The Recap

What happens to diplomatic gifts, female power in Saudi Arabia and India’s bullet-train ambitions – with a bit of help from Japan.

We cover France's Front National’s advance in regional elections, how Singapore is trying to become famous for its arts scene, the modern etiquette of political interviews and an Israel PM’s troubled pet dog.

We cover France's Front National’s advance in regional elections, how Singapore is trying to become famous for its arts scene, the modern etiquette of political interviews and an Israel PM’s troubled pet dog.

We discuss Britain and Germany’s decision to join the campaign against Isis and look to Nato as it asks Montenegro to join the alliance. Plus: Yahoo’s identity crisis takes another twist.

Turkey shoots down a Russian fighter jet, the owner of Ali Baba wants to buy ‘South China Morning Post’ and North Korea wants the Unesco heritage status for its kimchi.

Ben Rylan looks back at how last week’s events in Paris were covered by Monocle 24. Plus tecently released Al-Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy discusses why prison can be the perfect incubator for extremism, the UK’s former anti-terror adviser explains why freedom of movement in Europe is effectively over and we visit AFP’s Brussels bureau.

Ben Rylan looks back at the week’s highlights across Monocle 24’s news and analysis shows. The uprising in Ukraine was a clear rejection of closer ties with Russia but just how much pro-European sentiment remains today? We also hear from Australia’s human-rights commissioner during a difficult week for the country’s harsh asylum-seeker policies. Plus: beer brewers unite but is it good news?

We take a closer look at the plane crash in Egypt, a celebration of 15 years of the International Space Station and a debate on who should run ‘The New York Times’.

The best of the week’s current-affairs programmes on Monocle 24 including coverage of the earthquake in Afghanistan, the product-placement of weaponry in films and how to heat a country using volcanoes.

Matt Alagiah looks at the best news and current affairs covered on Monocle 24 this week, including Nato’s organisation of its largest military exercise in more than 10 years. We also get a guide to Justin Trudeau and look at the history of national anthems.

We take a look at modern Shakespeare adaptations, discuss Finland’s grey economy and hear Robert Redford’s cinematic take on journalism.

We discuss the state of Syrian refugees in Brazil and hear about the future of the ‘Los Angeles Times’.

We talk about the UN General Assembly, take a look at Tesla’s new car and a get a summary of the week's top luxury news.

We air a live broadcast from Somerset House, hear from Nato’s Jen Stoltenberg in Ukraine and discuss China’s attempts to win over the US tech market.

We discover why the coup in Burkina Faso could have diplomatic consequences for Taiwan, hear how Thai junta threatens critics with an “attitude adjustment programme” and get the latest on European car industry.

We discuss Russian aid flights to Syria and take a look at the pro-Kurdish opposition party as it accuses the ruling AK party of pushing Turkey towards civil war. Plus: we learn how portrayals of political leaders on screen change the way we remember them.

We take a look at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as its logo is scrapped over plagiarism claims, analyse the ongoing refugee crisis from a Middle East perspective and discover how Russia has partnered with China to challenge Airbus and Boeing. Plus: is Sarah Palin’s interview with Donald Trump a new low for US television?

We find out how to fix diplomatic relations in the aftermath of the Virginia shooting and discover how food can support a country under threat.

We revisit Germany’s vote on the Greek bailout, discuss Belgrade’s ambitions and find out how to become a big film-production city.

We look back at the news from Turkey, where a series of violent attacks had the nation on high alert. We also turn our attention to the relation between China and West Africa, as the Chinese foreign minister completes his tour of the region. And in the absence of any detailed policy ideas, how much of a role is branding playing in the Republican race to the White House?