The Foreign Desk

Prime minister Shinzo Abe knows that in order for Japan’s voice to be heard he has to be as direct as possible. Last week, before he made his address to the UN, Abe wrote an op-ed making the case for Japan to be given a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

The immigration debate in the UK is, like in so many countries around the world, not known for its nuance. Charged with racism and the fear of ‘otherness’, it seems that a nation that was built on immigration should be better than this. A new book called ‘The Good Immigrant’ is trying to change that with essays that are funny, angry, thought-provoking – and much needed. Monocle’s Steve Bloomfield is joined by the book’s editor Nikesh Shukla and one of its essayists Musa Okwonga.

The ethnic-Serb half of Bosnia is gearing up for a referendum that could exacerbate the already deep splits in the country. They will be deciding whether Republika Srpska Day should continue to be celebrated on 9 January each year. But there’s more to the vote than meets the eye.

The men and women of the UN are the civilised world’s last line of defence against war and chaos. Yet looking at Rwanda, Somalia, Darfur and South Sudan, we know that UN peacekeeping doesn’t always work. So how can it be fixed?

Introducing a brand new show on Monocle 24: The Global Election. The United States votes for a new president in November. But this isn’t an election that affects only Americans – it matters to the rest of the world too. From war and peace, to the economy and the environment, what happens in America has an impact on us all – and a large part of that is influenced by the president, whoever he or she may be. Join Steve Bloomfield and guests as they discover what this election could mean for the rest of the world.

Earlier this month British Airways resumed the direct route between London and Tehran, a significant step in an ongoing rapprochement between the two countries. We discuss their complicated relationship.

Since the global financial crisis of 2008 a wave of left-wing populist parties have sprung up across Europe. But nearly a decade on very few have managed to break through and win elections. Instead their darker, fear-mongering opposites on the right have enjoyed more electoral success and – arguably – had a greater influence on the political landscape. Can Europe’s populist left build on their initial success or will they fade away?

The UK prime minister says “Brexit means Brexit”. But what does “Brexit means Brexit” mean?

Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi has called a referendum on his country’s constitution. But while most Italians agree that change is needed, polls suggest that Renzi may lose. Why? The economy is in trouble, corruption remains rampant and Renzi is no longer as popular as he once was. Is this it for Europe’s one-time golden boy or will Renzi’s gamble pay off?

The Front National may do well in the first round of French elections but they rarely win the second. That means Marine Le Pen can’t win the French presidency, right? Don’t be so sure.