starmer, who he has accused of being complicit in “the rape of Britain”.His interest in European politics extends to Germany where Musk has backed the far-right Alternative for Germany party and labelled outgoing German chancellor Olaf Scholz an “incompetent fool”.And back in the United States, the world’s richest man will take up his position as co-leader of the newly created department of government efficiency, when Donald Trump re-enters the White House later this month.In recent years, Musk has met presidents, prime ministers, lawmakers and political candidates from all around the world.So, what is his end game and how much political influence does he really have?Inside Politics presenter Hugh Linehan joins the podcast.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Red pill, normies and soyboys. The world of ‘masculinity influencers’ comes with its own jargon and those consuming the social media content become well-versed in speaking it.For the uninitiated, to be red pilled is an appropriated term from the film The Matrix, where the main character suddenly becomes alert to the world’s “truth”, while us normies and soyboys (the ignorant and emasculated) wander through life like sheeple.While absurd and almost comedic to many, there is a growing body of young men who internalise the message that feminism has disempowered them, men must be stoic, virile and violent- and that staying in school is a waste of time when they could pay for an online course of [insert “hustler” of choice here] and become a “high value male.”A new resource has been created to provide guidance to schools, teachers and parents on how to address the impact of online masculinity influencers on children and young people, particularly teenage boys, across Ireland.The 39-page guide has been created by Dr Darragh McCashin, Dr Catherine Baker, alongside Dr Fiona O’Rourke at The Observatory on Cyberbullying, Cyberhate & Online Harassment in the Anti-Bullying Centre at Dublin City University.It sets out how much of the social media content of the so-called “manosphere” promotes harmful ideologies that are not just damaging to women but also boys and young men, and crucially, how to counter the message.Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday Diarmuid Phelan, a senior counsel and Trinity law professor, was acquitted of murdering a trespasser on his farm almost three years ago. Keith Conlon, a 35 year old father of four, had been planning to go badger-baiting on Phelan's Co. Dublin land when he was shot in the back of the head, and died two days later from his injuries. Neither of his associates, and witnesses to the shooting, took part in the subsequent trial. After ten weeks, the jury returned their verdict following seven hours of deliberation. Legal affairs correspondent Mary Carolan takes us through the evidence heard about that day in Feburary 2022, and explains what the jury had to consider.This episode contains strong language.Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For more than a decade, between 2012 and 2023, non-European millionaires could secure residency in Ireland by investing hundreds of thousands of euro into Irish business or public bodies.Most of the millionaires who availed of the Immigrant Investor Programme, or ‘golden visa’ scheme, came from China.In February 2023, the Government abruptly closed the scheme with only a day’s notice.Nearly two years on, the full list of names of companies, public bodies and charities, who received €1.25 billion through the programme, remains hidden in State files.Newly released documents now reveal Department of Justice officials warned of the need to guard against potentially “unlawful” and “unethical” practices when granting visas to millionaire immigrants through the scheme.Irish Times Current Affairs Editor Arthur Beasley, who has been investigating the now defunct scheme for more than two years, joins the podcast to discuss the latest revelations regarding this controversial residency scheme.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published in September 2024.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.

