The Debate

Forever at war? US, Iran trade blows as Israel pushes deeper into Lebanon 01.06.2026 42min

What happened to that four-week campaign that the Pentagon promised? Overnight volleys between Iran and the United States are met by many with a shrug, so often has the current ceasefire been violated. Even the deal in the works is mostly to roll over that fragile truce and open more talks, not to permanently settle differences. Ceasefires and their violations seem to be the norm, as Israel and Hezbollah continue to trade blows and US-brokered truces for both Lebanon and Gaza go mostly ignored.

No love for Arsenal? English fans divided ahead of Champions League final 28.05.2026 42min

What exactly is the issue with Arsenal? Here in France, we just assume that everyone in England is enamored with the storied team of Arsène Wenger, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira…and all the other greats all the way to the team’s present French defender William Saliba. Ahead of the Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, our panel delves into the not-always-rational, always-impassionate world of football fandom. So regarding the side that has just won its first Premier League title in 22 years, what is it? The way they play? Their attitude? Anti-London sentiment? Anti-north London sentiment? Contrast that with the love the Gunners get here in France and across much of Africa.

Where does Europe's far right turn? Populists look to distance themselves from Trump 27.05.2026 43min

If the first thing Europeans think of when they fill up at the pump is Donald Trump's decision to attack Iran, it's little wonder that previously pro-MAGA populists are quietly distancing themselves from the president of the United States. In fact, Trump actively campaigning for Peter Magyar's rival actually helped Hungary's new conservative prime minister boot out Viktor Orban, his predecessor of 16 years. Magyar is hoping to cash in this week with a deal to unlock more than €10 billion in frozen EU funds.

Hotter than July: Can electrification save humanity from soaring heat? 27.05.2026 42min

Europe's in meltdown, and it's not even June yet. We're seeing a not-so merry month of May as record highs explode under a heat dome that's drifted north from the Sahara. After the frying pan of an energy crisis, the fire of a heatwave is forcing a reset by the same politicians who pandered to those who complained about the cost and red tape of recent energy transition policy.

End in sight? Hormuz, nukes at the heart of US-Iran sticking points 26.05.2026 42min

Three months into what was originally billed as four-week war, is an end really in sight? Donald Trump's messaging on bargaining with Iran was enough to push Brent crude oil below $100 a barrel for the first time in two weeks. Both Washington and Tehran are managing expectations of a final deal or "memorandum of understanding".

Tipping point? The scramble to contain global energy crisis 21.05.2026 44min

It's easy to lecture world leaders about how fuel subsidies ruin the environment and bleed state coffers dry, but try telling that to beleaguered Bolivians and cornered Kenyans, two of the many nations where the energy crisis has reached breaking point with citizens unable to keep up with prices at the pump. It's not just in the Americas, Africa and Asia where the Iran war is destroying livelihoods and derailing fiscal roadmaps.

Ebola returns: How to fight outbreak amid defunding of global health? 21.05.2026 41min

Can border walls keep out pandemics? The World Health Organization is officially branding the Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo a "public health emergency of international concern". As the death toll from the rare strain climbs, so does the number of contact cases. Ituri province may seem remote on a map, but nowhere's very far in a globalised world.

Putin on the back foot? Russian president in China as Ukraine campaign stalls 19.05.2026 41min

Days after Donald Trump left Beijing, it's Vladimir Putin's turn in the Chinese capital, where the Russian president can boast that unlike his US counterpart, he'll be signing actual business deals. But the biggest one may have to wait. Xi Jinping is in no hurry to agree to the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, which would double Russia's exports to China.

Cuba instead? Trump ups pressure on Havana as Iran campaign stalls 18.05.2026 44min

If Venezuela proved easier than Iran – where Donald Trump's still looking for a win – could that explain why the attention seems to be turning to Cuba? The United States last week dispatched its CIA director to Havana and offered aid, all the while its crippling blockade is plunging the Communist island nation in the dark. We talk about carrots and sticks in the latest of a long, very long list of US pressure campaigns.

China's Xi woos Trump with state banquet: Taiwan on the table? 14.05.2026 45min

From the Temple of Heaven to the Forbidden City, plenty of great power pageantry was on display as the leaders of the world's two mightiest nations toasted each other at an official state banquet.

