The Irish Times World View Podcast

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?

This week Denis discusses the possibility of a Greek exit from the euro with Damian MacConUladh in Greece, Derek Scally in Berlin and Paul Gillespie and Cliff Taylor in Dublin.

Denis Staunton, Paddy Smyth and Paul Gillespie anticipate what will make the news in 2015.

This week Denis Staunton discusses the persecution of Christians across the world with Patsy McGarry and Michael Jansen.

This week Denis discusses the successful snap election called by Abe in Japan and Erdogan's crackdown in Turkey. He is joined by Paddy Smyth, David McNeill and Stephen Starr.

This week Denis Staunton discusses the Israeli elections with Paddy Smyth and Mark Weiss.

This week Denis hears from Asia Correspondent Clifford Coonan on the resurgence of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, and whether the movement can sustain itself. He also discusses the successes of radical left parties in Europe, and how they resonate with the social movements of Latin America, with European Correspondent Suzanne Lynch, Latin American Correspondent Tom Hennigan, Foreign Policy Editor Patrick Smyth and Managing Editor Cliff Taylor.

This week Denis discusses the decision not to charge Darren Wilson over the death of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown. He also analyses the options for Iran's nuclear ambitions and the leadership contest within France's UMP.

This week Chris Dooley hears from Paul Cullen about the Western response to the Ebola outbreak, the shock result in the Romanian elections and the challenges facing Obama in respect of the environment.

This week Denis hears about rising tension in the West Bank, the bid for independence in Catalonia and Ed Miliband's struggle to consolidate support within his own party.

A special podcast to mark 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall with Denis Staunton, Paul Gillespie and Patrick Smyth. Plus what's next for eastern Ukraine after Sunday's unauthorised election with Dan McLaughlin.

This week Denis discusses election results in Brazil, Ukraine and Tunisia.

Denis discusses the loss of two female ministers in the Japanese government, Ukraine's parliamentary elections and Juncker's new European Commission.

This week Denis hears about the mid terms from Simon Carswell and the surprising statements from the Vatican on gay marriage.

This week Denis discusses the future of Dilma in Brazil, corruption in Bulgaria and the Hong Kong protests.

This week Chris Dooley hears from Clifford Coonan in Hong Kong and Simon Carswell in the U.S.

Climate Change, Sarkozy by The Irish Times

Scottish Result by The Irish Times

In this week's show Denis hears a final account of Scotland as we know it from Mark Hennessy who has been there for the last few weeks and is braced for a tight finish on Thursday. He also discusses the international plans to defeat Islamic State, Isis, with Patrick Cockburn and Soner Cagapty.

This week's World View begins in Scotland where the latest poll has put the Yes side ahead of the No side for the first time. The British government is promising it will do all it can to save the Union but is it too late? Denis Staunton is joined from Edinburgh by Alex Massie, Mark Hennessy and Paul Gillespie in Dublin. Later in the show he discusses the latest from Gaza with Lara Marlowe who has been reporting from Gaza for the past week. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

In this week's show Denis discusses Ukraine with Dan McLaughlin in Volnovkha, Suzanne Lynch in Brussels and Foreign Policy Editor Paddy Smyth in Dublin. He also considers the future role of the Irish peacekeeping troops in Golan Heights with Michael Jansen and about China's move to limit the choice of election candidates in Hong Kong with Clifford Coonan in Beijing. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

After seven weeks of bombardment and rocket fire there appears to be agreement between Israel and the Palestinian factions about a new ceasefire. Denis Staunton discusses with Mark Weiss in Jerusalem and Michael Jansen in Nicosia. The show begins in Scotland the day after the second debate of the independence referendum campaign. Mark Hennessy was in attendance and reports. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

This week Denis discusses the latest from Ferguson with Kevin Cullen and analyses events in Iraq with Michael Jansen and Vincent Durac. Finally he moves to Islamabad Pakistan and hears about the power struggle between Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif with Al Jazeera's Kamal Hyder. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

