His father, Ali, was born a Shiite Muslim from Iran. They met in the library at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, married in 1978, and eventually settled in Russellville, Arkansas. “I grew up in the Ozarks, so I didn’t have a deep connection to my Iranian heritage,” Sarjahani told me. His family had Christmas trees and celebrated Easter but also marked Nowruz, the Persian New Year.
The Globalist (April 17, 2024): The foreign ministers of the G7 nations touch down in Capri to discuss the crisis in the Middle East and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Then: Georgia’s controversial bill on ‘foreign influence’ and a look at the debate around South Africa’s National Health Insurance. Plus: newspapers, television news, 100 days to go before the Olympic Games and we speak with luxury home-appliance manufacturer Gaggenau.
The Globalist (April 16, 2024): We discuss rising tensions in the Middle East amid fears of an Israeli military response to Iran’s weekend attacks.
We also have the latest on Donald Trump’s historic criminal trial, Croatia’s parliamentary elections and Monocle’s team in Milan checks in from the first day of the 62nd edition of Salone del Mobile. Plus: a special interview with the former Commanding General of US Army Europe, Ben Hodges, on the laws of engagement in Ukraine, Gaza and beyond.
Video timeline: 00:00 Intro 00:46 Where the Salzkammergut region is located 01:02 Hallstatt 02:16 Gondola ride to the World Heritage View 03:42 Meet Hallstatt’s mayor Alexander Scheutz 05:03 Try local food 05:28 Spa town Bad Ischl 05:58 Kaiservilla 07:09 Zauner confectionary 08:03 Exhibition at Altes Sudhaus 09:24 Meet Elisabth Schweeger, Artistic director of European Capital of Culture Salzkammergut, 10:17 Looted art 10:57 Eggenberg brewery
Hallstatt in Austria’s Salzkammergut region is a world-famous tourist magnet. Its popularity is likely to increase this year because the region is holding the title of European Capital of Culture in 2024.
The Globalist (April 15, 2024): The latest on the conflict in the Middle East following Iran’s reprisal attack on Israel. Then: after days of clashes, we discuss the unrest at the Thailand-Myanmar border.
Plus: the implications of Senegal’s new presidency for regional dynamics and fashion news.
Video Timeline: 00:00 – Intro 00:26 – Carriers 02:06 – Technology 04:31 – Importance 05:28 – Background 06:03 – Future Plans 07:14 – Threats 08:15 – Balance Of Power 09:14 – Credits
Monocle on Saturday Podcast (April 6, 2024): Terry Stiastny updates Georgina Godwin on the Wirecard fugitive case and discusses the honeytrap scandal that has rattled Westminster this week.
We examine the history of honeytrap scandals and look back at the lives of two extraordinary people: journalist Hella Pick and author Lynne Reid Banks. Plus: twins Dina and Rosabella Gregory take us through their new opera, ‘The Haberdasher Prince’, and Louise Doughty joins to talk about her guest edition of Writers Mosaic, ‘Blood and belonging: Traveller Writers’.
The Globalist (April 5, 2024): Benjamin Netanyahu’s main rival and member of the war cabinet, Benny Gantz, calls for early elections, Myanmar’s opposition carries out a drone attack on junta-controlled Naypyidaw, Moscow declares that Russia and Nato are now in “direct confrontation” and we celebrate the life and legacy of Gaetano Pesce.
Plus: Andrew Mueller takes a look at what we learned this week.
The Globalist (April 4, 2024): Today marks the 75th anniversary of Nato. We assess the alliance’s future at a worrying time for global security. Then we hear why the Philippines’ navy is preparing for the worst-case scenario in the South China Sea and discuss the future of UK and US arms sales to Israel.
Plus: McKinsey experts on the future of the urban environment, and the life and legacy of Guadeloupe’s grand storyteller Maryse Condé, who has died at the age of 90.
The Globalist (April 3, 2024): Emmanuel Macron hosts Antony Blinken in Paris for talks on Ukraine and Gaza, and EU leaders head to Lithuania while Belarus conducts military drills near its border.
Plus: we discuss Bassirou Diomaye Faye as he is sworn in as Senegal’s youngest president and explore the world of Heath Ceramics with studio director Tung Chiang. Also in the programme: the first politician generated by artificial intelligence.
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