This episode was originally published in October 2024 Anti-female genital mutilation advocates expected high-profile speakers at a packed Dublin conference – they found a small room in a hotel with 25 people and were left with large bills.Last February, the Cycle of Life Global Forum was billed as an international conference to help eradicate FGM. In exchange for large sums of money, attendees from as far away as Kenya and the US were expecting to hear from high-profile speakers such as Richard Branson, Denis O’Brien and Auma Obama.But what greeted them was far more underwhelming.The event was organised by Sean Collins-McCarthy, a self-described “Social Entrepreneur, Strategy Advisor, Filmmaker and Media Pioneer”.Irish Times journalist Olivia Kelly investigated and tells In the News what went on behind the scenes at Cycle of Life.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every year, the release of the State Papers reveals a treasure trove of opinions, views and attitudes all committed to paper by ministers, diplomats and officials who wrote safe in the knowledge that the documents wouldn’t be revealed to the public for 30 years.This year thousands of declassified documents are being released relating mostly to 1994. Irish Times journalists Mark Hennessy and Ronan McGreevy have spent a week reading through the files – from official memos to personal notes – in search of the stories, views and attitudes from 30 years ago that reveal a side to Irish officialdom previously under wraps.It was a pivotal year for politicians, the Catholic Church and Anglo-Irish affairs – and for Irish dancers when Riverdance debuted, the Irish football team at the world cup, for taoiseach Albert Reynolds who stood waiting – in vain – on the tarmac in Shannon Airport for an ‘unwell’ Russian president Boris Yeltsin to make an appearance, and so much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, In the News presenters Bernice Harrison and Sorcha Pollak take a listen back - to pick the podcasts that covered the biggest news stories and explained the stories behind the headlines.There were elections in Ireland, and across the globe to be explained; the housing crisis covered in all the ways it impacts on society - and why solving it will be harder than the easy answers promised at election time; Irish Times foreign correspondents and guest experts reported on the US, Gaza, Syria and Ukraine; and the persistent and worsening issue of women being killed or sexually abused by their partners or family members was documented. The two part mini-series on the murder of 21-year-old Katie Simpson by Jonathan Cresswell in Derry told a powerful story of control and violence with themes that echoed in so many other stories.A podcast with court reporting on the Conor McGregor trial told a powerful story.And of course other hot topics featured, including Taylor Swift in Dublin, the price of Oasis tickets, and consumer issues ranging from trends in online shopping to the backlash against EVs.Presented by Bernice Harrison and Sorcha Pollak. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published in September 2024If 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. In September, 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.

This episode was originally published in September 2024A 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.

Carlo Acutis was just 15 when he died in 2006. British-born and living in Milan, the teenager became a devout Catholic and used his computer skills to develop a website detailing miracles. Just a few days after he launched his website, he fell ill and died.By 2013 he was on the way to sainthood having been named a “Servant of God”; in that same year a woman in Brazil claimed that praying to Acutis helped heal her son’s pancreatic illness. In 2020 Pope Francis authenticated the miracle and Acutis was beatified. Then, in 2024, a second miracle was recognised.The Pope approved Acutis’ canonisation in July, with an official ceremony set for 2025.Already relics of the “saint dressed in jeans, sneakers and a sweatshirt” are touring the world with a lock of his hair being stolen at this year’s National Ploughing Championships in Co Laois.Former Irish Times religious correspondent Patsy McGarry explains the path to sainthood and what the teenager’s elevation means.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One city in China produces 80 per cent of the world’s Christmas decorations.Yiwu International Trade City exports more than 20,000 types of Christmas products to more than 100 countries, with Europe and the Americas the most important markets for most producers. That’s a lot of plastic Christmas trees, wreaths, baubles, life-size elves, tinsel and flickering lights.When Irish Times Beijing correspondent Denis Staunton visited, he found manufacturers with a clear idea of just what westerners want and the emerging trends – there’s a new trend towards pastel coloured decorations, including trees.He tells In the News that although Communist Party members are forbidden from practising religion, Christian churches are allowed to operate under the supervision of the authorities. But some state schools have recently been discouraging children from marking western holidays such as Halloween and Christmas, urging them to celebrate Chinese traditions instead.