Ukraine hopes for fresh EU loan and the race for the next UN secretary general

Robin Lustig and Alex von Tunzelmann discuss the American troop drawdown in Germany and Mark Carney joining a summit of the European Political Community in Yerevan. Plus: Joe Luc Barnes’s book, ‘Farewell to Russia’See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Mueller and Rob Bound return for a quiz on the week’s headlines. Then: Charlotte McDonald-Gibson joins from Washington to dissect King Charles’s visit, pageantry and speech before US Congress. Plus: music from Corb Lund and Hayes Carll.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We look at the latest call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, who both find themselves in wars with no obvious end. Then: Greece and Ukraine hit a stumbling block on drone co-operation. Plus: can anonymity on the internet be banned?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss the drivers behind Putin scaling back this year’s Victory Day commemorations. Then: The Afghanistan-Pakistan ceasefire teeters and former FBI director James Comey faces fresh charges from the Trump administration.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keir Starmer’s days as PM might be numbered as MPs vote on an inquiry into his appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. Then: Friedrich Merz nears one year as German chancellor with historically low approval ratings. Plus: breaking news with Manus Cranny as the UAE leaves Opec.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

King Charles III goes to Washington to rescue the special relationship and France is talking about Jordan Bardella’s love affair with a Sicilian princess. What is it with our royal fascination? Plus: how Germany’s Bundeswehr plans to lead Europe’s military rearmament and ‘madman theory’ with James D Boys.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emma Nelson takes on Rob Bound in the weekly quiz and Nic Monisse and Grace Charlton round up their week at Salone del Mobile. Plus: An alternative look at the recent news cycle.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As more ships are seized in and around the Strait of Hormuz and an uneasy ceasefire continues, our panel assesses which countries are best equipped – politically and economically – to withstand the shocks that continue to reverberate around the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We explore US president Donald Trump’s ceasefire extension and how Iran has seemingly managed to control much of the narrative without even attending talks in Islamabad – and also through an extraordinary amount of memes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hungary is poised to end its blockade of an EU loan for Ukraine while Sweden suggests that Russia is hiding its economic troubles. Plus: auditions for the next United Nations secretary general begin in New York. Then: an interview with Venetian chef Simon Piovesan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.