Israel strikes Qatar and Russia violates Poland’s airspace

Summary

The Globalist – September 10, 2025 Podcast Summary

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Overview

This episode of The Globalist, hosted by Emma Nelson, delivers a comprehensive analysis of a dramatic spike in global tensions. Key focuses include the unprecedented Israeli airstrike on Qatari soil targeting Hamas leaders, Russia’s violation of Polish airspace with drone incursions, the Gen Z-led political upheaval in Nepal, and other contemporary international stories from European politics to technology and mobility innovations. The episode features on-the-ground correspondents, expert commentators, and lively newspaper reviews, providing listeners with both real-time reportage and in-depth discussion of the day’s most critical headlines.

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1. Israeli Strike on Qatar: Crossing Red Lines

[03:33 – 08:41] Featuring: In Zaman Rashid, Monocle’s Gulf Correspondent

Key Points

• Unprecedented Strike:
  Israel launched a precision airstrike in Doha targeting Hamas leaders during negotiations, shattering the city’s reputation as a safe diplomatic haven and Middle East peace mediator.
• Regional Shockwaves & International Condemnation:
  Outrage was immediate and widespread across the region—Saudi Arabia labeled the attack a crime, while the UAE, Yemen, Algeria, and Oman cautioned about destabilization. The UN Secretary-General condemned it as a "flagrant violation of sovereignty" ([03:03]).
• U.S. Complicity and Diplomatic Fallout:
  President Trump stated his disapproval, yet reports indicate the U.S. had advance knowledge but alerted Qatari authorities only as the attack commenced. This is straining U.S.–Qatari relations ([04:56] – [05:20]).
• Dilemma for Qatar:
  Qatar faces a pivotal decision: Stay aligned as “mediator-in-chief” and risk further Israeli aggression, or pivot to pragmatism like the UAE to safeguard internal stability ([07:06]).
• No Military Response – Just Words:
  Despite outrage, regional responses remain verbal—no escalation expected. The attack threatens to sideline Qatar from future mediation, with doubts about its continued role and ideology.

Notable Quotes

• “This is the first time Israel has struck inside the Gulf… It has caused absolute disbelief in Doha and around the world as well.” – In Zaman Rashid ([03:37])
• “A senior diplomat in the UAE yesterday called this act by Israel ‘treacherous’… that word just shows you the deep level of anger and distrust.” – In Zaman Rashid ([05:20])
• “The attack blows its position apart… Qatar is committed to no conflict and de-escalation, yet the attack blows its position apart.” – In Zaman Rashid ([07:06])

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2. Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace: NATO on Alert

[08:41 – 13:30] Featuring: Mateusz Mazzini, Writer at Large, Gazeta Wyborcza

Key Points

• Repeated Breaches:
  Russian drones entered Polish airspace during attacks on Ukraine, prompting airspace closures and high alert. Remains of a downed drone found 160 km east of Warsaw ([09:27]).
• Public Advisory & Military Response:
  Residents in affected regions received emergency alerts; Poland and NATO allies scrambled jets, marking the first time Poland retaliated by downing a Russian drone ([10:43]).
• Escalation Risks:
  The incident coincides with upcoming Zapad military exercises in Belarus involving Russian and Belarusian troops, stoking fears of further escalation or testing of NATO’s defenses ([12:23]).
• Hybrid Warfare Threats:
  Recent Russian interference includes electronic jamming, sabotage in the Baltic, and “shadow fleet” activities, underlining a broader hybrid threat to both NATO and EU ([12:37]).

Notable Quotes

• “This has been the most serious violation of Polish airspace since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia.” – Mateusz Mazzini ([09:27])
• “Russia is not only escalating against Ukrainians … but is also pushing further into both NATO and EU countries with hybrid measures, hybrid threats.” – Mateusz Mazzini ([12:37])

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3. Nepal’s Gen Z Protests and Government Crisis

[14:22 – 18:57] Featuring: Deepak Adhikari, Kathmandu-based Journalist

Key Points

• Protest Trigger:
  Demonstrations erupted over a government-imposed social media ban, quickly expanding into broader youth-driven protests against corruption, inequality, and lack of opportunity.
• Rising Violence and Military Intervention:
  The death toll exceeded 20; government buildings were torched; an airport closed. Nationwide curfew imposed, army now patrolling to prevent further violence ([14:33]).
• Structural Discontent:
  Decades of political dysfunction and elite privilege have left young people frustrated. Exposure of politicians’ children’s lavish lifestyles on “Nepo Babies” TikTok trend fueled outrage ([16:55]).
• Hope vs. Reality:
  Despite past democratic milestones, ongoing corruption and stagnation have left Nepali youth disillusioned and desperate for change.

Notable Quotes

• "There's a lot of arson... the army has patrolled the streets and the riot has kind of stopped. It's gradually going back to normalcy." – Deepak Adhikari ([14:33])
• “They started exposing these sons and daughters of the political elites… and that became really a rallying cry.” – Deepak Adhikari ([16:55])

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4. European Political Turmoil

A. France’s New Prime Minister Amid Protests

[20:04 – 25:13] Featuring: Nina Dos Santos, International Broadcast Correspondent

Key Points

• Leadership Change:
  Emmanuel Macron appointed 39-year-old Sebastien Le Cornu as France’s new prime minister—a party loyalist with a defense background.
• Tough Task Ahead:
  Facing national protests, blocked transport, unpopular budget cuts, and a restive parliament, Le Cornu must attempt to restore order and fiscal discipline ([21:55]).
• Popular Discontent:
  Unions and grassroots digital movements call for nationwide “block everything” actions to protest austerity and cost-of-living issues.

Notable Quotes

• “He’s been in the French government since 2017 and he’s only 39. … Will he overcome a parliamentary minefield?” – Nina Dos Santos ([23:41])
• “He’ll need all the political nous that he’s developed in his 39 years.” – Nina Dos Santos ([25:13])

B. “Boris Files” Leak: Former UK PM’s Controversies

[25:13 – 28:16]

• Revelations:
  Boris Johnson allegedly earned £5 million post-premiership through speeches and private lobbying, including for foreign interests ([25:40]).
• Ethical Questions:
  Leaked documents suggest misuse of taxpayer-funded personal office for personal enrichment.

Notable Quote

• “He says... this is nonsense and piffle. And he said, quote-unquote, the Guardian should rename itself Pravda.” – Nina Dos Santos ([28:16])

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5. The Murdoch Succession: Lachlan Takes Control

[29:55 – 35:30] Featuring: Alex de Groot, Media Analyst

Key Points

• Lachlan Murdoch Ascends:
  Lachlan now holds decisive voting control over News Corp and Fox Corp, securing power for at least 25 years under a new trust ([33:21]).
• Editorial Direction:
  Expect more conservative editorial tone; siblings cashing out of media empire ([30:56]).
• Competitor Impact:
  Murdoch succession questions settled quicker than expected, providing stability but requiring adaptation amid shift to digital media.

Notable Quotes

• “With Lachlan now… you should expect to see that conservative tone be employed a little bit more vigorously.” – Alex de Groot ([30:56])
• “The new trust will be in situ… until 2050. … This really does seem to settle ownership.” – Alex de Groot ([33:21])

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6. Range Rover: Heritage, Luxury, and Brand Evolution

[36:03 – 47:10] Featuring: Martin Limpert, Global Managing Director, Range Rover

Key Points

• Focus on Luxury Mobility:
  Limpert discusses Range Rover’s position as a luxury sanctuary, aiming to provide a personalized, relaxing driving experience ([37:56]).
• Heritage & Innovation:
  The Range Rover’s iconic silhouette is carefully evolved, not radically changed—only five generations over 55 years ([40:01]).
• Experience-Based Brand Building:
  Initiatives like Range Rover House bring customers into curated luxury experiences beyond cars, deepening brand loyalty ([42:51]).

