The Irish Times World View Podcast

Mark Weiss reports from Jerusalem where there is a possibility of a ceasefire between Hamas militants in Gaza and Israel. What needs to happen to make a ceasefire work, and how do Israelis feel about the conflict that has claimed many more Palestinian than Israeli lives and been met with widespread condemnation as disproportionate?

Are the UK's Labour Party facing an existential crisis? Is there a way back to power for the party - for example, by following the advice of its last successful leader Tony Blair? We talk to Denis Staunton.

Joe Biden has spent his first 100 days as US president powering through an ambitious agenda and tackling issues on the economy, coronavirus and climate policy. What are the key actions he has taken thus far and where has he fallen short? Washington correspondent Suzanne Lynch joins Chris Dooley to take a look back at the start of his presidency.

In the Indian capital of New Delhi, one person is reportedly dying of Covid-19 every four minutes. With a population of 1.3 billion, the surge in new infections has pushed the country's health system to breaking point, with hospitals running out of critical supplies of oxygen and available beds to treat the seriously ill. In this episode Irish Times India correspondent Rahul Bedi describes the scenes in New Delhi and a country struggling to cope with a deadly second wave.

Recent polls of Welsh voters show growing support for the idea. To find out what's behind the trend and what it would take for it to become a reality, we talk to Denis Staunton.

Angela Merkel is on her last lap as German Chancellor and will stand down when September's federal election ends her fourth and final term in office. Meanwhile her party, the ruling Christian Democratic Union, is trapped in a high-stakes stand-off with its Bavarian ally, the Christian Social Union. The impasse? Which of their leaders should guide their centre-right alliance through the upcoming election campaign, the first in over two decades without Mrs Merkel at the helm. In this episode, the Irish Times Berlin correspondent Derek Scally has the latest in Germany's unfolding political drama.

Dan McLaughlin explains the background to a new flare-up in the war in eastern Ukraine between the government in Kiev and Russian-backed separatists, and the news that Russia has sent troops and tanks to its border with Ukraine for what it insists are military exercises. Why is trouble in the region increasing now, and is the threat of a major escalation real?

Brazil's Covid-19 case numbers and deaths have hit staggering new highs in the past month: over 60,000 died in March alone. Now it is facing a political crisis to match its health crisis. President Jair Bolsonaro, his authority undermined by the raging pandemic, sacked his defence minister and three top military chiefs in what looks like a struggle for control over the armed forces. Tom Hennigan in Sao Paolo reports.

Voters in Israel went to the polls this week in a bid to free the country of the political stalemate that has seen it hold four elections in two years. But after another cliffhanger result, the deadlock continues and it may be weeks before it becomes clear if prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu will be able to form another government. Exit polls after Tuesday's vote indicated it might be possible for Netanyahu - or Bibi as he is known to some – to form a wafer-thin majority if he could persuade the right-wing Ya-mina party to come on board. But that was before the anti-Zionist Arab party, Ra'am, surprised pundits by crossing the threshold needed to win a place in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. Ra'am's projected five seats means the support of Ya-mina will no longer be enough to keep Netanyahu in power – he will need the support of both. An unlikely prospect, given that Ra'am and Ya-mina would seem very unlikely to countenance going into government with each other. To find out more, we talk to our correspondent in Jerusalem Mark Weiss.

Brazil's often chaotic political scene got even more complex recently when former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's conviction for corruption was suddenly overturned. Will Lula's expected return to politics, combined with the government's disastrous pandemic response, spell the end for current right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro?

Suzanne Lynch on the fall from grace of New York State governor Andrew Cuomo, whose early handling of the pandemic won him praise but is now subject to increasing scrutiny, and whose declining fortunes have been worsened by accusations of sexual harassment.

When voters elect a new government in Germany this year, it will bring the curtain down on the 16 year chancellorship of Angela Merkel. In parliament since 2005, Merkel has been one of Europe's most influential leaders, steering her country and the bloc through numerous crises. What will be the consequences of her departure from office and who will replace her? Derek Scally reports from Berlin. Later, London editor Denis Staunton takes us through the highlights of Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon's testimony to a parliamentary committee inquiry into her government's handling of sexual harassment complaints made against her predecessor Alex Salmond.

