The Briefing - podcast cover

The Briefing

Monoclemonocle.com

A pacy round-up of the day’s main news stories, anchored from London by a Monocle editor. The show features informed reporting, prescient business analysis and invaluable industry reports covering everything from technology to aviation and retail to media.

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Episodes

Ukraine and the US sign historic rare earth minerals deal

We consider how the Ukraine and the US’s minerals deal will actually work. Then: will shifts in US and Canadian politics influence Australian voters? Plus: the view from Ghana ahead of the papal conclave. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 01, 202533 min

Does Putin really want peace with Ukraine?

We unpack how much Putin actually wants to make peace with Ukraine. Then: the view from the Philippines ahead of the papal conclave. Plus: luxury markets news. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 30, 202537 min

Mark Carney’s Liberals win minority in Canada’s election

Tomos Lewis reports from Toronto as Mark Carney emerges victorious in Canada’s elections. Then: we consider what the conclave process will look like as the Vatican sets a date. Plus: the latest film news. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 29, 202535 min

Pope Francis lies in state in St Peter’s Basilica

Thousands pay their respects at St Peter’s Basilica. Then: the IMF and World Bank welcome finance ministers. Plus: we speak with Andrew Tuck about Monocle’s new website. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 25, 202536 min

How will the US engage with the IMF and World Bank?

We speak with economist Liliana Rojas-Suarez about treasury secretary Scott Bessent and the US’s position on the IMF and World Bank. Plus: Monocle’s The Chiefs conference in Jakarta, the Monocle Design Awards and ‘The Global Countdown’ from Indonesia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 24, 202534 min

Troubles at Boeing and the international influence on Poland’s election

Boeing sells its Jeppesen unit to Thoma Bravo for $10.6bn (€9.2bn). Then: we join Andrew Tuck at Monocle’s global leadership conference, The Chiefs, in Jakarta, ask how international politics will affect Poland’s presidential election and the EU fines Apple and Meta. Plus: a dispatch from the two-day Nordic Happiness Summit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 23, 202535 min

Russia proposes bilateral talks with Ukraine

Vladimir Putin has indicated that he could be open to bilateral talks with his Ukrainian counterpart. Also: the annual International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group spring meetings take place and AC Grayling debates wokeism. Plus: we explore the love of short pop songs in our culture news round-up. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 22, 202534 min

News from around the world

A pacy round-up of the day’s main news stories, anchored from London by Chris Cermak. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 21, 202539 min

Is Giorgia Meloni the EU’s ally – or Donald Trump’s?

The Washington trip of Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, marks the first sit-down meeting that Donald Trump has held with a European leader since he launched his trade war. What will she accomplish? Then: we flick through Brazil’s newspapers with Monocle’s Fernando August Pacheco and explore Dubai’s artistic identity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 18, 202531 min

US, European and Ukrainian leaders meet in Paris; Canada’s election heats up

A previously unannounced meeting is held in Paris between US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and European and Ukrainian leadership. Is a deal on the table? Then: Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, takes to the debate stage and hits out at Trump. Plus: we head to Delphi and Osaka. Then: Fernando Augusto Pacheco takes us to Chile for this week’s ‘The Global Countdown’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 17, 202534 min

Australia’s party leaders go head to head in television debate

Latika Bourke brings us the latest from the Australian campaign trail as prime minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton face off ahead of the nation’s elections. Then: Japan’s top trade negotiator has travelled to Washington for talks with Trump’s administration and we hear from technology summit Gitex Africa. Plus: the latest in the world of business with Bloomberg reporter Yuan Potts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Apr 16, 202533 min

Trump halts federal funding to Harvard University

We get the latest after US university Harvard has its federal funding cut by the Trump administration; what does this mean for the future of the nation’s higher education institutes? Also in the programme, we assess Turkey’s role in Black Sea ceasefire negotiations and dig into business news. Plus: Uzbekistan’s pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 15, 202532 min

Can Donald Trump reach a nuclear deal with Iran?

