The Globalist

And now for the third instalment in our special Eurovision series. Sweden has won the Eurovision Song Contest six times, it just needs another win to tie with Ireland. Besides being the third-biggest music exporter in the world, the country also adores Eurovision. Monocle 24’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco, a lover of both Eurovision and Sweden, discusses some of his favorite Swedish winners of all time.

We analyse the extraordinary move by the US president to dismiss FBI director James Comey and ask what it means for the investigation into Donald Trump’s relationship with Russia. Plus: South Korea’s new president, Australia’s federal budget and the Venice Art Biennale.

For the second instalment of our special Eurovision series this week, we look at the Western Balkans. The event might be a light-hearted matter in Britain and much of western Europe but in the East it’s a serious matter – an opportunity for countries to send out messages about who they are and, of course, who their friends and enemies are. A prime example is Serbia. The country won on its first appearance in the contest with ‘Molitva’ (‘Prayer’), by Marija Šerifović. And as our Belgrade correspondent, Guy de Launey, explains, the victory was as much about the singer as the song.

As Barack Obama delivers a speech on climate change in Milan and France welcomes a new president we assess the state of the world’s moderate politics. Plus: South Korea heads to the polls, Germany searches its army barracks for Nazi memorabilia and our Eurovision series continues with a look at Serbia.

The countdown is on as Eurovision creeps ever closer. This Saturday, Kiev will host the 62nd Eurovision Song Contest, the annual music extravaganza. To get us into the mood, we’re inviting some of our contributors this week to review five special moments in Eurovision history. The focus of our first instalment is Australia – which is now an official competitor at the event. Monocle 24’s Andrew Mueller explains the Australian fascination with Eurovision.

After Emmanuel Macron’s sweeping victory in the French election we assess what’s next for the nation’s new president and ask what it means for leftist politics. Plus: Madrid’s new supersize casino development with echoes of Donald Trump, Australia’s fascination with Eurovision and a look at the newspapers.

We preview this Sunday's French election, analyse the US vote to repeal Obamacare and learn why Russia is sending a new mosaic to Serbia.

We assess the aftermath following last night’s television debate between France’s presidential hopefuls Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron. Plus: how oil fits into Russia’s geopolitical strategy, Australia’s ailing newspapers face more strife and why a herd of very slow reindeer pulled the plug on a Norwegian television series.

Donald Trump’s pledge to repeal and replace Obamacare was clear but will a surprise reversal of GOP support inflict further wounds on the president’s big-ticket promise? Plus: Italy’s looming economic crunch rattles Europe, a look at the day’s newspapers, and why online grocery shopping isn’t catching on in Germany.

We unpick the leak of Theresa May’s disastrous Brexit dinner with EU leaders, learn why Taiwan plays a vital role in the stand-off between the US and North Korea and get the latest business headlines from Belgrade.

We discuss the peace and war in Afghanistan, look at Montenegro’s future in Nato and analyse the UK’s upcoming general election. Plus: our correspondent goes searching for wild boar in Rome.

We ask Jay Garner’s deputy during the Iraq war what a “major conflict” on the Korean peninsula might look like and ask whether we need to redefine the meaning of left and right wing. Plus: Monocle’s editor in chief Tyler Brûlé analyses the United Airlines saga.

We discuss shifting geopolitics from Seoul to Beijing, analyse threats to press freedom and our correspondent in Milan explains the crisis facing Italian airline Alitalia.

We discuss US foreign policy towards North Korea, ask if Jacob Zuma’s deputy can take power in South Africa and find out why French politicians are choosing country over party. Plus: the business news from Greece and a look at the future of independent fashion houses.

Is China changing its mind over how to deal with North Korea? Plus, what next for Germany’s AfD party and a look at the day’s front pages.