The Debate

By FRANCE 24 English

The Debate episodes

August 26, 2019 Macron's G7: The French president's team-building exercise
How will Emmanuel Macron's G7 be remembered? As the sun sets on the southwestern French resort of Biarritz, departing leaders can reflect on the barbs traded with Brazil's president, arguments over dinner about whether to reverse Russia's exclusion from the Group of Seven industrialised nations, raised hopes of compromise on the taxing of internet giants, plus a possible glimmer of hope on Iran.
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July 11, 2019 France takes on Silicon Valley: Washington threatens tariffs over GAFA tax
It was one of the big demands of Yellow Vest protesters: tax the new giants of e-commerce that are killing small businesses. But on the day that France's parliament voted a so-called GAFA tax of three percent on revenue earned on French soil for big tech companies that hang their fiscal hat abroad, the Trump administration is paving the way for retaliatory tariffs. A legitimate gripe? Or another case of Washington weaponising trade?
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July 10, 2019 Waiting for Boris: How will next UK prime minister handle Trump, Brexit?
It quickly became untenable. The UK government had stood by its ambassador to Washington but less than 24 hours after Donald Trump branded Kim Darroch "wacky" and a "pompous fool", and the latter found himself uninvited to a White House banquet, it was time to throw in the towel. It all started when The Mail on Sunday published leaked diplomatic cables in which Darroch described Trump as "radiating insecurity" and his administration as diplomatically "clumsy and inept".
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July 09, 2019 Macron's Iran initiative: French envoy in Tehran amid efforts to save nuclear deal
Could it be Macron to the rescue? The French president's top diplomatic advisor Emmanuel Bonne is making his second trip to Tehran on the trot. After the aborted air strike by the US off the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranians twice inching up nuclear enrichment above levels that exceed the 2015 nuclear deal, France's president has twice spoken with his Iranian counterpart on the phone, with the latest call on Sunday night. Macron has also been on the blower to Donald Trump in the past 24 hours.
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July 08, 2019 A World Cup to remember: Breakthrough moment for women's football
Surely it will be remembered as a breakthrough month for women's football. Team USA have kept their title after a World Cup final that like the rest of the tournament here in France kept its promise. The 2-0 win against reigning European champions the Netherlands included marquee names, collective skill, flashes of brilliance... and a sprinkling of controversy with VAR technology arguably changing the course of the match.
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July 04, 2019 End of Gandhi dynasty? India opposition leader quits Congress Party leadership
Could it be the beginning of the end of family dynasties in politics? Rahul Gandhi, the son, grandson and great-grandson of Indian prime ministers has resigned from the leadership of the opposition Congress party. The 49-year-old failed to energise the base, lost his family seat in Uttar Pradesh state in the recent elections, and couldn't compete with incumbent Hindu nationalist leader Narendra Modi. We've talked about Modi's landslide, but how about Rahul's rout?
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July 03, 2019 Fair deal? EU top jobs forged by Franco-German compromise
In the end, it was a good old-fashioned Franco-German compromise that broke the deadlock on top jobs for the incoming five-year session. The presidency of the European Commission went to Angela Merkel's own defence minister; the head of the European Central Bank to the French boss of the International Monetary Fund. And the rest? A delicate political balancing act between nations and political blocs.
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July 02, 2019 Who gets the top jobs? EU leaders in hard bargain over future executive
The future of Europe is being decided - at least for the next five years. It's no surprise to see the hard bargaining over top jobs at the Commission, EU Parliament and European Central Bank go to extra time. The stakes could not be higher and citizens know it. They turned out in greater numbers to vote in last May's EU elections, between shades of populists and federalists, left and right, those who worry about Russia, China and the US. Who to represent the continent for the next five years?
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July 01, 2019 What next for Hong Kong? Protesters storm legislature on handover anniversary
This Monday saw another stunning turn of events in Hong Kong, as police let protesters take over the legislative council on the day the territory marked the anniversary of the 1997 handover by the British. Some of the protesters who ransacked parliament were not even born back in 1997. Our panel also discuss what Beijing is going to make of Donald Trump becoming the first US president ever to set foot on North Korean soil.
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June 27, 2019 G20 or G2? Trump-Xi showdown overshadows Osaka summit
The G20 or the G2? How times have changed since 2008 when developed and emerging nations first came together to find common ground in response to the worst financial crisis in decades. This year's G20 in Osaka, Japan could well be overshadowed by the Saturday sidelines sit-down between the two superpowers that are the United States and China. As for the rest, all they can do is hold their breath to see if a trade truce can hold, lead to a deal or descend into open hostility.
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A live debate on the topic of the day, with four guests. From Monday to Thursday at 7:10pm Paris time.

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