The Globalist

Armenia heads to the polls in a pivotal election this weekend, with voters considering whether peace with Azerbaijan is a good thing, and whether Russia or the EU is a better ally. Plus: Mark Speich of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation on Germany’s role in the world.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Delegates from Israel and Lebanon meet to discuss the ever-weakening truce with Hezbollah. Plus: local elections in South Korea, the future of office furniture in Tokyo and Helsinki Fashion Week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turkey’s diplomatic balancing act. We examine how Ankara has positioned itself between regional rivals and whether its strategy is paying off. With Ankara hosting the Nato summit in July, can Erdoğan keep all parties on side? Plus: France’s Palace designation and Japan’s unusual approach to preventing bear attacks.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iran has suspended indirect talks with the US in response to Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon. As Tehran moves toward a complete block of the Strait of Hormuz, we discuss the collapse of diplomatic efforts to end the conflict and the growing risk of a wider regional war. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A right-wing political outsider wins the first round of Colombia’s presidential election. Plus: a live interview with Nick Adams, special presidential envoy for American tourism, exceptionalism and values, to discuss his new role and Trump’s plan to boost inbound tourism to 100 million visitors by 2030. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asia security concerns take centre stage at Shangri-La Dialogue as the region’s premier defence forum gets under way in Singapore. Plus: US-Iran latest, a check-in with the Utopian Hours conference and ‘What We Learned’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Large protests continue across Bolivia as pressure mounts on Rodrigo Paz’s government. With demonstrators angry over the economy and leadership, how vulnerable is the administration? Plus: could the CDU replace Friedrich Merz? And: what comes next for Nasa’s Moon ambitions? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russia urges foreign nationals to leave Kyiv as it prepares a systematic attack. Then: South Korea’s plan for nuclear submarines and Serbia’s Aleksandar Vučić gets China’s friendship medal. Plus: Greece’s letter to Hollywood. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Delegates gather in Qatar for negotiations to end the war in Iran as the US carries out fresh “self-defence” strikes. Plus: we meet the pioneers behind the first uninterrupted circumnavigation of the Earth by balloon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss new diplomatic efforts to resolve the US-Iran war and Pakistan’s attempts at mediation. Plus: political turmoil in Turkey, a flick through the international papers and highlights from the 79th Cannes Film Festival. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russia and China condemn Washington’s indictment of Raúl Castro as a US aircraft carrier enters Caribbean waters. With Donald Trump desperate for a post-Iran win, could Cuba be next? Plus: Tehran weighs a new peace proposal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washington warns Moscow over its escalating rhetoric toward Latvia as Nato’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, rejects Russia’s claims that Baltic states could soon allow Ukrainian drone attacks from their territories. Plus: how rebel groups and Isis-backed insurgents are hampering efforts to contain the new Ebola outbreak. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beijing welcomes Vladimir Putin a week after rolling out the red carpet for Donald Trump. Who really holds the cards? Plus: as we look ahead to the Fifa World Cup, Andrew Mueller assesses what could go wrong. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

G7 finance ministers meet as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to roil global economies. Can divisions be overcome? Then: Nic Monisse brings us the latest from NYCxDesign and we hit London’s West End. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has locked in new trade and defense deals with the UAE, Netherlands and Sweden. What’s on the agenda for Norway and Italy? Plus: the papers, Asia news and talks between Washington, Copenhagen and Nuuk over more US bases in Greenland. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The business world watches the Xi-Trump summit as superpowers try to secure a competitive advantage in key industries such as chipmaking. Who holds the real leverage? Then: Modi’s European tour and the latest from Eurovision. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the leaders of the US and China meet in Beijing, we discuss what’s at stake and get the view from Taipei.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

More Iranian attacks on the UAE. Plus: what’s next for Romania? After parliament toppled prime minister Ilie Bolojan in a no-confidence vote backed by the left-wing PSD and the far-right AUR, Bucharest faces fresh fears over political instability, economic turmoil and its role as a reliable partner in the EU. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oil prices jump as the US and Iran trade accusations over strikes in the Strait of Hormuz. Plus: Fico’s U-turn on Ukraine and the state of EU-Canada relations as Mark Carney addresses European leaders in Armenia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan’s PM kicks off bilateral meetings with Vietnam and Australia, we discuss the agenda. Then: We review the first ever EU-Armenia Summit. Plus: ILTM Villa d’Este, a tour around Alcova and a trip with Alaska Airlines.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.