In The News

Irish Times features writer Patrick Freyne delves into the confusing world of NFTs. What are they and why are they making people so rich? And how easy it to make one? He tells Conor Pope everything there is to know about the non-fungible token. Produced by Declan Conlon and Suzanne Brennan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has triggered the fasting-growing refugee crisis in Europe since the second world war. Already, more than one and half million people have crossed into neighbouring countries to escape the onslaught. In today's episode, Conor Pope speaks to political correspondent Harry McGee about the Irish government's plan to take in 100-thousand refugees. We also hear from two Ukrainian women Olena Melentova and Elaina Ralovets, who arrived here this week and from Tetyana Maryshko who is helping with the humanitarian effort and assisting those coming in to the country.Produced by Jennifer Ryan and Suzanne Brennan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since late 2021, the United States was warning that Vladimir Putin was about to invade Ukraine. Yet despite two decades of deteriorating relations with the Russian president, EU leaders refused to believe it would happen.Now, nearly a fortnight into Putin’s war with Ukraine, it’s far from clear as to how this ends.In this episode, The Irish Times assistant editor Ruadhán Mac Cormaic profiles the Russian leader, whom biographer Masha Gessen dubbed ‘the man without a face’, from middle-ranking KGB officer, to Boris Yeltsin’s successor, to today’s isolated autocrat in Moscow. Presenter: Sorcha PollakProduced by Jennifer Ryan and Suzanne Brennanwww.irishtimes.com/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Labour’s outgoing leader Alan Kelly surprised many when he announced his resignation on Wednesday after less than two years in the role, saying the parliamentary party had lost collective confidence in his leadership.The Irish Times political reporter Jack Horgan-Jones talks to producer Jennifer Ryan about what happened behind the scenes to bring about the Tipperary TD’s toppling.Producer: Declan Conlon  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lara Marlowe travels from Paris to the Ukrainian border with a group of men returning to fight against the Russian invasion.Dan McLaughlin reports on hope and fear, kindness and determination in Kyiv, as the fate of the city hangs in the balance.And Naomi O'Leary observes a historic day in the EU parliament, where solidarity with Ukraine took precedence over old concerns about Europe's role in conflict. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today the requirement to wear masks in shops and on public transport is gone. In terms of rules and restrictions at least, things are "back to normal". But many things are different than they were in March 2020, from behaviour and lifestyle to crime, the economy and politics. Sorcha Pollak talks to Jennifer O'Connell and Simon Carswell about how things have changed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier today, we spoke to our reporter in Ukraine Dan McLaughlin about what he is witnessing on the ground in Ukraine as Russia invades, the resilience of the Ukrainian people, its president and its neighbours, and how although this moment was predicted, it still comes as a horrific shock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monday was an extraordinary day of tension and drama as, in a series of televised events, Russian president Vladimir Putin made clear his decision to recognise the independence of two regions of Ukraine that broke away from the Kyiv government in 2014. Putin's dark reasoning for the move, explained in a lengthy address, raises the very real prospect of further action against Ukraine. Dan McLaughlin reports. Western allies announced a number of moves in retaliation against Russia, the most significant being the suspension of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project by Germany. Naomi O'Leary explains the implications. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last month, a shocking HSE report into South Kerry’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (Camhs), shed light on how some of our youngest mental health patients have been treated here in Ireland. In this episode, Irish Times Political correspondent Jennifer Bray takes us through the details of the report, while Dr Ian Kelleher, a Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist tells Sorcha Pollak how the severe lack of resources is impacting mental health services.Produced by Suzanne Brennan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New figures reveal there has been a 14.4% year-on-year rise in the cost of buying a home in Ireland, bringing the price of a house almost back to its Celtic Tiger era peak.Eoin Burke-Kennedy on why there is little hope for optimism that housing will become more affordable as things stand. Karl Deeter on the risk of another Celtic Tiger phenomenon returning: the property crash. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.