Damascus on the back foot: What next for Syria after Sharaa's Sweida setback?
The world couldn't believe it last December when Syria's Assad regime, after decades of iron-fisted rule, suddenly fell like a house of cards. The speed of that collapse exposed how the state had been hollowed out on the quiet. Eight months on, how weak does Syria remain? The government forces of Ahmed al-Sharaa are pulling out from the Druze-majority city of Sweida after bombardment from neighbouring Israel and pressure from a United States that's only recently offered Damascus a lifeline through the lifting of years-old crippling sanctions. What just happened in Sweida, with reports of summary executions of civilians? How will other minorities like the Kurds and the Alawites view the bloodbath? And why the climbdown by Damascus? Looming large is Israel, with its own Druze community and its own agenda for perennial foes Syria, Lebanon and Gaza. Is war the only way for a nation that's occupied the Golan Heights since 1967 and which for now enjoys clear military supremacy over its neighbours? Produced by Rebecca Gnignati, Elisa Amiri, Ilayda Habip.
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Inside India's ignored conflict: Where is Manipur's path to reconciliation?
Call it India's ignored conflict: it’s been two years since violence erupted in Manipur state, yet 60,000 people remain displaced by intercommunal tensions between the majority Meitei and the Kuki-Zo communities. We ask why mediation efforts have stalled and what's changed since the central government imposed President's rule from Delhi at the start of the year. We also ask why the prime minister's remained mostly silent on Manipur, why foreign journalists wanting to report there have to apply for special accreditation – which is rarely granted – and we ask our panel to react to our exclusive report filmed by FRANCE 24's local team. More broadly, what lessons can the rest of India draw, particularly in regards to unrest and insurgencies in other border areas like Kashmir and the mountains near China? Produced by Rebecca Gnignati, Elisa Amiri, Ilayda Habip.
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Tariffs on political rivals: Can US impose its might?
Brazil has announced it's working on counter-measures should the Trump administration make good on its threat to punish the country and sanction its Supreme Court president over the coup attempt case against far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro. Brazil is one of the nations threatened with secondary tariffs for buying Russian oil – but not Trump ally Turkey. The US is using its economic might to boost fellow travellers like Bolsonaro and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but also applying political pressure for purely domestic policy reasons, like last week when the threat of sanctions was reportedly dangled if African leaders didn't take in expelled immigrants. Is this just a bit of political theatre? Or is the rest of the world taking seriously this blurring of the lines between economic policy and political vendettas? Does it damage – or not – the US's street cred on the world stage? And what's the right response when your nation gets a tariff warning from Washington? Produced by François Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Juliette Laffont, Ilayda Habip, Alessandro Xenos.
The Nobel Peace Prize can wait. The same Donald Trump whose administration just weeks ago paused munitions and air defence supplies for Ukraine is now turning on Vladimir Putin with threats of asset seizures and ramped-up weapons sales for Kyiv. Why the about-face? How committed to Ukraine is Trump going forward? And how committed to NATO? Allies know that the days are numbered for the United States providing the bulk of Europe's defence umbrella. It's Bastille Day and on France's national holiday, we review remarks by President Emmanuel Macron on Europe's strategic autonomy and by Germany's defence minister, who's in Washington as Berlin takes stock of its own meagre supply of air defences. And then there's the war in Ukraine, with the Russians relentless in their bombardments and steadfastly refusing truce offers. Do these announcements out of Washington change the calculus at the Kremlin? Produced by Rebecca Gnignati, Aurore Laborie, Ilayda Habip.
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Deterrence made in Europe? France, UK offer nuclear shield to Ukraine allies
Caught between the threat of Vladimir Putin's Russia and the wavering of Donald Trump's United States, can Europe really rely on its only two nuclear powers to guarantee deterrence from atomic attacks? We review the joint announcement by video link out of Northwood military base in England to leaders in Rome gathered for a "coalition of the willing" summit on Ukraine. Ukraine has to think on its feet after yet another sleepless night of deadly bombardments and a week of off-and-on shipments of US air defence supplies. They're back on to express annoyance at Moscow's clear disinterest in Trump's mediation offers. On that score, the chattering classes often speculate about Trump's rationale, but what about the master of the Kremlin? This in the wake of his transport minister meeting an unfortunate end: first fired then found dead of an apparent suicide. Are the leaders in Rome and Northwood ready for what's next in store? Produced by Rebecca Gnignati, Elisa Amiri, Ilayda Habip.
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About The Debate
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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