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
Pope Leo has views on AI: will Silicon Valley listen?
Pope Leo XIV is giving his first ecumenical today on the topic of artificial intelligence, the first official word from the Catholic Church on the topic. Anthropic CEO Christopher Olah is in attendance but will anyone in Silicon Valley truly pay attention to the Church’s teachings?
Hungary’s constitutional reform and prime minister Péter Magyar’s first weeks
Hungarian prime minister Péter Magyar wants to limit the terms of his office to eight years – preventing his predecessor from returning. We’ll discuss the constitutional reforms and how Magyar is doing in his first weeks in office.
Will Donald Trump’s Republican party purges cost him in the midterms?
We discuss Trump’s punishment of disloyal Republicans in the primary elections. Separately, his IRS settlement could permanently block him and his family from tax audits. What will his base make of these moves?
Nato under strain as members seek clarity on US plans to withdraw troops
We look ahead to the Nato foreign ministers’ meeting in Sweden as questions over a US drawdown remain. What will the American push for ‘greater burden sharing’ look like and who will plug the gaps?
Vladimir Putin heads to Beijing for talks with his Chinese counterpart
As Moscow recovers from huge Ukrainian strikes, Russia’s president prepares to meet Xi Jinping. Then: how one European development bank is expanding operations. Plus: Dutch designer Iris Van Herpen at her new retrospective.
The political controversy engulfing Cannes film festival
Hundreds of actors have been blacklisted for protesting Vincent Bolloré’s political influence over Canal+. Then: how a shadow network across Europe is helping Russia to evade sanctions. Plus: Monocle on Eurovision 2026.
Is Russia looking to end the war or escalate it?
We explore how Europe is responding to Russia’s latest large-scale attack on Ukraine. Then: what will the world look like after the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is over? Plus: South African music lands in Kyoto.
On stage for Emmanuel Macron’s viral moment in Kenya
We speak with Marie Lora-Mungai, who was on stage in Nairobi when French president Emmanuel Macron implored the audience to show respect, about the viral moment and the future of Africa’s creative industries. Plus: the latest from the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing and a Eurovision-themed ‘The Global Countdown’.
Ukraine-Russia ceasefire ends but Kyiv’s renewed confidence continues
Ukraine pushes for an airport ceasefire after its three-day truce with Russia comes to an end. Julia Jenne discusses Ukraine’s newfound confidence to set the terms and act independently of the US.
Is it all over for Keir Starmer? The cabinet faces questions
Cabinet members are asked to pledge support for embattled UK prime minister Keir Starmer. Plus: redistricting battles heat up in the US, Thaksin Shinawatra is released from prison and Sweden’s Eurovision entry.
