The Debate

By FRANCE 24 English

The Debate episodes

April 08, 2021 Up to the challenge? India in race to vaccinate as Covid-19 variants spread
While China claims to have conquered Covid-19 and as the United States runs ahead of schedule in its inoculation drive, let's talk about India, where the race to vaccinate is a race against time in a nation hit hard by virulent new strains. We ask about nighttime curfews and weekend lockdowns that citizens here in Europe can certainly relate to. We also ask about the new wave hitting places like Mumbai and Delhi.
39 min
April 07, 2021 Time to apologise? France grapples with its role in Rwandan genocide
This date in 1994 marks the start of one of those moments of collective failure for humanity. The Rwandan genocide remembered: 100 days of gruesome slaughter that left an estimated 800,000 dead. After the killing of 10 UN peacekeepers by Hutu radicals, the international community basically upped and left. The United Nations, former colonial power Belgium and the US have all issued formal apologies since.
40 min
April 06, 2021 Look who's talking: US, Iran open indirect discussions to revive nuclear deal
How much the world has changed in six years. It's back to Vienna for Iran nuclear negotiators – to the same venue where a UN-backed agreement was signed in 2015. Times have indeed changed since Donald Trump walked away from the deal and tried his maximum pressure regime of increased sanctions. With Western allies forced to abide, Iran has not only retaliated by upping uranium enrichment.
39 min
April 05, 2021 The Biden revolution: Can new US president restore faith in government?
Last week in Pittsburgh, US President Joe Biden announced a radical plan. Out with the Reagan revolution, in with a $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan designed to create jobs, reduce inequality and discrimination and restore America's status as the world's undisputed superpower, with incentives to innovate and go green. Will his gamble pay off? The same lawmakers who by a razor-thin margin just approved his $1.9 trillion stimulus plan need to sign off on a decade's worth of spending on everything from rebuilding crumbling roads and bridges to affordable housing and renewable energy.
40 min
April 01, 2021 Macron's gamble: Should France have locked down sooner?
Did Emmanuel Macron's January gamble pay off, as he still claims? The French president insists he was right to leave schools and businesses open after a post-Christmas spike in Covid-19 cases. Now, fuelled by contagious new variants, the so-called third wave is forcing the government to cut classroom time and move up Easter vacation.
39 min
March 31, 2021 Mozambique's tipping point? Islamist insurgents overrun gas-rich northern towns
Has jihad incorporated really opened a branch in southern Africa? The Islamic State group may have claimed responsibility for the overrunning of a coastal town in northern Mozambique, but local grievances, poverty too long ignored and militants preying on a soft target seem to blame for the gruesome events that have come to a head in Cabo Delgado province. We ask about last week's attack and past efforts to repel insurgents by Mozambique special forces but also South African and Russian mercenaries.
37 min
March 30, 2021 Bloody crackdown: Can Myanmar junta shoot its way out of crisis?
Already, Myanmar's Armed Forces Day 2021 will go down as a day of infamy. Security forces on Sunday went and opened fire on a funeral. Can the junta get away with its February 1 coup by shooting its way out of the crisis? What more can the international community do?
39 min
March 29, 2021 New world order? FRANCE 24 embedded with the Chinese in Zambia
In one generation, China has taken Africa by storm, going all in on everything from big infrastructure projects, mining and agriculture to the sale of medicine and clothing. At a time when superpower tensions are spiking, the accusations of corruption of African elites and unscrupulous deals that catch nations on the continent in a debt trap are somehow ringing louder. Beijing's defenders counter that despite the debt relief of two decades ago, former colonial powers like France, Britain and Portugal are hardly in any position to criticise. Of course, the truth is more nuanced.
40 min
March 25, 2021 Biden's America: How far will reforms go?
After Joe Biden's first formal press conference as US president, how did he do? Biden had already given a first formal assignment to his number two, appointing Kamala Harris as envoy to Central America on immigration at a time when there is a spike in refugees trying to cross over from Mexico. At the same time, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham is introducing a bill to tighten asylum laws, accusing Biden of "losing control" of the border.
22 min
March 24, 2021 Fourth election... and counting: Can Netanyahu continue to lead Israel?
After World War II, France had 25 governments in 12 years before Charles de Gaulle rewrote the constitution. In Israel, they are coming off a fourth snap general election in two years... fourth and counting. With only exit polls to go on after the close of voting, Benjamin Netanyahu once again declared victory on the night before ballots were counted. So who did win? Each of these elections seems to be a referendum the country's longest-serving prime minister. But is it one time too many, even for the charismatic Bibi?
40 min

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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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