The Monocle Daily

Macron and Starmer take the lead on securing the Strait of Hormuz: will they cut Trump out?

France and the UK are to meet with “non-belligerent” countries to discuss how best to police the waterway after a ceasefire. How will excluding the US play out? Plus: the UK rejoins the EU’s Erasmus exchange scheme. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

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? See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

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.  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.