The Middle East war: why did diplomacy fail and what now?

Rob Bound and Andrew Mueller quiz each other on this week’s headlines. Then: a design perspective on Donald Trump’s Jesus memes and what to see at the the world’s leading trade fair for furniture and interiors. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 for privacy information.

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 for privacy information.

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 for privacy information.

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 for privacy information.

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 for privacy information.

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 for privacy information.

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 for privacy information.

The US president warned Iran that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” if his demands are not met by the deadline. Then: Russia and the US apprehensively await the Hungarian elections and Kanye West is blocked from entering the UK. Plus: a look behind France’s premier intelligence agency, the DGSE.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iran and the US examine a proposed ceasefire deal as the two sides trade threats. Russia’s former ally Syria agrees to security cooperation with Ukraine. Plus: the jet fuel crisis strains global aviation. And: the dark side of the moon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.