As a member of the podcast team hosting our ‘In the News’ podcast, my work involves deep-diving into a myriad of subjects based on the daily news. Every day, we endeavour to delve into the complexities and perspectives that shape the news landscape.
A close call on my bike on Monday, when a rash driver almost hit me, and a futile 20-minute wait for a bus on Tuesday sparked my interest in discussing the new transport plan for Dublin with our Dublin Editor, Olivia Kelly. I was intrigued to understand why some view diluting this plan as a favourable choice.
I trust you will find my selection of the week’s stories engaging.
1: The second electoral round in France witnessed a victory for the leftist New Popular Front (NPF), preventing a far-right government from taking hold, at least temporarily. Jack Power, our Europe Correspondent’s explainer, “The French political system kept the far right out. Now what?” elucidates the tumult in France.
My Weekly Reading List: Understanding the Turmoil in France and the dilemma of separating art from its creator.
My Weekly Reading List: The magic of detail in exceptional writing.
My Weekly Reading List: Shauna Bowers – Miriam Lord voicing the sentiments of every woman in Ireland.
My Weekly Reading List: Nadine O’Regan on Paul Mescal’s style and Gabor Maté’s reflections.
2: In a world where news bulletins rarely mention Ukraine, it’s easy to dismiss the lethal conflict occurring there. Yet, this week, the world was shocked again by the Russian missile strike on the Ohmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv.
3: Unusually, we have a positive climate news story on our hands. Kevin O’Sullivan reported on Tuesday that Ireland managed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 6.8% last year – the lowest in three decades. We may be far from our climate goals for 2030, but these positive developments prove that we wield the power to effect change.
The much-anticipated sequel, ‘Gladiator II’, which features an impressively beefed-up local talent, will not make its cinematic debut until November. Despite this, the film has already attracted significant attention due to its colossal budget. Film critic, Donald Clarke, has even scrutinised its trailer, which dropped earlier this week, finding it exceedingly comical and remarking on the forceful presence of actor Paul Mescal.
This week also introduced me to the cultural trend that initially garnered popularity on social media, a lifestyle inspired by Robin Sharma’s book, ‘The 5am Club’. The book’s mantra, “Control your morning, elevate your life”, has led to an influx of 17.5 million TikTok post uploads sharing individual #5amClub routines. Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow have adopted this lifestyle, and this week, journalist Anita Chaudhur shared her personal experiences trying it out.
In case you missed it, our reports on Dáil sessions offer a wealth of information about the shortcomings inherent in many Irish systems, revealed through ministerial Q&A sessions. This week, it surfaced that numerous vulnerable children “disappear”, a revelation met with a concerning lack of outcry.
For podcast enthusiasts, my choice for the week is an episode featuring Paul Howard, a prolific author known for his hilariously entertaining ‘Ross O’Carroll Kelly’ books. In our conversation, Paul opens up about the recent loss of his beloved dog Humphrey and the sadness that ensues. This candid discussion makes for an ideal weekend listen.
However, not all was light-hearted this week; disturbing revelations involving two of my favourite authors have left me troubled. Most notably, the allegations made by Andrea Robin Skinner, Alice Munro’s daughter, against her stepfather. According to Andrea, her mother, renowned short story writer Alice Munro, remained married to her stepfather despite his confession of sexually abusing Andrea as a child. Further, I was disappointed to read a review in the New York Review of Books of the fiercely dark portrayal of John McGahern in Anne Enright’s article ‘The High Irish Style’. The review, which reflects the narrative of the excellent recent film ‘That They May Face the Rising Sun’, touches on his abusive treatment of his son and the child’s mother, portraying him as a formidable tyrant.
Here’s a complete review of the recent incidents that unfolded:
The All-Ireland hurling semi-final concluded with a score of 1-28 to 0-29, favouring FT Cork over Limerick. In separate news, two men who lost their lives in Dublin’s Grand Canal were identified as being familiar with homelessness services.
Unexpectedly, Tori Towey expressed sheer delight regarding her hopeful return to Ireland by Thursday, following the dismissal of her charges in Dubai. There was a significant incident at a doctor’s office, where the GP was expected to offer an exit payment of €40,000 to his secretary, following a tenure of nearly half a century due to a lack of engagement.
Bláthnaid Raleigh voiced her dissatisfaction with Mullingar’s club’s response after one of its players was found guilty of sexual assault.
Turning our attention to US politics, in the forthcoming week scrutiny will be focused on President Joe Biden. The concerns about his capability to continue to serve as president could fulfil narratives in a 12-series Netflix comedy-drama, with Armando Iannucci being the preferred scriptwriter. High-profile figures such as Nancy Pelosi, George Clooney and several US senators have publicly expressed their opinions, significantly intensifying the pressure on Biden to relinquish power. As the Democratic convention approaches, I will be enthusiastically following the developments in Washington this week.