Italy's new prime minister Mario Draghi, a compromise choice asked to lead a national unity government after the collapse of the previous coalition, has several tough challenges on his hands: to administer EU Covid-19 relief funds in an effective way, to navigate the pandemic, and to retain control of the unwieldy coalition of parties that voted him in. Can he do whatever it takes? Chris Dooley talks to Brussels correspondent Naomi O'Leary. Plus, how did some Texans end up paying thousands of dollars in electricity bills?

The issue of Brexit and the popularity of SNP leader and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon have put the idea of Scottish independence back on the agenda. Public opinion polls show a majority in favour, but with implacable opposition from Boris Johnson assured, what paths are there to an "Indyref 2"? Denis Staunton reports. And Guy Hedgecoe in Madrid explains the social complexities behind the jailing of a Catalan rapper for insulting the royal family and glorifying terrorism.

Suzanne Lynch reports from former president Donald Trump's Senate impeachment trial. Under attack from a well-organised prosecution, Trump's own legal team have not impressed. But will it matter? Plus, a decade after Hosni Mubarak was toppled, what remains of Egypt's revolution? We talk to Declan Walsh, chief Africa correspondent at the New York Times.

A few months ago Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was lying in hospital in Berlin, recovering from being poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok. This week he was imprisoned after returning to Russia to continue his campaign against Vladimir Putin, despite the clear risks. But who is Alexei Navalny? And does his campaign have any chance of success? We talk to our correspondent Dan McLaughlin. Plus, the story of the Chinese writer first praised but then shunned for sharing her insider account of the Wuhan lockdown.

Today on the podcast: Tom Hennigan on the dire Covid-19 situation in Brazil, where the second-highest number of people have died of the disease. A more spreadable variant of the disease has deepened the crisis, as has the corruption and dysfunction of the national response, led by anti-vaxxer President Jair Bolsonaro.

Our Washington correspondent Suzanne Lynch was one of the lucky few to attend President Joe Biden's inauguration yesterday. She talks to foreign editor Chris Dooley about the message Biden sent in his address and his early policy moves. And we talk to Omar Wasow, an assistant professor of political science at Princeton University. He says the violent events of January 6th were more akin to a lynch mob than a riot or a coup, and explains why he thinks calls for unity are unlikely to work in the long run.

The race is on to roll out the coronavirus vaccine across the European Union. Denmark is sitting proudly in first place, with 2% of their population already vaccinated. All EU countries have had the same level of access to the first vaccine approved by the bloc, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, so how has Denmark managed to administer doses at such an efficient rate? Joining David McKechnie to discuss the different elements of the rollout process and the reasons behind the delay in some member states is our Europe Correspondent Naomi O'Leary.

Yesterday the world watched on in disbelief as a group of pro-Trump protesters stormed the US Capitol, in a violent display of loyalty to the president. While Congress gathered to certify the election results, thousands of flag-waving supporters broke through police barriers and gained access to the historic building, tearing through offices, breaking furniture and smashing windows. In today's episode, Irish Times Washington correspondent Suzanne Lynch joins David McKechnie to discuss how the dramatic events unfolded.

In this week's podcast, Chris Dooley speaks to foreign policy expert Thomas Wright about the incoming Joe Biden administration and the issues that the president-elect will have to deal with when he takes office in January. How will president Biden deal with China? What will an international taxation agreement mean for Ireland's relationship with the US? Can Biden hold the Democratic Party together? Thomas Wright is a Senior Fellow at The Brookings Institution, a Washington-based foreign policy think tank, where he is also the director of the Center on the United States and Europe.

To mark the end of the year with something a little different, we asked a handful of our regular contributors - Denis Staunton, Naomi O'Leary, Sally Hayden and Derek Scally - to choose a moment or a theme that stood out for them in this most eventful of years. Happy Christmas to all our listeners from the World View team. Produced by Declan Conlon and Suzanne Brennan.

Last month Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed a peace deal after six weeks of fierce fighting over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Tens of thousands have died and up to a million people have been displaced, since a bloody war between the two countries ended in a ceasefire in 1994. Central and eastern Europe correspondent, Daniel McLaughlin, explains the background to the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh and its regional and global implications.

Paris correspondent Lara Marlowe on the destruction and salvation of the city's iconic Notre Dame cathedral, destroyed by fire in April 2019. Lara has spoken to the people at the centre of the cathedral's expensive and at times controversial reconstruction.