Notable Quotes

• “Every drive in a Range Rover should be your favorite drive. … Ideally they don’t even want to leave their Range Rover anymore.” – Martin Limpert ([37:56])
• “We want to be a brand that creates timeless pieces of art, timeless objects of desire. So timeless desirability is maybe where we want to bring the brand next, beyond the vehicle.” – Martin Limpert ([41:57])

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7. Apple Launches the Ultra-Thin iPhone 17

[47:10 – 53:02] Featuring: David Phelan, Technology Correspondent

Key Points

• Revolutionary Design:
  Apple unveils the super-thin “iPhone Air”—at just 5.6mm, reinforced with a titanium frame to prevent “Bendgate” issues ([48:53]).
• Performance and Endurance:
  Despite the slender build, the phone houses a new processor and promises all-day battery life.
• Other Gadgets:
  Apple also introduced new Apple Watches (including hypertension monitoring) and AirPods Pro 3 with heart rate monitoring ([51:05]).
• Surprisingly Steady Pricing:
  While price hikes were expected, Apple maintained last year’s levels for most models.

Notable Quote

• “It’s like they’ve left half the components out. You can’t quite believe it’s a whole phone, but it is.” – David Phelan ([48:53])

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8. Dutch Debate: Should Cyclists Wear Helmets?

[53:48 – 59:20] Featuring: Chenay Bostas, Journalist; Stein Van Kessel, Associate Professor

Key Points

• Cultural Resistance:
  Only 5% of Dutch cyclists wear helmets. Helmet use seen as conflicting with Dutch ideals of freedom and good cycling infrastructure ([54:34]).
• Shift in Attitudes:
  Doctors and rising e-bike accidents drive a push for voluntary helmet use, especially among older adults ([56:55]).
• Social Norms:
  “Helmet-shaming” persists, but rising fatalities and e-bike usage may prompt change.

Notable Quotes

• “There are more bicycles than people, but not many people wear a helmet. There’s been… social pressure not to wear a helmet.” – Chenay Bostas ([54:34])
• "Cycling is really part of Dutch culture and there's a sense of freedom that you don't have to carry around a helmet." – Stein Van Kessel ([55:55])

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9. U.S. Congress Holds Hearings on UFOs

[59:20 – 64:22] Featuring: Tara Schubert, Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society

Key Points

• Continuing Curiosity:
  Congress holds a fourth year of hearings on “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena” (UFOs), aiming for transparency from U.S. authorities.
• Skepticism Remains:
  Past investigations attribute most sightings to prosaic explanations, but some military pilots report unexplained phenomena ([60:53]).
• Geography and Perception:
  California leads U.S. in UFO sightings; Americans tend to see saucers, Australians triangles, and Indians hockey sticks ([62:46]).

Notable Quotes

• “There’s a lot of blurry videos… This is the era that we’re all carrying smartphones which do wonderfully crisp… shots. But there are videos that haven’t been explained, but they then later are explained.” – Tara Schubert ([61:45])
• “California leads the UFO sighting leagues by a long shot… America leads the lead. And they also see saucers, where in Australia you'll see triangles and in India, wonderfully, most of the UFOs are hockey stick shaped.” – Tara Schubert ([62:46])

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Episode Takeaways

• The Israeli strike on Qatar signals a dangerous escalation, upending established diplomatic roles in the Gulf.
• Russia’s encroachment into Polish airspace indicates a heightened phase of hybrid warfare testing NATO’s resolve.
• Nepal's Gen Z protests highlight deep fractures between youth and entrenched political elites worldwide.
• Europe faces political gridlock, leadership transitions, and public protests, underlying economic anxieties.
• Business and tech segments traverse the past and future—from the Range Rover’s legacy to Apple’s slim new iPhone.
• Societal norms in the Netherlands show how infrastructure and cultural values impact public safety debates, while UFO hearings remind us how mystery and skepticism remain a media perennial.

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For listeners interested in geopolitics, global society, business innovation, and cultural trends, this episode delivers in-depth analysis, expert opinion, and on-the-ground reporting.

Transcript

[UBS Announcer]

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[Emma Nelson]

You're listening to the Globalist, first broadcast on 10th September 2025 on Monocle Radio. The Globalist in association with U. Live from London. This is the Globalist with me, Emma Nelson. A very warm welcome to today's program. Coming up, how does Qatar react to Israeli strikes on its soil? As the IDF targets Hamas leaders gathered in Doha to negotiate a peace deal, we'll assess the longer term effects of Israel's actions. Also ahead in the next 60 minute, Warsaw scrambles ITS and NATO's air defenses as Russian drones violate its airspace. We'll have the latest on a story that's broken in the last couple of hours. And political upheaval in Nepal as widespread demonstrations force the Prime Minister to step down. We'll have the latest on what's being called the Gen Z protests. Plus, I'm the eldest boy. I am the eldest boy. As we learn, the future of Rupert Murdoch's empire lies in the hands of his son Lachlan. What role will the empire play in the future of the media?

[Robert Bound]

Plus, now let's talk about iPhone.

[Emma Nelson]

We'll be in Cupertino as another new iPhone from Apple is revealed. This time it's very, very thin. And the debate over cycling helmets and why Congress has added the existence of UFOs to its to do list. That's all ahead on the Globalist. Live from London. First, a quick look at what else is happening in today's news. The French President Emmanuel Macron has named Sebastien Lecon Cornu as the country's next prime minister. The leaders of Brazil and Colombia have condemned threats to the sovereignty of countries in the region prompted by recent US Military deployments off the coast of Venezuela. And Donald Trump's presidential approval ratings have maintained at 42%. That's according to latest polls, with the president scoring higher marks for his handling of crime and immigration. Stay tuned to Monocle Radio throughout the day for more on these stories. But first, there has been international outrage at Israel's targeting of a group of Hamas leaders in the Qatar capital. Saudi Arabia has called it a crime. The uae, Yemen, Algeria and Oman have all warned of the risks of the attacks destabilizing the region. And the UN Secretary General has condemned the operation as a flagrant violation of sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Qatar. The Israeli Defense Forces called it a precision attack. Well, in Zaman Rashid is Monocle's Gulf correspondent and joins us now on the line from Dubai. Very good morning to you in Zamam.

[In Zaman Rashid]

Morning, Emma.

[Emma Nelson]

So this seems like a moment when red lines have been crossed.

[In Zaman Rashid]

Yeah, it does. And I think that's the question that you have with Israel a lot of the time, particularly recently, have they gone too far? And I always seem to ask that question whenever something that Israel does and the answer always seems no. But this time it really does. This time I think they really have crossed a red line because this is the first time Israel has struck inside the Gulf, which is long seen as a safe zone under U.S. protection. And as a result, it has caused absolute disbelief in Doha and around the world as well. The attack unfolded in broad daylight. It was in a residential district. People heard 10 explosions in a city that prides itself in being one of the safest in the world. And essentially what the attack has done has totally blown ceasefire talks that Qatar has hosted. They've been a kind of mediator in chief over the last couple of years or so between Israel and Hamas. And now those efforts look deeply undermined. And there is a real sense in Doha and around the world from the international community that a line has been crossed by Israel.

[Emma Nelson]

And one thing that's also come out is that the United States having Donald Trump in the last few hours, has said he is not happy about any aspect of this operation carried out by Israel. But it seems that the US Knew that it was happening but did nothing to stop it, which is difficult given the fact that the US and the Qataris are very powerful and very, very close strategic partners.

