Shows / In The News
In The News
In The News is a daily podcast from The Irish Times that takes a close look at the stories that matter, in Ireland and around the world. Presented by Bernice Harrison and Aideen Finnegan.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
- In The News
Dublin pipe bomb attack: How a criminal gang used a drone to target their victim
In the early hours of Monday morning, a drone carrying a pipe bomb, a viable explosive device, crashed beside a family's home in North County Dublin. But who…
- In The News
Patrick Freyne on Africa’s forgotten war
Chad now hosts 1.3 million forcibly displaced people, according to the UNHCR, despite itself being one of the world’s poorest countries. More than half of…
- In The News
Australia mushroom poisoning: how a family lunch ended in tragedy
Note: This episode was originally published in August 2023. In July 2023, four relatives attended a family lunch at the home of Erin Patterson, a mother of two…
- In The News
Blackout in Spain and Portugal: why did the lights go out?
On Monday, the unthinkable happened: Spain and Portugal experienced an electricity blackout. Just after midday the lights went out, wifi went down, trains…
- In The News
Kneecap: will 'moral outrage' over controversial comments halt the rappers' rise?
For Kneecap’s growing fan base, the band’s support of Palestine as they performed at the Coachella music festival in California last month didn’t raise a…
- In The News
Will Ireland's new immigration laws affect asylum seeker numbers?
Since taking over the Department of Justice, Jim O'Callaghan has embarked on a firmer, more hardline approach to immigration in this country. New legislation…
- In The News
The Satchwell murder case - what to know as the trial begins
On Monday, a jury of seven women and five men was sworn in for the trial of Richard Satchwell at Dublin’s Central Criminal Court. The 58-year-old is accused of…
- In The News
How the Chinese government monitors its citizens in Ireland
When Nuria Zyden travelled from her home in Dublin to a conference in Sarajevo she became aware that two Chinese men were following her. They were on her plane…
- In The News
What is a woman? The UK Supreme Court ruling
On April 16th, the Supreme Court in London ruled unanimously that “the terms ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and…
- In The News
'My foot was dangling loose': How a jogger injured in an e-bike crash sued in court
Have you ever wondered what your recourse would be if you were hit by someone riding an e-bike? 48 year-old Karl Leonard assumed Gardaí would prosecute the man…
- In The News
What kind of Pope will the Church pick next?
Irish Times contributor and former religious affairs correspondent Patsy McGarry discusses the contenders for the job and how the Vatican conclave’s…
- In The News
Why is Ireland's far-right movement so divided?
Last Tuesday in Conor McGregor’s Black Forge Inn, the Irish Far Right were out in force. It was a celebration after a day showing US broadcaster Tucker Carlson…
- In The News
‘A creep in a puffer jacket’: How a confidence trickster is scamming men in Dublin city
While walking through Dublin city, journalist Quentin Fottrell was scammed. A pleasant sounding, nicely dressed man stopped him and started chatting. Didn’t…
- In The News
In China, the Communist Party appoints Catholic bishops - what’s the deal?
Most of China’s roughly 10 million Catholics attend officially sanctioned churches but a substantial minority belong to the so-called “underground church”…
- In The News
Your Instagram posts are feeding Meta's AI; what does it all mean?
Your 2007 Facebook posts, videos of your children or maybe your voice on Instagram stories. Everything you have ever publicly posted on Facebook and Instagram…
- In The News
Adult diagnosis of ADHD: ‘It was the missing puzzle piece’
While ADHD diagnoses among Irish children have risen significantly in recent years, growing numbers of adults are now opting for an assessment for Attention…
- In The News
How to avoid a fresh scam hitting Irish shoppers online
Unsuspecting Irish shoppers are being duped by scammers who have figured out a fiendish way to win your trust. Consumer Affairs correspondent Conor Pope…
- In The News
Who was David Joyce, the Irish man shot dead by UK police?
David Joyce, 38, was killed with a single shot by British police officers at Milton Keynes railway station on April 1st. But who was he and what do we know…
- In The News
Can a distinctive tattoo help solve Emer O’Loughlin’s murder?
Gardaí have made a renewed appeal on the 20th anniversary of the murder of art student Emer O’Loughlin in Co Clare. Detectives believe that a man they want to…
- In The News
After years of heartbreak, can Rory McIlroy finally win the Masters?
