The Debate

By FRANCE 24 English

The Debate episodes

March 04, 2021 The pope in Iraq: What future for Christians in the Middle East?
High stakes, high risks for the first papal visit ever to Iraq. It's a trip Pope Francis said he could no longer put off. This is despite the sanitary issues of crowds and religious services, despite the always volatile security situation there. However, the pope is seeking to make the journey to the birthplace of the prophet Abraham in the wake of two decades of intercommunal strife that culminated in the rise of the Islamic State group and forced most Christians to flee.
45 min
March 03, 2021 Targets for ransom: Outrage in Nigeria over wave of school kidnappings
Another school kidnapping in northern Nigeria, another release, another denial of ransom payment. The freeing of 279 girls in Zamfara state means relief for parents but concern over what has now become a pattern. We are far from 2014, when the whole planet picked up on the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls with the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls by Boko Haram in north-eastern Borno state.
40 min
March 01, 2021 Myanmar's military coup: Pro-democracy protests continue despite bloody crackdown
Myanmar is reeling after its bloodiest day yet in the wake of last month's military coup. But what will this mean going forward for the people who are still taking to the streets to call for the reinstatement of civilian rule?
41 min
February 25, 2021 Passport to normality? EU leaders plot path out of pandemic
The new normal in Europe includes virtual summits where the 27 stay behind a screen at home to review their common approach to the Covid-19 pandemic. France's president is scheduled to speak and field questions. We cross live to Emmanuel Macron's remarks as leaders come under pressure for a slow rollout of the vaccine - the 27 adopted the ambitious approach of ordering their jabs in bulk.
38 min
February 24, 2021 Bolsonaro's crude move: What's behind shake-up at Brazil state oil company?
Could it be a turning point for Covid-stricken Brazil and its populist president? Investors are taking fright after Jair Bolsonaro's reversal on fuel hikes and the ouster of the market-friendly boss of state oil giant Petrobras. Roberto Castello Branco has been replaced with a more pliant reserve army general, much to the delight of the truckers' union which backs Bolsonaro.
43 min
February 23, 2021 France's 'Islamo-leftism' row: Uproar over minister's probe into academic research
Smack in the middle of a pandemic comes a culture war, with the first shot fired by Emmanuel Macron's own government. Some 600 French academics have signed an open letter calling for the resignation of the junior minister for higher education. Why did Frédérique Vidal call for the national scientific research centre to probe the impact of "Islamo-leftism" on intellectual circles? What even is "Islamo-leftism"?
40 min
February 22, 2021 Revolution on hold? Algeria's pro-democracy movement seeks second wind
Can Algeria reform? Thousands turn out for the second anniversary of its biggest protest movement in decades, but it's lost its momentum: first with Covid-19, then with a military-backed regime that critics say has stalled for time. What to make of last week's freeing of political prisoners and dissolution of parliament?
41 min
February 18, 2021 Child sex abuse: Is there a right age of consent?
Is there a right age of consent? A bill introduced in the French parliament would set the minimum age at 15 for consensual sex with an adult. The law here bans sex with a minor, but that carries a much lighter sentence than in Anglo-Saxon countries where it's automatically considered statutory rape. Why not here? Child sex abuse is an abuse of power, mighty adults imposing their will on minors. The issue's been brought to a head in France by some recent high-profile cases.
40 min
February 17, 2021 Can Libya move on? New plan to end ten years of fighting
Can Libya move on? On the tenth anniversary of the uprising that would lead to Gaddafi's march on Benghazi and the French and UK-led intervention that would signal his downfall, the ensuing decade has been laden with tales of factional fighting, rival governments, proxy wars and migrant tragedies.
37 min
February 16, 2021 Flying the flag of secularism: What's behind Macron's Republican values bill?
What's behind France's Republican values bill? First announced amid a fresh wave of terror attacks in the autumn, compounded by the gruesome beheading of a middle school social studies teacher, what was originally billed as a law against religious separatism is making its way to the floor of the National Assembly.
41 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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