[In Zaman Rashid]

I think this is the big question, what were the mechanics of all of this? Caroline Levitt, the press secretary for Donald Trump, said yesterday in a news conference that envoy Steve Witkoff, the Middle east envoy, had alerted Doha. But Qatar is insistent that the call came pretty as the explosions were already happening. So yes, the US had prior warning, but the question is, did they hold back that information and didn't tell Qatar until it was too late, or were they told at the very last minute? And I think that will then question the relationship between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu. I think it's also important to note as well at the wider Gulf countries reaction to all of this as well. They will be deeply unhappy and deeply unease by what Israel did to Qatar yesterday. They have stepped away from being in the limelight when it comes to negotiations, particularly here in the uae. And a senior diplomat in the UAE yesterday called this act by Israel treacherous. And I think that word just shows you the level, the deep level of anger and also distrust that Israel has caused as a result of this attack.

[Emma Nelson]

So what happens next? Given the fact that we've seen Israel using unusual, unconventional tactics against its enemies anywhere around the world, this is geography does not seem to stop Israel. But the fact remains that if you do have reactions from the Middle east that are so powerful, will this change anything?

[In Zaman Rashid]

Look, there won't be any military reaction. It's clearly just words and condemnation coming out. And I think Israel, the reason that they did attack Qatar, obviously they say because of the Hamas meeting that was taking place there. But I think there is a wider issue here. Why Qatar? Well, because they know Qatar probably isn't a military threat and would respond. Also, there is the familiar rhythm of one for Iran and one for Israel without any escalation. But symbolically it's huge because mediation in the Gulf now looks like a security liability. So I do think Qatar will probably take a step back from the mediator in chief role that it's had. Qatar is committed to no conflict and de escalation yet. The attack blows its position apart. And I think it's stuck in a bit of a dilemma now. It's whether to stick to ideology, remain as Hamas patron and this regional mediator, but to also risk further strikes. It's essentially becoming a playground in the Middle East. Or to pivot completely to pragmatism, expel Hamas from Qatar, adopt the UAE's approach with dealing separately with Israel and Iran to safeguard security and prosperity of its own country. I think ultimately, ultimately it's a test of how ideological Qatar is. And we'll only know that over the next few days.

[Emma Nelson]

In Zaman Rashid, Monocle's Gulf correspondent, joining us on the line from Dubai there. Thank you so much. You're listening to the Globalist on Monocle Radio. Let's hear more now on a story that's been breaking overnight. The Polish military has said the country's airspace has repeatedly been violated by drones during Russian attacks on targets in Ukraine. The country's airspace is now been shut down. The military have urged people to stay at home. Joining me now from Warsaw is Mateusz Mazzini, who's writer at large at Gazette Wyboca and a lecturer in journalism at Kriegium Civitas in Warsaw. Good morning, Mateusz. Morning.

[Mateusz Mazzini]

Thanks for having me.

[Emma Nelson]

Just Explain to us how did you find out about what was happening in the skies above you.

[Mateusz Mazzini]

So there isn't much information that has been confirmed and released by the authorities yet. But we have found out mostly through actually scrolling news media overn, some of the inhabitants of three regions alongside the eastern border have been issued or have been sent text messages via the government warning system. But Warsaw isn't part of any of those three regions. So the inhabitants of the capital city have found out through social media and traditional media posts. As far as we know, remains of only one drone, presumably Russian one have been found already shot down by a Polish fighter jet just 160 km eastwards of Warsaw. The military isn't releasing any more information as for now and just nine minutes ago a special session of the government has been called. So as far as we gather, this has been the most serious violation of the Polish airspace since the beginning of the full scale invasion of the Ukrainian territory by Russia. And certainly the very first instance in which Poland decided to retaliate by shooting down a Russian drone.

[Emma Nelson]

Indeed, the reports that we're hearing is that the operation involved fighter jets and air defense systems from Poland and other NATO allies and as you say, it's the first time shot down drones that have come into its airspace. This marks a big change.

[Mateusz Mazzini]

Doesn't does certainly because it's the first time when civilian infrastructure has been severely affected by the Ongo conflict in Ukraine. The Warsaw Japan airport has suspended all inbound and unbound flights just as well as three other civilian airports in the east of Poland. So that already has disrupted or caused major disruption for normal airfare and travels and even tourism in this part of the country. There are voices coming out from both the government and the presidential palace that this is unprecedented, that we need to be ready for further escalation. Probably related to the ZAPAD military exercises that are due to begin in a few days time in Belarus with the participation of over 35,000 Russian and Belarusian troops. And this brings about all the negative, all possible negative connotations because last time around these exercises have been held in 2021. They marked the final round of preparations for the Russian invasion in Ukraine. This time round, probably an incursion into NATO territory is still unlikely. But Polish military services decided to be on high alert because Belarus and Russia are deemed very much an unpredictable partners these days.

[Emma Nelson]

Indeed. So we have Russia and Belarusian military exercise on the horizon. But this incident in the last 12 hours does raise fears that Moscow is now testing not just Poland but indeed widely. NATO's defenses. Well, absolutely.

[Mateusz Mazzini]

And if you add to that the incident with Oslo von der Leyen's plane last week in Bulgaria when the GPS signal was being jumped, presumably by Russian interference, and also all sorts of different acts of sabotage. The shadow fleet operating in the Baltic Sea. It's clearly a major picture that's emerging right now that Russia is not only escalating against Ukrainians, it's not only trying to advance on the battlefield, but is also pushing further into the territory of both NATO and European Union countries with hybrid measures, hybrid threats. And it's high time that the leaders of European countries actually come to realize that this might not end in Ukraine even if we manage to avoid a direct invasion of Russian troops into any of the NATO or European Union member state territories.

[Emma Nelson]

Matteo Schmazzini, writer at large at Gazeta Vibor and a lecturer in journalism at Collegium Civitas in Warsaw. Thank you so much for joining us on the line. You're listening to the Globalist live on Monocle Radio. Now Nepal's politics is in crisis again after protests against a ban on the use of social media led to the resignation of the country's prime minister. The so called Generation Z protests were fairly short lived, but expanded beyond the initial anger at the social media to a more widespread general fury at social and economic divisions among young people. Although the social media ban was lifted yesterday, the death toll now exceeds 20. The parliament building has been set on fire and the airport has been closed. Well, I'm joined now by Deepak Adhikari, who's a journalist based in Kathmandu. A very good afternoon to you, Deepak.

[Deepak Adhikari]

Thank you for having me.

[Emma Nelson]

The interesting thing now is that we actually have a development in the last couple of hours, haven't they? There is now a nationwide curfew until Thursday morning in Nepal.

[Deepak Adhikari]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So basically, you know, yesterday, you know, there was a lot of arson and attacks, you know, arson and parliamentary buildings, you know, all the three actually bodies of the government, judiciary, parliament and, you know, the government buildings were, you know, set on fire. And so late yesterday, the army, you know, released statements saying that, you know, they would, they would, you know, control the country. So now effectively they are patrolling the streets and the riot has kind of stopped there, arresting people. So it's gradually going back to normalcy.

[Emma Nelson]

And do we feel as if the situation is calming down? Because using the army to try to restore order is often for many nations, the last resort.

[Deepak Adhikari]

See, I mean, you know, there is a, of course there will be hint of authoritarianism. You know, army Taking over army rule. But it's quite different here. So the army actually delayed taking over. There was a bit of a, you know, talk between the president's office and the army and army was reluctant to, you know, take over, but because there was a lot of, you know, riot and, you know, destruction and, you know, people were urging for the army to take over. They reluctantly, you know, did that late yesterday. So Nepal's army is not used to, you know, organizing coup. It's, it's the civilian, you know, for example, the king, the former monarch, who actually used the military to take over in 2005. So we don't have a history of military coup, unlike other countries in the region. And army has come over, stepped in as a last resort to restore peace and hopefully they would hand over to our civilian government.

