The Briefing
A fast-paced news round-up with expert reporting, business insights, and industry updates on technology, aviation, retail, and media. Anchored from London.
Latest Episodes
A peace plan for Ukraine, Italy braces for Moody’s rating and Prague’s Mucha Museum
The full US peace plan for Ukraine is revealed, Italy braces for a potential upgrade by Moody’s after years of stagnation and we meet Marcus Mucha, executive director of Prague’s Mucha Museum. Plus: Winkreative’s new campaign for Canary Wharf.
Europe’s balancing act between the US and China. Plus: Monocle’s new December/January issue
Author and commentator David Marsh on whether France and Germany can still be the engine of Europe. Plus: Monocle’s editors discuss the new December/January issue, which is out today. And: this week’s episode of ‘The Global Countdown’.
Lord Adair Turner live from Cop30 and Italofonia looks to go global
Lord Adair Turner joins us from Belém with details of what Cop30 has been able to achieve. Plus: a look at what’s making headlines in the business world. Then: the government effort to make Italian a global language and the latest from the Venice Biennale.
MBS returns to the White House and Peru seizes growth in South American tourism
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, returns to the White House for the first time since 2017, eyeing a deal for fighter jets. Then: Peru’s plans to cement itself as a tourist hub. Plus: we pop the cork on the latest sparkling-wine ventures.
Zelensky looks to Paris to secure Ukraine’s skies. Plus: can Cop30 boost Brazil’s soft power?
Volodymyr Zelensky is in Paris today in a bid to secure air defences as Russian strikes become increasingly lethal. Then: can Belém’s Cop30 increase Brazil’s soft power amid protests? Plus: the state of the fashion industry ahead of 2026.
Reporting on the Pentagon’s Caribbean surge after the press corps clear-out
A US aircraft carrier strike group has arrived in the Caribbean, putting president Trump’s peace through strength mantra to the test. Then: how hard is it to report on the Pentagon after the press corps clear-out? Plus: Meloni battles for her Albanian immigration plans and is soft power still effective?
The UN’s Francesca Albanese on Palestinian self-determination and the winter issue of ‘Konfekt’ hits newsstands
United Nations special rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Francesca Albanese, outlines her report on the systemic violation of Palestinian self-determination and what the international community must do to secure peace. Then: the winter issue of ‘Konfekt’ hits newsstands and we travel to Belem, Brazil, on ‘The Global Countdown’.
Ukraine suspends its justice minister as corruption scandal continues
We get the latest on the far-reaching corruption scandal involving state nuclear power in Ukraine.
Trump pardons friends while taking aim at global media organisations
President Trump issued symbolic pardons for close allies who aided his efforts to dispute the 2020 presidential election. Plus: Ireland’s new president, Reebok embraces AI and an Asian news round-up.
An end to the longest US government shutdown, Cop30 in Brazil and design news
US senators reach a deal to end the government shutdown. Plus: we explore international development with the CEO of World Neighbors and look ahead to Cop30 in Brazil. Plus: design and fashion news.
