You can choose your friends - but you could make enemies if you do. Europe Editor Tony Connelly tells Colm Ó Mongáin about the social minefield presented by Belgium's relaxation of restrictions. Also: Health Correspondent Fergal Bowers on the cost of tackling Covid-19 and more.

Ep 30. The Four Friend Conundrum

COVID19 is having devastating effect on lives and economies in Ireland and around the world. In the 'Pandemic' podcast, RTÉ's reporters will bring you the latest news and analysis on the pandemic.

News

News Commentary

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin  Outbreaks driven by the Delta variant in Israel are being watched closely around the world. How will a population, where almost all adults are vaccinated, defend itself against the latest coronavirus threat?  Amos Harel, Defence Analyst with the Israeli newspaper Haaretz looks at the approach to the rise in case rates.

Ep. 93 Delta Blues In Israel

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin  A seven year conflict, mass malnutrition and a cholera epidemic: How is Yemen coping with the added strain of Covid-19? MSF/Doctors Without Border Head of Mission in Sana'a Ahmed Mahat gives Pandemic an up-close view from Yemen.

Ep. 92 Yemen's War: Covid In A Time Of Cholera

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin  EU leaders meet amid mounting concern over the Delta variant of the virus & the strange and tragic case of Juergen Conings – the trained sniper who caused a nationwide manhunt in Belgium after stealing weapons with the apparent intention of targeting a leading virologist. Europe Editor Tony Connelly has the details.

Ep. 91 EU's Delta Blues

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin  After 20 years of war and over half the country living in poverty, Afghanistan has been hit with a third wave - its worst yet - of Govid-19. Pandemic spoke to Rohullah Sorush of the Afghan Analysts' Network in Kabul, author of a recent detailed briefing paper on the impact of the virus.

Ep. 90 Afghanistan - The Third Wave

Host: Colm Ó Mongáin  Having kept its death rate below 10 until March, Taiwan has seen cases of Covid-19 and deaths soar since May. One year on from our last conversation in better times, Bloomberg's Taipei Bureau Chief Samson Ellis has a detailed look at what has gone wrong.

Ep 30. The Four Friend Conundrum

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