[Emma Nelson]

Let's revisit, wind back, but not very long, just a few days. It is only last week that the government imposed a ban on major social media platforms, WhatsApp, Instagram. And at that point, everything went off like a tinderbox. There was obviously a much more deeply rooted dissatisfaction and unhappiness with the way that society was operating in Nepal, especially for young people.

[Deepak Adhikari]

Yeah, yeah. See, the problem is, you know, lack of governance. The current dispensation is corrupt. You know, the same bunch of politicians have ruled the country for the last 30 years. And the young generation is desperate. You know, they don't see their future in the country. They are putting by their feet, they are leaving the country. And those who remain here, you know, the family members of those who are abroad, you know, they really love the country and they think that it has a huge potential. And they see that the relatives, the sons and daughters of these politicians enjoying a lavish life, holidaying in France and UK and Thailand, you know, wearing expensive clothes. So they posted all these on Instagram, you know, and there was this trend on TikTok after the social media band called, you know, Nepo Babies and, you know, so which was inspired by the, you know, the Hollywood trend in the Western world. And they started exposing these, you know, sons and daughters of the political elites with their, you know, fancy bags and clothes and holidays. And that became really a rallying cry. And the day they appeared, the protests were largely peaceful, but the police started firing at the protesters and the next day there's a lot of backlash. So this is a deep rooted problem Nepal has been facing. And the anger was boiling over. It was simmering. This is not just in last week or even last year. This has built on for the last 20 years. And the hope was that the new Nepal in back in 2008 when the monarchy was abolished and there was a republican democratic Nepal, new constitution in 2015, these, all these politicians promised to deliver, you know, promised for the new Nepal, you know, prosperous, you know, Nepal, where there is, you know, things work, you know, but now there is overall dysfunction. There is so much corruption, there is so much mal governance. So you know, that was the reason, you know, there's underlying factors where already things.

[Emma Nelson]

Deepak Adhikari, thank you so much indeed for joining us on the line from Kathmandu. Still to come on today's program, that's.

[Robert Bound]

What we try to position with our brand is it's the car or the brand for leaders, the leaders of this world. This can be the person that runs the family itself, it can be the cultural leader, it can be a designer, it can be a architect.

[Emma Nelson]

Well, Range Rover, one of the world's most respected motor companies is ramping up its ambition. Stay with us. On the globalist.

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[Emma Nelson]

Let's continue with today's newspapers. Joining me, Nina Dos Santos, international broadcast correspondent and the former CNN Europe editor has made it in despite traffic issues and goodness knows what, ladies and gentlemen, she look, she's a peach. She looks absolutely marvellous this morning and has battled through a London which isn't letting us get anywh at the minute, is it? There are widespread tube strikes and everybody, dare I say, is fed up.

[UBS Announcer]

Yeah, we could be France, couldn't we? We just have a bit less debt.

[Emma Nelson]

That's great.

[UBS Announcer]

But we have tube strikes for the whole week.

[Emma Nelson]

We do and we've all been paralysed and we're all very angry about it. Nice to see you, Nina. Thank you for making it in. Let's have a look at the papers breaking in the last. What just as, as the yesterday sort of drew to a close, Emmanuel Macron decided, not necessarily a massive great surprise, that his ally, the 39 year old Sebastian Le Cornu, was his new prime minister.

[UBS Announcer]

Yes, that's right. Sebastien Lecornou has been a former PR executive and also a lawyer and both of those things will probably stand him in good stead as well. The fact that he's had his Hands on the defence brief as the former Armed Forces Minister for quite some time. So, you know, going into battle here and also trying to rebuild this tattered government's reputation, a minority government he's going to have to cobble together from the unpopular centrists, you know, with the left and the right seeking to torpedo it straight away. The first thing he's going to have to do, as his predecessors tried to do and failed, will be to pass a budget that France desperately needs. Now, those predecessors, like Francois Bayroux, say billions, tens if not 40 odd billion, needs to be shaved off for the budget for 2026 to try and get France's crippling debt under control. But the French people are not buying it because later on today they are planning to block everything.

[Emma Nelson]

Excellent. What are they blocking? It is an enormous, enormous.

[UBS Announcer]

Yeah, you know, we get off lightly with the tubes. We really do, because we can take.

[Emma Nelson]

The bus if we want, because everything is. Everybody is encouraged to stop.

[UBS Announcer]

That's Right Bloc on tout everything. And that doesn't just mean perhaps not going to work, not being able to go to work because you can't get a bus tube or one of those bikes to go. It also means there's this big sort of grassroots movement appears to have sprung up from the left, but authorities don't really know where from. This sort of amoebic decision online of people to encourage people not to use their credit cards, not to spend anything, and that just continue to further cripple French finances this sort of week, when we're expecting one of the major ratings agencies to review France's debt, and it's not looking pretty. They could knock it into single A territory.

[Emma Nelson]

Indeed. And it's one of those situations that actually could have wider ramifications for Europe as well, if that happened.

[UBS Announcer]

Absolutely. And especially at a time like this one, as you've been discussing on this show, we could be facing the specter of Russia challenging the EU and NATO's borders, and France is a huge part of the security apparatus. And Sebastien Lecornue has been the man in charge of that brief for quite a few years. He's impressed Emanuel Macron. That's why it seems as though he's given him the job. But obviously the far left and the far right and the left in the middle, who are also disappointed because the socialists thought they would probably get a Prime minister out of this political impasse. Macron had led them to believe that that might be the case over the last couple of days with a few hints. But that's not the case. And what they probably will do is lobby for not just this Prime Minister to be torpedoed as soon as possible, but for Macron to go, even if he doesn't have to before 2027.

[Emma Nelson]

It is funny when you look at the papers, I mean, Le Figaro, its first paragraph about look on youn as is talking about the fact that Le Cornu is being given a reward for fidelity for his faithfulness because he's been in the French government since what, 2017 and he's only 39. This is incredible, but it says will he overcome a parliamentary minefield? Will he do this? Will he be able to maneuver in hostile terrain? It's that idea that the clock already starts when it comes to the next French Prime Minister, doesn't he?

[UBS Announcer]

Yeah, that's right. I mean he's very similar in mold to Gabrielle Attal, Remember the youngest Prime Minister that France had ever had, who Emmanuel Macron nominated as Prime Minister a year and a half ago. He had a very short period in office. He's now the chairman of Macron's party. He's among those people who sort of urged the President to nominate somebody as soon as possible because France is facing these enormously economically crippling protests that are starting this week. There'll be more protests next week led by the trade unions. It's expected. I suppose Macron could argue. Well, look, I tried the political stalwarts in the fashion of 74 year old Francois Bayroux and Michel Barnier before him and that didn't work. So an experienced pair of hands didn't work. Why not give it to somebody who's a trusted member of my movement? But it's going to be a really, really difficult task for him. He'll need all the political nous he can get, all the political nous that he's developed in his 39 years.

[Emma Nelson]

Let's move on to a slightly more weathered politician, Boris Johnson.

[UBS Announcer]

He's indeed in his 60s now.

[Emma Nelson]

Yeah, wide. Is he really good? Widely reported yesterday. And I want you wanted to bring our attention to the article in the Guardian which talks about the fact that. Well, there are reports it's been revealed that after he left office. Will you explain? There's a lump of cash that former Prime Ministers get after they've left office.

