Following attacks by Israeli troops and the discovery of a Hezbollah tunnel close to its base, the UN’s peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, UNIFIL, is under scrutiny. Andrew Mueller explains why this nearly 50-year long deployment has failed to reduce tensions between Israel and Lebanon.

Following attacks by Israeli troops and the discovery of a Hezbollah tunnel close to its base, the UN’s peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, UNIFIL, is under scrutiny. Andrew Mueller explains why this nearly 50-year long deployment has failed to reduce tensions between Israel and Lebanon.

​Presented by ​Andrew Mueller, Monocle’s flagship global-affairs show features​ expert guests ​and in-depth analysis of the big issues of the week. Nominated for ‘Best Current Affairs’ show and the ‘Spotlight Award’ in the 2022 British Podcast Awards. 

​Presented by ​Andrew Mueller, Monocle’s flagship global-affairs show features​ expert guests ​and in-depth analysis of the big issues of the week. Nominated for ‘Best Current Affairs’ show and the ‘Spotlight Award’ in the 2022 British Podcast Awards.

The Foreign Desk

Explainer 439: Why can’t UNIFIL keep the peace in Lebanon?

With arbitrary borders and conflicts becoming more fashionable of late, we explore three of the world’s stranger borders: Norway-Russia, Spain-Gibraltar and the Beaufort Sea between the US and Canada. Plus: Jonn Elledge author of ‘A History of The World in 47 Borders: The Stories Behind The Lines On Our Maps’

With arbitrary borders and conflicts becoming more fashionable of late, we explore three of the world’s stranger borders: Norway-Russia, Spain-Gibraltar and the Beaufort Sea between the US and Canada. Plus: Jonn Elledge author of ‘A History of The World in 47 Borders: The Stories Behind The Lines On Our Maps’

Strange borders

Despite many countries backing out of energy deals with Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, some remaining contracts have required Ukraine to maintain the pipeline between Russia and Europe. Andrew Mueller explains how this surreal business arrangement is funding both sides of the conflict, at least for the time being.

Despite many countries backing out of energy deals with Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, some remaining contracts have required Ukraine to maintain the pipeline between Russia and Europe. Andrew Mueller explains how this surreal business arrangement is funding both sides of the conflict, at least for the time being.

Explainer 438: Is Russia and Ukraine’s gas deal about to blow?

We look back on Hamas’s brutal attack, Israel’s deadly retaliation and the international community’s hopeless response. One year on, do we have any idea how this ends? Andrew Mueller speaks with Mairav Zonszein in Tel Aviv and Mina Al-Oraibi of ‘The National’ in Abu Dhabi. Plus: a roundtable with two former Israeli ambassadors and advocates of a two-state solution. 

We look back on Hamas’s brutal attack, Israel’s deadly retaliation and the international community’s hopeless response. One year on, do we have any idea how this ends? Andrew Mueller speaks with Mairav Zonszein in Tel Aviv and Mina Al-Oraibi of ‘The National’ in Abu Dhabi. Plus: a roundtable with two former Israeli ambassadors and advocates of a two-state solution.

Explainer 439: Why can’t UNIFIL keep the peace in Lebanon?

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