Should politics and culture mix? Inside the Eurovision 2026 controversy 13.05.2026 41min

Eurovision has hit a "bum note" over the participation of Israel in this year's song contest. Demonstrations are planned in Vienna against the presence of Noam Bettan and his song "Michelle". He succeeded in getting through the semi-final 24 hours ago, but his appearance was greeted by chants of "Stop the genocide." Five nations who usually take part have pulled out in protest, including serial Eurovision winners Ireland. The Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia and Iceland are also boycotting the event.

Whose art of the deal? Trump and Xi to meet in Beijing 12.05.2026 41min

US President Donald Trump is travelling to Beijing, where he will be hosted by his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. On the agenda are a series of issues that could cement the superiority of one over the other, and even lead to a new world order. Beneath the diplomatic and friendly language there are messages that will be hard to digest for one of the two men. Behind the handshake, there’s a likely arm wrestle over who has dibs where and when in the world. Our panel dissect what’s at stake and hopefully answer your questions in what is the most testing of times.

Is Africa ready for the AI revolution? The scramble for resources, jobs, digital sovereignty 12.05.2026 44min

Nations like Kenya are looking to scale up their ability to meet Africa's artificial intelligence needs. Recently, the likes of Zambia, Zimbabwe and most recently Ghana turned down deals to store citizens' data in the United States. For France, a summit like the Africa Forward one in the Kenyan capital Nairobi is an opportunity to offer a third way between US and Chinese tech. We bring you a special edition of The Debate from the summit in Nairobi.

Still no sign of a solution in Iran: US president says war will be over soon 07.05.2026 45min

Donald Trump again says the Iran war will be over "soon". The US president has said this in some way, shape or form a number of times in recent days. Yet there's still no solution on the horizon in the Middle East.

Starmer's last stand? The UK local elections 06.05.2026 40min

Never have local elections in the United Kingdom been so loaded with implications. The rise in popularity of two parties – Reform UK and the Greens – raises questions about the political system, which has for so long been based on two main parties.

How unbreakable is Iran's regime? Tehran defiant despite deepening hardship for citizens 06.05.2026 43min

Iran's economy may be teetering on the brink of collapse, but does that really threaten its regime? Monday's flare-up of hostilities across the Strait of Hormuz makes clear that oil's not about to start flowing freely again. Tehran and Washington are both signalling they can bear the pain of lost revenue and inflation, with Iran arguably taking that brinkmanship further.

Poking the bear? Armenia welcomes European leaders in Russia's backyard 04.05.2026 41min

Just as Europe frets over fresh Trump tariffs, a US troop drawdown announced for Germany and the message it sends to a hostile Russia, how about not one but two summits in former Soviet state Armenia. Before a first-ever gathering of EU leaders in Yerevan on Tuesday comes the European Political Community: a talk shop with regional players which also include Ukraine and NATO heavyweights like the UK, Norway and an outside guest who shares superpower proximity problems.

Musk vs Altman: Beyond battle of egos, who gets final say on AI? 30.04.2026 42min

Is it just another billionaires' battle of egos or does the $150 billion lawsuit that pits Elon Musk against Sam Altman go to the heart of how artificial intelligence could determine the future of humanity? We ask about the origin story of OpenAI, founded by some of Silicon Valley's leading luminaries as a non-profit organisation that would put innovation at the service of a socially responsible AI, the growing pains and fallouts that followed, leading up to the launch of ChatGPT and OpenAI's alliance with Microsoft.

Pakistan in the middle: What benefits and risks from being US-Iran mediator? 29.04.2026 42min

There are those who want the US and Iran to settle, and those who want regime change. Among the latter, there's of course Israel and then there's the United Arab Emirates, who've signaled OPEC's cautious response as a reason for quitting the cartel. Is this the end of OPEC? How will its biggest producer Saudi Arabia respond? The Emirates also seem to have it in for Saudi ally Pakistan, by suddenly demanding the immediate reimbursement of a $3.5 billion loan from the cash-strapped facilitators of US-Iran mediation efforts.

Charles on a mission: Can king's state visit salvage US-UK ties? 28.04.2026 42min

Call it the royal trump card: King Charles III has been dispatched to Washington on a state visit at the lowest point in the "special relationship" in at least seven decades. We ask if catering to Donald Trump's enthusiasm for the British crown can dispel the bad blood over tariffs, the war in Iran and repeated jibes by the US president to make Canada the 51st state. Canada is of course a Commonwealth member whose head of state is the same Charles III who's invited to address Congress and feted at a state dinner.