The World This Week

It has been a week that has seen a US Presidential debate take place, again. The last 90 minutes cost President Biden his job! This time it started with niceties, an extended hand from Kamala Harris that has become known as the ‘power move handshake’: look it up on TikTok.  “Let’s have fun” said Donald Trump! And If they didn’t, we did. News lines emerged that would make the satirical Onion website proud. ‘Immigrants are eating dogs and cats in Springfield’ read one. Then one very famous self-styled ‘childless Cat lady’ set out her stall too. Has Tuesday night altered the race to the White House?It has been a week that has seen a world first: a non-professional crew carrying out a space walk 700 kilometres above earth. Orbiting at a higher altitude than any mission for five decades, US billionaire Jared Isaacman and Space X engineer Sarah Gillis took on what is considered to be one of the riskiest manoeuvres.And it turns out rock stars can be lifesavers: this week, Nashville police credited Jon Bon Jovi for saving a woman’s life by talking her down from the ledge of a bridge on Tuesday night. So we will be asking the correspondents in this often difficult world for their reasons to be cheerful this week.

It has been a week which saw France finally appoint a new prime minister. A mountain hiking, smooth-talking septuagenarian – Michel Barnier. Monsieur Brexit, former EU point man negotiating Britain’s divorce. He has served in the cabinet of many French Presidents in decades gone by. Now, he is back as the oldest PM in the French fifth Republic replacing the youngest one! But why Barnier? And why did he want the job? Is it because he is the master of eggshell diplomacy? It has also been a week which saw some of the biggest protests against the Netanyahu government in Israel, and a national strike after the killing of six hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. The prime minister is accused of having blood on his hands, and a lack of humanity in blocking truce deals that may have prevented the deaths. He denied the claims, but he did offer an apology.And this has been the week that tweeting or Xing fell silent in Brazil. The social media platform X is now officially an Ex social media platform in Brazil after a disinformation row rose up between a Supreme Court judge and the site’s owner, billionaire and self-proclaimed free speech absolutist Elon Musk. Has Brazil done the right thing?

This week saw the first sit-down interview for Kamala Harris as US presidential nominee. After a headline-grabbing summer where she’s dominated the American media landscape, we look at the reinvention of Harris: from gaff-prone veep to self-assured and highly polished campaign candidate. We also look at Donald Trump's manoeuvres to regain the spotlight.  It's also been a week that’s seen the Russian-born CEO of the messaging app Telegram arrested at an airport outside Paris, placed under formal investigation and banned from leaving France. Pavel Durov is alleged to have enabled the proliferation of illicit activity and sexual exploitation of children. It’s an attack on free speech, says Russia, a country that has banned Facebook and Instagram and severely restricted access to YouTube. We discuss the political and ethical implications. And unless you've been half the world away, you'll have seen the news from the Gallagher brothers this week. It's time to shake off your parka and get a cigarette lighter ready to wave to "Live Forever", as they're getting the band back together. Oasis, one of Britain's biggest bands, are going on tour, 15 years after their notorious fallout near Paris. We try to answer one of the most contentious musical questions of modern times: Blur or Oasis?And it's "la rentrée" here in France: back to the office for French politicians, and negotiations continue for a new prime minister. Are there any signs of white smoke? We explain the political Gordian knot that’s causing the impasse, and assess who's to blame.Produced by Gavin Lee, Luis Miguel Cabrera, Laura Welfringer and Louison Girard.

One month after Emmanuel Macron’s surprise announcement of snap elections, the French Parliament has been elected, but France still needs to find a Prime Minister, with no group holding a majority. Meanwhile, Joe Biden hosted a NATO heads of state meeting, which raised concerns when he confused Kamala Harris with Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky with Vladimir Putin. In Barcelona, angry residents splashed water on tourists and expressed their frustration with mass tourism through protests. Produced by Gavin Lee, Luis Miguel Cabrera, Guillaume Mercier and Louison Girard.

