Afleveringen
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A pair of trainers for the price of a sandwich; a Dyson-dupe hair straightener for a fraction of the real thing – just about everything you can think of buying, and random, bizarre things you couldn’t even imagine exist, are for sale via Temu, the ecommerce app that is taking over the online shopping world. With millions of bargains, it promises buyers can “shop like a billionaire”.
In January 2024, the app recorded nearly 47.8 million downloads worldwide. Once you buy from Temu, the bombardment of emails begins, offering deals and discounts on already rock-bottom prices.
But authorities worldwide have been quick to investigate; to warn for example that some toys and electrical goods on the site do not meet safety standards. And the US State Department has cautioned that the labour conditions in some of the factories that make the goods for the third-party sellers on Boston-headquartered Temu could amount to forced labour.
So while the prices might be attractive, the quality of some of the products and relentless sales techniques are less so according to Irish Times consumer editor Conor Pope who explains Temu’s business model and why it has got such a hold so quickly.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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On Tuesday, a leaked report revealed the Housing Commission’s criticism that the Government has not resolved the “fundamentally systemic” failures in the State’s housing system.
The report from housing experts also suggests there is an underlying housing deficit in Ireland of up to 256,000 homes.
Irish Times political correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones joins the podcast to discuss the most significant elements of Tuesday’s leak, while architect Mel Reynolds examines the Government’s failure to control the current housing model.
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On Sunday afternoon, a helicopter carrying Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and several of his delegates, including the country’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, crash-landed in a remote part of northwest Iran.
President Raisi was returning from Iran’s border with Azerbaijan, where he had officiated the opening of two dams, alongside Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
Three helicopters were in the Iranian President’s convoy, but only two landed safely. On Monday morning, following an extensive search and rescue effort, Iranian officials confirmed that no one had survived the crash. It is believed adverse weather conditions were to blame.
President Raisi was elected to power in 2021, in a presidential election that had the lowest turnout in the Islamic Republic’s history. He was seen as a conservative, hardline cleric who was tipped to replace Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei later this year.
As Iran begins five days of official mourning and the interim President Mohammad Mokhber steps forward, what will the death of Raisi mean for the future of Iran?
Will this sudden loss of leadership have ripple effects across the wider Middle East?
And what impact, if any, will it have on the rising tensions between Iran and Israel?
In the News presenter Sorcha Pollak talks to Sky News Middle East Correspondent Alistair Bunkhall about the death of the man nicknamed “the butcher of Tehran”.
Produced by Suzanne Brennan and John Casey.
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Later this year, UK citizens will cast their votes in a general election. And, with polls showing Labour well ahead of the Tories, it appears Keir Starmer is set to become the next prime minister.
This week, Mr Starmer pledged to “rebuild Britain” and set out what he called his first steps in government if his party wins the election, making it clear that Labour is ready to govern Britain.
To most people in Ireland, Starmer remains relatively unknown. But after a period of decline in UK-Irish relations, could the Dublin-London relationship be heading towards brighter days under a Labour leader?
Today, on In the News, who is Keir Starmer and what would his leadership mean for Ireland? London correspondent Mark Paul on the man leading the Labour party towards victory in the next UK general election.
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New Yorkers have been given a window into how some Dubliners behave in front of a camera. The portal is the city's newest public art installation; a two-way, real-time live stream between North Earl Street and 5th Avenue in Manhattan's Flat Iron district. Except some lewd behaviour on the northside has got it shut down... twice! In The News producer, Declan Conlon, spoke to observers enjoying the atmosphere around the portal when it was still operating this week. Bernice Harrison chats to art critic, Tom Lordan, about the interactive sculpture that's got everyone talking.
Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The Government this week flagged its intention to further reduce the financial supports available to Ukrainian refugees. There will also be a review of supports for those seeking asylum under the international protection system. But after months of cuts, how much further can the Government go? Is Ireland's welcome for refugees over, and how much of this is about signalling to voters ahead of local and European elections? Harry McGee talks to Bernice Harrison about the details and the politics of Ireland's evolving attitude to refugees and asylum seekers.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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A major new investigation by The Irish Times has uncovered details of the Kinahan cartel's property empire being secretly sold off in Dubai. Most of the real estate had been purchased in the name of Caoimhe Robinson, the wife of Daniel Kinahan, who is not accused of any criminality. The organised crime group has been put under pressure by sanctions imposed by US authorities two years ago, resulting in the disposal of several luxury assets in the Middle Eastern city. Among them is a property in a gated community where residents have included infamous podcaster Andrew Tate and the family of former Zimbabwean dictator, Robert Mugabe. Crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher outlines the results of the investigation known as Dubai Unlocked.
Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.
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On today's podcast, In the News producer Aideen Finnegan explains what we know about a proposal from Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to raise the legal age to buy cigarettes from 18 to 21. The move comes as Ireland's efforts to curtail smoking have plateaued, with smoking even increasing among male teenagers. But will such a new law be workable in practice?
Then we hear from Averil Power of the Irish Cancer Society, who welcomes the move. But she says the Government must urgently tackle the growing use of vapes among young people. Her warning comes as new research predicts some chemicals released by vaping may cause unknown damage to human health in the long term.
Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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From cute dance videos to antifeminist and racist ones, the social media app is a growing part of young people’s lives. There are concerns, though, about sleep deprivation, mental health, attention span – and the messages these young teenagers they are being relentlessly fed.
Irish Times parenting columnist Jen Hogan and journalist Patrick Freyne spent time with a group of teenagers, looking over their shoulder as they scrolled for hours on TikTok and talked to them about their relationship with the Chinese-owned app. They explain to In the News just how out of touch adults are when it comes to children’s online activity.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Donald Trump had to sit in front of Stormy Daniels in a New York courtroom this week, as the former adult film star spoke in excruciating and very frank detail about her sexual encounter in 2006 with the former US president. It was a key week in the trial, ongoing since April, in which Trump is accused of hiding “hush money’ payments to Daniels in 2016 in a bid to influence the presidential election. Meanwhile Trump runs the risk of being jailed for contempt of court over his outbursts – about the case, the jury and the prosecution. Irish Times Washington correspondent Keith Duggan has been at the Trump trial and he says that while what the court has heard so far has been at worst embarrassing, the prosecution has yet to land the blows that might result in a criminal conviction.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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On Monday spirits were lifted in Gaza when Hamas issued a statement declaring it would accept the terms of a ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar. But joy was short-lived.
Israel quickly announced the deal did not go far enough towards releasing the hostages captured on October 7th. At the same time Israeli defence forces began their takeover of a crucial border crossing between Egypt and Gaza.
So what now? What will it take for Israeli prime minister Binjamin Netanyahu, a man under pressure at home and abroad, to agree to a ceasefire and call off the invasion of Rafah, a city of last resort for 1.4 million displaced Gazans?
Mark Weiss reports from Jerusalem.
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The murder of a 20 year-old man in a chaotic gun attack on Dublin's southside may be a harbinger of a new gangland feud. Ballyfermot man, Josh Itseli, was gunned down in what's believed to be the first gangland shooting of the year. Three young men are in garda custody after Itseli's car was rammed to a halt and came under fire in Drimnagh in the early hours of Monday morning. He died at the scene and follow up searches resulted in the seizure of body armour and a military grade assault rifle. A pipe bomb nearby forced residents to leave their homes for a time while the Army Bomb Disposal Team made safe the device. Drimnagh residents were subjected to a long period of gang warfare in the 2000s. Now locals fear public safety is at risk as a new generation of volatile men seek to fill the vacuum left empty by the dismantling of the Byrne organised crime gang.
Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Over the last twenty years or so, the funerals of significant criminal figures in Ireland have tended towards the extravagant. Last week's sober church service marking the passing of notorious heroin kingpin, Tony Felloni, was in sharp contrast to the modern day culture of gangland funerals. But quite apart from their eye-catching floral tributes and ostentatious shows of mourning, these occasions provide Gardai with a unique opportunity to glean crucial intel. Security and crime editor, Conor Lally, delves into the subculture of showy funerals, why Gardai and the media attend them, and how they're an important reminder of the human cost of gang violence.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan.
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When "Niamh" began house-hunting in Dublin's suburbs, she soon noticed that viewings were often attended by agents who were using phones to live-stream the property to potential buyers in China - some of whom then outbid her.
Estate agents have confirmed that it is now commonplace for wealthy Chinese nationals to bid strongly on houses in South Dublin. But why?
The answers lie in the details of a now-defunct 'Golden Visa' scheme, the decline of China's own property market and the desire of upwardly-mobile Chinese parents to give their children a Western education.
And why are these buyers free to take their money out of the Chinese economy and invest it in countries like Ireland?
Guests: Irish Times reporter Colm Keena and Beijing correspondent Denis Staunton
Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon. This episode was originally published in March 2024,
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On Wednesday, a multi-agency operation got to work, moving up to 290 migrants who had been sleeping in tents outside the International Protection Office (IPO) on Dublin’s Mount Street. Buses and taxis brought the men to centres in Citywest, Crooksling and Swords.