This week Denis hears about the advance of ISIS from Patrick Cockburn and the talks between the Israelis and Palestinians in Cairo with Michael Jansen and Mark Weiss in Jerusalem. He also discusses the latest from Scotland with Alex Massie, Mark Hennessy and Paul Gillespie. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

This week Denis discusses the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire brokered by Egypt with Mark Weiss, Michael Jansen and Paddy Smyth. He also discusses the Argentine default with Tom Hennigan. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

In this week's World View Denis Staunton discusses Gaza with Ruadhan MacCormaic in what is to be his final dispatch from Gaza for now. Later in the show he meets with Mary Lawlor, the executive director of Front Line Defenders, an Irish organisation that protects human rights defenders at risk across the world. Earlier this month the French government presented Mary with the Order of Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

In this week's podcast Denis hears from Ruadhan MacCormaic who has spent the last week in Gaza and is now on the Israeli/Gaza border. He also discusses the diplomatic options with Paddy Smyth. The other story on World View this week concerns MH17, the passenger airliner which was brought down over Ukraine with the loss of 298 lives. He hears from Daniel McLaughlin in Eastern Ukraine and Suzanne Lynch in Brussels on international reactions to this tragedy. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

In this week's podcast Denis hears the latest from Jerusalem where Gaza is considering the Egyptian proposal for a truce. Israel has accepted but Hamas is considering. Mark Weiss and Paddy Smyth analyse the options. Denis next moves to Washington where Simon Carswell has just returned from a trip to Murrietta in Southern California where thousands of unaccompanied children have arrived, mostly from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Simon describes what he has seen and discusses the impact this has had politically within the U.S. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

In this week's podcast Denis hears from Jerusalem on the mounting tensions between Israelis and Palestinians following the murder of Palestinian teenager Mohammed Abu Khdair. He also hears the latest from Berlin where the U.S. has been accused of behaving like a 'digital occupying power' after the emergence of fresh spying allegations. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

In this week's podcast Denis hears from Mark Weiss in Jerusalem where the Israeli authorities have reacted swiftly to the discovery of three kidnapped Israeli teenagers with the launch of 30 air strikes on the Gaza strip. He then moves on to Brussels where the new Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi has been mounting a challenge to Merkel's domain as Italy assumes the EU presidency and prepares to exert greater economic influence. He discusses the possibilities with Paddy Agnew in Rome and Derek Scally in Berlin. Finally he hears from Fiona McLysaght, Concern's country director in Sierra Leone where the Ebola virus has started to spread rapidly. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

In this week's podcast Denis talks to Suzanne Lynch and Mark Hennessy in London about the now imminent election of Jean Claude Juncker and its consequences for the EU and David Cameron. He is also joined in studio by Irish Times columnist Paul Gillespie. He then discusses Obama's response to the latest from Iraq with Simon Carswell in Washington before finishing in Rio de Janerio with Tom Hennigan to hear about a World Cup which has utterly defied the dire predictions of its critics. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

In this week's podcast Denis Staunton begins in Iraq where insurgents led by Isis have taken Mosul and are battling the Iraqi army 60km outside Baghdad. He discusses the situation with Lara Marlowe in Tehran, Michael Jansen in Cyprus and Paddy Smyth in Dublin. He then moves to Brussels to analyse the latest on the battle to elect Juncker, the man who could bring an end to Cameron's government in the UK. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

In this week's World View Chris Dooley talks to Simon Carswell about Hillary Clinton's new book Hard Choices. He also hears from Suzanne Lynch in Brussels about the controversy surrounding Juncker's candidacy for the European Commissioner job and he chats to Mark Hennessy in Scotland about the latest on the referendum preparations there. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times, Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

In this week's show Chris Dooley discusses the latest travails of the World Cup competition with Tom Hennigan in Sao Paulo and Ken Early from the Second Captains. He also hears from Michael Jansen in Damascus as the Syrian elections take place and from Paddy Worthworth on the abdication of King Juan Carlos. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

