The US and Iran have never really been close. But over the past few weeks tensions have flared, leading to fears of open confrontation between the two. But where did the animosity begin and what are they fighting about this time? Andrew Mueller is joined by Azadeh Moaveni, Holly Dagres and John Limbert.…

As President Trump continues to fire shots in his ongoing trade war with China, Andrew Mueller asks if there’s any chance of him coming out on top – and who really loses if not.By Monocle 24.

South Africa is gripped by political-corruption scandals, soaring unemployment and a continuation of the racial inequalities that the ANC fought so hard to overcome. Is the ruling party running out of ideas?By Monocle 24.

The tiny west African country has been, in recent memory at least, a bastion of democracy. But just before this month’s elections, a new law effectively stopped all political parties but two – both favoured by the president – from running. Was this a bureaucratic fumble gone too far or is something more sinister afoot?…

Coups d’etat have been enjoying something of a renaissance. But who really gains when they go right? What happens when they go wrong? And can it ever be guaranteed that the grass is greener on the other side?By Monocle 24.

As Australia prepares for the upcoming federal election, Andrew Mueller discusses one particular party that has endured more than its fair share of controversy – and he doesn’t feel sorry for it.By Monocle 24.

No Ukrainian election has been as closely watched as last weekend’s presidential run-off. But was comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s landslide victory all about him or was it a rejection of the establishment?By Monocle 24.

Russia has been no friend to the internet in recent years. First it introduced a swathe of tough online restrictions and now it wants to create a “sovereign internet”. Under this plan, the country’s internet service could operate independently from the rest of the world. The so-called digital sovereignty bill was given approval by the upper hou ...…

Renegade Libyan general Khalifa Haftar has been advancing towards Tripoli for some weeks now. It’s not clear what his aims are but most observers agree that further conflict is the last thing the country needs. So what is Haftar after – and what, more importantly, can the rest of Libya afford to lose? Andrew Mueller is joined by Mary Fitzgerald ...…

After 15 years, the final UN forces are pulling out of Haiti. But can the country, which has been gripped by political unrest, failing law enforcement and devastating hurricanes go it alone?By Monocle 24.

Benjamin Netanyahu is all but certain to retain the office of prime minister of Israel. But with a number of corruption allegations against him and an increasing reliance on the sort of foreign allies of which Israel would once have been suspicious, will he be able to cement his place in the nation’s history that he believes is due? Andrew Muel ...…

As the so-called Libyan National Army, led by rebel general Khalifa Haftar, advances on Tripoli, Andrew Mueller asks what, if anything, Haftar is after and if this could lead to yet more violence in the troubled country.By Monocle 24.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared last weekend's local elections to be about the ‘survival of the nation’. That was until his ruling AK party suffered its biggest defeats in years. Votes are still being counted and the results are still contested – by Erdogan, anyway. Are his hitherto loyal followers starting to tire of his nation ...…

Last weekend Slovakia voted in its first female president, Zuzana Caputova. The anti-corruption activist has little experience of national politics but has vowed to change the way the country is run. However, what chance does she have of making a difference in what is a largely ceremonial role? Monocle 24’s Vienna correspondent Alexei Korolyov ...…

When Kurdish fighters overran Islamic State’s last stronghold in Syria, victory was declared over the jihadist group. But many of Islamic State’s fighters and their families have survived the collapse of the caliphate. What should become of them? And can we be sure that the defeat of Islamic State is also a defeat of its ideology? Andrew Muelle ...…

Do Ukrainians voting in the upcoming elections crave a fresh face for president or will they stick with what they know? Paige Reynolds asks whether Petro Poroshenko has done enough to stay in power.By Monocle 24.

How do you put a price on historical injustice and who should pay for it? In the final part of this series, Andrew Mueller explores practical solutions to these difficult and often divisive questions. Deena Hayes-Greene and Dr William “Sandy” Darity make the case for reparations for centuries of racial injustice in the US, while Yossi Mekelberg ...…

With just over a week until the UK was supposed to be leaving the EU, Andrew Mueller asks (yet again) what on earth is going on.By Monocle 24.

In this episode of our series looking at how countries reach an understanding with difficult aspects of their history, we look at empire – how we think about it, talk about it, teach it – and try to answer the question at the heart of the subject: what does a former coloniser owe the formerly colonised?…

With Turkey’s economy officially in recession, Andrew Mueller asks what the phrase actually means, which other countries are experiencing one and whether the global economy should be worried.By Monocle 24.

In the second episode of our series, we hear from Indigenous people in Australia, New Zealand and Canada about what reconciliation means in theory – and how it can work in practice.By Monocle 24.

Air India’s crew has been asked to bark patriotic exclamations at the end of cabin announcements. Andrew Mueller explores a strange new manifestation of Narendra Modi’s nationalism as India’s election approaches.By Monocle 24.

There is probably no period in history more discussed than the Second World War. Every country involved suffered but Allied nations were able to console themselves that their losses were sustained in a noble cause. It hasn’t been as straightforward for the nations they defeated. In the first part of our series on living with uncomfortable pasts ...…

Why has Japan’s prime minister Shinzo Abe promised to push ahead with a controversial plan to relocate the US military base on the island of Okinawa, despite an overwhelming referendum result to the contrary? Monocle 24’s Rhys James explains.By Monocle 24.

As Brexit draws nearer, British politics is facing another shake-up. This week, several members of both the Conservative and Labour parties left the government and opposition benches to form a new Independent Group. Andrew Mueller, Nina Schick, Sean Kemp and one of those very MPs, Chris Leslie, ask whether centrism could be the antidote to toda ...…

How did Australia’s infamous asylum-seeker policies begin? Ben Rylan explains how the Tampa Affair in 2001 radically shifted the nation’s politics.By Monocle 24.