A month after the US election, President Donald Trump has yet to concede to President-elect Joe Biden and continues to cry foul over the process. Despite recounts, legal challenges and Trump's claims on Twitter that he will “win”, local officials have quietly gone about their business certifying the results. Suzanne Lynch talks us through recent events and what's to come between now and Biden's inauguration on January 21st.

Sally Hayden recently visited Ethiopia, just before the outbreak of a conflict between the central government and a region in the east African country's north that threatens to escalate. Sally joins deputy foreign editor David McKechnie to discuss what is behind the outbreak of fighting that has reportedly already left hundreds dead and caused a refugee crisis.

A power struggle at Downing Street, Dominic Cummings out and a damaging gaffe by the Prime Minister to do with Scottish devolution, all while the Labour party finds itself at odds, once again, over former leader Jeremy Corbyn. Will the upheaval in Boris Johnson's team make a Brexit deal more or less likely? London editor Denis Staunton reports on a turbulent week in British politics.

Our hard-working Washington correspondent Suzanne Lynch is back to discuss President Trump's failure to concede the election battle he has clearly lost to President-elect Joe Biden. Is it just Trump being Trump or is there more to it? What are his fellow Republicans thinking? And how will it all affect the now-crucial Georgia Senate elections in January?

Suzanne Lynch with the latest from the US presidential election on Thursday, November 5th. Biden is on course to win, but doubts remain over whether votes remaining to be counted in key states will turn out to be red or blue.

Suzanne Lynch is back with one last report before polling day in the 2020 US presidential election. What do the final polls tell us, what what final moves are Joe Biden and Donald Trump making?

As many EU countries reenter lockdown, we ask Naomi O'Leary what went wrong with Europe's Covid-19 response. Plus, Suzanne Lynch on what the final few days of campaigning will look like as Joe Biden carries a slim lead into the last stage of the US presidential election.

Suzanne Lynch on the swing state battles that will decide the election, Lindsey Graham's battle to save his seat and Barack Obama's return to the campaign trail for the final two week stretch of the campaign.

Suzanne Lynch and Chris Dooley dig into five election battles to watch for seats in the US Senate and House of Representatives, in Texas, Maine, South Carolina Arizona and Montana. Plus, does Joe Biden have a Cuban-American problem in Florida, a crucial state in the race?

Even by the standards of the Trump administration, the past week has been remarkable. The outbreak of Covid-19 in the White House and President Trump's actions since his diagnosis seem to be having a negative effect on his reelection chances, says Washington correspondent Suzanne Lynch. Plus, a quick look at some of the competitive races for seats in the powerful US Senate.

Suzanne Lynch on how Tuesday night's ill-tempered debate between President Trump and Joe Biden is affecting the race. Plus, the Democrat's plan for dealing with the Supreme Court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett.

Washington correspondent Suzanne Lynch on the extraordinary life and consequential death of US supreme court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Hope springs eternal, even when it comes to Brexit. London editor Denis Staunton tells Chris Dooley how a post-Brexit trade deal could still be negotiated, despite the deterioration in UK-EU relations over Boris Johnson's Internal Markets bill. But first Denis explains what all the fuss over that bill is about.

Back in 2015, Lara Marlowe reported on what turned out to be just the first of many terror attacks in Europe: the Charlie Hebdo massacre. Now Lara is covering the trial of 14 people for involvement in the events of January 2015 that left twenty, including three assailants, dead. She talks to Dave McKechnie about the details of the story and its impact on France.

With the Democratic and Republican party primaries over, the US presidential election is now entering the final straight, and the real battle between Donald Trump and Joe Biden is beginning. At the moment, Trump seems to be having some success, focussing attention on 'law and order'. Washington Correspondent Suzanne Lynch describes the state of the race.

This is the final instalment of the Confronting Coronavirus podcast series. For part two of the final two-part episode, we've asked a handful of Irish Times journalists to reflect on the last couple of months and how the pandemic has played out. Today, we'll hear from Europe correspondent Naomi O'Leary, sports reporter Malachy Clerkin and health editor Paul Cullen.

This is the final instalment of the Confronting Coronavirus podcast series. For the final two-part episode, we've asked a handful of Irish Times journalists to reflect on the last couple of months and how the pandemic has played out. Today, we'll hear from Public Affairs Editor Simon Carswell and our Political reporter Jennifer Bray.