May 27th 2014 The European election results are in and there has been a sharp reaction across Europe to the relative austerity of recent years. In this week's podcast Chris Dooley hears about the incredible gains by the National Front in France from Lara Marlowe. He speaks to Mark Hennessy in London about the success of UKIP and to Guy Hedgcoe in Madrid about the sudden rise of Podemos, a party formed 3 months ago which won 12 million votes. He analyses the impact of these results in Brussels and Berlin with Suzanne Lynch and Derek Scally and Patrick Smyth in Dublin. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times, Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

In this week's World View Denis discusses the latest from Thailand with Clifford Coonan where the military has declared martial law. He hears from Rahul Bedi in Delhi where Modi's is about to begin his rule. Finally Denis speaks with Dan McLaughlin in Lviv, Ukraine where the country is preparing for a presidential election vote on Sunday. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times, Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

In this edition of World View Denis asks what the victory of Austria's bearded transvestite Conchita Wurst means in geopolitical terms for Europe. He hears from Clifford Coonan in Thailand and discusses the letters of Jackie Kennedy with Michael Parsons. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

May 6th 2014 As news breaks of a further kidnapping of schoolgirls in Nigeria by the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram Chris Dooley asks our correspondents Simon Carswell in Washington and Mark Hennessy in London about the potential for international intervention. We also examine the state of politics in South Africa where the elections are taking place on May 6th. We talk to Bill Corcoran in Cape Town. We begin in the Ukraine with Dan McLaughlin where the violence continues to escalate. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

29/04/14 In this week's show Denis discusses the latest on the Middle East peace talks with Mark Weiss and Patrick Smyth. He hears from Simon Carswell in the U.S. about the potential for Elizabeth Warren to run for president. Plus he chats to Derek Scally in Warsaw about the Polish reaction to events in Ukraine. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times, Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

22/04/14 World View: Will Scotland say yes? World Cup Disaster in Brazil? In this week's edition of World View Denis begins in Brazil with Tom Hennigan in Sao Paolo and Second Captains Ken Early in Dublin to discuss preparations for the 2014 World Cup. Next we move to Ukraine and hear from Dan McLaughlin in Donetsk and Irish Times columnist Paul Gillespie on the apparent new world order. Finally we finish up in Scotland with Alex Massie from The Spectator on the increasing momentum of the yes side in the upcoming referendum. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times, Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

15-04-14 In this week's edition of World View Denis begins in Ukraine with Dan McLaughlin in Donetsk. Pro Russian separatists are occupying government buildings there and in a number of key cities across Eastern Ukraine. The government in Kiev is showing uncertainty. The international community is threatening further sections. Next World View moves to France with Lara Marlowe in Paris where the new prime minister Manuel Valls is attempting to establish a new identity for himself and the French economy. We also hear about the return of Segolene Royal and the prospects for Marine le Pen. Finally we join Michael Jansen in Syria who is in Mallulah outside Damascus to hear her insights on the election that Assad is planning to hold over the coming weeks. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times, Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

08/04/14 In this edition of World View Denis discusses the continuing search for MH370 with Clifford Coonan in Bejing. He also hears about the unstoppable rise of Narendra Modi from Rahul Bedi in Delhi and he considers Italy's fresh start under Matteo Renzi with Paddy Agnew in Rome. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times, Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

01/04/14 In this week's show Denis Staunton hears about the Central African Republic from Lara Marlowe who is on her final day in the capital Bangui and has been witnessing the conflict there. He next moves to Egypt and discusses the rise of General Sisi and the new alliance with Saudi Arabia and UAE with UCD lecturer Dr Vincent Durac and our Middle East analyst Michael Jansen. Finally he considers Ed Milliband's prospects with London correspondent Mark Hennessy. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times, Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for FREE to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

