The Monocle Daily

Refuelling in southern France: Firefighters make progress but bigger challenges remain

Thomas Waterhouse joins us from Lacanau, where French water bombers are refilling from a nearby lake to fight the fires. Our panel of Ash Bhardwaj and Zoë Grünewald assess the fallout for tourism and politics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Broken norms: Are leaders less shy about backing other countries’ candidates?

Antônio Sampaio and Marion Messmer discuss Argentine president Javier Milei’s direct intervention in Brazil’s elections, endorsing Flávio Bolsonaro and calling President Lula a “convict” and “delinquent”. Has it become the norm for politicians to intervene across borders?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The conflicts in Ukraine and Iran converge. Plus: What to make of political leaders’ attire?

Regional conflicts in Ukraine and Iran intersect as Kyiv hits a ship from Tehran in the Caspian Sea. Could the wars become global? Then: Can we learn from political leaders’ sartorial decisions – or are we too buttoned up?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is controlling the sun the brightest idea?

Tira Shubart and Andrew Mueller discuss the plans to reflect the sun’s rays in a way to capitalise on solar energy. What could possibly go wrong for life on Earth? Plus: a light round-up of the week’s events.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The costs of war for the US and who will foot Pakistan’s mediation bill?

Charles Hecker and Patti Cohen on the effects of Yemen’s Houthis on global shipping, how much the Iran war will cost the US, whether Pakistan will get compensated for mediation and how fresh EU sanctions impact Russia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.