Iran and US agree to weekend talks and the soft power of ‘The White Lotus’

Latika Bourke brings us the latest from the Australian campaign trail as prime minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton face off ahead of the nation’s elections. Then: Japan’s top trade negotiator has travelled to Washington for talks with Trump’s administration and we hear from technology summit Gitex Africa. Plus: the latest in the world of business with Bloomberg reporter Yuan Potts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We get the latest after US university Harvard has its federal funding cut by the Trump administration; what does this mean for the future of the nation’s higher education institutes? Also in the programme, we assess Turkey’s role in Black Sea ceasefire negotiations and dig into business news. Plus: Uzbekistan’s pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holly Dagres on the “positive and constructive” talks between Iran and the US in Oman over the weekend. Also on the programme: Hong Kong’s opposition Democratic Party moves forward with its plans to dissolve and visits to the US from Western Europe plummet. Then: Amah-Rose Abrams brings us the latest arts news from Kyoto. Plus: a tribute to late Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hear from Ruth Michaelson in Istanbul as the city’s jailed mayor is expected to appear in court. Also on the programme: Japan’s largest yakuza crime syndicate pledges to end its decade-long internal feud. Julian Ryall in Tokyo tells us more. Then: Andrew Mueller sits down with senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center, Ian Brzezinski, at the Delphi Economic Forum and we hear from our team at Salone del Mobile. Plus: how transferable are TV show formats? We ask Scott Bryan as the UK announces its own version of the US’s popular Saturday Night Live. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Emmanuel Macron announces France’s plan to recognise Palestinian statehood at a conference in June, Georgina Godwin is joined by Leila Molana-Allen to discuss what the future holds for Gaza. Plus: The ‘coalition of the willing’ meet in Brussels, the Delphi Economic Forum, Milan Design Week and a Eurovision edition of ‘The Global Countdown’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Germany’s CDU and SPD reach a coalition deal, we discuss what the country’s new government will look like. Also on the programme: Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs have created global market turmoil – but what do the president’s allies at home think? Then: we check in with our teams at the Delphi Economic Forum and Salone del Mobile. Plus: we speak to Sam Rice-Edwards, editor of ‘One to One: John & Yoko’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washington and Tehran agree to meet in Oman this weekend – will the talks be direct or indirect? Also in the programme: we check in with our team on the ground at Salone del Mobile 2025 and get the latest in the world of diamonds. Plus: as ‘The White Lotus’ draws its third season to a close, we discuss its soft-power strength.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian and European markets tumble as Donald Trump’s trade war rattles investors, we discuss the global stakes. Then: Serbia’s political crisis deepens. Can president Aleksandar Vučić hold on to power? Plus: ‘Konfekt’ editor Sophie Grove joins the show from Milan as Salone del Mobile gets under waySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We unpack the latest as the chief of Myanmar’s junta joins a regional summit in Bangkok. Also in the programme: Trump’s tariffs on the UK come as a sticking point for Northern Ireland and we discuss the state of the markets. Then: Laura Kramer joins us in the studio for a round-up of the latest culture news. Plus: we look ahead to the The Plus Grande Raclette of the World competition in Switzerland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monocle’s security correspondent, Gorana Grgić, tells us what Hungary’s withdrawal from the ICC means for EU foreign policy. Then: Monocle’s Canberra correspondent, Aarti Betigeri, brings us the latest from Australia’s upcoming election; our Paris bureau chief, Simon Bouvier, takes us to the world’s oldest design fair; ‘Konfekt’ editor Sophie Grove showcases the best from the Watches and Wonders salon in Geneva; and Fernando Augusto Pacheco takes us to Romania for ‘The Global Countdown’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.