In The News

The aid flotilla which is attempting to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza has been attacked by drones in international waters off the coast of Greece. The move is widely seen as an escalation of Israel’s attempts to stop the flotilla from reaching its destination.The organisers said at least 13 explosions were heard on and around boats and objects were dropped on at least 10 boats from drones or aircraft.The 51-vessel flotilla carrying food and essential supplies has about 500 international volunteers, including Irish pro-Palestine activists.Italy is to send a naval ship to come to the vessels’ assistance while Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez said his country is sending a warship to protect the flotilla.“The government of Spain insists that international law be respected and that the right of our citizens should be respected to sail through the Mediterranean in safe conditions,” he said.Sinn Féin Senator Chris Andrews is among 22 Irish participants on the flotilla and he has called on the Government to protect its citizens on the flotilla and “as a matter of urgency, they need to arrange for an observer vessel to accompany the flotilla to ensure Israel does not violate the human rights of its participants”.So what will happen next? Irish Times reporter Naomi O’Leary, who has been talking to people on the flotilla, explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey and Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last weekend, over the course of 24 hours, two men were stabbed and seriously injured in separate incidents in Dublin’s city centre.An English tourist was hospitalised on Saturday night after he was stabbed in Temple Bar and on Sunday, a 17-year-old teenager was left in a critical condition after he was repeatedly stabbed on Dublin’s Eden Quay.These latest attacks will undoubtedly reinforce beliefs that the streets of the Irish capital are becoming unsafe. They also come in the wake of a surge in attacks against immigrants, particularly the Indian community.Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan recently pushed back against any suggestions that Dublin was unsafe, arguing that the capital city is actually becoming safer. In contrast, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said earlier this year that people living, working and visiting the city “have been robbed of their sense of safety”.In today's episode, Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally joins Sorcha Pollak to discuss the latest crime figures in the capital and how recent assaults are impacting people's perception of personal safety.Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Declan Conlon.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catherine Connolly, Jim Gavin, Heather Humphreys have secured their nominations for the campaign which will run for a month until the election is held on October 24th 2025.How have the three candidates backed by political parties – Connolly, Gavin and Humphreys – fared so far in their bid to become the next Irish head of state and what bumps in the road have they faced in their race for the Áras?Plus: at the time of recording, independent candidate Maria Steen was still in the hunt for the backing of 20 Oireachtas members. What would she bring to the race? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last Saturday, an estimated 25,000 people travelled from across the island of Ireland to gather in Dublin and march through the streets of the capital calling for the protection of the Irish language.Participants in Cearta, the first major Irish language demonstration in over a decade, demanded action from Government on housing, education and funding for Gaeltacht communities and Irish speakers.Their calls come at a time when the Irish language is clearly enjoying a bit of a moment. Three years ago, the Irish-language film An Cailín Ciúin experience global success and acclaim after it was shortlisted for an Oscar. And the worldwide popularity of Northern Irish rap group Kneecap, has brought the language to the masses in a way never seen before.But, despite this cultural momentum and growing appreciation of the national language, are policymakers doing enough to ensure its survival?Irish Times Irish language editor Éanna Ó Caollaí discusses the historic turnout at last weekend’s CEARTA protest and whether an Gaeilge’s pop culture moment could translate into how we fund, support and perceive the national language.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last year An Garda Síochána made payments totalling €278,000 to an Israeli company, Cognyte, which manufactures sophisticated surveillance software.It is not known exactly what was bought or what it will be used for but the purchase was made under the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) framework. That means other State agencies such as Revenue, Fiosrú and Military Intelligence can use the new Israeli tech.It is not the first time the State has bought technology – including military technology – from Israel.Cognyte’s flagship offering is what it calls an “investigations analytics platform”, a powerful piece of software capable of amalgamating masses of data in one place. It uses facial recognition, artificial intelligence and large language models to, in Cognyte’s words, “reveal hidden insights and deeper context” for investigators.So if that is what the Garda bought, how might the force use it?The Irish Times Crime and Security Correspondent Conor Gallagher explains.Gallagher also looks as some of the controversies the Israeli company has been involved in: from Brazil, where it was cited in the trial of disgraced Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, to the Netherlands, where the justice ministry has come under fire for buying a new telephone and data-tapping system for the police from the controversial defence company without informing parliament.