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.

How Andrew Cuomo went from Covid hero to pariah

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?

Will Lula's return to Brazilian politics end Bolsonaro's reign?

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.

Israel's election leaves Netanyahu needing unlikely allies

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.

Brazil's health and democracy are both on the brink

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?

Why is Russia sending troops to the border with Ukraine?

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.

Merkel succession battle threatens CDU/CSU alliance

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.

Could Welsh Independence actually happen?

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.

India's covid catastrophe

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.

Looking back at Biden’s first 100 days

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.

UK election: can things get better for Labour?

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?

A ceasefire in the Middle East?

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?

Catalonia, Malaysia Airlines MH370, Crimea

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. 
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Nigerian Schoolgirls, Ukraine, South African latest

This week Denis Staunton is joined by Paddy Smyth, Guy Hedgecoe and David McNeill to discuss the options for Podemos in the wake of Syriza's election victory and the aftermath for Japan and it's government following the killing of two Japanese hostages by Islamic State. 

Podemos/Syriza, Islamic State and Japan

The Syrian rebel stronghold of Aleppo is almost encircled now by Bashar al-Assad's forces. Foreign Affairs Correspondent Ruadhán Mac Cormaic details how the tide has turned against the rebels and the major role played by Russia.

In part two, Paris Correspondent Lara Marlowe explains why the French are up in arms about changes to their spelling. 

Plus: Bernie Sanders is the best known American socialist, but he's not the only one. Seattle city council member Kshama Sawant was in Dublin last week and spoke with Paddy about life on the left in the U.S.A. and why Bernie is wrong to run as a Democrat. 

Assault on Aleppo / Adieu Circumflex / Socialist America

Hungarians head to the polls on Sunday for parliamentary elections whose results may have consequences across Eastern Europe, says Dan McLaughlin on this week's podcast. 

At stake in Budapest is Prime Minister Victor Orban's supermajority in parliament, which he has used to push through a number of authoritarian reforms. 

On the campaign trail Mr Orban has  promised "moral, legal and political revenge" on Hungary's enemies, for which many read Mr Orban's own political opponents. 

That approach has helped galvanise Hungary's fractured political opposition, with polls showing Mr Orban's supermajority is now under threat. 

Mr Orban has warned of a conspiracy to install a new pro-immigration government masterminded by billionaire George Soros and has called on voters to "save Hungary".

The outcome of Sunday's vote will be watched closely by other leaders in the region who may wish to emulate Mr Orban's approach. 

Also on the podcast: Israel has rejected the prospect of an inquiry into the shooting dead of 16 Palestinians by its army at the Gaza-Israel border during demonstrations last Friday.

Mark Weiss reports from Jerusalem on the tensions, which are expected to rise again on Friday after Muslim prayers.

Hungary's Opposition Unites Against Orban / Bloodshed in Gaza

First: Theresa May’s cabinet has set the Westminster summer recess as the deadline to pass the EU withdrawal agreement bill and agreed to continue their discussions with the Labour party in a bid to reach cross party support. With pressure growing on both the prime minister and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn from within their own ranks, Denis Staunton has the latest from London. 

Later: Australians go to the polls in federal elections this weekend, with the result too close to call as the opposition Labour party cling to a narrow lead over the ruling National-Liberal coalition in opinion polls. Voting is compulsory and around two million people have already cast their ballots in early voting, in what has been a fractious election campaign. Pádraig Collins reports from Sydney.

Brexit: Pressure Builds, But No Sign of A Deal / Australian Elections

Businesswoman and author Margaret Heffernan writes about leadership and strategic thinking. Her latest book Uncharted: How to Map the Future is about the pitfalls of forecasting. In it she argues that societies and businesses should develop a better kind of readiness that doesn't rely on the false sense of security such forecasts bring. Published in February, the book eerily foretold the current crisis, using historic pandemics as an example of how difficult it is to predict the outcome of complex events.

How to be ready for an uncertain future - with author Margaret Heffernan

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.

A coronavirus surge shocks Beijing - with Peter Goff

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.

US election: A month on, still no concession

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.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

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.

The challenges facing the Biden administration - with Thomas Wright

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.

Pro-Trump rioters storm the US Capitol

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.

Biden's inauguration, and the meaning of January 6th

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.

Corruption, dysfunction and scarce oxygen: Brazil's response to Covid-19

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.

Who is Alexei Navalny?

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.

Donald Trump's impeachment trial

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.

The path to Scottish independence, Spain's free speech problem

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?

Can Mario Draghi turn Italy around?

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.

Life after Merkel, Sturgeon survives but scandal may leave scars

The Irish Times' unrivalled foreign affairs coverage, now brought to you in weekly podcast form. Hosted by Chris Dooley with regular contributors Patrick Smyth, Denis Staunton, Lara Marlowe, Suzanne Lynch, Derek Scally, Tom Hennigan, Clifford Coonan and Ruadhan Mac Cormaic.

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