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 Sorcha Pollak.
Episodes
Jennie’s law: One family’s campaign to protect women from domestic abuse
Abusers convicted of serious domestic violence will have their names included on a publicly available register under a new law designed to allow those with concerns to check whether their partner has a violent past.The proposed legislation will be known as Jennie’s Law in honour of Jennifer Poole, a 24-year-old mother of two who was murdered by her former partner Gavin Murphy in 2021. Poole did no
How the Belfast riots unfolded
The event that sparked the racist riots in Belfast on Tuesday evening happened on Monday night in the north of the city. A Sudanese man, named in court as Hadi Alodid, is alleged to have brutally assaulted Stephen Ogilvie in a street knife attack that was filmed by a bystander. Ogilvie lost an eye and is in hospital with other serious injuries. The 30-year-old Alodid has now been charged with knif
What a 24-year jail term for Sean McGovern means for his boss, Daniel Kinahan
The 24-year sentence handed down to Sean McGovern in the Special Criminal Court prompted gasps in the packed courtroom.It will also have sent shock waves through organised crime in Ireland and all the way to the Dubai prison where Daniel Kinahan is awaiting extradition back to Ireland and an appointment in the same court.McGovern was a senior Kinahan cartel figure, formerly based in Dubai before h
‘Irish only or it burns’ - Why Ireland's far right is targeting vacant council houses
For the past 18 months, Dublin City Council has been keeping track of a worrying trend: an increase in the number of vacant council houses being targeted in racist attacks. The criminal damage, which happens just before the council moves a new tenant in, ranges from racist graffiti to making the house uninhabitable.So where is this happening? And what can be done to stop it?Irish Times crime and s
What is the 'free birth' movement and why is it becoming more popular in Ireland?
Naomi James (38) was pregnant with her fourth child when, disillusioned with Ireland's maternity services, she chose to give birth at home without medical assistance.Shortly after her baby was born at home in Drogheda in June 2024, she became ill and was taken to hospital, where she died.Naomi was just one of an unknown but growing number of women in Ireland who opt for a free birth, – to have the
Why Irish far-right activists mingled with the ‘white Europe’ remigration movement
A summit in Portugal last weekend laid bare the growth in a pan-European remigration movement, with speakers who ranged from an MEP to Greg Bovino, a former US border patrol official who, before retiring, became the public face of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in US cities.The term means deporting not just illegal immigrants but all people judged to be unassimilated in western s
Why Ireland is introducing a new system to diagnose autism
An assessment of need (AON) helps put children with a disability on a service pathway. But the waiting list is long and growing every year. It currently stands at 21,782 which means some children will wait years for diagnosis.To speed up the process and deal with the stubbornly long waiting list, the government has announced details of a new “autism assessment and intervention pathway protocol”.Ho
What will the return of El Niño mean for Ireland's weather?
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has firmed up its forecast for a return of El Niño this summer, increasing the risk of record-breaking heat and extreme weather events starting in June and lasting until at least November.Such is the threatened power of this weather pattern, it’s been called a super El Niño. What happens when temperatures soar and the heat is simply too much, impacting o
Was death of billionaire fashion mogul an accident or murder?
When Isak Andic, who created the Mango clothes brand, died from a fall while our hiking with his only son, Jonathan, in the mountains outside Barcelona, it was treated as a tragic accident.But for the Spanish police, something about events on that hiking trail in December 2024 just didn’t add up.First there were inconsistencies in Jonathan’s police statements. Then forensics found evidence that su
Our food reviewers give their picks for great summer restaurants
Is there such a thing as “summer on a plate”? What makes a great seasonal dish? And where is the best restaurant in Ireland for a memorable staycation night out?These were some of the factors Irish Times restaurant reviewer Corinna Hardgrave and food writer Joanne Cronin had to consider when they come up with their annual must-keep list: “100 great restaurants, cafes and places to eat around Irela
Jeffrey Donaldson sex abuse trial: What the jury has heard so far
The trial of Jeffrey Donaldson began on Wednesday with the jury warned they would hear about “difficult and traumatic incidents” the two alleged victims claim they experienced as children.By the end of the second day, Thursday, they had heard more of the substance of those alleged incidents, including watching a video of a police interview with the witness known as Complainant A.She and the other
Why aggressive drivers are stopping Irish women cycling
Aggressive driver behaviour, speeding, poor cycling infrastructure and the increased size of vehicles are deterring women from getting on their bikes, research by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has found.Most women in Ireland can cycle and have access to a bike, but are only half as likely as men to choose cycling as a mode of travel, according to the Empowering Women to Cycle report.And a
AI is coming for tech jobs: what will it mean for the Irish economy?
