In The News

Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales spoiled the afterparty for Spain's Women's World Cup-winning team, first by giving one of the players, Jenni Hermoso, an unwanted kiss, and then by refusing to accept the consequences. As Rubiales clings to his job, the controversy has embarrassed Spain's football establishment, incensed Spanish women and brought on a national reckoning with old-fashioned sexism, says Madrid-based reporter Guy Hedgecoe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When it comes to prices there’s no going back, Conor Pope, Irish Times consumer affairs expert and Pricewatch columnist tells In the News. Energy companies are promising some sort of reduction, not as yet revealed; supermarkets say they have dropped prices – but food inflation is still running well into double figures; and it’s a hard time to be both a borrower, with interest rates rising, and a saver with pitiful deposit interest rates. What can consumers do to help themselves – and will the Government use the budget, now only weeks away, to step in? Produced by John Casey and Suzanne Brennan. Presented by Bernice Harrison Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In late July, four relatives attended a family lunch at the home of Erin Patterson, a 48 year-old mother of two from Leongatha in Australia. Within days of the lunch, three of the guests were dead, with a fourth fighting for his life in hospital, where he remains today. A beef wellington that was served for lunch on the day is suspected to have contained poisonous death cap mushrooms. But why were they in there? Australian police must now decipher whether it was simply a tragic accident or if there is something more sinister at play?In this episode, John Ferguson, a journalist with The Australian outlines the details of the case; while retired homicide investigator Charlie Bezzina, who has worked on some of Australia’s most high-profile cases goes through the unanswered questions in this shocking mass poisoning. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Presented by Bernice Harrison Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the announcement of the deaths of two men – Meath native Brendan Wall (45) and Canadian Ivan Chittenden (64), during the swimming stage of the Youghal Ironman – there have been many reports from eyewitnesses and participants about the choppy conditions all 2,000-plus competitors faced.A key question is why the event was permitted to go ahead – or indeed if it went ahead with or without the approval of the governing body, Triathalon Ireland. As the week has gone on, no clear answers have emerged from that body or Ironman, the international group that organised the event. The answers have wide implications, not least the insurance status of all those who took part.On this episode of In the News we hear from Ironman participant Stephen Donnelly – who came sixth in the competition on Sunday – and who explains how the day unfolded and how he faced the wild sea conditions; reporter Hugh Dooley who has been in Youghal talking to locals and competitors, and from Irish Times current affairs editor Arthur Beesley who explains the blame game and how it might play out. Presented by Bernice Harrison Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ryan Tubridy was nearing a return to the RTÉ airwaves, but it all fell apart in spectacular fashion last week after Mr Tubridy issued a statement that, in the eyes of RTÉ head Kevin Bakhurst, reopened some barely-healed wounds. Now there is a lot of figuring out to do. What will Ryan do next? How will RTÉ recover from this crisis? And could a reconfiguration of the Radio 1 schedule be the best way to fill the Tubridy-shaped hole? Irish Times media columnist Laura Slattery talks to Bernice Harrison. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In April, it was announced that Trinity College Dublin would 'dename' its Berkeley Library, because of the links to slavery of its current namesake, the 18th century philosopher George Berkeley. The news sparked renewed debate about when it is right to change the historic name of a building or institution, with Irish Times columnist Fintan O'Toole arguing, for example, that the dozen or so GAA clubs named after 19th century Irish nationalist John Mitchel should rename themselves, also due to Mitchel's support for slavery and his trenchant racism. But once we start renaming things, how far should we go? When is it necessary and when is it simply impractical? And why was John Mitchel such a racist, anyway?Fintan O'Toole talks to Bernice Harrison. This episode was originally published in May 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland is awash with cocaine, but how does it get into the country? Crime and Security correspondent Conor Gallagher explains the different methods used by gangs to import the drug into Ireland and what steps are taken by authorities to intercept it. Presented by Conor Pope, produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the fourth time in as many months, former U.S. president Donald Trump is facing a criminal indictment. The indictment, handed down by the Fulton county district attorney on Monday, charges Trump and 18 others, including his former White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and lawyer Rudy Giuliani, for their efforts to overturn the 2020 U.S. presidential election results in Georgia.The indictment is being viewed as the biggest legal threat to Trump yet, but will it seriously compromise his bid to return to The White House? And has the growing list of criminal charges against him impacted his popularity among Republican voters? Irish Times Washington Correspondent Martin Wall joins host Conor Pope to sift through Donald Trump’s mounting legal woes.Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this year, the case of Annie McCarrick’s disappearance was upgraded to a murder inquiry. In this episode, Conor Lally tells Bernice Harrison what prompted this development and whether the 30 year-old investigation could be significantly advanced or even solved. This episode was originally published in May 2023.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do teenagers today have it tougher than previous generations? In terms of how well they can develop emotionally and socially, the answer is yes, says Dr Colman Noctor, a psychotherapist who works with adolescents. He tells Irish Times journalist Jen Hogan about how the pandemic years have robbed young people of crucial opportunities for social development, driving them instead into the online world - where many pitfalls await.Presented by Bernice Harrison. This episode was originally published in May 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.