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A French court on Thursday found Dominique Pelicot guilty and sentenced him to 20 years in prison for repeatedly drugging and raping his ex-wife Gisèle Pelicot over a nine-year period from 2011 and inviting dozens of men to rape her unconscious body in their home.The retired electrician and former estate agent was also found guilty of making sexual images of his daughter Caroline and the wives of his sons.The five judges also found the 50 other men on trial guilty. Some of their sentences were lower than those that had been suggested by the state prosecutor.In an act of immense bravery Gisèle waived her right to anonymity so that Dominique and the names of the 50 men accused of raping her could be made public.The case has gripped France, prompting discussion on misogyny, sexual abuse and the country’s laws around rape and it has made Gisèle a national hero, particularly among the thousands of women who turned up each day to the court to support her.Laura Gozzi was in court in Avignon every day reporting for the BBC and she tells In the News about the case and how the details unfolded in the court.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.If you have been affected by sexual violence, you can contact the 24-hour Rape Crisis Centre helpline at 1800 778888 for free, confidential and non-judgemental support Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday, gardaí and emergency services found the body of Anthony Maguire (36) in his Drogheda home, six days after he was arrested in connection with the disappearance of Kyran Durnin. He is believed to have had access to Kyran in the period before the last confirmed sighting of the boy as a six-year-old in the summer of 2022. He was a close associate of another suspect in the case. Gardaí had also been looking into whether he was involved in the presentation of a different child to Túsla, in an attempt to pass that boy as Kyran Durnin. Maguire's death is being treated as a suicide. Now as Conor Lally, Irish Times crime and security editor, explains Gardaí investigating the suspected murder of Kyran are working to determine if Maguire left behind any vital information on the disappearance of the child.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israel’s move to close its embassy in Ireland means the diplomatic rift between our two countries is wider than ever, with potentially big implications for Ireland.Israel has called Taoiseach Simon Harris, as well as the entire country, anti-Semitic. He, however is holding firm, and insists Ireland will not end its criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.President Michael D Higgins has also responded, saying it is “deep slander” to accuse the Irish people of being anti-Semitic because of criticisms of the Israeli government.Israel’s Ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich has been at the forefront of her country’s criticism of Ireland and she spoke to Irish Times political editor Pat Leahy, who tells In the News what’s behind Israel’s move, why now – and how damaging it is – potentially – for Ireland.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irish Times international correspondent Sally Hayden is the only journalist from any Irish media outlet to witness, first-hand, the dramatic scenes that have unfolded in Syria, in the days following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. Hayden has spoken to ordinary citizens as well as members of the rebel alliance responsible for toppling the dictator on the 8th of December. The award-winning author has also visited the notorious Sednaya prison - dubbed 'the human slaughterhouse' - where she met families desperately searching for information on loved ones who were disappeared by Assad's secret police during his 24-year reign.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another report, another disturbing finding about governance at one of Ireland’s best known, and well-funded charities, the Peter McVerry Trust.Between 2022 and 2023, the charity paid near €1.7m to Lavelle Solicitors, whose managing partner Michael Lavelle is a brother of McVerry director Richard Lavelle.The finding is contained in a report from the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA), the supervisor of not-for-profit groups that receive public funds to provide affordable housing.Since 2023 when it was revealed that the charity – which provides essential services to the growing number of homeless people in the State – needed a €15m bailout, it has been subjected to heightened scrutiny. In addition to the AHBRA, the Comptroller & Auditor General and the Charities Commission have been asking questions. The answers when published have, since 2023, pointed to lax financial controls and poor board oversight.The findings have caused significant reputational damage to the organisation and runs significant risk of spilling over to the entire charity sector, impacting on much-needed fundraising.Current affairs editor Arthur Beesley has been following this unfolding story.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irish house prices are overvalued by up to 10 per cent, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has warned, adding that an increasing number of households are carrying “elevated” levels of mortgage debt. That's not a large percentage when compared to the Celtic Tiger property bubble - so why is the think-tank cautioning it could still mean a 'painful correction'? Economics correspondent, Eoin Burke-Kennedy, explains why loan-to-income rates are creeping upwards, why house prices could come down but remain out of the reach of the average earner, and which global trends are preventing a price drop here.