It's been a week that's seen a new government sweep into power in the UK. A landslide win by Labour has ended 14 years of Conservative rule. It's the Conservatives' worst defeat in living memory. After electoral devastation, voters are trusting the centre left to get the UK through choppy waters. Can Keir Starmer steer calmer?  It's also been a week of mixed fortunes in the US presidential race. Donald Trump's week could hardly have gone better. The US Supreme Court ruled that he is immune from prosecution for offences relating to his time in office. The White House now appears within Trump's grasp as he edges ahead in the polls since last week's presidential debate, which has sparked intense speculation over President Joe Biden's ability to carry on amid his apparent cognitive decline.Finally, this week has seen the Hungarian leader Viktor Orban make a surprise trip to Kyiv and Moscow. The right-wing populist known for his warm relations with Vladimir Putin played peacemaker and called on President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.

This week has seen the first presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump, protesters taking the streets in Kenya against government plans for a finance bill, and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange freed and returning to Australia. Sticking with Biden? Democrats in panic after TV debateIt was a bad week for US President Joe Biden after an at times confused and incoherent live TV election debate against Donald Trump. Critics are questioning Biden's age, as are some of his own party loyalists, after what has been described as the worst presidential candidate performance in recent history. Meanwhile, Donald Trump sent fact checkers into overdrive, with several fictitious assertions about his own success. We ask how much of a difference TV debates make to voters.Kenya's parliament stormed in finance bill protestIt has been a week that saw the Kenyan parliament set ablaze by protesters railing against government plans for a finance bill. In the attempted storming of the building, at least 20 people were shot dead by security forces. Days later, President William Ruto withdrew the bill. We look at why the group dubbed the "Gen Z demonstrators" and "TikTokers in tear gas" are credited with overturning the planned law.WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange freed in plea dealFinally, this week saw WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange return to Australia a free man after a plea deal with the US. He had spent 14 years either in prison or in hiding at the Ecuadorean embassy in London. His lawyer called the deal a "criminalisation of journalism", while Washington insists his data dump of classified information put lives at risk. 

This week we discuss France's political turmoil, Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea, the prosecution of Arundhati Roy, and Netflix being sued over the veracity of its "Baby Reindeer" series. France's snap legislative elections campaign: Left-wing alliance unveils economic manifestoTwelve days since the shock announcement from President Emmanuel Macron and a week to go until voting in the first round of the French snap elections begins, the newly formed new French left-wing alliance has announced its economic programme. The New Popular Front is promising to raise €30 billion and tax businesses and the rich if it wins a majority. The policy has been attacked by President Macron's centrist party and by business leaders. The New Popular Front is also promising to fund new welfare handouts. The alliance is just behind the far-right National Rally in the polls.Russia's Putin in Pyongyang to sign 'mutual defence pact'On Wednesday morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in North Korea for the first time in 24 years. On the tarmac for the meet and greet was the country’s supreme leader, Kim Jong Un. The two poker-faced leaders of pariah states let their guard down for a handshake, hugs and smiles all round. During the rare state visit, a mutual defence pact was signed. The visit also included military inspections, a tea party, a gala concert, and a "coffee in cars" show moment of deep friendship, with Putin gifting his host a Russian-made limo. Prosecution of Indian author Arundhati Roy for comments made in 2010Over the weekend, news emerged from New Delhi that Booker Prize-winning author Arundhati Roy would be tried for comments she made about Kashmir 14 years ago. The lieutenant governor of the city agreed to sanction her prosecution under an anti-terror law called the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.Netflix sued over veracity of its 'Baby Reindeer' series: How true does a 'true story' has to be?This week at the Monte Carlo TV festival, the Netflix series "Baby Reindeer" dominated much of the conversation for film producers. It has become a phenomenon in terms of the revenue it has brought in, and is already one of the most watched programmes of all time, with 85 million views so far. The controversy surrounding it has been described by a senior BBC executive as a seminal moment in TV history that will affect the whole industry. The question it raises is: how true does a true story have to be? The show depicts the apparently real-life story of a fledgling comedian working as a barman, who becomes a victim of relentless harassment from a convicted stalker. Though the names have been changed, it begins with the line "This is a true story".