[UBS Announcer]

Right, so let's circle back. This is a whole series that the Guardian has been unveiling this week called the Boris Files and essentially what it is, it's a leak from his own private office of the Prime Minister as You pointed out before, their former British Prime Ministers are given a subsidy by the state to run their own, a personal office as a thank you. And that subsidy from the taxpayers is essentially to support their public work so they can continue with their public Persona. They can be, you know, consulted like a council of elders if you like. But this leak that has been given to a US led initiative, which is sort of like a WikiLeaks collective, DDoS secrets, appears to show that Boris Johnson, according to these various articles that the Guardian has been publishing based on this information this week, by the way, they claim to be the only British publication to have their hands on this material at the moment. They claim that Boris Johnson has made £5 million since leaving office on various speeches and deals where he appears to, in some of these instances, have lobbied on behalf of private interests using contacts that he's developed during his time when he was in office or even during the last weeks or so when he knew that essentially his card was marked and he was going to leave. Some of the big eye raising deals include lobbying on behalf of a vaping firm that was trying to get cash from the United Arab Emirates. So he was using his contacts allegedly with the UAE for that, taking a meeting with Maduro when he wasn't recognized after a dodgy election in Venezuela on behalf of a hedge fund. And also one of the other stories they have that's pretty eye raising is an allegation that Boris Johnson may have lobbied Elon Musk on behalf of Evgeny Lebedev, who owns the Evening Standard, a newspaper in the uk. Evgeny Lebedev is a very sort of controversial figure because he's a son of Alexander Lebedev, a former Russian oligarch who was once a KGB agent stationed in London. And Evgeny Lebedev is somebody that Boris Johnson himself elevated to the House of Lords in a very controversial fashion indeed. He became Lord Lebedev of Siberia in the House of Lords. So. So again, the question mark here is whether or not Boris Johnson has been using his own private office for personal enrichment, using taxpayer subsidies. He says, more or less in typical Boris fashion. And I'm paraphrasing that this is nonsense and piffle. And he said, quote, unquote, the Guardian should rename itself Pravda, which of course is a reference to the former Soviet newspaper in Russia.

[Emma Nelson]

Nina Dos Santos, thank you as ever for joining me in the studio to bring us the Paper Review. You're listening to the Globalist on Monica Radio Radio. And a quick look now at some of the Other stories we're following today. The French President Emmanuel Macron has named Sebastien Le Cornu as the country's next prime minister. Mr. Le Cornu, who's 39, is on the centre right and is expected to continue as a loyalist to M. Macron. The leaders of Brazil and Colombia have condemned threats to the sovereignty of countries in the region. Their comments were prompted by recent US Military deployments to reportedly combat drug trafficking traffickers off the coast of Venezuela. And Donald Trump's presidential approval rating has maintained at 42%. That's according to the latest Reuters Ipsos poll. The president has scored getting higher marks for his handling of crime and immigration versus the economy. The survey also shows 56 of respondents disapprove of Mr. Trump. This is the Globalist. Stay tuned. It's what, 1629 in Melbourne, 729 here in London. So now we know the shape Rupert Murdoch's media empire is going to take. The politically conservative elder son, Lachlan Murdoch will take permanent control of the media empire that includes the likes of Fox News and the Wall Street Journal. His siblings will be rewarded with money. The naming of Lachlan at the helm maintains a conservative leaning tilt of the media empire, even pushing it further to the right. But where will it be in the decades to come? Well, Alex de Groot is a analyst and joins me now. Very good morning to you, Alex.

[Nina Dos Santos]

Good morning.

[Emma Nelson]

So just exactly what does Lachlan now control? I mean, the list could actually take us to the end of the program.

[Nina Dos Santos]

Yes, that's right. Well, there are two companies to think about. One is News Corp. Which owns newspaper assets in Australia, in the UK and in the US in the UK listeners will be familiar with the Times in the sun, in the States, people, people will be familiar with the Wall Street Journal, for example, and it also owned he's also now in charge of Fox Corp. Which is probably best known for Fox News, Fox Entertainment and a host of emerging Internet assets. So two big companies. And he effectively will have voting control over both of them.

[Emma Nelson]

Now, the interesting part about the Murdoch emperor is that the depth of the roots that it has taken hold in the world's media cannot be underestimated. Given what you've described as what Lachlan takes over, one wonders what lan is going to do with it.

[Nina Dos Santos]

Yes, well, I think for a start, in terms of editorial direction, it will be the status quo to begin with. In other words, conservative right leading. But I think over time he'll probably nudge it further in that direction because within the Murdoch family, the four Senior siblings. Siblings. He was always the most conservative and the other three, Elizabeth, James and Prue, arguably would want to push the assets perhaps more centrist or left leaning. So I think with Lachlan now firmly cemented in control, over time you should expect to see that conservative tone be employed a little bit more vigorously. And in time it's possible that he'll look to expand the asset base that he has. Because I think one key takeaway for the listeners is that both these businesses are performing pretty well at the moment.

[Emma Nelson]

And the fact that they are performing pretty well does set them up to the future. What does this mean for the Murdoch empire's competitors?

[Nina Dos Santos]

Well, I think there was some doubt beforehand over who would ultimately end up in control.

[Emma Nelson]

Control.

[Nina Dos Santos]

That doubt has now been vanished. Not only is Lachlan taking effective voting control, he and his family trust will have decisive control of the B shares of both Fox and News. But, and this is important, the siblings are actually selling their shareholdings in both companies, so they won't be around. Rupert Murdoch, although he's 94, will be around, around, but the three siblings won't be around. So I think rivals will take note that issues over ownership and control are now settled and probably settled quicker than we anticipated just a few months ago.

[Emma Nelson]

Do you see Laclan obviously taking control of the, of, of the, the empire and that solidity and continuity, continuity is, is, is there, but is there a point where, because of the way that the world is going, that the Murdoch empire could actually be sold off into different portions? Or has this succession agreement effectively answered that question for the next few generations, for the next few decades?

[Nina Dos Santos]

Well, the new trust. A new trust is being created. The new trust will be in situ, will be effective until 2050. So that's 25 years from now. So you could say that perhaps other things being equal, this really does seem settle the ownership of the direction from a managerial point of view of these assets. Of course, we never know what's around the corner, but it feels as though Latclev has made a fairly decisive power play here. What will happen to News Corp? Well, look, I think we have to accept that traditional News assets are changing. The migration from print to digital is very well understood and they will have to work hard to maintain some sort of competitive advantage over, let's say, more sexy Internet assets. So there is work to be done strategically, but Lachlan will be doing that from position of managerial strength.

[Emma Nelson]

Indeed. I mean, is this just the continuation of a paywall that we will see or is that the movement from paper to digital for people's daily news at least is now so established now that it is an unusual sight to see someone pick up a newspaper in many parts to the world.

[Nina Dos Santos]

I think that's, that's very true. I mean there's no doubt about it. Rupert Murdoch, like him or loathing, has been a good thing for traditional print media businesses. But that world is changing and changing fast. Within News Corp itself there are a whole range of assets and that has to some extent allowed the company to cross subsidize some of the more old fashioned mature loss making businesses. But that can't go on indefinitely. So News will need to find assets, assets that generate significant footfall and significant advertising revenue. What it has at the moment is very well known marquee brands. So for example in the UK Times and the Sun. But to some extent the challenge for Murdoch now will be to look five, 10 years out and think where, where will, where will the next generation of readers and viewers, where will they be watching, where will they be consuming? That is a challenge which is being address but will become more relevant as we move into the 2000 and 30s.

[Emma Nelson]

Alex de Groot, thank you so much for joining us on the line. You're listening to the Globalist live on Monocle Radio. Now let's enjoy one of the highlights from last Friday's Monocles Quality of Life conference in Barcelona. One of the speakers on stage was Martin Limpert who was a global managing director of Range Rover. He spoke to Monocles Robert Bound about the heritage and innovations of the brand over its 55 year life.

