Newstalk Breakfast

A classic Christmas tale... thoughts about getting presents for our loved ones go from ‘I have plenty of time’ to ‘Oh no’ in the blink of an eye.    But how do we course correct now that the damage has been done and the time lost?    Lifestyle Editor and Saturday Weekend Magazine Columnist with The Irish Examiner, Esther McCarthy joined us on Newstalk Breakfast to present thoughtful last-minute gifts that just might save your Christmas... 

Tomorrow, boys and girls will find gifts under the tree as Santa delivers presents across the world. But has he been cleared to enter Irish airspace, and where is he now?   Aisling Duff is an Air Traffic Controller with AirNav, and joined Jonathan Healy on the show.

A judicial review of the Metrolink project has been withdrawn in what Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien has called "an early Christmas present". Paul Hosford, Acting Political Editor of the Irish Examiner, joined us on the show this morning.

Two police officers and another person have been killed in a car blast in Moscow, Russia's investigative committee has said. It happened close to the scene where a Russian general was killed by a bomb on Wednesday.  Meanwhile Russia has continued to launch strikes targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure, while peace talks between the two nations have thus far yielded little progress.  Emmanuelle Chaze, Ukraine correspondent for Radio France Internationale and France24 joined us on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

At least 8,000 new documents related to the case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were made available yesterday on the US Department of Justice's website.   This latest release includes many references to Donald Trump, including a claim by a senior US attorney that the US president was on a flight in the 1990s with the now-deceased convicted child sex offender and a 20-year-old woman.   Larry Donnelly Law lecturer from University of Galway and Columnist with The Journal spoke to Shane Coleman on the show.

88 per cent of people believe that there is a worrying amount of anxiety in society. That’s according to a new report from St Patrick’s Mental Health Services. So, why are we becoming increasingly anxious?    Psychotherapist and Author Iseult White joined Shane Coleman on the show to discuss.

Nearly two million people are travelling through Dublin Airport over Christmas.   Henry McKean met with a number families reunited at the arrivals hall, including some meeting new baby relatives for the first time. He sent us this report…

It’s Christmas Eve, which means many people will be packing up and travelling to see family and friends for the Christmas break. But what details do you need to know before you go?    Barry Kenny, Corporate Communications Manager, Iarnród Éireann and Graeme McQueen, DAA Media Relations Manager joined Jonathan Healy on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

If you were dreaming of a White Christmas this year, I’m sorry to say you’ll be disappointed.    For our festive forecast, Carlow Weather’s Alan O’Reilly joined Shane Coleman on the show to see what the weather has in store. 

Comedian and actor Russell Brand has had two further charges of rape and sexual assault brought against him.    Brand already has five previous counts of sexual offences, pertaining to the period between 1999 and 2005.    Enda Brady, International TV Anchor with TRT World, joined us on Newstalk Breakfast to give us an update…