In the week that marked the second anniversary of the Gaza war and saw a breakthrough in peace talks. A ceasefire was agreed on Thursday, which should mean the imminent releasing of the 48 hostages who are still held by Hamas, in exchange for almost 2000 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli troops are also expected to pull back of Israeli troops to an agreed line.
President Trump is flying out to personally sign the deal in Egypt, one he’s widely credited for, and will then head to Israel to mark the moment the captives are freed, expected to be early next week. Are we witnessing the beginning of the end of the war?
It’s been week that’s seen another French Prime Minister bite the political dust. Macron loyalist Sebastian Lecornu picked up the seemingly poisoned chalice only last month. On Monday…27 days later.... he resigned, and became the shortest serving PM in the history of the Fifth Republic. The man nicknamed the pickle, couldn’t get France out of one.
President Macron’s now burnt through five PM’s in two years and rather than trigger elections to break the deadlock he’s rolled the dice again, choosing XX. Supporters hope their President has a plan in place .. a sixth sense .. or at least a sense that the sixth pm can last longer than a lettuce…”
And it’s been the week the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 was announced. It’s been awarded to the Venezuelan opposition leader in hiding, Maria Corina Michado. The panel judges spoke of her, quote, “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela”, and of her bravery in standing against the authoritarian regime of President Nicolas Maduro.
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Victor MALLET Senior Editor, Financial Times
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Rina BASSIST Correspondent for Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation; Senior Editor at US-based journal Al Monitor
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Erik DE LA REGUERA Paris correspondent for Sweden's largest morning paper Dagens Nyheter
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Henry BODKIN Jerusalem Correspondent, Telegraph
English (US) · 