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The Foreign Desk
Monocle’s global-affairs show with Andrew Mueller. Expert guests, in-depth analysis, and sharp commentary on major geopolitical issues.
Latest Episodes
Explainer 178: The curious case of President Berdymukhamedov
As footage of Turkmenistan’s president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov at a forum in Avaza appears, Andrew Mueller asks: what happened to the rumours of his death?
The future of Kashmir
Description: Earlier this week, the special status that Kashmir had long enjoyed within India was revoked, communication was cut off, thousands of extra troops were deployed and politicians detained. Abolishing its special status was a promise made by Narendra Modi in this year’s election but what does it mean for…
Explainer 177: Why has white nationalism re-emerged?
It is not news that white nationalism has returned to the US’s political discourse, but at least one of last weekend’s mass shootings appeared to offer further proof of how dangerous it has become. Why has a movement that had been cast to the fringes for so long made a…
Gender pay gap
*Special episode in association with the Nordic Council of Ministers* The Foreign Desk has teamed up with the Nordic Council of Ministers for a series of five special episodes delving deeper into topics of global importance from the region, the first of which looks at the gender pay gap. The…
Explainer 176: Can land expropriation help heal South Africa?
This week an advisory report on land reform in South Africa has recommended changing the constitution to allow the government to seize land without compensation. The aim is to help ease the huge inequalities in land ownership between white and black South Africans; Andrew Mueller explains what the fallout could…
Hong Kong’s stalemate
As the demonstrations in Hong Kong continue, we look at the stand-off between Beijing and the people of Hong Kong, and ask if Hong Kong’s government will ever have any real say in this. We hear from Badiucao, Fernando Cheung, Johnson Yeung, Diane Wei Liang and Monocle’s Hong Kong bureau…
Explainer 175: Who is Boris Johnson?
The UK has a new Prime Minister whose in-tray is dominated by the chaotic Brexit he did so much to bring about. Andrew Mueller discusses what the UK – and the world – can expect from Boris Johnson.
Russia’s disinformation war
Five years ago this week, Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down in eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board. As the investigation into what happened and Russia’s denial of any involvement continues, we look at the country’s modern propaganda apparatus – MH17 being a tragic illustrative example –…
Explainer 174: Who wants to climb Uluru?
After many years of being asked not to climb Uluru, tourists visiting the rock will soon be banned from doing so. Most visitors to Uluru, which is sacred to Australia’s Indigenous people, have respected the request but some Australians seem more determined than ever to climb it. Andrew Mueller wonders…
A special relationship?
This week the UK’s ambassador to Washington, Sir Kim Darroch, resigned after confidential dispatches were leaked to the press. So how important is the relationship between these two countries now – and where is it heading? Andrew Mueller is joined by Edward Luce, Mara Karlin and Sir William Patey.
