12 October 2020
Episode 2332
30 minutes
Is Alexander Lukashenko’s iron grip on Belarus weakening? Plus: Fiona Wilson, Monocle’s Tokyo bureau chief, on Japan’s travel restrictions, Vienna’s municipal elections and Slovenia’s top chef reinvents home cooking.
12 October 2020
Share episode
Download
Want more radio episodes like these in your inbox?
Sign up to Monocle’s email newsletters to stay on top of news and opinion, plus the latest from the magazine, radio, film and shop.
The Briefing - latest episodes
Iranian and European officials talk nuclear
Emma Nelson discusses nuclear talks in Geneva and a “wonderful” phone call between Mexico City and Washington. Then: rising cinema out of Brasilia and Monocle’s design editor, Nic Monisse, speaks with Soane Medal winner…
A storm in Paris and sabotage in the Baltic Sea
French prime minister Michel Barnier may be staring down the barrel of a no-confidence vote following an unpopular budget. Beijing is accused of sabotaging cables in the Baltic Sea. Then: how countries are making Thanksg…
Ukraine in South Korea and ceasefire celebrations
A Ukrainian delegation is in South Korea today amid reports that Russia is advancing at pace. Stephen Dalziel joins Christopher Cermak to discuss how much further the war might ramp up. Plus: Should displaced Lebanese…
Fresh strikes on Beirut as Israeli cabinet meets to discuss ceasefire
As hopes grow for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Leila Molana-Allen joins Chris Cermak to discuss the terms of the proposed deal. Plus: will Trump’s tariffs spark a trade war and how is Chinese Taipei celebrating…
Yamandú Orsi wins Uruguay’s presidential run-off election
After Yamandú Orsi claims victory in a hard-fought presidential run-off election, Andrew Thompson joins Georgina Godwin to discuss what comes next for Uruguay. Plus: Nina Dos Santos on the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting and…
The White House’s view on Israel
President Biden rejects the ICC’s arrest warrants while US envoy Amos Hochstein continues ceasefire efforts. Plus, we head to Bucharest ahead of this weekend’s Romanian presidential elections. Then, we’re off to Milan to…
Keir Starmer's global balancing act
We discuss the first Japan-hosted meeting of the Five Eyes grouping of intelligence officials from the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Plus: the UK prime minister is one of the last centre-left leaders who hasn’t…
US shuts Kyiv embassy ahead of potential air strike
The US embassy in Kyiv closes amid fears of a major Russian missile attack, just as US president Joe Biden agrees to give anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine. Then: Austria’s three-party coalition begins to take shape and…
Hong Kong jails 45 pro-democracy activists in landmark case
As the world reacts to Hong Kong’s imprisonment of 45 pro-democracy activists, Steve Tsang joins Georgina Godwin to discuss Beijing’s defence of the landmark sentencing. Then: the first globally extinct bird species from…
Ukraine receives permission to strike inside Russia
After months of asking, Ukraine has been granted permission to use long-range missiles provided by the West, to strike deep inside of Russia. Biden’s decision comes just days before a major assault is expected by Russian…
Brazil prepares to host G20 summit
Brazil is set to host the G20 summit with world leaders expected to focus on social inclusion, global reform and sustainability. But will it be overshadowed by president-elect Trump? Plus: Marine Le Pen battles to stay on…
China’s push to bolster ties with Latin America
As Xi Jinping inaugurates a $1.3bn port during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Peru, we discuss China’s expanding influence in South America ahead of next week’s G20 summit. Plus: is Cop29 doomed to fail? And…
Can Elon Musk boost US government efficiency?
President-elect Donald Trump has made Elon Musk a cost-cutting tsar as the head of a newly created Department of Government Efficiency. Then: we examine how the violence in Amsterdam surrounding a football match involving…
Trump’s cabinet takes shape
US president-elect Trump has begun forming his new cabinet. We examine what the White House hopefuls could bring to their roles. Then: world leaders descend on Lima for the Apec summit. Plus: we dig through the archives at…
Confusion over Trump’s Ukraine strategy
Ukraine takes the fight to Moscow amid confusion over whether Donald Trump actually spoke with Vladimir Putin over the weekend. Will Kim Jong-un be feeling “fire and fury” from the president-elect or will they be exchanging…
