The Monocle Daily

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.

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.