Just a few years ago Meta’s workforce in Ireland was about 3,000. When the newly announced round of job cuts are complete, the tech giant’s headcount at its Irish bases will be halved.The reasons for the job losses – the cuts are part of a global redundancy programme – have not been made public but AI is widely acknowledged as a driver. But how?And Meta isn’t the only company shedding jobs. The Fa
How is AI being used in Irish primary schools?
If the junior infants in St Joseph’s Primary School in Dundalk, Co Louth want to know something they can ask AI.An AI voice assistant named Merlyn will tell them the answer, type it on a digital whiteboard with photos and illustrations and prompt them to delve deeper into the subject.Every class is being taught how to use AI because St Joseph’s is taking part in a Merlyn AI pilot programme alongsi
Jeffrey Donaldson: The former politician goes on trial
Jeffrey Donaldson (63) was arrested and charged with sexual offences in March 2024. The former DUP leader and MP is accused of 18 offences – one count of rape, four of gross indecency with or towards a child, and 13 of indecent assault on a female, on dates between 1987 and 2008.His wife Eleanor Donaldson (60), is charged with aiding and abetting her husband but she has been judged to be unfit to
Why RTÉ is caught in a never ending payments drama
RTÉ’s announcement that the salary of Derek Mooney, one of its most well-known on-air staffers, had been publicly misrepresented for years sparked a very public controversy.It prompted debate in the Dáil and an appearance for the broadcaster’s director general Kevin Bakhurst before the Oireachtas media committee.At issue was how pay is calculated in the organisation, with the suspicion that, once
Byelections: who are the favourites to win in Dublin Central and Galway West?
When two TDs left for bigger gigs last year it triggered elections to fill their places.Fine Gael’s Pascal Donohoe left for a big job at the World Bank and Independent TD Catherine Connolly left for a bigger job in Áras an Uachtaráin.Voters tomorrow will be faced with long ballot papers but the Irish Times IPSOS B&A poll suggests the early emergence of a small number of clear favourites in bot
Why videos of Yves Sakila’s last moments on Dublin street are key to Garda investigation
On Friday at about 5pm, Yves Sakila(35) was pursued by security guards on Dublin’s Henry Street. He was suspected of shoplifting. As he ran down the street, it is believed he collided with an elderly man.What happened next was witnessed by several bystanders and by thousands of others because of a distressing video posted on social media. It shows the Congolese man’s last minutes as he lay face do
The son of killer dentist Colin Howell tells his story
This episode was first published in February 2026. On the night of his second birthday in May 1991, Seamus Daniel Howell’s mother Lesley was murdered by his father, Colin Howell, and his father’s lover, Hazel Stewart.The pair also killed Stewart’s husband Trevor Buchanan.They left the two bodies in a garage in Castlerock, Co Derry, staging the scene to make it look as if they had taken their own l
How punters on Polymarket have bet big on Gerry Hutch to lose
Betting on the results of an election is not unusual but Polymarket is not a typical bookies. It allows punters to take and then change their position on all manner of events, from when the Strait of Hormuz might open to whether Taylor Swift will be pregnant before she gets married.So when Irish Times investigative reporters Conor Gallagher and Rachel Lavin noticed almost €1 million had been wager
Why Donald Trump is in China
Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday night for a two-day visit that both the United States and China hope will stabilise their relationship and prolong a truce in the trade war that began over tariffs last year. The state visit – with all the pomp and ceremony that entails – had been scheduled for April but was deferred because of the war in Iran. There is a lot on the table and, in the sh
Why do Dubliners suddenly love Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre?
When Dubliners first saw the multi-tiered, gleaming white, iron and glass shopping centre on St Stephen’s Green in the late 1980s, it was quickly nicknamed “the Mississippi showboat” and “the wedding cake”. And in a city that prides itself on its Georgian heritage and its historic buildings, it was seen by some as kitsch, an architectural pastiche and a bit embarrassing. But it grew on others. Now
Keir Starmer is clinging on to power but for how long?
