Trump extended his deadline on striking Iran's power plants, but no one really knows if there is progress on peace talks. Mediators report a vibe that despite the rhetoric coming out of Iran there is interest in ending this war. Meanwhile Trump's public attempts to calm the markets won't work, and the economic damage from this conflict will last long after it concludes. Will Trump agree to any of Iran's demands, including sole Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz? How will the Gulf States react to a rushed diplomatic solution? Janice worries that the outcome of this war will do the opposite of what was intended, with Iran sprinting towards a nuclear bomb to protect itself against future aggression. Both countries need to make a calculation: are the costs of continuing greater than the benefits of stopping the war?

Friday Focus: No winners in the Middle East — and Xi warns Trump against falling into the Thucydides Trap
23:36

Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: A weakened President needs China's help and a debate over the new Governor General
19:55

Friday Focus: Trump faces pressure from Gulf States, Britain's populist parties get a boost, and Canada's new GG is plucked from the Laurentian elite
21:39