[Martin Limpert]

Martin, we're having this conversation in a very busy and bustling Barcelona. What is for the Spaniards, the Catalans, the end of the summer, we're getting a little bit of extra time as more northern Europeans perhaps. Where does the regular motor car fit into the mix in a city like Barcelona but more internationally, I wonder as well as you see mobility going forward?

[Robert Bound]

Yeah, it's a very good question. Barcelona indeed is very, very vibrant and you see any kind of mobility. I think one thing that will remain definitely also in future is the desire for luxury travel, for luxury mobility. And this is where we see specifically with Range Rover and our product portfolio to be able to have a complementary offer even for vibrant cities like Barcelona. The other thing that from our point of view is really important as well as the cultural fit. Barcelona is such a vibrant cultural city with beautiful architecture, beautiful designs. We are a modern luxury brand with our vision to be driven by beautiful design as well. So we feel in a culturally Vibrant place like this Range Rover is a perfect proposition to fit in here as well.

[Martin Limpert]

It's a very handsome vehicle in which to be picked up. Right. We know this actually from some of the, of the social events we've been doing at the conference over the last couple of days. The cars have looked wonderful going up those hairpins up towards Mondridge to the Miro Foundation. It's kind of in its element. And that's making me think of trips out of the city, this one, and countless other ones people be familiar with with wanting to get to the mountains, the beach, to see family, etc. Etc. This feels like the kind of key gain that your kind of mobility upon.

[Robert Bound]

Absolutely.

[Martin Limpert]

It's an open door. So tell us about that and maybe you can even tell us about some of your favorite drives that you do now. Now you're in the uk, but what are some of your favorite drives? Been in a Range Rover to test all the dynamics of that, of that wonderful car.

[Robert Bound]

Look, first of all, every drive in a Range Rover should be your favorite drive. We're really aspiring for the drive of a Range Rover to be more relaxed and more happy once they finish the drive than when they start the drive. And ideally they don't even want to leave their Range Rover anymore. Right. And then it's really up to the use cases. You mentioned a very good point. If you live in city traffic or in a city center, you maybe want to switch off once in a while. You use your Range Rover as your extended living room, your calm sanctuary that is built and personalized and curated around your requirements and your needs. You sit in that elevator, elevated seating position in absolutely perfectly curated, nicely crafted designed vehicle. And then you go on your ride on your drive, for example, out of London or out of Birmingham, you refer to England, I would say the Midlands, the Cotswolds. Beautiful area to drive. Amazing, beautiful winding roads. Perfect for our cars to just enjoy the scenery and just decelerate effectively. Let the time time take a little bit slower.

[Martin Limpert]

Yeah. And I mean, despite that, it's got some. It can lift up its skirts and go. This car.

[Robert Bound]

It does.

[Martin Limpert]

There's quite a lot of potential there. And you mentioned the Cotswolds as well. And I think, I think we're going to be doing some events with you with Range Rover in that regard as well. And people will get a chance to drive some of these cars on and possibly off road, but certainly in some, in some very beautiful kind of conditions. All of this is kind of in the background to be round Range Rover the mark, the motoring Mart. Such a proud history and such a recognizable silhouette through the decades. And I wondered how you know, as someone that is quite newly in place as global managing director of Range Rover, what kind of conversations you're having, what your instinct is yourself in terms of, in terms of keeping that mark in those recognizable strands that it has in that recognizable silhouette. Because so many, there are so many competitors from all sorts of different places. The importance of such a recognizable silhouette must be super important to you. How much do you mess around with or evolve a classic?

[Robert Bound]

Yes, we definitely focus on evolving the classic. It's a mark. You mentioned it. It's iconic. The first Range Rover was made public in 1970, and it was as beautiful and as iconic in its design. There was actually the first car ever to be displayed in the Louvre in Paris in 1970 for its beautiful industrial design. And since then, you can describe a Range Rover design with the three lines. The floating roof line, the waistline, and the sill line that ends like a boat tail. And this is something that we will evolve over the generations. In fact, in these 55 years, there were only five generations of the Range Rover, which just shows the strength and the excellence, integrity of the beautiful design. Of course, under the skin, you look into proper innovations with the vehicle and really making sure that you're going with the time and that you're always ahead of time and really have a proposition that the customers enjoy. Which maybe brings me to the point. Who drives our cars? Yeah, so we, we try and what. That's what we try to position with our brand is it's the car or the brand for leaders, the leaders of this world. This can be the person that runs the family itself. It can be the cultural leader, it can be a designer, it can be an architect, it can be the political leader or the royal leader of a country. Right. One thing they all have in common, scarcity of time, having very hectic schedules. And the Range Rover is supposed to be the cocoon, the calm sanctuary that they enter and they decelerate. And that's what we try to preserve, maybe the last bit in ways our brand developing into. We don't want to be seen as just carefully said, automotive luxury, automotive brand. We want to be a brand that creates timeless pieces of art, timeless objects of desire. So timeless desirability is maybe where we want to bring the brand next, beyond the vehicle.

[Martin Limpert]

I love that. And I mean, the idea that the, what was the humble interior, the cockpit of a, of a motorcar is now something that is a is a sanctuary as a solace to the busy person, especially as roads get busier. We're trying to always find and drive these beautiful cars in places slightly more unexplored. I suppose it kind of. It wants to take us there. But you mentioned what kind of you. You asked the question yourself. What kind of people would drive a Range Rover? You obviously know a lot about your customers. High net worth individual people with, you know, discernment and taste. But how close can you keep your customers and keep the soul, the life and soul and beating heart of a brand that, as you say, has been going since 1970, has only had five iterations, five generations. So it hasn't changed a lot. So tell us how close you can keep your customers and how to keep your brand strong.

[Robert Bound]

So we want our customers to associate with the range of a brand a certain personal identification for our customers. A lot of the human values that they focus on is identity and achievement. In many cases, customers celebrate a certain milestone in their life, a certain achievement that they have reached. And we want to be the brand of choice that they do with when they get to such a life milestone. But we also want to extend the brand world beyond the vehicles. This is how we connect even deeper and further with our customers. I'll give you one example. We have initiated two years ago, roughly a concept that is called the range of a house. This is where we, for a certain period of time, temporarily, in all places over the world, we've done 55 of these houses so far. Create or. Or curate, actually a place that we perceive as a perfect interpretation of what modern luxury for the range of our brand stands for. We invite these customers very often. This is on invite events only and curate experiences that we believe are a perfect match of the brand. These are experiences that are about quality of life, as in the conference that we discussed today. You can learn barista classes, you can have sommelier sessions, you can have sound baths. We organize yoga classes with teachers that you can't organize. Right. So fragrance mixing sessions where you mix your own personal fragrance with very famous brands as well. And this is where we immerse with those customers and bring them into the world and show them what a range of experience can look like.

[Martin Limpert]

And this is an amazing kind of the experience of driving one of these cars is great, is exciting, as you say, the driving position, the power under the hood is something that is self definitive perhaps, but all these indefinables are all very well. But as we near the end of our conversation, Martin, that moment when you open the door, especially the driver's door, and you jump up into the driver's seat and you get that new car smell that dissipates over time. Time. Nothing surely can beat that. No, no, no, no sensorialist from grass, where most perfume is designed these days, can, can, can, can possibly compete with that. Discuss.

[Robert Bound]

I 100% agree. I love the smell of a brand new Range Rover. But yeah, as you say, we're coming to the end. Maybe one thing to, to share with the audience our purpose. Why do we exist as range over? Have we clearly defined in three words, we want to elevate leaders lives and our promise. How we want to operate is embodied magnificence. So you see also the fact of magnificence. Everything is about craftsmanship, details, obsession and execution of the vehicle and its, its details. So we want our customers, when they connect with the range of a brand, we want them to be inspired and elevated in their lives. That's what we're aiming for.