25/03/14 In this week's podcast Denis returns and discusses the fate of MH370 with Clifford Coonan. He hears from Stephen Starr in Istanbul about Erdogan's extraordinary decision to ban Twitter in Turkey. Plus he provides analysis of the Ukrainian situation with Dan McLoughlin in Kiev, Irish Times Foreign Policy Editor Patrick Smyth and Suzanne Lynch who is in The Hague with the newly formed G7. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times, Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O'Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for free to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

In this week's World View Chris Dooley fills in for Denis Staunton and discusses the situation in Catalonia with Madrid correspondent Guy Hedgecoe. They consider whether Catalonia will now be better positioned to break away from the rest of Spain, a move that Spain's prime minister, Mariano Rajoy has said he can 'guarantee this will not happen.' Chris is also joined by Clifford Coonan in Bejing to provide futher analysis of the Malaysian Airlines flight MH 370. The show begins with a discussion about Ukraine with Daniel McLaughlin and Suzanne Lynch. World View is a free weekly foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times, Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O'Shea. Why not subscribe to the show or downloaded individual episodes via Soundcloud, iTunes and Stitcher?

11/03/14 In this week's World View Denis Staunton talks to Dominic McSorley from Concern. Next month marks the twentieth anniversary of the start of a 100 day massacre that left up to a million people dead. Today genocide is taking place again in the Central African Republic. Thousands are said to have died in fighting between Christians and Muslims. Dominic Sorley was Concern's first country director in Rwanda in the 1990s explains more to Denis and compares the two countries. We next move to Pretoria where the second week of the Oscar Pistorious trial is taking place. Irish Times South Africa correspondent Bill Corcoran explains the trial's significance for the South African judicial system. Finally Denis speaks to Mark Hennessy in London where the eurosceptic United Kingdom Independence Party are going to take on Nick Clegg in a television debate. Hennessy analyses the Lib Dem strategy. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times, Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O’Shea. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for free to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

04/03/14 This week Denis Staunton talks to Dan McLoughlin in Crimea, Foreign Policy Editor, Paddy Smyth. He then moves to Washington and Berlin with contributions from Simon Carswell and Derek Scally. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times, Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O'Shea It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for free to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

25/02/14 This week Denis Staunton finds out the latest from Ukraine with Dan McLaughlin. He also chats to Paddy Smyth, Suzanne Lynch and Harry McGee about the upcoming European elections. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times, Denis Staunton. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for free to you each week via this link. itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

18/02/14 In this week's show Denis Staunton takes a look at the Scottish referendum campaign and examines the potential consequences for Ireland with Paul Gillespie and Mark Hennessy. He also analyses the prospects for new Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, with Paddy Agnew in Rome. Worldview is a foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times, Denis Staunton. It can be listened to and downloaded via Soundcloud and iTunes. It can be delivered for free to you each week via this link. https://itun.es/i66S3JH #iTunes Android users can access this podcast via http://stitcher.com/s?fid=44906&refid=stpr

11/02/14 Who is winning the Olympics? Putin or sport? This week Denis Staunton hears from Malachy Clerkin in Sochi and Isabel Gorst in Moscow. He also talks about immigration reform with Simon Carswell in the U.S and about the Swiss decision to go it alone with EU correspondent, Suzanne Lynch.

04/02/14 In this week's show Denis Staunton chats to Derek Scally about Habermas's denunciation of German economic policy. He also discusses the recent troubles in Kiev with Ross McDonnell and Paulo Nunes does Santos, two award winning photographers who were working there last week. Plus he hears from Clifford Coonan in Bangkok where tensions continue to escalate.

24/01/14 Pilot for the new Irish Times Foreign Affairs show, World View. This week, deputy editor, Denis Staunton, discusses the new waves of immigration in Europe with London editor, Mark Hennessy, and European Correspondent, Suzanne Lynch. He hears from the paper's Middle Eastern correspondent, Michael Jansen, who is in Geneva to report on the Syrian peace conference. Plus Daniel McLaughlin provides an update from Kiev.

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.