Newstalk Breakfast

Russia vowed to "intensify" its strikes on Kyiv in response to Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow. As an exit poll showed the Putin's United Russia party on course to win tightly controlled parliamentary elections.  Speaking to Jonathan this morning was Jenny Mathers, Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth University.

Planning permission for a €1.5 billion data centre in Mayo, which was opposed by author Sally Rooney, has been overturned. An Coimisiún Pleanála says the developers failed to show there was enough renewable electricity available to power the facility  Speaking to Anton with reaction was Rosi Leonard, Data Centre Campaigner with Friend of the Earth and Ronan Kelly is the Chief Executive Office...

New research suggests the popular beauty treatment could be linked to tiny mites living around the eyelashes. To explain all was Dr Rosemary Coleman, Consultant Dermatologist, Blackrock Clinic.

With home heating oil in high demand. There’s a difference in the VAT rates paid by households depending on how they heat their homes Heating oil is charged at 13.5%, compared with 9% for domestic gas  To discuss all this further with Anton was Kevin McPartlan, CEO of Fuels for Ireland .

Moyross Utd has said that sideline behaviour influences children and urged parents to leave coaching and refereeing to those responsible. Speaking to Anton was Frank Hogan, Secretary of Moyross Utd Football Club.

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor of the Irish Independent.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin meets with the British prime minister Andy Burnham today. Donald Trump's call for a United Ireland is set to top the agenda.  To look ahead to this meeting was George Parker Political Editor of the Financial Times.

People find it hard to disconnect from work. There are many factors, such as, pressure, deadlines, and the ‘always on’ culture.  To talk more about this with Anton was Amy Burke, Chief People and Sustainability Office at VHI.

The EU is proposing a ban on social media for under-13s, with tighter restrictions for older children  But digital rights group EDRi says the plans could simply delay young people’s exposure to online harms  To discuss further with Anton was Simeon de Brouwer Policy Advisor at Digital Rights Group EDRi.

Gardaí have launched an investigation after six people were found inside a shipping container at Rosslare, Co Wexford.  Speaking to Anton with more on this was Cllr Ger Carthy, Operation Resource Manager with the National Ambulance Service in Wexford. 

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has now said he believes artificial intelligence companies can develop the technology safely without significant harm to people at large.  To discuss this further with Anton was Professor Kate Devlin Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Society in the Department of Digital Humanities, King's College London. 

A €500 energy credit for every household in Ireland could be funded from a new levy on electricity used by data centres. This comes under a proposal from People Before Profit.  Richard Boyd Barrett, People Before Profit TD explained the details to Anton this morning.

Absence rates for 9 -13 year olds is higher now than it was 10 years ago according to new ESRI research. To discuss this with Anton was Emer Smyth, Research Professor with the ESRI and Paul Crone Director of the National Association of Principals and Deputies.

Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae is recovering in hospital after he was assaulted in Dublin. We get the details on this with Pat Leahy, Political Editor, The Irish Times. 

In a world where we are increasingly becoming more reliant on digital media. according to a survey of 1,000 adults nationwide from financial intermediaries, Ask Acorn and conducted by IReach, 35% of adults turn to online searches for financial advice.  We get reaction to these findings with Head of Investments and Pensions at Fairstone Asset Management and Lecturer with the LIA, Bernard Walsh...

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Alex White, Former Senior Council.

Netflix has commissioned a new reality show called “The New Stanford Prison Experiment”, restaging the infamous 1971 study for a modern audience.  Speaking to Anton to discuss this further was Trina O’Connor, Criminologist. 

Buckingham Palace has hit back at claims made by Earl Spencer, the brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, in his new book. He alleges that King Charles said the UK would forget about Diana “soon enough” after her funeral.  For more details on this Anton heard from Enda Brady, International TV Anchor with TRT World. 

The NTA says further periodic public transport fare increases are likely, driven by inflation.  Deputy CEO Hugh Creegan was speaking to the Oireachtas Transport Committee about the 15% fare hikes announced earlier this month.  For reaction to this Anton spoke to Professor in Transportation at the School of Engineering at Trinity College, Brian Caulfield. 

The EU is offering Canada the chance to become its first “associate member”, as Trump’s trade war pushes Canada and Europe closer together  Anton gets the latest on this with Scott Lucas, Professor and Political Analyst at the Clinton Institute at University College Dublin.

Children and teenagers aged under 15 will not be able to open a social media account without express parental or guardian permission, under new plans announced today.  Anton was joined on the show by Fionnán Sheahan, Ireland Editor, Irish Independent. 

Four musicians, including two Irish acts, have pulled out of Ed Sheeran’s US tour after rapper Macklemore said he was dropped from the line-up for saying “Free Palestine” during a concert.  For more on this we heard from TodayFM Presenter Fionnuala Corbett.

The National Women’s Council will convene the All-Island Women’s Forum in Dublin today to discuss the key issues facing women in 2026.  Speaking to Anton ahead of the forum was Corrinne Hasson, Executive Director of the National Women’s Council. 

The Bar of Ireland is warning that the ongoing legal aid dispute is now putting further pressure on the criminal courts. This comes with the new legal year just weeks away  Speaking to Anton with more on this was Séamus Clarke SC, Chair of the Council of The Bar of Ireland.

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was David McRedmond, Former CEO of An Post.