News Focus | Business Post

Against the grain: How Russia’s war in Ukraine is threatening the world’s food supply

Already a humanitarian disaster on the ground, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is now looking increasingly likely to trigger a global food shortage over the coming months, with supply chains broken and potential shipping routes for grain cut off. With no end to the conflict in sight, the implications for numerous countries are potentially devastating

Living with mica: ‘It’s bulls**t about this being a full 100% redress grant, it’s just insulting’

Owners of crumbling homes say they cannot afford the repairs on their unsafe, leaking properties — and the government’s redress scheme designed to end the mica crisis is instead prolonging the trauma

The Big Interview

‘The European energy market is experiencing shocks like never before’ – Dave Kirwan, Bord Gáis

The managing director of the largest gas company in Ireland is looking to a future of indigenously sourced energy. But in the short term, the outlook is grim, with soaring energy costs being the biggest driver of inflation

The second coming of Moralltach: the man, the plan and the money

John Kieran Brennan is undeterred by allegations of impropriety and a failed attempt to float his company on the stock exchange. Instead, the former Wexford property developer turned business mogul says the best is yet to come

An aide’s account lifts lid on Trump’s presidential power grab

Last week’s testimony by Cassidy Hutchinson about the final days of Donald Trump’s presidency could be the smoking gun that leads to a criminal prosecution of him

A new Horizon: ‘Ireland’s appeal to us is about the talent, not just tax’

Horizon chief executive Tim Walbert explains why the drug company will keep expanding in Ireland and has marked its commitment by sponsoring the Irish Open

Supreme Court’s political swing sparks fears of a constitutional crisis

In under two weeks, the conservative-dominated court has issued hard-right rulings on abortion, guns, climate change, voting rights and the role of religion in public life – and President Joe Biden appears powerless to do anything about it

The Big Interview

‘The European energy market is experiencing shocks like never before’ – Dave Kirwan, Bord Gáis

The managing director of the largest gas company in Ireland is looking to a future of indigenously sourced energy. But in the short term, the outlook is grim, with soaring energy costs being the biggest driver of inflation

Escape from Ukraine: ‘I want to start a new life in Ireland – and to live a safe life there’

In the Full Market centre in Rzeszow, Poland, Ukrainian refugees who are making their way further west – to Ireland and England – say they hope to make a fresh start for their families

Meet Ray Dalio, the corporate contrarian who’s ‘shorting Europe’

The founder of Bridgewater is the archetypal hedge fund creator: white, well-educated and idiosyncratic. Right now, the firm is shorting on some of Europe’s biggest companies, among them Adidas and Siemens, Bayer, BNP Paribas and Sanofi. But why?

Against the grain: How Russia’s war in Ukraine is threatening the world’s food supply

Already a humanitarian disaster on the ground, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is now looking increasingly likely to trigger a global food shortage over the coming months, with supply chains broken and potential shipping routes for grain cut off. With no end to the conflict in sight, the implications for numerous countries are potentially devastating

Living with mica: ‘It’s bulls**t about this being a full 100% redress grant, it’s just insulting’

Owners of crumbling homes say they cannot afford the repairs on their unsafe, leaking properties — and the government’s redress scheme designed to end the mica crisis is instead prolonging the trauma

Inflation once again: As prices and tensions rise, can the government prevent a winter of woe?

Amid a cost of living crisis not seen in decades, economists are counselling caution as the opposition demands decisive measures to lessen the pain

Developer rails against ‘diabolical’ process as Coolock housing plan is rejected

Having rezoned the former Chivers factory site from commercial to residential, developer Andrew Gillick wanted to build 550 affordable units for ‘normal people’. But then began a long and ill-fated email exchange with the Land Development Agency

Michael Brennan: Frustration for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael as Sinn Féin continues on record high

Struggling to grapple with the housing, health and cost of living crises, the coalition parties are watching Mary Lou McDonald steal their thunder on the issues of the day

The spirited billionaire: Bill Goldring’s Sazerac and its latest Irish whiskey play

The owner of US drinks giant Sazerac, which owns a portfolio of brands from Southern Comfort to Paddy, has just bought the Lough Gill Distillery in Sligo for a reported $70 million

Jeff Farrell: In Poland, Ukrainians are torn by the dilemma of returning home or remaining in exile

Weary of being displaced from their homeland for four months, many Ukrainian refugees are leaving Poland even as they are thankful for their neighbour’s hospitality in a time of war

The Big Interview

‘What’s the breaking point? How long can we absorb these increases?’ – Ciara Troy, food entrepreneur

The Dublin-based founder of Oishii Foods built her successful Japanese cuisine company from scratch, but is concerned now about the impact of inflation on her growing business

Collision course: Tech downturn casts shadow over web summit

The mood was subdued at Collision, the Web Summit’s sister event, with tech giants’ valuations plunging and concerns rising over climate change

Northern Ireland Protocol

Crunch time for the protocol: ‘Let’s call a spade a spade – this is illegal’

Britain’s move to dis-apply much of the Northern Ireland protocol is being viewed in Europe as merely a cynical attempt to reopen negotiations, thus placating the Tory party’s hardline Brexiters

Northern Ireland Protocol

Michael Brennan: As protocol row heats up, oldest and deepest fears revived

The dispute over Britain’s latest moves to nullify the protocol represents a huge and unwelcome difficulty for those trying to strengthen cross-community relations in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Protocol

Brinksmanship or battle stations: Who has the most to lose in a UK/EU trade war?

At a time of soaring inflation and slowing growth in the Irish, Northern Irish and British economies, a trade war between London and Brussels is the last thing anybody needs but fears are growing that it could still happen

A United force: Behind the scenes with Ireland at the UN

Since landing a seat on the United Nations Security Council in June 2020, Ireland has played a low-profile but crucial role in shaping global detente, with permanent representative Geraldine Byrne Nason finding herself back in the place where her diplomatic career began in the 1980s. In an age of conflict and uncertainty, she prides Ireland on having what she calls ‘an independent voice’ in the crucible of world affairs