[Martin Limpert]

And I love that answer. I actually do have one last one for you and it is on that idea of elevation. And the Range Rover has grown a little in size I guess, since that original 1950s footprint and silhouette, necessarily with crash protection, all the rest of it. But all cars seem to be ballooning in size and lots of things are trying to muscle into territory that is similar to yours, if not yours, because you are, you've got, you set yourself apart with this, this luxury idea. But what about that? When everything around you is ballooning in size, it must mean something to stay about the same size. The brand stays the same. The silhouette, the grille, the kind of look on the face of the car and that wonderful sort of boat like tail are all kind of unchanged. But yeah, I wonder in short, how you sort of survive in a world of ballooning competitors.

[Robert Bound]

I think staying true to yourself, a brand is also an expression of trust. Trust. And when customers buy into a Range Rover, they buy into a relationship that is built on trust. I trust this brand, I trust the safety that the brand provides me, the elevation, the luxury and that they deliver on their promise. We don't grow justice for the sake of growth. We have propositions depending on who the audiences are. The Range Rover, the Range Rover Sport, the Velar and the Evoque. So we have a good portfolio of brand products within our platform. And yeah, I think just be true to yourself, stick to your promise and elevate leaders lives.

[Emma Nelson]

Martin Limpert, their global managing director of Range Rover, was talking to Robert Bound in Barcelona at Monaco's Quality of life conference. You're listening to the Globalist. Apple has launched a new phone. The iPhone 17 and its variants were unveiled in Cupertino, California, from where Monocle's technology correspondent David Phelan now joins me. David, a very good evening to you. How is it where you are? It's good.

[David Phelan]

It's late in the evening on Tuesday, still here, but it's been a long day which began with this very big keynote. It's always the biggest night of the day of the year for Apple, the September event and sometimes it's kind of good. But today there was so much buzz and excitement. It was clearly something a bit different.

[Emma Nelson]

Right, what was different about, about today?

[David Phelan]

Well, there'd been lots of rumors that there was going to be a new phone. The iPhone has always come in, for the last few years has come in four variants. The iPhone, the iPhone Pro, the iPhone Pro max and then either a mini or A plus. And neither of those had worked quite as well as Apple had hoped. So now they decided to go for a super thin phone. That is the phone that they call, call the iPhone air. And it's really slim, it's 5.6 millimeters, it's very light, it looks good on paper, but when you feel it, it's like you think, why should a phone ever be thicker than this? This is what it should be like. It's, it's thin, it's like, it's like they've left half the components out. You can't quite believe it's a whole phone, but it is.

[Emma Nelson]

Tell me why they've decided to go for, for thin rather than any other new reconfiguration of a, of the different sorts of phones that we've all held in now for a very long time.

[David Phelan]

So the big emphasis today was entirely on design. They began with a film showing the, the excellence of design that Apple have had over the years and they wanted to focus on that and design, they kept saying for Apple is not about how it looks, but how it works. And that's the purpose of this new phone, that it should look and work, work, you know, splendidly. But it would be a different but very elegant and stylish solution to how iPhone should be.

[Emma Nelson]

So it looks new and beautiful and different. What are the features on it that will make us all want to go out and get one?

[David Phelan]

Well, I think, I don't think it's, you know, form over function at all. I think it is a very effective phone. It has a very powerful processor, the same as is going to be, to be in the new pro models of iPhone. But it's just super thin and super light. It looks fantastic and it feels fantastic. The danger with that? Well, there are two. First of all, a long time ago in 2014, the iPhone 6, what was it called? The iPhone 6 Plus Bent. There was a thing called Bendgate, this terrible scandal where if you put your phone in your trouser pocket and you sat, sat on it, it could bend. So the worry was that this is much thinner than that phone, so would it be as strong? But they put a titanium frame in and it's, it apparently is very, it's the, the most durable phone they've ever built. Everyone who's seen it says and has tried to bend, it just can't. So they seem to have overcome that problem. But the other problem is battery life. Will a super thin phone last all day? They say yes. They say they've worked it out with a. The processor and soft will mean that it will last all day without a problem.

[Emma Nelson]

Anything else that Apple have shown at this enormous day?

[David Phelan]

Oh, yes, there was a lot more. There were three new Apple watches, including a new Apple watch ultra, that's their ruggedized sporty phone, and a new Apple Watch Series 11. Both of which will have new features including a hypertension way of. Sorry, a hypertension monitoring system. In other words, if it spots that you've got high blood pressure, your watch will tell you. The third watch was a budget watch and then the other product was AirPods Pro 3, the latest version of the Deluxe AirPods, which includes, if you can believe it, heart rate monitoring from the earbuds. It's got a heart rate monitor in each earbud so that when you're working out you will know exactly how fast your heart is beating.

[Emma Nelson]

Incredible. In all this circumstances, let's touch briefly on cost because the tariffs, the tariff wars across the world now are forcing lots of people to change their prices. Not so the case with Apple.

[UBS Announcer]

That's right.

[David Phelan]

That was one of the big surprises. Everyone had said that there would be $50 or $100 more on each iPhone. That didn't prove to be the case. The iPhone 17 is the same price as it always was. The iPhone air is an all new phone, so you can't quite tell and it is more expensive than the plus it replaces, but it's a much better phone. And the iPhone 17 Pro is, starts at $1099 or pounds and it used to be 999 but that was for a smaller storage capacity. So if you compare the two actually the prices haven't changed. That's quite an achievement for a company that imports from China and India into Americ and it was thought was going to be really walloped by tariffs.

[Emma Nelson]

David Phelan in Cupertina, thank you so much for bringing us up to date with Apple's big day. You're listening to the Globalist.

[UBS Announcer]

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[UBS Tagline Speaker]

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[UBS Announcer]

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[UBS Tagline Speaker]

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[Emma Nelson]

7:47 Here in London, we turn now to new research on bicycle safety helmets. A report carried out by road safety safety experts suggest that while the number of cyclists who die on Dutch roads is comparatively small, so also is the number of people who wear cell safety helmets just 5%. Well, to work out what the Dutch are doing, I'm joined now by Chenay Bostas who's a Netherlands based journalist and she joins us on the line from Amsterdam. And by Stein Van Kessel who's an associate professor of European politics at Queen Mary University of London and a fan of bicycles. Senna Stey. Very good morning to. Good morning to you both. Good morning. Hello Chennai. Let's begin with you. This is research from the Institute for Road Safety Research. And it's what, a tiny percentage of Dutch people wear helmets.

[UBS Announcer]

Yeah, sure. And that's evident. If you step out into the streets, you see millions of bicycles everywhere. There are more bicycles than people, but not many people wear a helmet. And there's been an awful lot of social pressure actually not to wear a helmet, to laugh at people wearing, wearing helmets certainly when I first came here, although the tide is, is turning as I think we'll discuss.

[Emma Nelson]

Shannon, let's, let's talk a little bit more about it. What is it about the Dutch that they don't like to wear a helmet? I mean it is a nation in possession of some very good heads of hair. Is it that or is it vanity or what?

[UBS Announcer]

I mean people do talk about messing up their hair. That is the thing. And I did hear from somebody who worked for a products company that the Dutch men were the highest consumers of hair products in Europe, which didn't surprise me.

[Emma Nelson]

There's a sort of buffon hairstyle that they like to wear.

[UBS Announcer]

No, it's more a sort of conceptual idea of freedom actually and a sense, a sort of sense that people have a right to have good cycling infrastructure and problems in the infrastructure shouldn't be covered by people changing their behavior or wearing different things. That's the kind of concept.

