The Monocle Minute

These are hard times for the spiders, rodents and other squatters that have been making homes for themselves in the foreign embassies of Damascus. Many of these grand establishments have lain idle in recent years, either in recognition of the dangers of operating in a capital surrounded by civil war or in reluctance to engage with the miserable, murderous regime of Syria’s former president, Bashar al-Assad. But with Assad now languishing in what cannot be an altogether carefree exile in Moscow – he will have been wise to ask for a room on the ground floor – foreign emissaries are to hoist their flags in Damascus again and curry the favour of Syria’s new overlords, whoever and whatever they might turn out to be. At the time of writing, fancy glassware is being unpacked at the long-abandoned legations of Italy, Spain, Turkey, Hungary and Czechia, among others; one likes to imagine dust-shrouded cocktail cabinets being dredged up from beneath the floorboards. Around the world, from Athens to Riyadh, Syrian embassies have begun the same routines, raising new flags, replenishing the cupboards and renewing friendships.

Even in an age in which communicating across the world is no more difficult nor expensive than opening a laptop, the difficult and expensive endeavour of opening an embassy is worth undertaking. An embassy is not only an outpost but also a statement; one that indicates your interest in being there. In this particular instance, there’s an encouraging portent in the flight of those who have decided that they’re no longer interested: the diplomatic missions of North Korea and Belarus have scarpered. It is still unclear exactly where Syria’s interim rulers, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), lie on the spectrum of Islamism: those big mahogany doors could end up getting locked from the outside by departing attachés if it all goes a bit Taliban. For the moment, however, the rebirth of Damascus’s diplomatic community is cause for optimism in a country where such glimmers have been in wretchedly short supply.

This is surely not the moment to err on the side of caution. Any inclinations that HTS might have towards fundamentalism would only be encouraged by isolation. The world is bigger than the war that the group had been waging against Assad. Syria might find willing partners to help it rebuild after all.

Andrew Mueller is a contributing editor at Monocle and the presenter of ‘The Foreign Desk’ on Monocle Radio. For more opinion, analysis and insight, subscribe to Monocle today.

At its best, state-owned media can tread a tricky editorial line, never taking sides but still being able to hold governments to account. Increasingly in central Europe, though, politicians are looking to blur the line between press and state – and some observers are crying foul. In Czechia, the country’s opposition leader, Andrej Babis, unveiled proposals that would see the state directly fund its public broadcaster, prompting criticism that, by holding the purse strings, the government will have a say in its coverage. Babis, widely seen as the frontrunner in Czechia’s general elections this October, has alleged political bias against him in the state-owned network and his proposals are very much on the ballot.

Similar plans are also being mooted in nearby Slovakia, which recently passed a law giving its culture ministry influence over appointments at the national broadcaster and its content through an ethics commission. Meanwhile, other European nations are rethinking the state’s relationship with its public broadcasters: France has abolished the license fee; Norway and Finland have adopted direct taxation; and Austria’s national broadcaster has claimed that the far-right Freedom Party is trying to destroy it. In these financially difficult times, broadcasters have to ask where the money comes from but the harder question is: how can they retain integrity and vigour?

For more on this story, tune in to ‘The Globalist’ at 07.00 GMT.

The juggernaut that is Salone del Mobile, Milan’s annual design and furniture fair, is gearing up for its 63rd edition, which will be held from 8 to 13 April. At yesterday's press conference at the Piccolo Teatro Strehler – an hours-long experience made refreshingly Italian by coffee before and lunch after – Salone’s top brass were rolled out alongside the mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, who spoke about the “extraordinary connections” between the city and the event.

More than 2,000 exhibitors are expected at the Fiera Milano Rho trade hall this year, with 38 per cent of them coming from 36 countries outside Italy. Among the most anticipated programming is a classically inspired “Villa Héritage” installation, the brainchild of French interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon and another installation from Italian film director Paolo Sorrentino that’s built around a central totem and called “La dolca attesa” (The Sweet Wait). Light exhibition Euroluce will also return, this time accompanied by a set of talks and round-table discussions called the International Lighting Forum. As ever, Monocle’s editors will be in Milan broadcasting live on Monocle Radio – tune in for enlightening conversations.

As more brands follow luxury’s lead and open standalone shops, this so-called “retailisation” trend is increasing the competition for prime shopfronts in major cities. Take Topologie, the Hong Kong-based bags and accessories brand best known for its rock-climbing-inspired phone straps, which plans to open 18 shops this year, doubling its current global footprint. Carlos Granon, Topologie’s CEO and founder, was on Prince Street in New York’s Nolita neighbourhood yesterday evening to celebrate the grand opening of his company’s first North American shop. “We are very confident about the next 12 months,” Granon told The Monocle Minute during a whistle-stop tour including Los Angeles, Miami, Amsterdam, Madrid and Tokyo – all likely locations for new shops.

Topologie’s self-funded expansion speaks to the success of the decision to sell bag straps separately so that customers can create their own combinations. Investing in standalone shops has been an equally important strategy – one that has increased profit margins, enhanced customer interaction and provided room for riskier products that wholesale buyers shied away from. Annual revenues hit $28m (€27.2m) in 2024 and are forecast to reach $45m (€43.5m) by the end of 2025. Now, Granon’s biggest challenge is finding the retail spaces to match his ambitions.

We meet George Smart, founder of the architectural archive US Modernist, and visit a contemporary craft exhibition. Plus, a preview of the stories hitting newsstands in Monocle’s latest issue.