Ramadan Cease-Fire Prospects, Portugal’s Snap Election, Oscars Go International, and More

The World Next Week

Council on Foreign Relations

Politics, News, News:politics

4.6 • 845 Ratings

🗓️ 7 March 2024

⏱️ 23 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Negotiators attempt to establish a six-week cease-fire and hostage exchange deal between Israel and Hamas before the start of the sacred Islamic month of Ramadan; Portugal holds a snap parliamentary election with a far-right party gaining traction; international films gain prominence at the ninety-sixth Academy Awards; and Chinese President Xi Jinping breaks with the thirty-year tradition of the premier’s press conference after the National People’s Congress. Mentioned on the Podcast J.A. Bayona, Society of the Snow Ilker Çatak, The Teachers’ Lounge Manohla Dargis, “‘The Zone of Interest’ Review: The Holocaust, Reduced to Background Noise,” New York Times Matteo Garrone, Io Capitano Greta Gerwig, Barbie Johnathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest Andrea Kannapell, Hwaida Saad, and Michael D. Shear, “‘We Need a Cease-Fire,’ Biden Says.” New York Times Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things Françoise Mouly, “Barry Blitt’s ‘Slappenheimer’,” New Yorker Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer Celine Song, Past Lives Justine Triet, Anatomy of a Fall Wim Wenders, Perfect Days For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/ramadan-cease-fire-prospects-portugals-snap-election-oscars-go-international-and-more

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	In the coming week, negotiators push for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war before Ramadan.
0:05.0	Portugal holds snap elections that might see a change in power,
0:08.0	and the 96th Oscars shine a brighter light on international films.
0:12.0	It's March 7, 2024 in time for the world next week. I'm Bob McMahon.
0:28.7	And I'm Carland Robbins.
0:30.6	So, Bob, let's start once again in the Middle East.
0:34.2	This Sunday, March 10th, marks the start of Ramadan, the most sacred month in Islam,
0:38.9	and negotiators working in Cairo, Egypt had hoped to secure a limited ceasefire deal
0:43.5	and hostage release before Ramadan and had off a threatened Israeli ground assault on Rafah.
0:49.8	So this morning, the Hamas delegation left Cairo, but they're saying that talks are going to continue next week.
0:57.1	Israel noticeably has not been at the table, and with the horrors in Gaza getting worse by the day and international pressure on Israel mounting, what are the chances for a deal?
1:07.4	Well, there are still chances. As you say, there are signals that talks could resume. By some reports, it could be resuming on Sunday involving some of the people involved so far, which is members of the Qatari government and Egypt and Hamas officials, but not directly Israelis, although they are continuing to also indicate there could still be
1:28.4	something in the offing. But the signs are not great. Israeli officials have continued to say that
1:33.5	Hamas is sort of playing a game. It's not meeting their demand of providing a list of surviving
1:38.0	Israeli hostages and that it would not be sending a delegation until a list is sent.
1:43.4	Hamas for its part, Hamas officials have been saying they can't really know who is alive among the hostages who are estimated about 130
1:52.0	because of, among other things, Israel's continued bombing.
1:55.0	Some other people watching the scene say Hamas just might not know at all.
1:58.0	So that's something to be sorted out, certainly. Israeli officials have
2:01.7	said, by the way, that at least 30 of the hostages are believed to be dead. And what's supposed to
2:06.4	happen is a six-week pause. This is what's been discussed, which would be significant, and significant
2:11.4	also occurring during the month of Ramadan. This would be a six-week pause in fighting.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Council on Foreign Relations, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Council on Foreign Relations and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.