It's been a week of political aftershocks in France, after the earthquake that was President Emmanuel Macron's sudden decision to call snap elections. His gambit, in testing the far right's EU election triumph and his banking on it being just a sign of voter frustration, is an "all the chips on the table" moment and early polls suggest the National Rally is still on course for victory. Meanwhile, an "electionally challenged" G7 gathers in Italy. Produced by Gavin Lee, Luis Miguel Cabrera, Guillaume Gougeon and Laura Burloux.

This week has seen world leaders gather on the beaches of northern France to commemorate 80 years since the Normandy landings – the moment that marked the start of the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany. This year, Ukraine's leader was invited but Russian officials were cold-shouldered. We discuss the politics of D-Day diplomacy.  It's also been a week that's seen TV debates and election drama in the UK. Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer were combative but clipped by the question master in their first leaders' debate. The week was also milk-shaken up by the return of a ghost of Brexit past. Nigel Farage is running for parliament for the eighth time and claims he's doing it for the people. The past seven days have also seen an unexpected outcome in India's election and a lesson in not entirely trusting exit polls. Early indications suggested a landslide victory and third term for PM Narendra Modi. The reality of the results means no supreme reign for India's polarising nationalist leader, who failed to get a majority and now needs to build a coalition. After the humbling, what will the Modi 3.0 era look like?Produced by Gavin Lee, Alessandro Xenos and Rebecca Gnignati.

It’s been an historic week in the US, where for the first time a former president has been convicted of a criminal offence. Donald Trump was found guilty on all charges in the so-called hush money trial on Thursday. Will this make any difference to his chances in the US presidential election? Elsewhere, the past seven days have seen Israeli troops reach the centre of Rafah, in spite of warnings from Western allies to halt operations. We also look at why the AI Instagram image "All eyes on Rafah" has gone viral.Meanwhile, the rules of engagement have changed in the Ukraine war. The US and Germany say their missiles can now be used against Russian military targets in Russian territory. President Vladimir Putin is threatening reprisals. It’s been a week that's seen a new prime minister selected to calm the chaos and crisis in Haiti. FRANCE 24's Catherine Norris Trent has spent two weeks reporting there, bringing us a rare insight into the reality in a capital under siege from within. And a week away from the EU election, our panel looks at the rise in Russian disinformation and the role of public broadcasters in countering the threat. Produced by Gavin Lee, Marion Lory and Elisa Amiri.

This week has seen an assassination attempt on populist Slovakian Prime Minister Fico and the passing of the 'Foreign agents' law in Georgia despite mass protests. We look at the advances that Russia is making in Ukraine and the worst violence sweeping New Caledonia in 40 years. Assassination attempt on Slovakian PM FicoThe Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico is in serious condition in hospital after being shot several times in an assassination attempt Wednesday. We look at hate speech, division and disinformation in the country that many Slovaks say is more polarised than ever. Georgia passes 'foreign agents' law despite pro-EU protestIt’s been a week that’s seen the clash of two Georgian dreams. Tens of thousands of pro-EU protestors demonstrated on the streets outside parliament, while MPs from the ruling party – the Georgian Dream – passes a so-called Foreign Agents Act that critics say is a cut-and-paste replica of a draconian Russian law.Russia making advances in UkrainSome one and a half thousand kilometres across the Black Sea from Georgia is Ukraine, where Russian forces made the largest territorial gain in a single operation since December 2022, according to local reports.Violence in New CaledoniaIt’s also been a week that’s seen France declare a state of emergency in the overseas territory of New Caledonia, after the worst violence in forty years swept the pacific island. Five people, including two police officers were killed in riots, triggered by changes to voting rights that the local population say will dilute their political influence. 

It’s been a week that’s seen intense strain on the US-Israel relationship. President Joe Biden has issued an ultimatum to Washington's strategic ally in the Middle East - if IDF troops storm Rafah, key weapon supplies will stop. It’s been a week of walks in the Pyrenees and a stop at the Shepard's Stop Cafe, as Emmanuel Macron wined and dined China's leader Xi Jinping on a rare grand tour of Europe. History is at a turning point, said the French president, who hopes personal diplomacy can make a difference to tense relations.Finally, it’s been a week that’s seen the spectacular arrival of the Olympic flame in Marseilles, carried on a 19th-century ship. French officials are promising a Games like no other before. We look at whether Paris can avoid the curse of the so-called White Elephant, unlike Athens, Beijing, Rio and Tokyo.Produced by Gavin Lee, Marion Lory and Peter Hutt Sierra.

