28 February 2018
06 minutes
Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong’s legislative council is gearing up for a by-election on 11 March. But with so many key players, some of whom are currently on bail from jail terms, it’s difficult to know who’s who. Our Hong Kong bureau chief James Chambers breaks things down.
The full episode of ‘The Foreign Desk’ is back on Saturday. This week we look at Italy’s upcoming election. Be sure to subscribe to get each new episode.
28 February 2018
Share episode
DownloadWant more radio episodes like these in your inbox?
Sign up to Monocle’s email newsletters to stay on top of news and opinion, plus the latest from the magazine, radio, film and shop.
The Foreign Desk - latest episodes
Explainer 352: Disaster diplomacy
On Monday earthquakes devastated Turkey and Syria. Thousands have been killed. Diplomatic offers of assistance have been flooding in from usually hostile neighbours. Andrew Mueller looks to recent history and explains the…
The global ageing crisis: are we ready?
Many developed nations face a looming ageing-population crisis. What are governments doing to cope with this global trend that poses major political and economic challenges? Andrew Mueller speaks to Agnès Poirier, James…
Explainer 351: Why is Putin key to Nagorno-Karabakh?
In 2020, Azerbaijan used military force to take control of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region from Armenia. Today there are reports of blockades leading to starvation and sickness. Andrew Mueller explains how Vladimir…
Lula 3.0: what lies ahead for Brazil?
Luiz Inácio ‘Lula’ da Silva was sworn in as Brazil’s president for the third time in January in a stunning comeback following four years of Bolsonaro’s far-right government. The newly inaugurated president now faces an…
Explainer 350: Sweden’s Nato bid and Turkey
Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has been finding as many reasons as he can to prevent Sweden from being accepted into Nato. Andrew Mueller explains why and asks, when push comes to shove, will Turkey really block…
No defence: Germany’s military reluctance
This week, Germany found itself needing a new defence minister amid criticisms for not agreeing to supply Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks. Why is Germany still so afraid of taking a military stance? Is Europe ready for an…
Explainer 349: For your ears only – the Biden files
Less than half a year after classified papers were found at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, Maga fans are gleefully accusing Joe Biden of the same misdeeds that they defend the former president over. Andrew Mueller…
A climate for conflict: how the environment shapes warfare
The environment and the climate are factors in every conflict; the changing of the seasons has been arguably decisive on many occasions. How have militaries learned to adapt? How can those lessons be applied to conditions…
Explainer 348: Storming of Congress: Is Brazil copying the US?
There are many similarities between the US elections that led up to the 6 January 2021 Capitol attack and the storming of Brazil’s Congress, two years and two days later. Andrew Mueller explains the key differences.
The rise of paradiplomacy
One usually thinks of diplomacy as something conducted at state level by presidents and prime ministers. But nation-states are no longer the sole actors in the international arena. Cities and sub-state governments are…
Explainer 347: The case against Ian Khama
Botswana’s former president Ian Khama is facing criminal charges relating to firearms, money laundering and more. Andrew Mueller explains where these accusations have come from.
Looking back at 2022 and forward to 2023
We look back on the big events of the past 12 months and peer ahead to next year. Andrew Mueller speaks to John Everard, Aliona Hlivco, Alex von Tunzelmann and Lada Roslycky.
Softly Does It
As Monocle’s annual Soft Power Survey hits the newsstands, we consider the established and bizarre ways that countries project themselves abroad, from panda diplomacy and royalty to the craft of culinary persuasion. Andrew…
Christmas in Finland: Santa, saunas and songs
In this special Christmas episode, we head to the homeland of Santa Claus to examine some of Finland’s wonderful festive traditions. Andrew Mueller sits down with the country’s former president Tarja Halonen, Mr Claus and…
Explainer 346: The trial of Moussa Dadis Camara
Andrew Mueller explains why Guinea’s former leader, Moussa Dadis Camara, stands accused of involvement in a 2009 massacre.