In The News

Facebook’s brand is in crisis. The social media giant is rarely out of the headlines, most recently after whistleblowers and leaked documents shed light on its failures, including the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories.Facebook is also facing pressure from lawmakers on various fronts, including pending legislation from Congress and a number of high profile lawsuits. This week cheif executive Mark Zuckerberg is expected to announce a rebrand, as the company seeks to distance itself from these scandals and push ahead with plans to build the metaverse - the next evolution of the internet.Conor Pope talks to Irish Times technology writer Ciara O’Brien about the scandals that have plagued the company and whether a rebrand could save its reputation.Produced by: Declan Conlon, Jennifer Ryan and Suzanne BrennanOpening music by Hugh Rodgerswww.irishtimes.com/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you watched Squid Game yet? Since its release, the South Korean drama has become a global sensation, making it Netflix’s biggest series launch to date. Sorcha Pollak speaks to Irish Times Features writer Patrick Freyne about the phenomenal success of the series and what's behind its global appeal, while Dr Kevin Cawley, Senior Lecturer in Korean Studies at UCC gives an insight into the socio-economic inequality at the heart of the story, reflected in the lives of the 456 contestants.Just a warning before you listen: there are some tiny spoilers mentioned in this episode- we don't think it ruins the show but if you're very anti-spoiler you might not want to listen.Produced by: Declan Conlon, Jennifer Ryan and Suzanne BrennanOpening music by Hugh Rodgers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re told that eating less meat or giving up flying are things that we can do to help fight climate change. But given that a relatively small number of fossil fuel producers are responsible for the vast majority of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, just how much does individual action really matter?Guests: Dr Tara Shine Change By Degrees, Kate Devitt Fridays for Future Dublin, and Catherine Cleary Pocket Forests.Presenter: Conor PopeProduced by Jennifer Ryan Opening music by Hugh Rodgerswww.irishtimes.com/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Health editor Paul Cullen on what we know about the reasons for Ireland's high level of Covid-19 right now, despite our high vaccination rates.Plus: political correspondent Jennifer Bray on how the Government is thinking about the uptick in cases. Is the planned removal of further restrictions in doubt? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this week, Britain's Brexit minister David Frost called for a new "Northern Ireland protocol" to completely replace the agreement he negotiated two years outlining how trade in Northern Ireland works post-Brexit. The EU wants to make changes to the protocol instead. Can the two sides find a compromise, despite the deep mistrust that has developed after years of difficult negotiations? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More flooding, longer spells of hotter weather, heavier rain events and the disappearance of frost: The changes to Ireland's weather if we fail to tackle the climate crisis may not seem too dramatic, but if other parts of the world suffer more, then the impacts of that will be felt here too. As part of our coverage of the climate crisis in the lead up to COP26, we talk to climate scientists, Dr Alastair McKinstry and Dr Enda O'Brien, about the likely consequences of climate disruption on Ireland in the coming decades.Guests: Dr Alastair McKinstry and Dr Enda O'Brien from the Irish Centre for High End Computing at NUI Galway.Presenter: Sorcha PollakProduced by Jennifer Ryan Opening music by Hugh Rodgerswww.irishtimes.com/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A large search operation has begun in Co Kildare in relation to the disappearance of 18-year-old Deirdre Jacob, who went missing as she walked home in Newbridge.She was last seen alive at about 3pm on the evening of July 28th, 1998.She was one of several women who went missing in the same region over a five year period.Conor Lally tells Conor Pope about the background to the case, the new evidence that has led to the search, the and the prime suspect in the case, convicted rapist Larry Murphy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A global deal means our 12.5% corporate tax rate will be going up for the first time in decades. Cliff Taylor tells Conor the story of the rate: where it came from, why it lasted and what an increase will mean.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On September 26th a referendum was held in Berlin. The question? Should landlords be forced to sell nearly a quarter of a million apartments to the city. The goal of the campaign to expropriate the apartments, is to reverse the massive rent increases that campaigners say threaten normal life in the German capital. Many obstacles remain, but the move to take control of Berlin's housing could redefine the relationship between landlords and tenants in the city. The referendum has caught the attention of housing activists in Ireland. But, could it ever happen here?Guests: Derek Scally, Jenny Stupka, Hilary Hogan and Eoin Burke-KennedyPresenter: Jennifer RyanIn the News is presented by journalists Conor Pope and Sorcha PollakProduced by Declan Conlon, Jennifer Ryan and Suzanne BrennanOpening music by Hugh Rodgerswww.irishtimes.com/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a few weeks' time, world leaders meet for the COP26 UN Climate Conference in Scotland, where they will try to agree on a plan to reduce emissions and prevent catastrophic temperature rises. Between now and then, we'll be covering the climate crisis on this podcast every week. Today, we're tracing the origins of the climate crisis: where it went wrong and what can be learned from the failure to do anything until now, when it's almost too late. Guest: Alice Bell, co-director at the climate change charity Possible and author of Our Biggest Experiment: A History of the Climate Crisis.Presenter: Conor PopeProduced by Jennifer Ryan and Declan ConlonOpening music by Hugh Rodgerswww.irishtimes.com/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.