The Debate

By FRANCE 24 English

The Debate episodes

February 22, 2018 Boko Haram kidnappings: Can Nigerian schoolgirls be protected?
A brazen attack by Islamist terror group Boko Haram has once more sounded the alarm. As many as 100 girls are believed to still be missing after the mass kidnapping in Yobe state. Inevitably it brings back memories of the swoop on a school in Chibok by Boko Haram in 2014, when 270 girls were kidnapped. Boko Haram has been the major threat to peace in the Lake Chad region for over a decade, carrying out a series of bloody attacks. Can it be stopped? Produced by Michele Barbero, Tatiana Reiter, Tommaso Mazzanti and Laure Fourquet.
46 min
February 21, 2018 Tightening grip: French government unveils controversial migrant law
President Macron promised to make it easier for young people to claim asylum in France while reforming the system. A new bill was unveiled today by the interior minister Gérard Collomb. It would shorten the deadlines to apply for asylum and double the time during which illegal migrants can be detained. It would also make it easier for minors to obtain asylum. The government says it wants to be both firm and fair on immigration. But will this get in the way of the migrants' basic human rights? Produced by Yi ZHOU, Tatiana REITER, Tommaso MAZZANTI and Van MEGUERDITCHIAN.
45 min
February 20, 2018 Syria on the brink: Can Assad help the Kurds against Turkish forces?
With Bashar al-Assad sending Syrian forces to Afrin to support the Kurds against the Turkish offensive, the balance of power in the region has changed yet again. Turkish President Erdogan began sending troops to the Syrian-Turkish border in January as part of the operation dubbed Olive Branch. Its aim is to weaken the YPG, a group formed by Kurdish fighters. Meanwhile civilians are caught in the middle of what could become another full-scale war. Is there a viable solution on the horizon? Produced by Daniel BARNEY, Tatiana REITER, and Van MEGUERDITCHIAN.
46 min
February 19, 2018 Trump, guns and school shootings: Can students help change gun control laws?
The revulsion after the latest school gun killings in the United States has shocked the world and brought a remarkable response from the children who survived the attack. They are marching to Washington to demonstrate the need for change. The gun lobby continues to point to the Second Amendment of the American Constitution and to the right for everyone to bear arms. However, this massacre seems to have made more of an impact than previous ones. Could this be a turning point in US history? Produced by Daniel BARNEY, Tatiana REITER, and Van MEGUERDITCHIAN.
44 min
February 15, 2018 The Oxfam scandal: How to keep predators away from the most vulnerable?
It's more than just an aid organisation that's under fire, it's an institution. The Oxfam name stands for all that's generous and altruistic about Britain. Its charity shops dot high streets across the UK, its teams intervene in humanitarian crises around the world, lobby for better development policies and social justice. Oxfam denies a cover-up over the ouster of staff accused of sexual abuse first in Haiti and now elsewhere. Could the charity have acted sooner? Produced by Andrew HILLIAR, Alessandro XENOS, Laure FOURQUET.
47 min
February 14, 2018 South Africa political crisis: Zuma defies pressure to resign
A gentle nudge wasn't enough. So now comes the big push to oust South Africa's president of nine years. The new leadership of the ruling ANC party making it clear it will go through with a vote of no-confidence if that's what it takes to trigger Zexit, the departure of Jacob Zuma - who, unlike Robert Mugabe in neighbouring Zimbabwe, won't be rewarded with a national holiday in his name. What does it all say about today's South Africa, 20 years after the retirement of Nelson Mandela? Produced by Charles WENTE, Alessandro XENOS, Laure FOURQUET.
45 min
February 13, 2018 Iraq: Who will pay? High stakes, low pledges in reconstruction drive
Stakes are high at the Iraq Donor Conference hosted by Kuwait, and so is the price tag of 88 billion dollars, according to an estimate from the World Bank. Donors are wary of giving money to an oil-rich nation, whose public services seem fragile and leadership corrupt. In order to keep the jihadists from returning, a real Marshall Plan is needed to restore the vitality of the country. Who owns the reconstruction and who owns the future of Iraq? Produced by Charles WENTE, Tatiana REITER, and Laure FOURQUET.
46 min
February 12, 2018 Day zero for Zuma? South Africa's president negotiates departure
It's a watershed moment for South Africa and the party of Nelson Mandela. The leadership of the African National Congress is expected to force out Jacob Zuma. Will the president go quietly? Can he negotiate a deal in the face of long-looming corruption allegations? Produced by Charles Wente and James Vasina.
45 min
February 08, 2018 Olympic thaw? North Korea welcomed to Pyeongchang Games
Kim Jong-un's sister is expected to participate in a lunch to open Friday's Winter Games in South Korea. She and North Korea's ceremonial president were invited by South Korea's President Moon Jae-in. The sudden thaw comes after a steady ratcheting of tensions over North Korea's nuclear programme. What can a dose of K-Pop from the North at the opening ceremony and a unified women's ice hockey team achieve? Could it be more than just an Olympic truce? Produced by Charles WENTE, Tatiana REITER, and Van MEGUERDITCHIAN.
48 min
February 07, 2018 Syria: What de-escalation?
Bashar al-Assad's forces are pounding Eastern Ghouta, the besieged rebel-held enclave near the capital. The United Nations has pleaded for a truce to allow in aid deliveries. Nearly seven years into the civil war, the brutality includes fresh claims of chemical weapons use by Damascus. Assad and his Russian and Iranian backers are pressing their advantage in places like Eastern Ghouta and Idlib province. How many more civilians will have to die in the conflict? Produced by Daniel BARNEY, Tatiana REITER and Van MEGUERDITCHIAN.
45 min

About The Debate

From the publisher's feed

A live debate on the topic of the day, with four guests. From Monday to Thursday at 7:10pm Paris time.

Share The Debate

Sign up to save your podcasts

The Debate

The Debate episodes

About The Debate

More shows like The Debate

Global News Podcast

The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Fareed Zakaria GPS

Intelligence Squared

Newshour

Amanpour

The Documentary Podcast

The Interview

arts24

People & Profit

Access Asia

Talking Europe

The 51%

Fashion

Inside Europe

Tech 24

Down to Earth

Business

Inside the Americas

Europe Rendezvous

The World This Week

GZERO World with Ian Bremmer

Reporters

Focus

Banlieue Project

The Ezra Klein Show

The Observers

Press Review

Ones and Tooze

The Observers Direct

The Foreign Affairs Interview

The Global Story