British prime minister Keir Starmer is clinging to power after scores of Labour MPs – and several ministers – called on him to resign or at least plot a clear path for a change in leadership.The immediate prompt is the collapse of the Labour vote during the local elections which saw more than 1,500 councillors lose their seats.Add the party’s losses at the devolved elections in Scotland and Wales
How a Carlow garden centre left buyers millions out of pocket
When Irish Times consumer affairs correspondent Conor Pope got an email last June about the non-delivery of garden furniture, he couldn’t have known that it would be the start of a deluge of similar complaints from hundreds of frustrated customers.All had ordered from Rathwood, a family business, operating for more than 30 years that had grown into one of the biggest outdoor living retailers in th
How money laundering has become big business in Ireland
For online fraudsters to be successful they need a web of bank accounts to first receive the money they steal and then to channel it, often out of the country.Some people, often students, willingly let their bank accounts be used in exchange for a small sum of money. For others though, they have no choice, like the victim of sextortion before the courts this month who was blackmailed into letting
Iran war: what a deal could look like - and why Trump blinked first
On Wednesday, in the midst of a tentative ceasefire, Iran issued what could be the first step in a deal with the US over the Strait of Hormuz.Meanwhile Iran’s foreign minister was in Beijing meeting China’s top diplomat who urged an end to the blockade of the vital waterway and an end to the war. Could a peace deal finally be in sight?And why did German chancellor Friedrich Merz torpedo his relati
What do sky-high jet fuel prices mean for travellers?
The Iran war, which began on February 28th, has disrupted air traffic routes and pushed up jet fuel prices. That much is clear. But with the war showing little sign of resolution, what is less clear is what will happen as the aviation industry grapples with inevitable fuel shortages?The disruption to aviation has been severe in the Middle East and Asia but, to date, the impact on European airlines
A suspected murder-suicide in Iceland with an Irish connection
In June 2025, the Mancel family left their apartment in Leopardstown in south Dublin, headed to Dublin Airport and flew to Reykjavik. They checked into the luxury Edition hotel for what appeared to be a weeklong holiday for husband Emeric Mancel (57), wife Ming Ting and their 29-year-old daughter, Catherine.But on the day they were due to fly home, Emeric and Catherine were found dead from stab wo
A sick man: DJ Carey and his cancer con
Last November former Kilkenny hurler DJ Carey was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for fraud. In July, the disgraced sportsman pleaded guilty to ten counts of deception involving thirteen individuals. It was a stunning fall from grace for the Kilkenny man, who was once the most celebrated hurler in the country. For years Carey spun a web of lies, convincing friends, acqu
Inside the Kinahan cartel’s secret phone chats: ‘Nobody is stopping until they’re all dead’
When Sean McGovern, a trusted member of the Kinahan organised crime cartel, was extradited from Dubai last May he can’t have known the depth and breadth of the evidence gathered by the Gardaí that would prove that he had directed cartel murder plans at the height of the deadly Kinahan-Hutch feud.It was all laid out in the Special Criminal Court this week as encrypted phone messages between him and
Dire reviews and controversy: Why the Michael Jackson movie broke box-office records
Michael, the biopic tracking the early years of Michael Jackson, opened to dire reviews and criticism over its silence on the child sex abuse allegations levelled at the music superstar.The fans, though, don’t care; they made Michael a box office smash. Its first weekend broke records, with the film scoring the biggest opening of all time for any musical biopic.It stars Jaafar Jackson, who does a
Car bombs and hijackings: Why two attacks show the New IRA hasn’t gone away
Last Saturday evening, a food delivery driver was hijacked in Co Antrim, a bomb was placed in his car and he was ordered to drive to Dunmurry police station. When he got there he ran in to raise the alarm. Minutes later, a police officer’s bodycam recorded the car exploding as nearby houses were being evacuated, with two babies among those who were being brought to safety at the time. The attack i
Why Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch wants to swap Lanzarote for Leinster House
For a man who has been targeted by assassins, Gerry Hutch is surprisingly easy to track down in the village in Lanzarote where he has lived for more than 10 years.He hikes in the morning, frequents the island’s many Irish bars – Paddy’s Point is a favourite – and is happy to stop for selfies with the Irish holidaymakers attracted by the island’s winter sun.Irish Times investigative reporter Conor
After the 'feis-fixing' scandal, has Irish dancing cleaned up its act?