This week has seen the mass arrests of students at US universities. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators "have a right to dissent, not chaos", said President Joe Biden. It's also been yet another week where a breakthrough seemed possible in talks for a Gaza ceasefire. But come what may, Israel says the Rafah offensive will happen. Meanwhile, it's been a week of warnings for world leaders not to look away from events in Sudan and the so-called invisible war. The US is warning that a massacre is imminent in El Fasher, the capital of north Darfur. Can anything be done to stop it? Finally, it's been the week where Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stepped back from the brink of resigning. After a "time out to reflect" on what he called relentless personal attacks, he has vowed to carry on. But has the decision weakened or strengthened him? Produced by Gavin Lee, Luis Miguel Cabrera, Marion Lory, Guillaume Gougeon and Peter Hutt Sierra.

It's been a week where the midnight oil was burnt in Britain at a late-night session of the House of Lords. The controversial Rwanda bill was finally passed, two years since it was proposed. PM Rishi Sunak says the plan to fly migrants to Africa will be the solution to "stop the boats". But will it actually serve as a deterrent? It's also been a week that’s seen Portugal's president make an unexpected comment. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa says his country should pay the costs of its historical involvement in slavery and colonialism. It's a rare instance of an EU leader backing the need for reparations, but the move is not universally popular.Finally this week, the world's third-richest man Elon Musk locked horns with the Australian and Brazilian governments. The social media boss was called an "arrogant billionaire" for refusing to remove violent content and hate speech. He claims free speech is under attack.Produced by Gavin Lee, Luis Miguel Cabrera, Guillaume Gougeon and Juliette Brown.

How can a conflict that's regarded as the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world become known as the forgotten war? Aid agencies say that after exactly a year of civil war in Sudan, driven by a power struggle between two military factions, the world has turned away. The UN estimates that at least 14,000 Sudanese civilians have been killed. Another 8 million are displaced; 4 million of them children. Some 18 million people are facing acute hunger. Iran-Israel shadow war out in the openThis week, in the midst of escalating conflict in the Middle East, the US, the UK, France and Germany urged Israel to use restraint in responding to an Iranian missile and drone attack in the early hours of Sunday. That, says Iran, was its revenge on Israel for striking its consulate in Syria. Fast forward to the early hours of Friday morning and explosions were heard in the central Iranian province of Isfahan in an apparent Israeli air strike. So what happens next?First criminal trial of a former US president Dateline New York for a first in US history: an ex-president heading into court for a criminal trial. Jury selection for Donald Trump's trial has been a challenge, with the inherent difficulty of selecting 12 fair and independent jurors – plus six alternates – who aren't biased for or against such a divisive figure. Can a Trump jury really be independent?  India sees world's biggest electionThe world’s biggest election, which has just got under way in India, will be taking place for the next six weeks. It involves 968 million eligible Indian voters, more than 2,500 political parties and one likely result: a third term for the Hindu nationalist prime minister Narendra Modi. The latest approval ratings make him the most popular leader in the world right now, with popularity scores of 78 percent. Is a Modi win guaranteed?

Could this week be remembered as a turning point in Israel's war in Gaza? Israel has admitted it killed seven aid workers in Gaza, stemming from a "serious failure due to a mistaken identification" that has led to widespread condemnation. Western countries say initial Israeli answers that it was a "tragic accident" are not sufficient. The recently unwavering support from the US is now wavering and conditional on the steps Israel takes in protecting civilians.  Will new president bring radical change? Good week for democracy after elections in SenegalHalf a thousand kilometres southwest of Gaza, in Senegal, the new president was sworn in on Tuesday. In a surprise for many observers, it was a fair election, after months of protests against the government of Macky Sall and the jailing of key opposition leaders.  Opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who was barely a week out of prison, won the election outright in the first round and surprised even seasoned Senegal analysts and their predictions of a likely rigged and unfair election.A worthy Paris Olympics headliner? Culture war over French singer Aya NakamuraAya Nakamura is the most listened-to French artist in the world, with more than a billion downloads on Spotify and twice that in YouTube views.Born Aya Danioko in Mali, the 28-year-old grew up in the Paris suburbs. Nakamura is her stage name. This week, President Emmanuel Macron backed the idea of her singing at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, this after far-right figures said she was unsuitable for the role.Produced by Luis Miguel Cabrera, Rebecca Gnignati and Laura Burloux. 