Sudan’s cities have been gripped in recent months by large-scale demonstrations, originally sparked by an increase in the price of bread. Now some are demanding the departure of long-time president Omar al-Bashir. Since independence in 1956, Sudan’s people have overthrown two military dictators – could al-Bashir be next? Andrew Mueller is joine ...…

Spain’s government has hit a dead end on its budget reforms, meaning a snap election looks all but certain. Will this help secure a fresh mandate for PM Pedro Sánchez or will it create less stability in the already fractured parliament?By Monocle 24.

Russia’s slow but steady spread across Africa has hardly gone unnoticed. Its projects include precious metals, diamonds, oil and nuclear research, as well as arms trading and military training. But is Russia just in it for the resources and economic gains or is there something else at stake? Andrew Mueller is joined by Henry Foy, Nastassia Astr ...…

As the UK prepares to leave the EU, those caught in the crossfire are starting to feel understandably irritated that the government isn't getting its act together.By Monocle 24.

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro has long outstayed his welcome – and it appears that the world’s patience is wearing thin, as countries and institutions begin recognising a rival leader. Andrew Mueller is joined by Lucinda Elliot, Francisco Toro and Stephen Kinzer as we ask if Maduro’s time is finally up.…

The presence of US warships in the Taiwan Strait has buoyed leaders in Taipei. Monocle 24’s Rhys James asks if the self-ruled island can rely on Washington?By Monocle 24.

The church’s influence on politics has been in decline in countries around the world for years. But as populism continues to rise, so does the chance for religious organisations to push their own agenda. Andrew Mueller is joined by Antonio Sampaio, Marat Shterin and Siobhan Garrigan to discuss the changing role of Christianity in society and po ...…

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was in Moscow this week to discuss an island dispute that arose in the aftermath of the Second World War. But after meeting 25 times, what real progress will be made this time around?By Monocle 24.

It is nearly four years since the start of Yemen’s civil war, which has turned into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. It is also a complex conflict that seems to have reached a military stalemate. But is there an end in sight? Andrew Mueller is joined by Iona Craig, Osama Al-Rawhani and Bill Law.…

As France’s president Emmanuel Macron sets off on a countrywide tour of debates with protesters, Andrew Mueller asks if even the yellow vests themselves know what they want.By Monocle 24.

We wave them at sporting events, we paint them on our faces at national celebrations, we fly them from our tanks when we go to war. To some they are merely a useful way to distinguish between countries; to others they’re a symbol worth dying for. Why are they taken so seriously? And whose is the best?…

After the so-called blue wave in November’s midterm elections, Democrats now control the House of Representatives. But will they be able to hold President Trump and his administration to account or will the new, progressive Congressional legislators rub the old order in the Democratic party up the wrong way?…

Once traded among small pockets of people on society’s fringes, conspiracy theories (and those who believe in them) have become a powerful political force. How have they infected the mainstream?By Monocle 24.

It seems that every year we look back and say, 'Could it get any worse than that?' But there has to be a limit... doesn’t there? Andrew Mueller is joined by Parag Khanna, Tom Nichols and Amelia Hadfield to find out what we can look forward to – or brace ourselves for – in 2019.By Monocle 24.

Andrew Mueller leafs through ‘The Foreign Desk’ archives to tell the story of another turbulent year.By Monocle 24.

With 100 days until the UK is set to leave the EU, campaigners are resorting to a variety of tactics to ensure the British public have the final say on the withdrawal agreement. Stephanie Sy-Quia asks if they will be successful and speaks to those leading the campaign.By Monocle 24.

Russia’s increasing presence is being felt across the Middle East. Not just in Syria, where it has been fighting alongside the Assad regime for almost three years, but also with business, arms and oil deals and numerous diplomatic trips to and from Moscow. Why is Putin so keen to fill the void left by an ever less-interested US? And do the peop ...…

Confused about what's going on with the Brexit negotiations and inside Britain's parliament? So is Andrew Mueller – but he tries to make sense of it nonetheless.By Monocle 24.

A unified European army is not a new idea but whenever it’s raised it’s usually forgotten just as quickly. Will this time be any different? And, if it is, what would a unified military force look like? Andrew Mueller is joined by Elisabeth Braw, Ulrike Franke and Christian Mölling.By Monocle 24.

It is tradition in the small Swedish town of Gävle to erect a giant straw goat to celebrate Advent. However it is also tradition, or at least it has become so, to try to destroy it in increasingly imaginative ways. Andrew Mueller investigates.By Monocle 24.

On 23 December, voters in the Democratic Republic of Congo will choose a new president and hope to witness the country’s first peaceful transfer of power since gaining independence from Belgium in 1960. But the freeness and fairness of the elections are already being called into question. So, what hope does whoever wins even have of governing a ...…

The results of last weekend’s referendum on equal marriage rights in Taiwan were unexpected – and have wider implications for LGBT rights across the continent. Monocle’s HK bureau chief, James Chambers, explores why Asia is so reluctant to change its conservative views.By Monocle 24.

When EU member states won't toe the line should they be punished – at the risk of inflaming populist resentments – or should the EU turn a blind eye and just hope others won’t have similar ideas? Andrew Mueller asks how the likes of Hungary and Poland – and now Italy – should be dealt with.By Monocle 24.

Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist party, a Protestant group that wishes to remain part of the UK and separate from its Catholic neighbours to the south, has just 10 elected representatives in the UK’s House of Commons. But, crucially, it also holds the balance of power and is vital in helping Theresa May push forward with her plans for Bre ...…