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
US-Russia talks and scam centres on the Thai-Myanmar border
Direct talks between American and Russian officials are taking place in Saudi Arabia, Thailand cracks down on trafficking across its border with Myanmar, why the far-right Alternative for Germany has drawn the backing of Elon Musk and the latest business news from Dubai. Plus: ‘The White Lotus’ returns.
The idea of a European force
As Europe examines the granular practicalities of Zelensky’s call for an “army of Europe”, Simon Bouvier joins Andrew Mueller to discuss the steps that have already been taken towards achieving this. Then: negotiators are in Cairo for Gaza ceasefire talks as Trump sends Israel bigger bombs. Plus: first of our…
Yoon’s impeachment trial and a bounty for escaped salmon
The European Union has vowed to fight back against Donald Trump’s steel tariffs, the Munich Security Conference gets under way and the world’s largest farmed-salmon producer offers a bounty for missing fish. Then: South Korea’s ousted president Yoon Suk Yeol faces an impeachment hearing and we check out Roca’s One…
Putin’s call with Trump and the Honda-Nissan merger collapses
Donald Trump says that he had a “lengthy and highly productive” call with Vladimir Putin. Also on the programme: who were the AI power players at Emmanuel Macron’s Paris summit? Then: the Honda-Nissan merger deal collapses and fashion brand Miu Miu taps British filmmaker Joanna Hogg. Plus: ‘The Global Countdown’…
King Abdullah meets Donald Trump and Peru’s National Archives dispute
Jordan’s King Abdullah II meets with Donald Trump at the White House and we analyse the effects of Donald Trump’s executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court. Then: Peru’s National Archives battle for survival and we check in at the World Governments Summit in Dubai. Plus: who is…
Trump’s hostage ultimatum and Romania’s president resigns
Hamas has said that it is postponing its next release of Israeli hostages, which was due to occur this Saturday. Meanwhile, Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, has announced that he will step down tomorrow and Monocle is at the World Governments Summit in Dubai this week. Plus: why Australia will become…
Paris AI Action Summit and Kosovo elections
Emmanuel Macron and US vice-president JD Vance are the headliners at today’s Paris AI Action Summit. Also on the programme: Poland has the chance to impress upon the EU as it takes over the six-month presidency of the European Council. Then: Japan revives its relationship with the US and we…
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…
