This week, our set of experts gathered around Gavin Lee to take a look at the latest in the Ukraine-Russia ceasefire proposal, clashes and mass killings in Syria and Donald Trump's tariff war against the EU and its neighbouring countries. 

It has been a week of suspicion and distrust with the sudden prospect of a ceasefire in Ukraine. Proposed after Ukrainian negotiators were forced to the table for talks with the US in Saudi Arabia, and coming days after discovering their most important ally had switched off intelligence sharing and military support. The ball is now in Russia’s court according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and for 48 hours it was. The Kremlin considered its response. When it came, it first sounded like a breakthrough. “We agree…”, Russian president Vladimir Putin said, before adding that “there are nuances needed”. Nuance means a very slight difference, a subtle distinction. Ukraine’s interpretation was that it was Russian manipulation.

It has also been a week that we see some of the worst sectarian violence in Syria for years, taking place in the coastal strongholds of former dictator Bashar al Assad.

And it has been a good week for Mark Carney, the man once dubbed the Rock Star banker. Polls suggested that he hardly was a recognisable face in his country two months ago, with 75 per cent of the public not knowing who he was. Now he is the prime minister, overwhelmingly voted in by liberal party members to replace the resigning and tearful Justin Trudeau. 

Produced by Gavin Lee, Luis Miguel Cabrera, Meiqi AN