In The News

Around forty Irish citizens remain trapped inside Gaza after their names were not included on the list of foreign nationals allowed to leave the besieged area.On today’s podcast, Ibrahim Alagha, who usually lives in Blanchardstown with his wife and three children, describes the danger and hunger his family are facing on a daily bases.And Mark Weiss, who reports for The Irish Times in Israel, reflects on why most Israelis do not support calls for a ceasefire and discusses the efforts being made to secure the release of Irish-Israeli girl, Emily Hand, who was captured on October 7th.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon and Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parents face the challenge of explaining war to their children. The podcast provides advice on age-appropriate conversations and limiting exposure to media. It also discusses addressing war with teenagers, teaching non-violent solutions, and discussing bereavement and death.

An investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) unearthed an underground “banking” network offering an international money transfer system to Irish criminals. It allowed Irish drug gangs to move cash to continental Europe at low risk and without trace. The first step in this process was to bring the ill-gotten money to a local Chinese restaurant.Irish Times Crime Editor Conor Lally interviewed the head of Cab, who told him about the newly uncovered methods of hiding the proceeds of crime - and about how Instagram and reality TV are influencing the way criminals spend their money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Molly Martens and her father Thomas Martens have agreed a plea deal with prosecutors in the United States to accept a lesser manslaughter charge over the 2015 killing of Molly’s husband, Limerick man Jason Corbett. The pair were convicted of second-degree murder in 2017 but were successful in having the conviction overturned.Irish Times Washington correspondent Martin Wall has been in court all week in Lexington, North Carolina for the sentencing hearing. He describes the extensive video evidence shown to the court and the disturbing statements given by the Martens as they attempt to convince the judge that they deserve a sentence at the lower end of the scale. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday, Brazilian Deliveroo rider João Ferreira was hit by a Garda car on the M50, while attempting to recover a stolen motorcycle. The 23 year-old lost part of his right leg in the incident. In this episode journalist Isabella Boechat tells Sorcha Pollak how the events unfolded as a group of riders tracked down the missing vehicle and explains how the Brazilian community in Ireland is calling for a full investigation and more protection for delivery riders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On December 16th, 1983, after 23 days in captivity, kidnapped supermarket executive Don Tidey was rescued. He had been taken by members of the Provisional IRA posing as gardaí while driving his daughter to school in Dublin. With the whole country transfixed by the kidnapping, Garda intelligence tracked the culprits and their victim down to Derrada Wood outside Ballinamore in Co Leitrim. And while the release of Tidey safe and well was a success, the day was shrouded in tragedy because during the rescue his captors shot dead Private Patrick Kelly and recruit Garda Gary Sheehan.The murders shocked the country and no one has been brought to justice for them. Most of the kidnappers got clean away. While the event has been the subject of much media attention over the years, Tidey has never spoken about it – until now when he talked to Tommy Conlon and Ronan McGreevy for their new book, The Kidnapping, A Hostage, a Desperate Manhunt and a Bloody Rescue. They talk to In the News about the events in 1983 and the aftermath. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hollywood is on strike. It’s about money of course, but at its heart is changing technology: the way streamers, such as Netflix and Apple TV have altered the way actors and writers work and are paid, and how AI is set to curb the income potential of many in the film and TV business.Irish Times chief film correspondent Donald Clark explains just why the industry is on the picket lines, what it means for upcoming TV and film schedules and why actors are no longer promoting their movies or even appearing on the red carpet. And as he explains, the strike shows no sign of ending.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.This episode was originally published in July 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this month multinational food giant Nestlé announced the shocking news that it is to close its Wyeth Nutrition plant in Askeaton, Co Limerick with a loss of 540 jobs. And the blame? China’s falling birth rate.The plant which has been providing steady employment in the region for decades produces one thing – baby formula. The company stated: “The number of newborn babies in China has declined sharply from some 18 million per year in 2016 to fewer than nine million projected in 2023.”So, while the falling birth rate in China has led to a decision to close a major employer in Limerick, Beijing correspondent Denis Staunton explains it also has massive implications globally and for China itself as the country tries to boost birth rates and reverse the “one child policy” implemented for 35 years. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yousef Palani, a homophobic killer, was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering two men and seriously assaulting a third. The victims were gay men who met Palani through a dating app. The podcast discusses Palani's background, motives, and violent actions. It also explores the gruesome details of the murders and the distress experienced by the victims' families. Additionally, it delves into the investigation, suspicions of terrorism, religious influence, and lack of remorse shown by Palani.

Web Summit co-founder and now ex-CEO Paddy Cosgrave was accustomed to speaking his mind. It never really did him, or his business, any harm, until his remarks about Israel annoyed too many of the wrong people. Now he's out. Can the company he built survive? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.