Rory McIlroy will tee off on Thursday at 6.12pm Irish time on the first day of the Masters in Georgia. It is the first major tournament of the golf season and…
- In The News
The disappearance of Kerry farmer Michael Gaine
Shortly before 10am, on Thursday, March 20th, Kerry farmer Michael Gaine walked into a Centra store in Kenmare to buy phone credit. The 56-year-old farmer was…
- In The News
How tariff chaos could affect Ireland
Global markets plunged again on Monday after Donald Trump showed no signs of pulling back from his sweeping tariff plan. All the major stock exchanges across…
- In The News
Four weddings and a baby shower: the financial pressure of too many invites
A reader wrote to Trish Murphy’s Tell Me About It column looking for advice for a problem that she says is driving her crazy and taking over her life. In the…
- In The News
Have new rules fixed Gaelic football?
The GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship starts this weekend. It’s one of the biggest competitions in all of Irish sport. The All-Ireland football…
- In The News
Do Ireland’s laws on sex work need to change?
Last week, a Brazilian man who rented out properties across rural Ireland under false pretences and used them as brothels, was jailed for nine years. Ilamar…
- In The News
Trump launches a trade war against the world
Last night US president Donald Trump announced tariffs on imports from dozens of countries, including Ireland and the European Union as a whole, launching a…
- In The News
Why are two Irish citizens being deported from Germany despite no convictions?
Two Irish citizens living in Berlin have been issued with deportation orders and instructed to leave Germany before April 21st after facing charges over…
- In The News
The climate threat to Irish houses
As sea levels rise and extreme floods become more frequent, increasing numbers of Irish homeowners are struggling to secure insurance for their properties…
- In The News
From Wexford trucker to Ceann Comhairle: Who is Verona Murphy?
Verona Murphy made history last December when she became the first female Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann. After just months into that role, she has become the…
- In The News
Signal scandal: what is Trump doing about his leaky administration?
On March 15th the US military carried out air strikes against the Iran backed Houthis in Yemen. It was an operation that should have been top secret, its…
- In The News
What we've learned from the Garron Noone controversy
Garron Noone is one of the country's most popular social media stars, with a combined 3.5 million followers on Tiktok and Instagram. Usually he's gently poking…
- In The News
How a Dublin school became embroiled in the GAA Catfish drama
Irish Times education editor Carl O’Brien discusses how a Dublin school investigated claims that the alleged GAA catfish is among its staff. Presented by…
- In The News
Could Israel annex the West Bank?
On March 2nd, two men – one Israeli and one Palestinian – stood on the stage of the Academy Awards in LA and accepted an Oscar for their documentary ‘No Other…
- In The News
Sex education: How culture wars on gender identity have entered the classroom
The biggest shake-up to the primary school syllabus in more than two decades is on the way. It will overhaul the way most subjects are taught, even add new…
- In The News
Watching Adolescence? Here's how to talk to boys about masculinity influencers
The new Netflix show "Adolescence" has touched a nerve. In its first four days alone, it pulled in 24 million views. The fictionalised account of a 13 year old…
- In The News
How Conor McGregor went from "f**k politics" to presidential wannabe
Only a few Irish eyes were smiling when Conor McGregor appeared alongside Donald Trump in the Oval Office on St Patrick's Day. The former UFC star, who is…
- In The News
'The Family': the criminal gang behind Ireland’s latest drug seizure
On Tuesday gardaí seized cocaine valued at more than €10 million when they stopped a truck on the M9 in Co Kilkenny. Intelligence led to the truck being…
- In The News
Why Big Pharma is annoyed with Ireland
Over the past two years, the pharmaceutical industry has quietly waged a massive lobbying campaign to try to block proposed EU regulations for the sector. Big…
- In The News
Web Summit Showdown: Why the three co-founders are heading to court
The High Court is set to hear revealing details on the workings of one of Ireland’s most high profile companies: Web Summit. In a civil trial that is set to…
- In The News
Convicted fraudster Samantha Cooke: how she was caught and what drove her
Cooke used pseudonyms including Carrie Jade Williams Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- In The News
How losing became a habit at Manchester United