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Wednesday, December 4th, Brian Thompson (50), the UnitedHealthcare chief executive was murdered in cold blood outside a hotel in Manhattan.The manhunt to find his killer ended on Monday when the chief suspect, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, was arrested as he sat in a McDonald’s in a railroad town in Pennsylvania. He has been charged with murder.From the moment the CCTV of the shooting went viral, the police investigation began but so too did an onslaught of social media commentary: from amateur sleuths joining the manhunt; from infatuated posters who had become Mangione fans; and a deluge of online comments and memes either sarcastically or explicitly calling out the greed of private healthcare companies.Now that a suspect has been caught says Irish Times Washington correspondent Keith Duggan, the intense fascination has shifted from “who?” to “why?”.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lara Marlowe met Bashar al-Assad twice during his early years as president of Syria. The writer and journalist also interviewed the dictator's father, Hafez, who seized power in the 1970s and groomed Bashar to assume the presidency before his death in 2000. The regime collapsed on the 7th of December after 13 years of civil war, which claimed the lives of at last 560,000 Syrians and made refugees of six million more. Marlowe recounts her interactions with the totalitarian rulers, profiles the dynasty which includes Bashar's British-born wife, Asma, and explains why the their tyrannical regime crumbled so quickly and breathtakingly at the weekend. Prresented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Four years ago, Sinn Féin changed the landscape of Irish politics by securing the highest share of first preference votes in the 2020 general election and breaking Ireland’s two-party system.The question among many voters in those weeks before the pandemic hit was not if Mary Lou McDonald would become taoiseach of this country, but when.Jump forward four years, and the party has emerged from the 2024 general election with 39 seats, just two more than its 2020 haul. Sinn Féin TDs are now facing up to five more years on the Opposition benches, with disappointment and dismay palpable at different levels across the party.What went wrong for Sinn Féin in the 2024 election, how can they turn things around and what does this all mean for Mary Lou McDonald’s future at the party’s helm?Today, on In the News, after a year of disappointment, what’s next for Sinn Féin and its leader Mary Lou McDonald?Irish Times political correspondent Jennifer Bray discusses what lies ahead for the party.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Veteran republican Marian Price has initiated legal action against streaming giant Disney+ over the TV series Say Nothing, based on a book of the same name by Patrick Radden Keefe, which her lawyers say depicted her as being involved in the murder of Belfast woman Jean McConville.Lawyers for Price, who was jailed for her part in the IRA’s London bombing campaign of 1973, said the allegation was “not based on a single iota of evidence”.On today's podcast we replay an interview with Patrick Radden Keefe, recorded when Say Nothing was published in 2018.Radden Keefe explains how he reached his conclusion that Marian Price was centrally involved in McConville's killing, along with her sister Dolours Price. The Disney dramatisation of Say Nothing has brought the stories of the Price sisters and Jean McConville to a new global audience. "Such allegations published on an international scale are not only unjustified, but they are odious insofar as they seek to cause our client immeasurable harm in exchange for greater streaming success. Our client has now been forced to initiate legal proceedings to hold Disney to account for their actions", Prices lawyers said. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When a taxi driver told Irish Times economics correspondent Eoin Burke-Kennedy that there was a ghost train station under Terminal 1 in Dublin Airport he was intrigued. The architects who designed the terminal in the late 1960s were smart enough to future-proof it – to incorporate into their plan a vast underground train station because, surely it wouldn’t be long before a metro would connect the airport with the city centre. Their thinking was right – but they didn’t reckon with Ireland’s sluggish planning system and an endemic failure to plan and build. Area 14 is a metaphor for so much that is wrong with Ireland’s approach to key infrastructure projects, from housing to energy supply, transport to health.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

