In The News

The beauty industry has found a new audience: children. And it is using other children online – so-called “child skinfluencers” – to promote all kinds of skincare products.Research by The Guardian’s consumer affairs reporter Sarah Marsh found teenage girls on TikTok, as well as Instagram and YouTube, showing their skincare routines, some having become “ambassadors” for major brands.Some will be using products from a new and lucrative market segment – skincare produced for children – others might be demonstrating to other 10 or 12 year-olds the anti-ageing powers of retinols and strong serums.As the phenomenon grows, dermatologists are expressing concern about harsh chemicals damaging delicate young skin, but parents and guardians are also worried that children are being convinced that their skin needs something it almost certainly does not, with all the implications for self-esteem and body image that carries.And there are concerns at official level with the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) investigating two beauty brands over the use of young influencers to market skincare to children.So where is this all going? And how damaging is this form of marketing, to the young girls who are served it daily on one their social feeds, and the children involved in its marketing?Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Andrew McNair, with research by Ellen Clusker.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has been found guilty of all 18 child sex abuse charges against him, including rape. His wife Eleanor was also found by the jury to have aided and abetted him, but she was not convicted due to inability to stand trial. The outcome of the trial hinged on whether the jury believed Donaldson or his two victims. Freya McClements explains how the jurors may have been convinced of Donaldson's guilt, what happened when the verdict was delivered and how religion, faith and forgiveness were major themes of the case. Plus, Mark Hennessy looks back on Donaldson's rise and fall and how his conviction could affect the DUP and unionism more broadly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late on a quiet Sunday night in May, gardaí in Limerick arrived on the scene of what they expected would be a routine call-out to a road traffic incident.Instead they were met with an extraordinary scene.In one of the damaged cars they found a dead man on the back seat. He was wearing a balaclava and there was a loaded pistol at his feet. The driver of the anonymous looking Seat Leon had escaped, leaving his phone behind.The Garda quickly established that the dead man was a Swedish hitman and the pair were in Limerick for a contract killing. They were just minutes from their victim.But who was the target? Has there been a resurgence in the deadly feuding that blighted Limerick for years? Where is the hitman who fled the scene and why has the manhunt for him been so muted?Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally reports on the latest in this most unusual case.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Terence McKeever left his home in Ballsbridge in Dublin shortly after 6.30am on June 16th, 1986. His daily commute in his distinctive bronze-coloured BMW took him to work in his family’s electrical services firm in Armagh. But on that day, he never arrived.His body was found dumped in a river following an anonymous phone-call to the RUC in south Armagh at 10.45am.The IRA took responsibility for the murder of the young businessman, saying he had been killed because his company, McKeever Brothers, did work for the British security services. It also warned contractors doing similar work that they had 24 hours to stop if they wanted to avoid a similar fate.An investigation on both sides of the Border was launched but it was hampered by the loss of key evidence.Forty years later, Terence’s sister Karen is still searching for answers to her brother’s murder.Irish Times Ireland and Britain editor Mark Hennessy traces the story of the brutal killing. He explains the failures in the investigation and the questions police on both sides of the Border have still to answer.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As World Cup 2026 kicks off, Gianni Infantino’s grip on international football is total.Infantino was brought in to clean up Fifa’s image after the murky Sepp Blatter years, to restore transparency and boost the game globally.But if Fifa thought it was getting a self-effacing, legally trained bureaucrat who would stay in the background, it was very wrong. Now after 10 years at the helm, he is Fifa.So how has he dealt with the many complex controversies surrounding the tournament? Why is it the biggest ever World Cup, spread over three countries? How can he be a friend to all, at all times, from Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin? And how long will Infantino stay president of world football?Irish Times sports correspondent Gavin Cooney discusses his rise to the top of the international game.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is there such a thing as “summer on a plate”? What makes a great seasonal dish? And where is the best restaurant in Ireland for a memorable staycation night out?These were some of the factors Irish Times restaurant reviewer Corinna Hardgrave and food writer Joanne Cronin had to consider when they come up with their annual must-keep list: “100 great restaurants, cafes and places to eat around Ireland for summer 2026″.It appeared in The Irish Times Saturday magazine and is available now online.They came into studio to give the run down on the list and how restaurants are navigating a challenging time to do business. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aggressive driver behaviour, speeding, poor cycling infrastructure and the increased size of vehicles are deterring women from getting on their bikes, research by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has found.Most women in Ireland can cycle and have access to a bike, but are only half as likely as men to choose cycling as a mode of travel, according to the Empowering Women to Cycle report.And all those jibes about women being worried about “helmet hair”? They don’t hold up in the research.Half those surveyed said unsafe roads were a barrier to cycling. And then there was the fear of being on the receiving end of verbal abuse from drivers.So what has to change to encourage women to cycle?Irish Times Dublin editor and daily cyclist Olivia Kelly explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Andrew McNair with additional research by Ellen Clusker.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If the junior infants in St Joseph’s Primary School in Dundalk, Co Louth want to know something they can ask AI.An AI voice assistant named Merlyn will tell them the answer, type it on a digital whiteboard with photos and illustrations and prompt them to delve deeper into the subject.Every class is being taught how to use AI because St Joseph’s is taking part in a Merlyn AI pilot programme alongside 48 schools across Ireland.It’s easy to see why getting its technology into Irish schools could lead to a big financial win for Merlyn Origin, the US tech company behind Merlin, if it can ultimately persuade the Department of Education to adopt its technology for all schools. But what’s in it for the students? How can pupils be prepared for an AI driven world? Do teachers have the training to guide pupils in the use of AI. And how is AI impacting on education, particularly at senior cycle?Irish Times education correspondent Niamh Towey explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.