Trump-Xi summit: US president arrives in Beijing weakened by Iran war and tariff setbacks
13/05/2026 | 58 min
The Trump-Xi summit comes at a volatile moment for Washington, with the fragile Iran ceasefire spooking energy markets and Xi Jinping increasingly seen as holding the stronger hand. As Beijing tightens its grip on geopolitical influence, what can Trump achieve on Taiwan, trade and Tehran? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Macron turns on the charm at the Africa Forward Summit as Paris eyes a regional reset
12/05/2026 | 58 min
Emmanuel Macron has kicked off his Kenya visit with a jog through Nairobi and cooking ugali as the Africa Forward Summit is hosted by an Anglophone country for the first time. After a series of setbacks in western parts of the continent, is Paris flexing softer diplomacy in Africa? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Trade, Taiwan and Iran: What to expect from the Trump-Xi summit
11/05/2026 | 58 min
With US president Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping set to meet in Beijing, we take a look at what is on and off the table. Plus: we meet Greece’s entrant to the Eurovision Song Contest, Akylas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Asean summit tackles the global energy crisis
08/05/2026 | 58 min
Asean bloc leaders meet in Cebu to discuss soaring energy prices, tariff threats and border clashes. Plus: can relations between Donald Trump and Brazil’s Lula find stable ground? And: what has the first year of Leo XIV’s papacy meant for the Catholic Church? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Will the Strait of Hormuz finally stay open?
07/05/2026 | 57 min
The US hints towards a peace deal with Iran. Then: Friedrich Merz’s first year in office; Air India’s crash report; Canada’s new governor general; and the Jeonju International Film Festival. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Monocle’s unrivalled coverage of news and current affairs kicks off on weekdays with ‘The Globalist’ at 07.00 GMT/08.00 CET. Anchored from London and Zürich, join our editors for insight and opinion on the big current affairs and business stories of the day and a review of the European front pages. Nominated for Best Daily Podcast in the 2020 British Podcast Awards.