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gardaí searching for a child who went missing when he was three years old have found human remains at a site in Donabate, north Dublin.Confirming that skeletal remains had been discovered, Garda HQ also named the boy as Daniel Aruebose.It is the first time he has been named since his disappearance and assumed death was placed under investigation three weeks ago.Conor Lally reports from the scene on what is known and is yet to be uncovered about the tragic case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns returned to the helm of her political party for a think-in dominated by the controversy over TD Eoin Hayes.The previous night, Mr Hayes issued an apology for wearing brown make-up on his face and hands while dressed up as former US president Barack Obama, at a party 16 years ago.Mr Hayes was previously suspended from the Social Democrats last December after it emerged he had issued misleading information about when he sold his shares in Palantir, a company he worked with which has been linked to the Israeli military. He was readmitted to the party over the summer.Ms Cairns said she was “hugely disappointed and annoyed” about the ‘blackface’ incident but has not yet revealed whether her colleague will face disciplinary actions.How will the Social Democrats respond to this latest scandal and could they suspend the Dublin Bay South TD for a second time?And how has the Social Democrats fared as an opposition political party during its leader’s maternity leave?Today, on In The News, Holly Cairns’s return from maternity leave was spoiled by another embarrassing controversy involving Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes.Irish Times political correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones discusses the fallout from the Hayes photograph and Cairns’ return to party leadership.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Andrew McNair and Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, Brazil made history when its supreme court convicted the country’s former far right president Jair Bolsonaro, and seven other defendants, of attempting a coup after his failed re-election bid in 2022. Bolsonaro was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison.The verdict brings an end to Brazil’s historical leniency in dealing with military men who have tried to overthrow democratically elected governments.Thousands of Brazilians took to the streets to celebrate the sentencing, while the leaders of neighbouring countries like Chile and Colombia paid tribute to the country’s democratic institutions.However, some members of the Brazilian congress immediately embarked on efforts to secure an amnesty for Bolsonaro and his co-conspirators.And Brazilian diplomats continue to anxiously await a formal response from the US, where president Donald Trump said he was “very unhappy” with the verdict and US secretary of state Marco Rubio described the trial as a “witch hunt”.Will Trump, who has already imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Brazil, impose further sanctions in response to the conviction?Can Bolsonaro’s supporters secure an amnesty for the divisive former leader? And what does this all mean for next year’s presidential election in Brazil?Today, on In The News, Brazil’s Bolsonaro is facing 27 years in prison, but will he do his jail time?Irish Times South America contributor Tom Hennigan discusses the national and international reaction to the Bolsonaro trial and verdict.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon and Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Pope Leo XIV turns 70 we look back at his first months in office, the messages he has been giving to his flock of 1.4 billion Catholics and what they reveal about the direction of his papacy.Since May the Pope has used his Wednesday audience to condemn the actions of Isreal in Gaza and to call for peace in Ukraine. What he has chosen to wear and where to live has signalled a return to tradition – but as Irish Times Europe correspondent Naomi O’Leary explains he’s also spoken about the dangers and the promise of AI.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In June 2024 French President Emmanuel Macron took a political gamble – and lost heavily.Hoping to strengthen his centrist alliance he dissolved the National Assembly triggering an election. The result has been chaos – a legislature with no dominant political bloc in power and leading this week to France naming its fourth prime minister in 12 months and riots on the streets of Paris.At the centre of the political chaos is the threat of austerity budgets. France is deep in debt and a succession of Macron-appointment prime ministers have proposed budgets with tax hikes and deep cuts.On Monday, prime minister François Bayrou was ousted by a decisive vote after he proposed a tough budget. By Wednesday, Macron had appointed a replacement, Sébastien Lecornu.The problem for the next government, Lecornu’s, is that a budget still needs to be passed and securing the backing of a very divided parliament will be difficult.The world’s stage does see not much of French prime ministers because the president, Macron, holds substantial powers over foreign policy and European affairs.So does this open the door to a snap election? And how damaging is this for Macron that his own country is in chaos while he bestrides the stage, positioning himself as a powerful European leader.Naomi O’Leary, Irish Times European correspondent, explains a bleak week in French politics.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.