

Andy Burnham takes charge in the UK – but does changing leaders midterm ever work?
Alex von Tunzelmann and Justin Quirk on the chances of Andy Burnham succeeding where Sir Keir Starmer could not. Plus: Farnborough International Airshow opens and an interview with Jack Watling, author of new book Statecraft.

Vladimir Putin’s approval rating plummets and protests continue in Ukraine
Monocle writer Julia Jenne looks at the consequences of the cabinet reshuffle in Kyiv and why Vladimir Putin’s popularity is dropping in Russia. Then: Andrew Mueller and Robert Bound test each other’s news knowledge in our weekly quiz. And: we hear from Italo disco revivalists Mind Enterprises.

Change at the top in Ukraine and the 10-year anniversary of Turkey’s failed coup
The Ukrainian president’s decision to dismiss popular defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has sparked anger. Then: Ten years after a failed coup, what’s next for Turkey? And: China bans chatbots built for companionship.

Who or what can stop the US-Iran conflict from becoming a forever war?
Iran and the US are back in conflict. Daniella Peled and Ash Bhardwaj discuss who (else) can bring an end to the war with Iran if the IRGC and the Trump administration fail to cease hostilities.

The art of the military parade: Bastille Day and other case studies
France offered a show of military force and European unity during Emmanuel Macron’s last Bastille Day parade. Is there such a thing as a good display of military might? Our panel, including Michael Binyon and Elisabeth Braw, discuss.

Was diplomacy given a chance? Iran and US point to failures, as fighting resumes
Negah Angha and John Everard on the US and Iran’s failure to give diplomacy a chance. Then: Japan aims to centralise intelligence and French parents bring kids to work. Plus: Sally Hayden’s book This Is Also a Love Story.

The World Cup as a global policing operation
We look inside the Fifa International Police Co-operation Center, which brings together the law enforcement agencies of every competing country to share intelligence.

US and Iran trade strikes on day of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s burial
The burial of Iran’s former supreme leader Ali Khamenei is now set to go ahead after delays due to US strikes. Then: India and Australia reach a uranium deal, Nigel Farage meets a bin-worthy opponent and should shorts in the office be banned?

Trump uses trade to punish Spain over defence spend
US president Donald Trump has ordered a halt to trade with Spain, the only Nato member that hasn’t committed to the alliance’s new target of defence spending at 5 per cent of GDP.

Top defence spenders Estonia takes its seat at the Nato conference in Ankara
All eyes are on Estonia at the Nato conference in Ankara as the Baltic nation looks to spend more than €10bn euros on defense over the next three years.