South Korea’s unpopular President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law late on Tuesday in a move that surprised citizens and parliamentarians.His attempt to ban political activity and censor the media saw armed troops force their way into the National Assembly in Seoul.The martial law order was lifted just six hours later and there is now a move to impeach Yoon if he doesn’t resign.But what does this political crisis in Asia’s fourth largest economy mean for the region?What were Yoon’s reasons for the shock declaration and how was it foiled? And what was the international reaction – particularly in Washington – to the move?Irish Times Beijing correspondent explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Biden has granted his son Hunter Biden a full and unconditional pardon following his criminal conviction on tax and gun charges. The US president's only surviving son was due to be sentenced this month. The 82 year-old had repeatedly stated he would neither interfere in the judicial process nor use his presidential power to pardon him. So why the u-turn and what will the fallout before Democrats and Republicans alike? Our Washington correspondent, Keith Duggan explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, Mayo farmer Padraig Nally, the man who was jailed for less than a year for the manslaughter of an intruder in his home near Lough Corrib in 2004, died. He was 81 years of age.Two decades ago, his shooting of John ‘Frog’ Ward became one of the most divisive murder cases in Ireland. Nally was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for the manslaughter of Ward. However, his conviction was quashed in a retrial when he was found not guilty of manslaughter.It was a case that divided opinion across the country. Nally argued self-defence, saying “there was only one way out of it: it had to be him, or it had to be me”.What exactly happened in November 2004, why was Nally’s initial conviction quashed and why are people still speaking about this case 20 years later?Mick Clifford, special correspondent with The Irish Examiner who covered Nally’s case at the time joins the podcast.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The count continues with seats in several constituencies throughout the country still to be filled. As it stands, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are in pole position to form the next government. The Greens have suffered a near wipeout, retaining just one seat; while Social Democrats and Labour have outperformed expectations.In today’s episode we’re bringing you coverage from our colleagues over on the Election Daily podcast – Hugh Linehan and the Inside Politics team – who have spent the weekend watching Ireland’s political future take shape.Produced by Declan Conlon and Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Angela Merkel's eagerly anticipated memoir lifts the lid on parts of her childhood, her private meetings with world leaders and what she thought of Ireland and the bailout. But only partially. In fact, for those who are wondering what her personal reflections are on some of the most consequential decisions she ever made, they're likely to be left as disappointed as Irish Times Berlin correspondent Derek Scally. He's read Merkel's autobiography so you don't have to, sharing the most interesting episodes of her life and analysing how her legacy looks now in the cold light of 2024.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, a ceasefire between Israel and Hizbullah came into effect. The deal was announced the day before with US President Joe Biden saying he hoped it would mean a "permanent cessation of hostilities". But what does the truce actually entail? And with both sides launching attacks right up until the ceasefire deadline, is the will there to keep the peace?Irish Times journalist Sally Hayden reports from Beirut.Presented by Bernice Harrison.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The cost of living is repeatedly mentioned as one of the main issues to the forefront of voters' minds in the run up to the General Election. In the US, president-elect Donald Trump made the economy one of the pillars of his campaign, regularly promising to "make America affordable again." But the reason for price spikes across the industrialised world are complex. So how realistic is it that any political party here could bring down the cost of living? And how can you tell what's within the next government's gift and what is just populist rhetoric. Irish Times writer on economics, Cliff Taylor, explains the factors at play and how to gauge whether party pledges could actually work.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Twenty years ago, autism in Ireland was still seen as a relatively rare condition. Studies at the time suggested around seven in 10,000 schoolchildren were being diagnosed as autistic.Today, research suggests as many as one in 20 schoolchildren may have autism or a similar developmental issue.So, why are so many more children being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders compared with two decades ago?Is the State equipped to meet the growing demand for specialised health and education services?And what are the long-term implications for children, who don’t get the support and care that they need?Presented by Sorcha Pollak, produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Irish branch of the Church of Scientology has been going into an international protection asylum centre in Dublin and recruiting the refugees living there for all types of work, from cleaning parks to handing out anti-drug leaflets on the streets of the capital.The men are not paid, instead they are given a “certificate” which they are told will help them in their asylum applications.Many of the people strolling though Dublin who take a leaflet off one of these men will not be aware that it originates in the Church of Scientology.Irish Times reporters Sorcha Pollak and Conor Gallagher investigated this practice and they talked to some of the vulnerable men who felt taken in by the scheme. They explain to In the News.And why is Scientology – a very wealthy organisation with a tiny membership in Ireland – operating in this way?Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.