The Monocle Daily

Latika Bourke and Robin Brant join to discuss how seriously Beijing is taking Trump’s tariff threats. Plus: why are so many politicians of yesteryear making successful comebacks? Then: how can cities under the geopolitical microscope appeal to tourists? See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Minority governments are often seen as either the cause or consequence of political turmoil in countries such as France, South Korea and Germany. Daniella Peled and Philippe Marlière join us to discuss the implications of this style of governance. Plus, what to expect from the next phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and howls of disapproval over poor pet politesse in Tokyo. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Monocle’s Middle East correspondent, Leila Molana-Allen, tells Andrew Mueller about her trip to Syria and what’s next for the country post-Assad. Then: Chris Cermak looks at Germany’s immigration vote, Grace Charlton reports from Copenhagen Fashion Week and Fernando Augusto Pacheco lifts the curtain on Basel’s preparations to host the Eurovision Song Contest. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The leader of Germany’s conservative opposition, Friedrich Merz, sides with the far-right AfD party, breaking political taboo. But will the move prove to be a mistake? Monocle’s Andrew Mueller is joined by panellists Marta Lorimer and Robin Lustig to unpack this and the day’s other top stories, including Portugal and Spain’s defence commitments, when fact-checking gets muddled with politics and how one London institution refuses to break with tradition and allow female membership. Plus: Chiara Rimella sends us a ‘Letter from Sifnos’. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

We discuss the latest from the Russia-Ukraine war as Ukraine admits to attempting to strike a nuclear power plant in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region. Also on the programme: we consider whether the West can keep up with China’s advances in its artificial-intelligence capabilities. Then: Donald Trump’s administration invites podcasters and social-media influencers to press briefings at the White House. Plus: Japanese convenience store FamilyMart introduces a sole manager system. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.