In The News

10 Episodes
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By: The Irish Times

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 Sorcha Pollak. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Portal: Are we overreacting to a bit of 'bad' behaviour?
Last Friday at 4:00 AM

New Yorkers have been given a window into how some Dubliners behave in front of a camera. The portal is the city's newest public art installation; a two-way, real-time live stream between North Earl Street and 5th Avenue in Manhattan's Flat Iron district. Except some lewd behaviour on the northside has got it shut down... twice! In The News producer, Declan Conlon, spoke to observers enjoying the atmosphere around the portal when it was still operating this week. Bernice Harrison chats to art critic, Tom Lordan, about the interactive sculpture that's got everyone talking.


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Is Ireland's welcome for refugees over?
Last Thursday at 4:00 AM

The Government this week flagged its intention to further reduce the financial supports available to Ukrainian refugees. There will also be a review of supports for those seeking asylum under the international protection system. But after months of cuts, how much further can the Government go? Is Ireland's welcome for refugees over, and how much of this is about signalling to voters ahead of local and European elections? Harry McGee talks to Bernice Harrison about the details and the politics of Ireland's evolving attitude to refugees and asylum seekers.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...


Gangster's Paradise: How the Kinahans secretly make millions on property in Dubai
Last Wednesday at 4:00 AM

A major new investigation by The Irish Times has uncovered details of the Kinahan cartel's property empire being secretly sold off in Dubai. Most of the real estate had been purchased in the name of Caoimhe Robinson, the wife of Daniel Kinahan, who is not accused of any criminality. The organised crime group has been put under pressure by sanctions imposed by US authorities two years ago, resulting in the disposal of several luxury assets in the Middle Eastern city. Among them is a property in a gated community where residents have included infamous podcaster Andrew Tate and the...


Ireland is getting stricter on cigarettes. But is vaping the real threat?
Last Tuesday at 4:00 AM

On today's podcast, In the News producer Aideen Finnegan explains what we know about a proposal from Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to raise the legal age to buy cigarettes from 18 to 21. The move comes as Ireland's efforts to curtail smoking have plateaued, with smoking even increasing among male teenagers. But will such a new law be workable in practice?


Then we hear from Averil Power of the Irish Cancer Society, who welcomes the move. But she says the Government must urgently tackle the growing use of vapes among young people. Her warning comes as new...


‘It’s hard to stop scrolling’: What Irish teens are watching on TikTok
05/13/2024

From cute dance videos to antifeminist and racist ones, the social media app is a growing part of young people’s lives. There are concerns, though, about sleep deprivation, mental health, attention span – and the messages these young teenagers they are being relentlessly fed.


Irish Times parenting columnist Jen Hogan and journalist Patrick Freyne spent time with a group of teenagers, looking over their shoulder as they scrolled for hours on TikTok and talked to them about their relationship with the Chinese-owned app. They explain to In the News just how out of touch adults are when...


A stormy week for Donald Trump but Daniels fails to land a blow
05/10/2024

Donald Trump had to sit in front of Stormy Daniels in a New York courtroom this week, as the former adult film star spoke in excruciating and very frank detail about her sexual encounter in 2006 with the former US president. It was a key week in the trial, ongoing since April, in which Trump is accused of hiding “hush money’ payments to Daniels in 2016 in a bid to influence the presidential election. Meanwhile Trump runs the risk of being jailed for contempt of court over his outbursts – about the case, the jury and the prosecution. Irish Times Washington correspondent Keith...


What will it take for Israel to cease fire in Gaza?
05/09/2024

On Monday spirits were lifted in Gaza when Hamas issued a statement declaring it would accept the terms of a ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar. But joy was short-lived.


Israel quickly announced the deal did not go far enough towards releasing the hostages captured on October 7th. At the same time Israeli defence forces began their takeover of a crucial border crossing between Egypt and Gaza.


So what now? What will it take for Israeli prime minister Binjamin Netanyahu, a man under pressure at home and abroad, to agree to a...


Drimnagh murder - a new generation of rival drug gangs emerges
05/08/2024

The murder of a 20 year-old man in a chaotic gun attack on Dublin's southside may be a harbinger of a new gangland feud. Ballyfermot man, Josh Itseli, was gunned down in what's believed to be the first gangland shooting of the year. Three young men are in garda custody after Itseli's car was rammed to a halt and came under fire in Drimnagh in the early hours of Monday morning. He died at the scene and follow up searches resulted in the seizure of body armour and a military grade assault rifle. A pipe bomb nearby forced residents to...


How the culture of gangland funerals provides crucial intel
05/07/2024

Over the last twenty years or so, the funerals of significant criminal figures in Ireland have tended towards the extravagant. Last week's sober church service marking the passing of notorious heroin kingpin, Tony Felloni, was in sharp contrast to the modern day culture of gangland funerals. But quite apart from their eye-catching floral tributes and ostentatious shows of mourning, these occasions provide Gardai with a unique opportunity to glean crucial intel. Security and crime editor, Conor Lally, delves into the subculture of showy funerals, why Gardai and the media attend them, and how they're an important reminder of the...


Why are Chinese millionaires buying up South Dublin homes?
05/06/2024

When "Niamh" began house-hunting in Dublin's suburbs, she soon noticed that viewings were often attended by agents who were using phones to live-stream the property to potential buyers in China - some of whom then outbid her.


Estate agents have confirmed that it is now commonplace for wealthy Chinese nationals to bid strongly on houses in South Dublin. But why?


The answers lie in the details of a now-defunct 'Golden Visa' scheme, the decline of China's own property market and the desire of upwardly-mobile Chinese parents to give their children a Western education.<...