It’s been a week of international disbelief at Russia's insistence in linking Ukraine to the Moscow concert hall shooting, despite all evidence pointing to the Islamic State group. We look at Putin's motive and also the threat posed by IS-K in Europe. It was also a week where the French principle of secularism became a flashpoint again. A headteacher resigned after receiving death threats for ordering pupils to remove their headscarves. The government is suing a pupil for falsely alleging the teacher assaulted her. We assess President Emmanuel Macron's so-called ruthless approach to extremism.Finally, it was a quiet week for royal trolls and conspiracy theorists, in light of the announcement that Catherine, Princess of Wales has cancer. King Charles III, who is also undergoing treatment, delivered a pre-recorded Easter message praising friendship in a time of need. We ask whether it's the job of the mainstream media to report on social media storms and teacup conspiracies at all.

It’s been a good week for the world’s most powerful woman. EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen moves a step closer to another five years in office as she announced her candidacy for a second term. Israel-Hamas war: No end in sight A week of raised hopes for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, which came to nothing and saw increasing US frustration with Israel.France enshrines abortion rights in constitution It’s been an historic week here in France. The country became the first in the world to explictly include the right to abortion in its constitution. President Macron wants his European neighbours to follow suitGavin Lee is joined by our panel of guests to discuss the news that made headlines this week. Produced by Luis Miguel Cabrera, Alessandro Xenos, Guillaume Gougeon and Laura Burloux. 

Is there no end in sight to war in Gaza? The week began with a flurry of diplomacy to seal a truce before Ramadan, but that has now gone quiet, what with more than 100 civilians killed after a scramble surrounding an aid convoy delivery in Gaza City. Final act of resistance: Thousands turn out for Navalny's funeral. His funeral turned into a protest. Thousands turned out to a small church on the outskirts of Moscow to pay their final respects to Alexei Navalny, two weeks after the Kremlin critic's sudden death in an Arctic prison colony.Fifteen years and counting: The World This Week then and now. The camera can be oh so cruel. It is there to remind us that actually, 15 years is a long time. From the financial crisis to the Arab Spring, Brexit and the rise of populism, Covid and superpower tensions, global warming and the dawn of the digital age, this studio on Fridays has been the place where the Paris press corps took stock.Produced by Charles Wente, Rebecca Gnignati and Imen Mellaz.

"My memory is fine." With those words, US President Joe Biden dismissed his critics after succession of gaffes. The US presidential election campaign is only starting, the vote's not until November, and for the oldest incumbent in history, it's been a bad week. A matter of months? Gaza truce deal far from doneAt that Thursday press conference, Joe Biden did not just lose his patience with the special prosecutor. After four months of war, Israeli forces are now pounding Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah and Israel's prime minister is pouring cold water on hopes of a truce deal any time soon, despite US, Qatar and Egyptian mediators being hard at it.Beacon of democracy? Uproar in Senegal as president extends his stay For decades now, it has been hailed as a rare beacon of democracy in a neighbourhood peppered by coups and corruption, but it is not a good luck when gendarmes in Senegal clear parliament of opposition MPs so that presidential elections scheduled for later this month can be delayed until December.And the winner is...Taylor Swift overshadows build-up to Super BowlAnd the winner is...Taylor Swift, of course. On Sunday, she became the first artist to win Best Album for a fourth time at the Grammies in Los Angeles. That was before tour dates in Japan and ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl in Las Vegas, where her boyfriend Travis Kelce is the star tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs against the San Francisco 49ers.Produced by Alessandro Xenos, Rebecca Gnignati and Imen Mellaz.