The World This Week

Vladimir Putin unilaterally declared a truce for January 6, through January 7, to mark the Orthodox Christmas. However, rumors from the battelfield in Ukraine indicate that shelling has continued regardless as Russian forces struck the town of Kramatorsk twice.

Kevin McCarthy was a firm favourite to be voted in as Speaker of the House of Representatives. But a far right caucus of 20 has stymied the plan not once, not twice, but 14 times. In the mean time Congress is unable to work. President Biden calls it an "embarrassment" and "not a good look" for the Republicans.

Images of hospitals in Shanghai sent shock waves across the world, and reminded people of the start of the pandemic in Wuhan in 2019. This increase in cases now is linked to the relaxation of China's zero Covid policy which saw people forced to isolate en masse at the first sign of a case in their locality.

The UK is in the grip of strikes across multiple sectors. Train drivers notably have continued this week their stoppage that began before Christmas. But many sectors are downing tools over the cost of living crisis.

Produced by Juliette Laurain, Lauren Bain, Florence Vialat.

The Ukrainian frontline town of Bakhmut has been dubbed the "meat grinder" for the high number of battlefield casualties on both sides. Kyiv had pledged to hold on to the fortress town for as long as possible, but has now given hints of a tactical withdrawal. Meanwhile, the head of the Russian mercenary Wagner Group has said his forces have practically encircled the town, one of the last major holdouts of the Donetsk region.

French President Emmanuel Macron is on a charm offensive in Africa, visiting four nations in the continent as he tries to reset relations with former colonies that have become strained. He began in Gabon before moving on to Angola, Congo Brazzaville and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The French military has been heavily involved in anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel region of West Africa for the best part of a decade, but Mali and Burkina Faso have asked those troops to leave. Macron said France will now draw down all its troops at bases in Africa, instead setting up academies in partnership with local forces.

Staying in Africa, we head to the continent’s most populous nation and second economy Nigeria, where the presidential election continues to stir tensions. The ruling All Progressives Congress party candidate Bola Tinubu was declared the winner following a process that saw major delays and isolated violence. The two main opposition challengers have said the result was fraudulent and have vowed to challenge it in court. Six opposition-led states have already asked the Supreme Court to declare the outcome invalid, but the president-elect has called for unity.

Produced by Juliette Laurain, Sara Ayach and Imen Mellaz

A final rally for a nail-biting finish in Istanbul, back where he started out as mayor. Turkey's leader of two decades is trailing in the polls, but within the margin of error. Recep Tayep Erdogan is facing high inflation, the anger surrounding February's devastating earthquakes, and an opposition that has coalesced. His opponent, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, was boosted by the eleventh-hour withdrawal of 2018 runner-up Muharrem Ince, who ran as a third-party candidate, and who threw in the towel on Thursday.

And across the Black Sea, they are bracing for battle. With so much of Russia's military now at the front, Moscow’s Red Square saw a scaled-down May 9 Victory Day parade this year. Although Russia’s President Vladimir Putin did manage to convince leaders of seven former Soviet states to drop in, including some that have kept their distance from his “special military operation”. In Kyiv, May 9 was marked with the president of the EU Commission coming to celebrate Europe Day alongside the president of EU candidate country Ukraine.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Joe Biden says he is relishing the prospect of running as the anti-Trump again in 2024. But the US president is often on a similar wavelength: talking tough on China, shoring up the border with Mexico and has delivered on his own version of "America First" by introducing massive green energy subsidies that are tempting European companies to move their business stateside. France's president is now trying to fight fire with fire. Emmanuel Macron has visited the French rust belt city of Dunkirk for the launch of a giant battery factory by Taiwanese ProLogium and another by Chinese maker XTC.

And it’s that time of year when a whole continent indulges in a special kind of guilty pleasure: the Eurovision song contest. Dateline Liverpool, by the banks of the Mersey. The home of the Beatles decked out in a lot of blue and yellow. That’s because last year's winner, Ukraine, is not in a position to host the event itself.

Produced by Alessandro Xenos, Juliette Laurain, Louise Guibert