Traditionally, one in five of the population experience mental health challenges. In the coming year there will be many more. In today's episode, Clinical Psychologist Tony Bates speaks to Deirdre Veldon about the emotional impact of the pandemic and how different sections of society will be affected in the weeks and months ahead.

In today's episode, we hear from Irish Times journalist Sally Hayden, who has been living in lockdown in Northern Uganda for the past three months. In March, during the onset of the pandemic, Hayden travelled across the border from Rwanda into Gulu, a city at the epicentre of a two decade long civil war which ended in 2006. Hayden speaks to Deirdre Veldon about the impact of lockdown restrictions on the people of Gulu, in a country with no social protections and where aid is politics.

As the global race to find a vaccine for Covid-19 continues, the question of how it will eventually be supplied and distributed is now under the spotlight. Billions of euro have been donated by governments and philanthropic organisations to pharmaceutical companies for research and development of vital Covid-19 vaccines. However, in most cases, few if any conditions for access or affordability have been included as a precondition to any of this funding. In today's episode we hear from Kate Elder, Senior Vaccines Policy Advisor for Médecins Sans Frontières Access. MSF is calling for authorities to ensure any future vaccines are sold at cost and are universally accessible to all.

Ireland is approaching Phase 3 of the Roadmap for Reopening Business and Society. In this episode, Conor Pope talks us through some of the changes that will be coming into place as the country continues to ease lockdown restrictions.

The return of restrictions on life in Beijing comes as over a hundred new cases are linked to a huge food market. Peter Goff explains what's happening in Beijing, how the city is handling it and why the outbreak is a major blow to the efforts of China, and the world, to control the virus and reopen economies. Plus, a deadly skirmish on the India-China border.

This week the Irish Prison Service put forward a paper to the World Health Organisation as a model of best practices for keeping Covid-19 out of it's settings. With 3,738 prisoners nationwide and zero positive cases, there is a lot to be learned from their management of the virus. In this episode, Deirdre Veldon speaks to Irish Times Crime Correspondent Conor Gallagher about the quick action and careful planning which shaped their successful handling of the outbreak. They also discuss the overall impact the pandemic has had on crime levels and how the Irish court system has been coping with virtual hearings and socially distanced court rooms.

In this episode, Irish Times Features Writer Patrick Freyne brings us back to the year 2011 and the release of the scientific thriller movie Contagion. Starring Matt Damon, Contagion tells the story of a deadly virus which explodes into a global pandemic, bringing society to its knees. Nine years on, in the midst of our own virus outbreak, it all feels eerily familiar. Freyne catches up with Contagion's screenwriter Scott Z. Burns and the virologist who advised the script and plotline for the movie, Dr Ian Lipkin. The pair explain how their working relationship began over a couple of cocktails in a Manhattan bar and was sealed on the agreement that this pandemic movie would be grounded in science rather than blockbuster action. So, nine years on from its release, what it is like looking back on Contagion for Burns and Lipkin? Has the pandemic played out like they expected both scientifically and politically?

Conor Pope has been looking at how Ireland is reopening this week, in shops and other public places. His assessment: it's going quite well, but many small problems remain, from queuing to distancing and the wearing of masks. And as more restrictions are eased, more such problems will crop up for Irish consumers and businesses.

In our hospitals and psychiatric clinics, it has already begun. Increasing numbers of people are seeking help for mental health problems associated, in one way or another, with Covid-19. Professionals warn that the psychiatric effects of the pandemic and the lockdown will endure much longer than the physical effects of the virus. And those psychiatric effects are alarmingly diverse: anxiety, psychosis, eating disorders, PTSD. Prof Fiona McNicholas is a Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Crumlin Children's Hospital. She talks about the tsunami of mental health problems we face, the unexpected ways Covid-19 can harm our minds, and the potential for technology to aid therapy in a time of social distancing.

Next week, Ireland will enter phase two of the roadmap out of lockdown. We'll be able to travel 20km from our homes and visit another household while maintaining social distancing. Street level shops will open and some sporting and fitness activities will begin again. But will this taste of freedom mean people will push the boundaries even more? Large crowds flocked to beauty spots over the long weekend, while thousands gathered in close proximity at a Black Lives Matter protest earlier this week. In today's episode, Deirdre Veldon speaks to Pete Lunn a behavioural economist with the Economic and Social Research Institute. With community transmission quite low, Lunn explains how this may affect willingness to comply to ongoing restrictions.