When Ellen Coyne heard her phone buzz in bed on a dark October night in 2022, she couldn’t have known that answering it would lead to the “biggest thing to happen to Irish dancing since Riverdance.”A dossier of messages and WhatsApp screen grabs claimed to uncover what had long been suspected about the sport and art-form; that competition-fixing between teachers and adjudicators was widespread, an
A surprising motive for criminal Robbie Lawlor's murder
Notorious Dublin criminal Robbie Lawlor was shot dead in Belfast in 2020, when he arrived at a house in the Ardoyne area of the city, to collect a drug debt.Lawlor was a 36-year-old father originally from Coolock, Dublin, though he had relocated to Laytown, Co Meath, for the final years of his life. He was the chief suspect in a number of gangland attacks, including five murders over a 15-year per
Devastation in Lebanon as Israel's 'yellow line' leaves huge numbers displaced
Sally Hayden reports on her visit to south Lebanon, where weeks of war between Israel and the Iran-linked paramilitary organisation Hizbullah have left a trail of destruction. Thousands were killed or injured in strikes. Buildings and entire villages have been left in ruins and an exclusion zone established by the Israeli military has left up to one million people permanently displaced, many of th
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor: the lifestyle that led the former prince astray and endangered the royal family's future
Former British prince Andrew fell further from grace in February with his arrest as part of an investigation into whether he abused power by sharing confidential information with his friend Jeffrey Epstein.Up to then, the scrutiny of Andrew's relationship with the notorious Epstein focussed on allegations of sexual exploitation. But this affair shifted the focus onto Andrew's conduct while working
Daniel Kinahan: What evidence will form the case against him?
Daniel Kinahan, the leader of the Kinahan cartel and a member of the “super cartel” that runs about a third of the European cocaine market, was arrested last week in Dubai, where he has lived openly for years.In today’s episode Irish Times Crime Editor Conor Lally talks about the significance of this arrest, what charges Kinahan will face and what this means for the future of the cartel.Presented
Will the Peter Mandelson scandal bring down Keir Starmer?
The appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK Ambassador to the United States is a moment Keir Starmer will rue.On Monday, he faced MPs in the UK Parliament to explain what he knew about the vetting process, which it has been revealed Mandelson failed.Starmer says he knew nothing about it and has sacked the most senior civil servant in the Foreign Office over what he says was the failure to inform him.
The surprising source of Ireland's cannabis
The amount of cannabis being smuggled into Ireland has risen significantly in recent years, with most of the product for sale now coming from the United States.So why have drug gangs here turned to overseas product and why from the US?In today’s episode, Irish Times Crime and Security correspondent Conor Lally explains how drug gangs attempt to get cannabis into the country - and how they are caug
How Ireland’s top betting tipster promoted a black market gambling site
Rob Heneghan is one of Ireland’s most popular online gambling tipsters. His social media accounts show his more than one million followers a glamorous lifestyle of private jets, yachts and wads of cash.In recent videos he’s placing large cash bets at Cheltenham with darts players Luke Littler and Luke Humphries.His company, Pro Sports Advice, charges between €19 to €149 a month for his tipping ser
Why not everyone is happy with free money for artists
When a pilot scheme was announced in 2022 to provide artists with a guaranteed weekly income of €325 a week for three years, there were more than 8,000 applications for the 2,000 places.The Basic Income for the Arts pilot programme ended in February and a review of it was conducted by the Department of Culture before the decision was taken to create a new, permanent scheme. It is now open for appl
What Trump’s fight with Pope Leo says about his state of mind
As US president Donald Trump threatens to wipe out Iran and attacks the pope, even some former allies are questioning whether he has grown increasingly unbalanced.His social media post of an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus gave even more ammunition to his detractors.All of this has meant that Trump’s political opponents have become louder in invoking the US constitution’s 25th amendment, a
Fuel protests: Could some people be radicalised by last week's events?
For almost a week there were blockades and go-slows which severely disrupted the country’s road network and Dublin city centre was at a standstill for several days. By the weekend a third of the country’s service stations were out of petrol and diesel because fuel depots were under siege. Gardaí were out in force from the start; on the streets, beside fuel depots, on motorways – watching. So what
Why deaths on Irish roads keep rising
There have been 45 deaths on Irish roads so far this year – that’s six more people than this time last year. Tragically, 2025 ended as the deadliest on Irish roads in more than a decade with 190 fatalities. Why?What makes Ireland so different from our European neighbours who are successfully tackling this devastating problem?Business economist Sinead O’Sullivan, skilled in collating and analysing
How an Irish building contractor conned US homeowners out of €1.3 million
John O’Brien’s scam was simple. Arriving in the US on a tourist visa in 2021, he set himself up as a building contractor in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. By the time the authorities caught up with the 28 year-old, he had conned more than 100 victims out of an estimated $2.5 million.Many of the homeowners who handed him their life savings for promised building work were charmed by his Irish accen
How will the fuel protests end?