Manchester United used to dominate the Premier League. During Alex Ferguson’s reign as manager, the team won 13 league titles – a record that’s unlikely to be…
- In The News
The Taoiseach and Trump: listen to the key exchanges in an extraordinary White House meeting
Listen to the highlights of Taoiseach Micheal Martin's press event with US president Donald Trump in Washington DC earlier today. The two leaders jointly took…
- In The News
Handling Trump: a psychologist advises the Taoiseach what to say in the White House
Later today Taoiseach Micheal Martin will meet US president Donald Trump in Washington, against a backdrop of Trump’s tariff threats and huge economic…
- In The News
Relationship recession: Why coupledom is declining around the world
The number of babies being born is falling globally, with profound effects in store for societies and economies should the trend continue long term. The…
- In The News
'No sympathy for him but huge sympathy for the family': Nathan McDonnell and the crime that shocked Tralee
High profile Kerry businessman Nathan McDonnell was “committed to and invested in” a €32 million crystal meth operation by an organised crime group with links…
- In The News
Donegal cliff murder: How Alan Vial and Nikita Burns were convicted of killing Robert Wilkin
Alan Vial (39) and Nikita Burns (23) have been found guilty of murdering 66-year-old ‘Robin’ Wilkin whose body was thrown over the cliffs at Sliabh Liag in Co…
- In The News
How new gambling rules will impact Irish punters
The newly formed Gambling Regulatory Authority has, since Wednesday, taken control of the industry. The regulator will decide who in the areas of gaming…
- In The News
What Trump’s tariffs might mean for Ireland
US secretary of state Marco Rubio told Tánaiste Simon Harris it was a priority of the Trump administration to address the “trade imbalance” between Ireland and…
- In The News
How a software update led to a murder conviction
This week, Stephen Mooney pleaded guilty to murdering his wife, Anna Mooney, at their home in Kilbarrack, Dublin in June 2023. Mooney had been due to stand…
- In The News
What should Micheál Martin do if his White House visit turns combative?
Last Friday's showdown between Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Donald Trump in the Oval Office will have Irish officials on tenterhooks. Just hours after the Taoiseach…
- In The News
Family of murdered backpacker Danielle McLaughlin seek Irish inquest
Backpacker Danielle McLaughlin knew that her mother Andrea worried about her when she was away on her travels, so every day she’d text home to Donegal. Then…
- In The News
Who will win and who should win at this year's Oscars
The run up to this year’s Oscars in Ireland has been quiet; for the first time in years there are no Irish contenders in the major categories. The movies named…
- In The News
‘My Irish friends are awesome’ says Elon Musk – who are they?
Elon Musk seems particularly taken with the opinions of three Irish men active on X: far-right activist Michael O’Keeffe; Barry O’Driscoll, whose idea of…
- In The News
Who is Alice Weidel, the unlikely leader of Germany’s far-right AfD party?
She’s been described as the politician of contradictions. Alice Weidel is the leader of the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party but is married…
- In The News
Why are so many babies born by C-section in Ireland?
One in every three births in Ireland is by Caesarean section. In the case of first time mothers, that figure rises to 41%. These are some of the highest rates…
- In The News
One man’s search for his €750 million bitcoin fortune buried in a landfill
In 2013 a Bitcoin hard drive – now worth more than half a billion euro – was mistakenly dumped in the council rubbish tip in Wales. Since then its owner, James…
- In The News
What now for Ukraine as Trump turns on Zelenskiy
It’s been a head-spinning week for Ukraine, with US president Donald Trump publicly turning on the war-torn country’s leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy. It is three…
- In The News
Sex for rent: the hidden side of Ireland's housing crisis
Darling Duran, a 38-year-old digital marketing graduate from Bolivia was looking for a place to rent in Dublin when an ad for a one-bedroom apartment for €700…
- In The News
Just how capable is Europe of defending itself?
An 80 year alliance between the US and Europe has been upended in just one week. Donald Trump and other American officials have long felt Europe should not…
- In The News
The Omagh bombing inquiry: 'The engine of the car used for the bomb landed on my legs'
Over the last four weeks, the Omagh bombing inquiry has heard from the families of those who died, survivors, and the emergency service personnel who attended…