In The News

Joe Biden has granted his son Hunter Biden a full and unconditional pardon following his criminal conviction on tax and gun charges. The US president's only surviving son was due to be sentenced this month. The 82 year-old had repeatedly stated he would neither interfere in the judicial process nor use his presidential power to pardon him. So why the u-turn and what will the fallout before Democrats and Republicans alike? Our Washington correspondent, Keith Duggan explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.

Last week, Mayo farmer Padraig Nally, the man who was jailed for less than a year for the manslaughter of an intruder in his home near Lough Corrib in 2004, died. He was 81 years of age.Two decades ago, his shooting of John ‘Frog’ Ward became one of the most divisive murder cases in Ireland. Nally was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for the manslaughter of Ward. However, his conviction was quashed in a retrial when he was found not guilty of manslaughter.It was a case that divided opinion across the country. Nally argued self-defence, saying “there was only one way out of it: it had to be him, or it had to be me”.What exactly happened in November 2004, why was Nally’s initial conviction quashed and why are people still speaking about this case 20 years later?Mick Clifford, special correspondent with The Irish Examiner who covered Nally’s case at the time joins the podcast.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

The count continues with seats in several constituencies throughout the country still to be filled. As it stands, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are in pole position to form the next government. The Greens have suffered a near wipeout, retaining just one seat; while Social Democrats and Labour have outperformed expectations.In today’s episode we’re bringing you coverage from our colleagues over on the Election Daily podcast – Hugh Linehan and the Inside Politics team – who have spent the weekend watching Ireland’s political future take shape.Produced by Declan Conlon and Suzanne Brennan.

Angela Merkel's eagerly anticipated memoir lifts the lid on parts of her childhood, her private meetings with world leaders and what she thought of Ireland and the bailout. But only partially. In fact, for those who are wondering what her personal reflections are on some of the most consequential decisions she ever made, they're likely to be left as disappointed as Irish Times Berlin correspondent Derek Scally. He's read Merkel's autobiography so you don't have to, sharing the most interesting episodes of her life and analysing how her legacy looks now in the cold light of 2024.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, a ceasefire between Israel and Hizbullah came into effect. The deal was announced the day before with US President Joe Biden saying he hoped it would mean a "permanent cessation of hostilities". But what does the truce actually entail? And with both sides launching attacks right up until the ceasefire deadline, is the will there to keep the peace?Irish Times journalist Sally Hayden reports from Beirut.Presented by Bernice Harrison. 

The cost of living is repeatedly mentioned as one of the main issues to the forefront of voters' minds in the run up to the General Election. In the US, president-elect Donald Trump made the economy one of the pillars of his campaign, regularly promising to "make America affordable again." But the reason for price spikes across the industrialised world are complex. So how realistic is it that any political party here could bring down the cost of living? And how can you tell what's within the next government's gift and what is just populist rhetoric. Irish Times writer on economics, Cliff Taylor, explains the factors at play and how to gauge whether party pledges could actually work.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.

Twenty years ago, autism in Ireland was still seen as a relatively rare condition. Studies at the time suggested around seven in 10,000 schoolchildren were being diagnosed as autistic.Today, research suggests as many as one in 20 schoolchildren may have autism or a similar developmental issue.So, why are so many more children being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders compared with two decades ago?Is the State equipped to meet the growing demand for specialised health and education services?And what are the long-term implications for children, who don’t get the support and care that they need?Presented by Sorcha Pollak, produced by Suzanne Brennan.

The Irish branch of the Church of Scientology has been going into an international protection asylum centre in Dublin and recruiting the refugees living there for all types of work, from cleaning parks to handing out anti-drug leaflets on the streets of the capital.The men are not paid, instead they are given a “certificate” which they are told will help them in their asylum applications.Many of the people strolling though Dublin who take a leaflet off one of these men will not be aware that it originates in the Church of Scientology.Irish Times reporters Sorcha Pollak and Conor Gallagher investigated this practice and they talked to some of the vulnerable men who felt taken in by the scheme. They explain to In the News.And why is Scientology – a very wealthy organisation with a tiny membership in Ireland – operating in this way?Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey

Nikita Hand has won her civil case against MMA fighter Conor McGregor. The 35 year-old Dublin woman alleged he raped her in the penthouse suite of The Beacon Hotel in December 2018. The jury, believing her account of assault, found in her favour; returning a verdict yesterday evening after six hours of deliberations. McGregor has been ordered to pay Ms. Hand almost €250,000 in damages. But why has the UFC fighter not been found guilty of rape? How has Ms. Hand successfully sued him in the High Court? And what did the jury hear to persuade them she was the one telling the truth. Frank Greaney is courts correspondent for the Bauer Media group, which owns radio stations including Newstalk and TodayFM. He explains how Nikita Hand faced down McGregor at great personal cost. Please be advised this episode contains details of sexual assault, which some listeners may find distressing.Produced and presented by Aideen Finnegan.