On Wednesday, as fuel protests over the Government’s response to rising petrol and diesel prices entered their third day it became clear the demands of the protesters showed no signs of being met.Taoiseach Micheál Martin said fuel protesters blocking cities and towns around Ireland are “wrong” and those breaking the law will be penalised.Several distinct but co-ordinated protests took place over t
Iran ceasefire: Did Trump run out of road?
The US, Israel and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday barely an hour before US president Donald Trump’s deadline to obliterate Iran was set to expire, with Tehran agreeing to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz.The ceasefire is based on a 10-point proposal from Iran which Trump said was a “workable basis on which to negotiate”.So what is in the proposal and why was Pakistan key to
How risky is Simon Harris' new savings scheme?
More details have emerged about the Minister for Finance’s new savings and investment idea which aims to unlock some of the €170bn Irish people are estimated to have on deposit and encourage them to become stock market investors instead.Simon Harris first floated the idea of a Government-endorsed savings plan in February but the details were sparse.The idea is now clearer, though the fine print ha
The spy service protecting Ireland Inc
It is not surprising that the army’s spy wing is a highly secretive organisation, but lately it’s becoming a little less so, with one of its top bosses giving an interview to The Irish Times. Its job is to protect the State and the Defence Forces from military threats, counter hybrid activity and protect Irish interests overseas. Its expertise is wide, from on-the-ground surveillance to advising t
Are we closer to solving the mystery of missing Icelandic tourist Jon Jonsson?
Gardaí have identified a person of interest in the disappearance of Icelandic man Jon Jonsson. The suspect, who's from Liverpool, is a veteran criminal with a history of large scale drug dealing.Jonsson, who'd come to Ireland for a poker tournament, vanished on February the 9th 2019. He was caught on CCTV leaving the Bonnington Hotel on the Swords Road in north Dublin.Beyond those images, Gardaí h
Inside the State’s latest care scandal: The at-risk children on Tusla’s ‘no beds list’
In the entire country there are just 26 places for vulnerable children in need of the highest level of specialist care and supervision that Tusla is charged with providing.And only 15 of these beds are currently available.What this means is that when the child and family agency petitions the courts to have a vulnerable and in-danger child taken into its special care, it then has to admit to the ju
David McWilliams: How the energy crisis could plunge Ireland into recession
The world is in oil shock. Since the US and Israel launched its war on Iran one month ago, the impact on the rest of the world has been felt in ever-rising energy prices.Iran controls – and has mostly closed – the Strait of Hormuz through which one-fifth of the world’s oil supply usually passes.There is no guarantee in this uncertain war when oil supplies will start flowing again as normal.History
The euthanasia case dividing Spain
Please note, this episode contains discussion of suicide and sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised.Last Thursday, a Spanish woman called Noelia Castillo, died by euthanasia at the age of 25. The case made headlines in Spain and beyond, because the young woman had spent the previous two years fighting a legal battle against her father, over her right to end her life. The case went all the
Does Dublin need a €5 tourist tax?