[Emma Nelson]

It's more of a spirit of freedom. Freedom Stain, I'll come to you. Your name suggests that you might be a Dutchman, so I'll ask you a about your hair. But what is it about the Dutch that makes them different from, let's say, the Brits, which is where you live now.

[Mateusz Mazzini]

Yeah, I completely agree. I mean, cycling is really part of Dutch culture and there's a sense of freedom that you don't have to carry around a helmet, that you can just zip from A to B on your bike and that's it. And yeah, it is also nicer to cycle without a helmet. Indeed, you feel the weird wind going through your hair or at least against your head. And yeah, it's very much engraving culture. Whereas in uk, clearly there's not a historical cycle culture. Although when I look in London, there's clearly a critical mass of cyclists now going through the streets commuting. I'm also part of recreational cycling group. But here you would wear a helmet. So interestingly, when I'm back occasionally in the Netherlands, I would not wear a helmet on a bike, but when I'm here, I always wear a helmet. So social media norms are very important in this regard.

[Emma Nelson]

Chennai, let's talk about infrastructure, behavior and campaigns to try to change all this. And you mentioned that there are drives to make people behave a little better.

[UBS Announcer]

Yeah, it's mostly coming from doctors, actually. So doctors have been seeing people in a terrible state coming into A E, you know, and have some very dark words for some of the victims. We've also seen a rise in a new type of vehicle, electric bikes, particularly the chunky bikes that they call fat bikes. Here they use the English word fat bikes, although I'm not sure if an English person would know what they meant by it. So the doctors have kind of come forward and started saying, look, should we be a bit more open to voluntary helmet use? And certainly for older people who make.

[Emma Nelson]

Up the majority of road deaths and indeed stain. Coming back to you, are you noticing that actually the behavior on roads is different in different places given the fact that, you know, Chennai's just said that when she steps out of her house, there are more bicycles than people. If you step out of your house in a city, for example, like London, you're going to be confronted with absolutely everything and no one likes anybody else on the roads. It is not sort of a generous Place to be.

[Nina Dos Santos]

Yeah.

[Mateusz Mazzini]

Although I do have the feeling that people here are a bit more careful because they're used to very busy roads. Whereas out in the countryside where I sometimes go also on a bike, cars are a bit more aggressive towards cyclists. But yeah, the infrastructure here is clearly not catered for cyclists which also means that, well, that's one reason why I wear my helmet, I suppose. Although if you look at the figures, I think the casualties here in the UK are a lot lower than in the Netherlands. Of course there are fewer people cycling here. But also if you look per km, I think the trend in the Netherlands is going upwards unfortunately in terms of casualties which indeed has to do with the rise of e bikes and these set bikes. Whereas you don't see the same trends in London. So whether it's truly unsafe for here, I don't reckon it is. In fact, if you just look at the figures.

[Emma Nelson]

Finally, Chenai, what should the world cities be learning from the Netherlands?

[UBS Announcer]

Well, there's a great thing in giving freedom to people, especially children by making your bikes dropped structure safe and infrastructure safe enough that a 7 year old can cycle to school on their own. But then sometimes the flip side of that than the Netherlands can learn from.

[Emma Nelson]

The rest of the world.

[UBS Announcer]

Don't laugh at people if they choose to wear a helmet or they ask their children to wear a helmet. This is a personal choice.

[Emma Nelson]

Netherlands based journalist. Thank you for joining us. Ann Steyne Van Kessel, associate professor of European Politics at Queen Mary University here in London. Thank you both for joining us on on the Globalist. Now, the US Congress is a busy place but it's decided to begin another hearing into UFOs unidentified flying objects. To tell us why, I'm joined in the studio by Tyrus Schubert, who's fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and ambassador for the Science Museum here in London to talk about how small nations deal with space. Good morning. Good to have you back in the studio. We're not supposed to call them UFOs anymore, are we? We've got that wrong for starters.

[UBS Tagline Speaker]

Oh yes, well they've been. UFOs have been rebranded as unidentified anomalous phenomena.

[Emma Nelson]

That's easy to say.

[UBS Tagline Speaker]

That's very easy to say. Especially first thing in the morning. And for the fourth year running a congress, the American Congress are holding hearings on this and it is being run by a of kind congresswoman Anna Luna from Florida. Very appropriate name. And she wants to make sure that the American people have the maximum transparency from the federal government on these sightings to make sure they don't pose a potential threat to national security.

[Emma Nelson]

Right. So if you talk about an appeal for transparency, that sometimes suggests that it might follow a fear of opacity, that the authorities are hiding stuff from America.

[UBS Tagline Speaker]

Well, the number of sightings and the number of conspiracy theories about the sightings tend to go up in times of political unhappiness and times like Covid. But despite that, the Pentagon last year completed a study on 80 years of sightings and concluded that only a few percentage weren't explained by things like birds or weather balloons or weather phenomena. And also, NASA says there's no credible evidence. However, yesterday some of the military pilots spoke about things that they couldn't understand as well as a journalist who specializes in UFO sightings.

[Emma Nelson]

Okay, so tell us a little bit more about what was said in these hearings and what people have seen.

[UBS Tagline Speaker]

Well, there's a lot of blurry videos and a lot of blurry images, which is interesting because this is the era that we're all carrying smartphones which do wonderfully crisp and automatic shots. But there are videos that haven't been explained, but they then later are explained. For example, a few years ago, one of the most prestigious observatories in Australia, Australia, kept hearing these, kept discovering radio bursts that were coming from mysterious sources. And it took them a while to work out that it was their own microwave. And it always happened around dinner time. So there is usually credible evidence that it is things that not ET which.

[Emma Nelson]

Is a shame for many.

[UBS Tagline Speaker]

It is a shame for many.

[Emma Nelson]

Just tell us a little bit more about the geographical sightings. You mentioned that someone you know, the sightings in Australia, if you're in Cal, California, you're probably more likely to see UFOs as well.

[UBS Tagline Speaker]

California leads the UFO sighting leagues by a long shot. Nevada, the state of Nevada follows up. I mean, we're talking about sightings over the past few years in five figures. Whereas in Washington D.C. they've only seen fewer than 200 UFOs or UAPs. And America leads the lead. And they also see saucers, where in Australia you'll see triangles and in India, rather wonderfully, Most of the UFOs are hockey stick shaped.

[UBS Announcer]

Wonderful.

[Emma Nelson]

There's an element of levity to this conversation, dare I say it, but actually, should we be taking any of this a little more seriously?

[UBS Tagline Speaker]

Well, anything should be continually examined and scientists have continually examined it. The scientists and astronomers, astronomers and meteorologists always look into these things and they do examine them, as does military organizations like the national military and the Pentagon. And so far we have no credible evidence. But if you think a little bit further, where would they be coming from? Now, Milky Way is a big place and there's over 100 billion soldiers stars in the Milky Way which have planets around them. The nearest one is Proxima Centauri. Now, that would take us with our technology, 75,000 years to get there because it's over four light years away. That's a long distance. So those UFOs are working quite hard. They're coming from there.

[Emma Nelson]

Tara Schubert, fellow from the Royal Astronomical Society and ambassador for the Space Museum here in London, thank you so much for joining me in the the studio. And that's all the time we have for today's programme. The warmest of thanks to all my guests and to our producers, Hassan Anderson, Tom Webb and Anita Briota. Our researcher is Daniela Brauer Smith and our studio manager is Flynn Simons. After the headlines. More music on the way. The Briefing's live at midday here in London and the Globalist is back at the same time tomorrow. But for now, from me, Emma Nelson, goodbye. Thank you very much for listening. Sam.