The Monocle Daily
Weekday global news and analysis. A guest panel reviews Europe’s stories, tracks American developments, and welcomes Asia’s early risers. Reports from Monocle’s correspondents worldwide.
Latest Episodes
Macron and Starmer take the lead on securing the Strait of Hormuz: will they cut Trump out?
France and the UK are to convene a meeting of “non-belligerent” countries to discuss how best to police the vital waterway after the conflict. How will excluding the US play out? Plus: the push and pull of resetting Hungary-EU relations and the UK rejoins the Erasmus exchange scheme.
Israel and Lebanon face to face for the first time in decades
The first meeting between officials since 1993 but will diplomacy make a difference? We discuss what can be achieved as Lebanon and Israel agree to direct negotiations, while attacks between Hezbollah and Israel continue. Plus: Democrats want JD Vance to help oust Trump and Hungary’s Péter Magyar comes out swinging.
Fresh US-Iran talks and China’s new international role
We break down the prospect of new US-Iran negotiations as Washington’s blockade in the Strait of Hormuz continues. Plus: is Hungary’s Viktor Orbán the first far-right domino to fall? And: Japan’s new “guilty consumption” boom.
The Middle East war: why did diplomacy fail and what now?
As the US announces new military plans to block the Strait of Hormuz, we discuss where escalation could lead to from here. Then: is Cuba next? Plus: what makes a democracy’s leader popular. And: should AI get involved in the afterlife?
Revealed: Monocle’s new weekly quiz!
Robert Bound joins Andrew Mueller for a quizzical look at the biggest headlines from across the week. Then: garish golf garments, ‘What We Learned’ and a look ahead to Monocle Radio in the UAE.
Has the Iran ceasefire been set up to fail?
Ahead of scheduled peace talks in Pakistan on Saturday, we discuss how much damage Israel has done to the fragile ceasefire with its deadliest attacks on Lebanon since the start of the war. Then: is Nato all but doomed? Plus: should we live in virtual-gated communities? And would you make…
Iran has a ceasefire but what about Lebanon?
Daniella Peled and Yossi Mekelberg consider why the US and Israel agreed a ceasefire in Iran but not Lebanon. Plus: why Pakistan is the Middle East’s mediator. And: are journalists liable for social-media comments?
Donald Trump threatens to wipe out Iran
The US president warned Iran that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” if his demands are not met by the deadline. Then: Russia and the US apprehensively await the Hungarian elections and Kanye West is blocked from entering the UK. Plus: a look behind France’s premier intelligence agency, the DGSE.
Is a ceasefire in Iran coming? Plus: the looming global jet fuel crisis
Iran and the US examine a proposed ceasefire deal as the two sides trade threats. Russia’s former ally Syria agrees to security cooperation with Ukraine. Plus: the jet fuel crisis strains global aviation. And: the dark side of the moon.
Is Europe prepared for the consequences of the Iran war?
Hannah Lucinda Smith and Emma Nelson discuss the consequences for European leaders as they push back against President Donald Trump’s demands in the Strait of Hormuz. Plus: Why Brazil is allowing separated couples joint custody over pets.