Dublin City Council is keeping up the pressure on the Government to legislate for a tourist tax administered by local authorities.The level of the tax, also called a bed levy, city tax or accommodation tax, has not been pinned down but €5 per room, per night has been mooted. There could be a sliding scale depending on the standard of accommodation.With 21 out of 27 EU member states having such a t
What’s behind surge in fake weight-loss drugs and bogus steroids
The scale of the fake medicines in Ireland has been made worryingly clear with the latest figures from the State’s drugs watchdog.The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) seized more than 750,000 units of illegal and fake medicines over the course of 2025.As has been in the case in previous years, anabolic steroids top the list of fake imported drugs, with erectile dysfunction medication ne
How Gardaí finally cracked the code to a multi-million bitcoin fortune
Clifton Collins (55) had a thriving business growing cannabis in rented houses around the country.The Crumlin man and expert beekeeper was known for his award-winning honey but his real earner was the fortune he made from years of dealing drugs.He operated under the radar so when gardaí came across him parked in the Wicklow Mountains one night, they had no idea their search would eventually result
Natalie McNally murder: How YouTuber’s alibi fell apart
Stephen McCullagh (36) thought he had created a cast iron alibi for himself when he planned the murder of his pregnant girlfriend Natalie McNally (32) in December 2022.An avid gamer he was, he claimed, at home playing a video game live at the time she was killed. But as the PSNI was able to prove, he had in fact pre-recorded hours of himself playing the game. Police found that when he hit “play”,
How alumina from a Limerick refinery enters Russia’s weapons supply chain
A new investigation has shown the supply chain link between Russian missiles – ones used to deadly effect in Ukraine – and a factory in Limerick.Aughinish Alumina was built near the Shannon Estuary in the 1980s to make alumina using raw bauxite from Guinea and Brazil.A major employer in the area, it changed hands in 2006 when it was bought by a company called Rusal which at the time was controlled
The fringe women's group pivoting to focus on migration
The newly-formed Women’s Coalition on Immigration is calling on the Government to publish crime statistics broken down by country of origin and ethnicity. It argues – without supporting evidence – that there is a link between the increase in reported incidents of sexual violence against women in Ireland and immigration. The coalition was established in December by The Countess, a campaigning group
‘No smoking gun’ as Gerry Adams court case ends
Three victims of the IRA’s bombing campaign in Britain have spent the past four years building a legal case in an attempt to prove that Gerry Adams was a leading member of the IRA during the Troubles.The former Sinn Féin leader spent two days in the witness box in London, maintaining he was never a member of the republican paramilitary organisation responsible for the injuries of John Clark in the
Why Meath house was seized from owners in 20-year planning saga
When Michael and Rose Murray were refused planning permission for a substantial dormer bungalow in 2006 on land they owned in Co Meath, they went ahead with more ambitious plans anyway. They built a detached house that was twice the size of the one denied permission at scenic Faughan Hill. Shortly after they moved in, a complaint to Meath Co Council kick-started an epic legal battle that went all
How a tech savvy woman lost €30,000 in an invoice scam
If you got an invoice you’d been waiting for from your builder for work done, you’d get ready to pay it, wouldn’t you?And if, a couple minutes after that, you got another invoice from the builder saying that actually he’d made a mistake and he’d given you the wrong bank details, you’d think nothing of it and proceed to pay.Well that’s exactly what the reader who contacts our consumer affairs corre
Criptea-airgeadra? Gruaimscrolláil? How new Irish words are born
To keep Irish alive as a language for the modern world, new words are added all the time.Bingewatch (craosfhéachaint), cryptocurrency (criptea-airgeadra), influencer (tionchairí ar líne) and mansplaining (fearmhíniú) are among the relatively recent English words that now have Irish translations.It's great for communication, but who decides on these new translations – and how?Irish Language Editor
Criptea-airgeadra? Gruaimscrolláil? Conas a chuirtear le foclóir na Gaeilge?
De réir mar a thagann coincheapa agus téarmaí nua chun cinn sa saol, tagann focail nua chun cinn sa chaint mar chur síos orthu. Ar nós gach pobal teanga eile, forbraíonn focail, nathanna agus téarmaíocht go nádúrtha i bpobal labhartha na Gaeilge. Uaireanta eile, nuair a thagann téarmaí iasachta isteach sa ghnáthchaint, cumtar focail nua Gaeilge mar chur síos orthu le cur le stór na bhfo
Ukraine war four years on: Is an end in sight?
As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its fifth year, day-to-day life has become wearyingly normal.Having endured one of the coldest winters on record – mostly without electricity because of Russia’s bombing of power plants – the grinding misery of trying to survive for Ukranians goes on.The devastation in the cities targeted by Russia is clear to see and cost in lives immense. Civilia
Life in Beirut as Israel’s ‘precision strikes’ kill displaced civilians
Israeli air strikes on Lebanon have been relentless and growing in ferocity since the US and Israel launched its war against Iran on February 28th.Saying it is targeting Hizbullah, the Iran-backed militia that essentially functions as a state-within-a state in Lebanon, Israel issues evacuation orders to residents in advance of its missile attacks. That has prompted a mass displacement of people se
Why the Kinahans are trapped in Dubai
News that Kinahan cartel founder Christy Kinahan snr and his sons, Daniel and Christopher jnr, have not left the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for four years offers real insight into how small their world has become.Garda sources say that finding the Kinahans has never been the problem for the teams of detectives investigating them. What has proved difficult is building a case against the men who are
A deadly strike on a girls primary school in Iran - who is to blame?
