Perspective

Leading Russian political scientist Ekaterina Schulmann was in Russia when the invasion of Ukraine began last year. In April, she accepted a fellowship in Berlin, and just days after she left for Germany she was labelled a "foreign agent" by Moscow, making it impossible for her to return to her home country to teach. She continues to comment regularly on Russian politics, with over 1 million subscribers on her YouTube channel. Schulmann joined us for Perspective to discuss her experience being designated a "foreign agent", the challenges of assessing public opinion in Russia, and the impact the war has had on the stability of the Russian regime.

Africa is one of the continents worst affected by climate change. An estimated 600 million people there don't have access to electricity, while even greater numbers live without clean cooking fuels or technologies. The continent currently accounts for less than 6 percent of global energy consumption and 2 percent of cumulative global emissions. Experts say it has the potential to play a leading role as the planet's energy systems transition to a net-zero future. For more, Dr Rebekah Shirley, Deputy Director at the World Resources Institute Africa, joined us for Perspective.

Whether out of genuine ideological adherence or fear of the increasingly ruthless crackdown on dissent, a substantial portion of Russians have wholeheartedly adopted Moscow's rhetoric on the war in Ukraine. Franco-Russian journalists Ksenia Bolchakova and Veronika Dorman travelled the country for a look at a how the population is being nursed on a culture of violence and propaganda for their documentary, "Russie: Un peuple qui marche au pas” (Russia: An obedient people). They joined us on Perspective.

It is the most populous city in the Americas and the fifth largest city in the world: Sao Paulo, Brazil, a city evoking everything from bustling skyscrapers full of financial opportunity to rampant corruption, inequality and violence. The country's richest city, it is also the setting for British author Joe Thomas's latest book, “Brazilian Psycho”. He joined us on Perspective.

In an eagerly-awaited decision, the nine members of France's Constitutional Council will rule this Friday on whether to accept, modify or reject Emmanuel Macron's unpopular pension reform. They'll also be deciding whether to authorise a public referendum that would cap the retirement age at 62. In Perspective, we found out more about the potential outcomes and what might come next with Paul Smith, an Associate Professor in French and Francophone Studies at the University of Nottingham.

Reed Brody, a top US and international lawyer, tells FRANCE 24 he does not see Americans voting collectively for another four years of Donald Trump. After Trump last week became the first former US president to be indicted on criminal changes, Brody says the indictment – and other more serious potential charges ahead – could rally ardent Republican supporters behind Trump in the short term. But he says many US voters in the middle of the political spectrum are "tired of crazy" and want to see normal politics again. Brody joined us for Perspective.

Our guest not only moved from New York to Paris without speaking any French, but has now become a stand-up comedian here in France, managing to perform in both English and French. Sebastian Marx has created a one-man show based on taking the mickey out of the French – both the language and the culture. He's not afraid of doing the same for Americans, too. So how does it all go down with French audiences? He joined us for Perspective to tell us more.

The author and compiler of a new unique book of wildlife photographs has told FRANCE 24 how people need to see for themselves the animals and species that are at risk in order to connect with them. Graeme Green's book "The New Big 5" immortalises a range of species of wildlife from across the planet. The title comes from the old colonial hunting idea of the Big Five, which was a list of animals that hunters most liked to kill. Green joined us for Perspective to tell us more about the book and the importance of raising awareness about endangered species.

Shakespeare wrote in "Hamlet" some 400 years ago: "There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy". According to our guest, everything we've been told throughout the generations about the universe could be turned on its head in the coming years, because of a new branch of astronomy based on gravitational waves. Gianfranco Bertone calls it multimessenger astronomy. He is a professor in the physical theory of astroparticles at Amsterdam University and his new book is called "A Tale of Two Infinities". He spoke to FRANCE 24's Gavin Lee about what it all means.

On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall fell, symbolising the beginning of the end of the Cold War. Plenty of books, essays and documentaries have been devoted to the historic turning point, but hearing from East Germans about how they experienced the four decades of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) is harder to come by. Historian and journalist Katja Hoyer's book "Beyond the Wall: East Germany, 1949-1990" offers a comprehensive history of the GDR, integrating first-hand accounts. She joined us for Perspective.