We get the latest from a Western Balkans summit that includes Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky. Then: the latest battle for Pacific Island influence between the US and China, what Japan can do about its record-low birth rate and how Christian nationalism is rising in the US. Plus: technology news with David Phelan and fine wines in the Arabian Peninsula. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What unites Ukraine and the Western Balkans?

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. 

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Monocle’s Hannah Lucinda Smith on Mark Rutte’s visit to Istanbul to meet Recep Tayyip Erdogan as he seeks to woo support to become the next Nato chief. Also in the programme: Ed Stocker sits down with Lufthansa CEO Jens Ritter as the airline prepares to launch its new premium cabins known as Allegris. Plus: we discuss why the Indian city of Bengaluru is offering incentives for those who head to the polls and the latest news in film.
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Mark Rutte meets Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul

We discuss the state of relations between the world’s two most powerful countries as US secretary of state Antony Blinken visits China. Plus: the current humanitarian situation in Gaza, the UN warns that the crisis in Haiti is “catastrophic” and Spanish-language music sweeps global charts.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Blinken in China; Haiti’s ongoing crisis; the rise of Latin music

As Nato’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, and the UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak, visit Warsaw, we examine the role that Poland plays in the diplomatic field. Then: Donald Trump’s criminal trial; Taiwan wants to remove statues of Chinese dictator Chiang Kai-shek; and an exploration of the future of ticket resale with the managing director of Viagogo. Plus: aviation news and a lost Klimt painting is auctioned. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Poland flexes its diplomatic muscles

Paul Rogers of OpenDemocracy explains why global defence expenditure is at its highest level since records began. Elsewhere, Monocle’s Istanbul correspondent, Hannah Lucinda Smith, tells us about Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Iraq, the Maldives shifts its allegiance from India to China and we ask why the US is withdrawing troops from Niger. Plus: art and culture news. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Global military spending reaches an all-time high

Monocle’s Middle East correspondent Leila Molana-Allen discusses the latest on tensions in the region. Also in the programme: Ukrainian MP Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze on the relationship between Washington and Kyiv following the US House of Representatives’ vote on military aid for Ukraine. Plus: a flip through the papers, Balkans news and an interview with Romanian artist Serban Savu.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What unites Ukraine and the Western Balkans?

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