In the first wave of attacks on Iran, a primary school was hit, with a reported death toll of 175, most of them young girls.It is the deadliest known episode of civilian casualties since the US and Israel launched its war in the region on February 28th.In the immediate aftermath, no side took responsibility and who is to blame has become a question that the Trump administration is being called upo
Iran war: 'danger' for the Irish economy as prices rise and uncertainty spreads
As the conflict in Iran continues and spreads, global markets are down and oil prices are soaring. So what impact could the conflict have on the global economy and on energy costs here in Ireland? Irish Times economics columnist Cliff Taylor explains what we know. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How the culture wars spread to Ireland
In his new documentary Amplified: The Exportation of the Culture Wars, director Mike Sheridan explores the profound influence of toxic discourse in the United States on the rest of the world – and in particular, Ireland.Through interviews and examples he shows how, with the amplification of social media, legitimate grievance can bloom into conspiracist, and how easily performance, paranoia, and po
How AI is deciding who gets hired
AI is turning the recruitment process upside down and leading to a jobs market which can be frustrating and difficult to navigate.So while it is easy to apply for a job online – multiple jobs even, in one go – it’s a harsh reality particularly for business or tech graduates looking for their first job that their achievement-filled CV won’t be read by a person.Instead it will be put through an AI-p
Iran war: How will it end?
Within minutes of the war beginning on Saturday, allies Israel and the US had achieved a stated goal: Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed alongside his powerful inner circle. His death would, according to both US president Donald Trump and Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu, pave the way for regime change, allowing oppositi
Why Spain plans to ‘regularise’ 500,000 undocumented migrants
In late January, the Spanish government announced a mass legalisation scheme which will provide migrants with a one-year, renewable residency permit, allowing them to be hired legally.Opening for applications next month, it will benefit about half a million people.For socialist prime minister Pedro Sánchez, the move is about the Spanish values of dignity, community and justice. It also makes the c
Irish man on trial in Budapest for killing American nurse
A Dublin man who admitted killing a young American nurse in Budapest in November 2024 will face trial in April. He has pleaded not guilty to murder, insisting her death was the result of an accident during consensual sex.The 38-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, previously admitted to killing Mackenzie Michalski (31) during a sexual encounter and hiding her body.At a preliminary hear
Trump's Iran war: Is there a plan, and do Americans support it?
US president Donald Trump came to power promising an end to foreign entanglements. Instead he has ramped up American aggression against its enemies. The weekend's attack that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei along with regime leaders and hundreds of others, including civilians, was his most extreme move yet. But it was done without the constitutionally required approval of C
Why is Ireland buying weapons from France?
Ireland is to buy hundreds of new armoured vehicles and artillery pieces from France, a move that will significantly expand the capabilities of the Irish Army to conduct on-island defence.The deal is expected to be worth €600 million and is the biggest investment in Army equipment in the history of the State. It is one of several deals with French suppliers to provide a range of equipment and serv
Inside the Black Axe raid: What gardaí found in operation targeting global crime gang
When gardaí raided the homes of 11 senior members of the Black Axe crime organisation this week they found more than they expected.As well as data-crammed mobile phones and laptops, they found merchandise emblazoned with the logo of the international fraud and money laundering gang.The caps and bags – the sort of memorabilia a golf club might offer – feature “Ireland” and also slogans such as “Ire
The killing of 'El Mencho': Why Mexico decided to take on the cartels
On Sunday, authorities in Mexico attempted to capture the notorious cartel boss known as “El Mencho”.They tracked Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes down to a cabin in the western state of Jalisco – his stronghold – and he was fatally wounded in the raid. The firefight also killed several of his heavily-armed accomplices, including his likely successor.He was head of the Jalisco New Generation Carte
Nancy Guthrie: the kidnapping gripping the US
Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her Tucson, Arizona, home on January 31st when her son-in-law dropped her off there after an evening at her daughter’s house nearby. She lived alone.Just hours later it is believed she was abducted from her home, her disappearance reported by friends the following day when she failed to show up for a church service.As the daughter of Savannah Guthrie, presenter of NB