The streets were cleaned, the tents removed and barriers erected. But there was no room on the buses for 30 men, and as Irish Times reporter Jack White found, they either walked the streets all night or took the tents handed out by a charity and moved to another part of the city to sleep.
By Thursday, they were back at Mount Street, joined by up to 40 men who had been brought to Swords in north Dublin for the night but were returned to the city centre with no clear plans as to where they might go.
White tells In the News about the excitement among the asylum seekers when they thought they were being brought to safe accommodation and of the confusion and chaos surrounding the move by Government to clear the “shantytown”. And Irish Times political editor explains the challenges facing the Government.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Declan Conlon.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Nearly one billion Indian citizens are eligible to vote in a lengthy election that began on April 19th and runs until June.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks set to retain power, in part thanks to the economic transformation that has lifted millions of Indians out of poverty on his watch. But Modi himself is an enigma.
For her podcast series Looking for Modi Australian journalist Avani Dias set out to profile one of the most powerful people in the world.
She tells In the News about the humble background that endeared Modi to voters. But his backstory has some holes in it, like his formative experiences with a far-right Hindu nationalist organisation, the secret marriage he walked away from, and his role in fomenting India’s deadly religious tensions.
As South Asia bureau chief for Australia’s ABC News, Dias was based in New Delhi until her investigation into allegations Modi's government was behind the assassination of Indian dissidents in Canada resulted in the non-renewal of her visa.
Modi’s suppression of his critics is having a chilling effect on the media and undermining the democratic process, she says.
This episode tells the story of Modi's origins, his rise in politics and the questions over the direction of India under his leadership.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Grocery inflation over the past 12 weeks was running at just under 3 per cent. During the same period last year it was almost 13 per cent. So our shopping baskets are still getting more expensive – but at a slower rate. So that is some of sort of good news, isn’t it?
Energy prices are down from their peak, interest rates are set to fall and new entrants are expected to drive down prices in the banking and insurance sectors.
So why does everything still feel so expensive?
Irish Times consumer affairs correspondent Conor Pope explains why the sums aren’t adding up for most people and how, though we didn’t realise it at the time, we were living in an era of cheap food that is simply never going to return.
And he explains why shrinkflation hurts, what the French are doing about it and why own-brand products should be top of our shopping lists.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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A major diplomatic spat has erupted between the Irish and British governments over migration.
It began when Minister for Justice Helen McEntee stated that more than 80 per cent of recent international applicants came to Ireland from the UK across the border with Northern Ireland.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made political hay with this 80 per cent figure, saying it proves his Rwanda scheme is deterring migrants from remaining in the UK.
The two governments are seemingly a major impasse over how to resolve the issue.
It’s a story that involves political posturing in advance of elections on both sides of the Irish sea, but also also an issue of genuine importance to voters and to those seeking international protection.
Political Editor Pat Leahy and London Correspondent Mark Paul look at the ramping up of tensions, where it leaves British-Irish relations and its impact on the political issue of immigration here.
Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Declan Conlon.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Snapshot, an Irish Times poll with Ipsos B&A, captures the issues that citizens are taking notice of.
Every month, 1,000 people, over the age of 15 and from all around the country are asked an open-ended question on what they’ve noticed about the Government’s actions – and given space to add their own comments.
The results, tracked since last July, are published every month in The Irish Times. In each poll, the list of top-of-mind subjects changes but two consistently top the list – housing and immigration.
During the period of April’s poll, well-reported events included the arrival of a new Taoiseach, the ramping up of the attack on Gaza and the roll-out of the bottle recycling scheme. But what did people notice and how happy are they with the Government’s response.
Jennifer Bray from the Irish Times political team explains what it all means.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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A group of 400 Irish artists have signed an online petition calling on singer Bambie Thug to boycott the Eurovision. The Macroom performer was chosen to represent Ireland in the upcoming competition in Sweden. But there have been persistent calls to refuse to take part as long as Israel is included in the line-up. The middle eastern country's participation has been described by protesters as 'art-washing.' It echoes similar campaigns across Europe for their respective entrants to drop out, following months of relentless bombardment of the Gaza strip. Bambie has expressed solidarity with the protesters and believes the European Broadcasting Union has made the wrong decision to allow Israel perform - but like their fellow competitors, the 'ouija pop' singer won't be boycotting the event in May. Irish Times reporter and Eurovision superfan, Laura Slattery, talks about Bambie’s predicament, about the competition’s long history of political controversy and what will happen in Malmo.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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