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
France’s belated budget and USAID’s global influence
French parliament finally adopts the state’s 2025 budget – but has the government done enough to get the nation’s finances under control? Then: what do Trump’s tariffs mean for Europe and what are the ramifications of USAID’s dismantlement? Plus: we head to Switzerland where the Monocle team is researching a…
DRC’s destruction and Argentina pulls out of WHO
The effects of the conflict in eastern sections of the Democratic Republic of Congo has been revealed during the ceasefire. We also take a first look at Ginza Sony Park, Tokyo’s new hub for art and music. Then: Javier Milei announces that Argentina will leave the World Health Organization and…
Trump wants to turn Gaza into the “Riviera of Middle East”
We analyse US president Donald Trump’s proposal to resettle the Palestinian population of Gaza in other countries, the EU opens the door to UK and Norway for defence “coalition of the willing” and why the UK aims to reset economic relations with the EU by inviting its leaders to a…
China announces US tariffs and the firing of the Vatican’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’
China slaps retaliatory tariffs on the import of US goods and the US secretary of state tells Panama to change its policy on the canal. Then: why the time to invest in Africa’s digital economy is now. Plus: a civil trial begins over the firing of the Vatican’s ‘Romeo and…
Trump’s tariffs and the Grammy Awards
Donald Trump follows through on his threats to impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, while promising more tariffs against the EU. Also on the programme: Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte meets Hungary prime minister Viktor Orbán. Then: The Christian Democratic Union of Germany holds its party convention today, taking a…
Hamas loses its military chief and DeepSeek’s market impact
Hamas confirms the death of its military chief, Mohammed Deif. Also on the programme: DeepSeek makes it hard for big tech to generate the oligopoly-like profit margins that investors hope for. Then: we speak to the mayor of Sør-Varanger, the only Norwegian municipality bordering Russia. Plus: why Australian journalist Peter…
German parliament’s far-right vote and CIFF 2025
German parliament passes a non-binding motion calling for tougher border and asylum rules, Graubünden named one of the most welcoming places on earth and we check into both the Copenhagen International Fashion Fair and the Angoulême International Comics Festival. Then: we bring you the papers from Switzerland. Plus: ‘The Global…
Giorgia Meloni under investigation and Macron’s Louvre promise
Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, is under investigation for repatriating a Libyan warlord despite an active ICC arrest warrant and Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vučić, pardons 13 people facing charges following weeks of protests in the country. Then: Emmanuel Macron promises to return the Louvre to its former glory and Marina…
The DRC accuses Rwanda of “declaring war”
As the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s east reaches a turning point, Daniel van Dalen joins Emma Nelson to discuss the risks of a wider regional war. Plus: Starmer’s “post-Brexit” EU trade plans, Denmark’s $2bn (€1.9bn) security plan for Greenland and the ‘Brasil! Brasil!’ exhibition at the…
The US and Colombia’s tit-for-tat
Colombia will accept deportees from the US in a bid to avoid tariffs from the Trump administration. Will this become a new model of diplomacy? Then: a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel is extended. Plus: haute-couture collections head down the runway at Paris Fashion Week.
