The Hard Shoulder

On Thursday night, Kyiv was subject to an intense drone barrage as Russia launched 550 drones and 11 missiles at Ukraine, the most ever launched.It came after Donald Trump expressed disappointment towards Vladimir Putin following a phone call yesterday over his unwillingness to end the war in Ukraine.  For the latest on this is James Waterhouse, BBC Ukraine correspondent , and Donnacha O’Beachain, Professor of Politics at DCU.Listen here.

 For many, though not all, long term relationships can mean a dwindling in the expression of physical affection.  The distractions of daily life can often result in less hand holding, intimacy and even less quality time spent with a partner.  So, what can be done to keep the spark in a long term relationship?  Joining Jonathan on The Hard Shoulder was Alanna Kirk, author and midlife coach, Amanda Brunker, writer and playwright, and Francis Kelleher, dating and relationship expert. Listen here.

Green Party councillor Michael Pidgeon and tailor Louis Copeland join The Hard Shoulder to discuss the permanent pedestrianisation of Parliament Street — and whether it’s a help or hindrance to local business.Listen here.

8 men who pleaded guilty to their involvement in the largest drug seizure in the history of the state have been jailed for a combined 129 years.  6 men were caught aboard the MV Matthew while two others tried to offload drugs onboard a second ship in the Irish Sea in September 2023 Frank Greaney NewsTalk’s Court correspondent joined Jonathan Healy for all the latest.

The calls for significantly increased taxes on the ultra-wealthy are only getting louder. Is it possible to be an ethical billionaire?  Jonathan Healy is joined by Oxfam Ireland CEO Jim Clarken and Dan O’Brien, the Chief Economist at the Institute of International and European Affairs. to discuss. Listen here.

John Fardy, presenter of Screentime, and entertainment journalist Sarina Bellissimo join The Hard Shoulder with their top picks for weekend viewing — including the best new films, series, and streaming releases.From Jurassic World: Rebirth to The Traitors on RTÉ, there's plenty to watch on screens both big and small.Listen here

16 flights to and from Dublin Airport have been cancelled for today and Friday as a French air traffic controller strike comes into effect.For the latest on this air travel disruption, Eoghan Corry, Travel Journalist joined Anton on The Hard Shoulder.Listen here.

 A Bill which seeks to end Discrimination against cancer survivors when accessing financial products is currently making its way through the Oireachtas.  Fianna Fail TD for Dublin South-Central Catherine Ardagh’s introduced the bill and joined Anton to discuss.Listen here.

Tánaiste Simon Harris has been saying this week that US tariffs of 10% on exports from Ireland will be the "new normal". What does this actually mean for Irish business and for the Irish economy? The CEO of IBEC, Danny McCoy joins Anton to discuss.

A new study from The University of Texas at Austin suggests that emoji usage can impact perceived responsiveness, closeness and relationship satisfaction.  Keith Broni, Editor-in-Chief of Emojipedia, and dating coach Sharon Kenny join Anton to explore how emojis are shaping online romance, from flirting to ghosting — and whether they help or hurt your love life.Listen here.