In The News

At a time when TDs and ministers are usually winding down after the end of the Dáil term, the Government is facing a political crisis. It started last Tuesday August 27th, when journalist Daniel McConnell tweeted that the Cabinet had agreed to appoint Katherine Zappone, the former minister for children, to a newly-created role of UN Special Envoy on Freedom of Opinion and Expression. The move sparked calls for clarity over the appointment process, with Opposition TDs describing it as "cronyism" and lacking any real transparency. Then, just as the controversy seemed to be dying down, reports emerged that Zappone had organised an outdoor gathering of friends and former colleagues, including Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, at the Merrion Hotel in Dublin. Zappone has since decided to turn down the UN Envoy role. The Irish Times political reporter Jack Horgan-Jones takes Sorcha Pollak through the twists and turns of this political scandal.Produced by Declan Conlon, Jennifer Ryan and Suzanne Brennan. Opening music by Hugh Rodgers. www.irishtimes.com/podcasts  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For weeks now, thousands of protestors have been taking to the streets of Brazil demanding that their country's far-right president Jair Bolsonaro step down for his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. To date, more than half a million Brazilians have lost their lives to the virus. Bolsonaro has played down the severity of the virus since the start of the pandemic and is now facing allegations of political corruption relating to vaccine procurement. Sorcha Pollak talks to The Irish Times South America correspondent Tom Hennigan about who Jair Bolsonaro is, why people are protesting and what Brazil will look like when he leaves office.Produced by Declan Conlon, Jennifer Ryan and Suzanne Brennan. Opening music by Hugh Rodgers. www.irishtimes.com/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Olympic silver medalist Sonia O'Sullivan and sports writer Malachy Clerkin talk to our producer Jennifer Ryan about the decision by US superstar gymnast Simone Biles not to compete in the team event this week.Biles explained she decided to drop out because of incapacitating anxiety that she said could jeopardise her own health while attempting difficult moves, and also her teammates's chance of winning a medal.She is just latest athlete to speak out about the issue, but with Biles the biggest name coming into these Games, her decision is sure to put the spotlight firmly on mental health in sport. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Only two months ago America's fast-moving vaccine rollout was the envy of billions across the globe. But with infections now rising across the country, and only half of Americans fully vaccinated, anger is building towards the many millions of adults who refuse to get the jab, and towards news media that lends credence to vaccine sceptics.Will the fear of a return to social distancing, mask wearing and travel restrictions convince the vaccine skeptics to get the jab? And as calls intensify for mask wearing to become obligatory again, what other measures are being considered to curb the spread of the Delta variant? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month the European Commission launched their new ‘Fit for 55’ package, the latest instalment of the European Green Deal, which sets out a plan to reduce carbon emissions by 55% over the next nine years. The package was announced just days before widespread flooding wreaked havoc across parts of central Europe, leaving more than 200 dead and thousands unable to return to their homes. Extreme weather events linked to climate change are increasing in frequency and the pressure is on political leaders to take action. If the new plan is successful, the EU will reach climate neutrality by the middle of the century. But is it realistic for Europe to believe it can reach these targets in less than a decade and how difficult will it be for individual member states to agree on the measures? Guests: Derek Scally, Naomi O'Leary and Lara Marlowe. Hosted by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon, Jennifer Ryan and Suzanne Brennan. Opening music by Hugh Rodgers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last month, an infamous Eritrean human trafficker was sentenced to life in prison without parole in absentia in Ethiopia. Kidane Zekarias Habtemariam, known as Kidane, who absconded from custody in February, oversaw an extensive smuggling operation in Libya where he is alleged to have extorted money from thousands of victims as they attempted to make their way to Europe. Sally Hayden has reported on the 21st century slave trade on Europe’s doorstep for The Irish Times for a number of years, interviewing victims of Kidane and his associate knows as “Walid”. She talks to Conor Pope about the horrors of the North African smuggling trade and why she felt it was important to report on this story.Produced by Declan Conlon, Jennifer Ryan and Suzanne Brennan.Opening music by Hugh Rodgers.www.irishtimes.com/podcasts   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By removing practically all remaining Covid-19 restrictions in England, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has gambled that the resulting wave of infection will be bearable and that voters will find the end result was worth it. But pitfalls on his short cut out of the pandemic are already appearing. Denis Staunton explains what's going on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A lot of us have experienced it at least once by now: a fraudulent call from someone claiming to work for the Gardaí or the Department of Social Protection, looking for personal details. But how do these scams work? We hear a conversation with one of the scammers that takes an unexpected turn. A victim of phone fraud tells a story that shows why the tech-savvy among us aren't immune. And an expert explains what the scammers are up to and how we might someday bring an end to them.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this month, former European Council president Donald Tusk was elected head of Poland's Civic Platform, the opposition party he co-founded 20 years ago. Mr Tusk said he was returning to politics in his home country, where he was prime minister from 2007-2014, in order to help fight the “evil” of the ruling right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party. Since it took power in 2015, PiS has introduced controversial reforms to the judiciary, clamped down on LGBTQ+ rights and essentially outlawed abortion. Irish Times Berlin correspondent Derek Scally, who regularly writes about Poland, talks to Sorcha Pollak about these reforms and how they are reshaping Polish society.Produced by Declan Conlon, Jennifer Ryan and Suzanne Brennan.Opening music by Hugh Rodgers.www.irishtimes.com/podcasts  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rachel, a young student nurse from Dublin, was just twenty years old, when her mother Sam began to notice the first signs of an eating disorder. Six years on, after multiple hospitalisations and ten months spent in a specialised unit in London, Sam is still struggling to get Rachel the help she needs. The mother of five, shares her story and the impact the lack of specialist services in Ireland is having on patients and their families. Also, Social Affairs correspondent Kitty Holland tells her personal experience of living with an eating disorder.Cared Ireland can be reached at caredireland@gmail.comBodywhys can be contacted at 01-2107906 or alex@bodywhys.ieProduced by Declan Conlon, Jennifer Ryan and Suzanne Brennan.Opening music by Hugh Rodgers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.