The Globalist

The latest from the Gulf with Monocle’s regional correspondent Inzamam Rashid. Plus: a flick through the international papers, aviation news and why Switzerland’s president is proposing to restrict wine imports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simon Brook, media analyst who scans European headlines, Ronan Lee, scholar of Myanmar and regional conflict, Rachel Whiteread, Turner Prize-winning artist, and Tara Kangalu, journalist on Iran and the Middle East. They discuss mounting tensions in Iran and Lebanon, risks to civilian infrastructure and energy routes, regional displacement and occupation fears, plus a quick turn to lunar missions and art shows.

Zoe Grunewald, Westminster editor at The Lead who tracks UK and US political headlines, reviews newspaper front pages and political shake-ups. She dissects Reform UK controversies and shifts in US administration coverage. Also covers Macron's Asia trip, Europe’s strategic role in East Asia, and global energy shocks in short, punchy conversations.

Alexis Taylor, musician and Hot Chip frontman, on making his solo album and songwriting. Petri Burtsov, Monocle correspondent in northern Norway, on Sami culture and the yoik singing tradition. Tira Schubert, journalist and Royal Astronomical Society fellow, on the Artemis II moon mission, lunar geopolitics and international space partnerships.

Laura James, Middle East analyst at Oxford Analytica, gives geopolitical analysis on Iran, US troop moves and regional fallout. Lynne O'Donnell, Foreign Policy journalist, discusses Pakistan's mediation role and border dynamics. Emily Isar of ETH Zurich covers drone spillovers and European security ripples. Philippe Zuber, luxury-hospitality CEO, talks service philosophy in ultra-luxury hotels.

Alexei Korilov, on-the-ground reporter who covered Hungary’s election surge, and Inga Thordor, former CNN/BBC editor and current policy commentator. They discuss protests in Berlin around Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit and talks with European leaders. Conversation covers Syrian repatriation debates, how Syrians view the interim leadership, and wider political and environmental implications.

Tira Schubert, space journalist with Royal Astronomical Society ties, previews Artemis II and recent Saturn findings. Jacob Parakelis, RAND defence researcher, explains how drones and interceptor systems link conflicts in Ukraine and Iran. Inzimam Rashid, Dubai-based Gulf correspondent, reports on strikes and regional fallout. Short takes touch on arts, education and social media rules from Fernando Pacheco, Noelle Salmi and Randy Mulianto.

Andrew Muller, witty news satirist; Alexei Korilov, Central Europe reporter; Yossi Mecklenburg, Middle East analyst; Ash Badwaj, aviation expert; Karsten Brzezki, European macro economist. They discuss how the Iran war could spike energy and food prices, ripple through European growth and fiscal choices, and force airlines to reroute, cut capacity and rethink connections. Art Basel in Hong Kong and cultural stories round out the conversation.

Tyler Brûlé, Monocle editorial director and design/travel commentator, highlights what makes top airports tick. Bruno Kaufmann, Swiss broadcaster and democracy reporter, breaks down Denmark’s coalition puzzles after the vote. Paul Walder, Europe correspondent, analyses G7 diplomacy, Rubio’s push on Iran and the strain on transatlantic ties.

Gabriel Lee, Monocle transport correspondent, gives an aviation roundup on airspace closures, GPS jamming and airline shifts. John Everard, former ambassador to Belarus and North Korea, explains Lukashenko’s Pyongyang trip and regional diplomacy. Hannah Lucinda-Smith, former Istanbul correspondent, unpacks Middle East diplomacy, mediation efforts and how regional players shape a possible diplomatic off-ramp.