Direct talks between American and Russian officials are taking place in Saudi Arabia, Thailand cracks down on trafficking across its border with Myanmar, why the far-right Alternative for Germany has drawn the backing of Elon Musk and the latest business news from Dubai. Plus: ‘The White Lotus’ returns.

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As Europe examines the granular practicalities of Zelensky’s call for an “army of Europe”, Simon Bouvier joins Andrew Mueller to discuss the steps that have already been taken towards achieving this. Then: negotiators are in Cairo for Gaza ceasefire talks as Trump sends Israel bigger bombs. Plus: first of our German election series with Nina dos Santos and the exciting return of denim with Natalie Theodosi.

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The European Union has vowed to fight back against Donald Trump’s steel tariffs, the Munich Security Conference gets under way and the world’s largest farmed-salmon producer offers a bounty for missing fish. Then: South Korea’s ousted president Yoon Suk Yeol faces an impeachment hearing and we check out Roca’s One Day Design Challenge in Barcelona. Plus: a special Valentine’s Day message.

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Donald Trump says that he had a “lengthy and highly productive” call with Vladimir Putin. Also on the programme: who were the AI power players at Emmanuel Macron’s Paris summit? Then: the Honda-Nissan merger deal collapses and fashion brand Miu Miu taps British filmmaker Joanna Hogg. Plus: ‘The Global Countdown’ comes from Nepal.

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Jordan’s King Abdullah II meets with Donald Trump at the White House and we analyse the effects of Donald Trump’s executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court. Then: Peru’s National Archives battle for survival and we check in at the World Governments Summit in Dubai. Plus: who is on the longlist for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction.

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Hamas has said that it is postponing its next release of Israeli hostages, which was due to occur this Saturday. Meanwhile, Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, has announced that he will step down tomorrow and Monocle is at the World Governments Summit in Dubai this week. Plus: why Australia will become the first country in the world to ban under-16s from using social media.

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Emmanuel Macron and US vice-president JD Vance are the headliners at today’s Paris AI Action Summit. Also on the programme: Poland has the chance to impress upon the EU as it takes over the six-month presidency of the European Council. Then: Japan revives its relationship with the US and we discuss the latest from Kosovo’s elections. Plus: a look at arts and culture in Brazil.

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French parliament finally adopts the state’s 2025 budget – but has the government done enough to get the nation’s finances under control? Then: what do Trump’s tariffs mean for Europe and what are the ramifications of USAID’s dismantlement? Plus: we head to Switzerland where the Monocle team is researching a new book.

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