The Monocle Daily

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.

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 a video call on a plane? See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

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