Holly Dagres on the “positive and constructive” talks between Iran and the US in Oman over the weekend. Also on the programme: Hong Kong’s opposition Democratic Party moves forward with its plans to dissolve and visits to the US from Western Europe plummet. Then: Amah-Rose Abrams brings us the latest arts news from Kyoto. Plus: a tribute to late Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 14, 202536 min

Istanbul’s mayor expected in court and the UK announces its own version of SNL

We hear from Ruth Michaelson in Istanbul as the city’s jailed mayor is expected to appear in court. Also on the programme: Japan’s largest yakuza crime syndicate pledges to end its decade-long internal feud. Julian Ryall in Tokyo tells us more. Then: Andrew Mueller sits down with senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center, Ian Brzezinski, at the Delphi Economic Forum and we hear from our team at Salone del Mobile. Plus: how transferable are TV show formats? We ask Scott Bryan as the U...

Apr 11, 202535 min

France could recognise Palestinian statehood in June

As Emmanuel Macron announces France’s plan to recognise Palestinian statehood at a conference in June, Georgina Godwin is joined by Leila Molana-Allen to discuss what the future holds for Gaza. Plus: The ‘coalition of the willing’ meet in Brussels, the Delphi Economic Forum, Milan Design Week and a Eurovision edition of ‘The Global Countdown’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 10, 202536 min

Germany’s government agrees a coalition

As Germany’s CDU and SPD reach a coalition deal, we discuss what the country’s new government will look like. Also on the programme: Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs have created global market turmoil – but what do the president’s allies at home think? Then: we check in with our teams at the Delphi Economic Forum and Salone del Mobile. Plus: we speak to Sam Rice-Edwards, editor of ‘One to One: John & Yoko’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Apr 09, 202536 min

Iran and US agree to weekend talks and the soft power of ‘The White Lotus’

Washington and Tehran agree to meet in Oman this weekend – will the talks be direct or indirect? Also in the programme: we check in with our team on the ground at Salone del Mobile 2025 and get the latest in the world of diamonds. Plus: as ‘The White Lotus’ draws its third season to a close, we discuss its soft-power strength. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 08, 202532 min

Markets react to Trump’s tariffs

Asian and European markets tumble as Donald Trump’s trade war rattles investors, we discuss the global stakes. Then: Serbia’s political crisis deepens. Can president Aleksandar Vučić hold on to power? Plus: ‘Konfekt’ editor Sophie Grove joins the show from Milan as Salone del Mobile gets under way See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 07, 202537 min

A rare show of diplomacy from the chief of Myanmar’s junta and how will Trump’s tariffs affect Northern Ireland?

We unpack the latest as the chief of Myanmar’s junta joins a regional summit in Bangkok. Also in the programme: Trump’s tariffs on the UK come as a sticking point for Northern Ireland and we discuss the state of the markets. Then: Laura Kramer joins us in the studio for a round-up of the latest culture news. Plus: we look ahead to the The Plus Grande Raclette of the World competition in Switzerland. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Apr 04, 202533 min

Hungary withdraws from the ICC, Australia prepares for elections and Switzerland showcases watches

Monocle’s security correspondent, Gorana Grgić, tells us what Hungary’s withdrawal from the ICC means for EU foreign policy. Then: Monocle’s Canberra correspondent, Aarti Betigeri, brings us the latest from Australia’s upcoming election; our Paris bureau chief, Simon Bouvier, takes us to the world’s oldest design fair; ‘Konfekt’ editor Sophie Grove showcases the best from the Watches and Wonders salon in Geneva; and Fernando Augusto Pacheco takes us to Romania for ‘The Global Countdown’. See omn...

Apr 03, 202537 min

Europe awaits ‘Liberation Day’

Donald Trump is expected to impose his sweeping reciprocal global tariffs today. We unpack the reaction from Europe and have a look at how the world’s financial markets are responding. Also in the programme: any hope of a ceasefire in Gaza is over as Israel ramps up its ground operation in the Palestinian territory. Then: A round-up of the main stories making the papers in the Nordics and we check-in at Watches and Wonders in Geneva. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Apr 02, 202536 min

Fears of an Israeli constitutional crisis and The Michelin Guide France 2025

Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, withdraws his nomination of an ex-admiral as director of Shin Bet – we unpack why. Also in the programme, Scott Craig of the International Federation of the Red Cross provides the latest on the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar following an earthquake in the region. Then: Italy’s birthrates hit a record low, Monocle’s Ed Stocker unpacks the fallout. Plus: Chiara Rimella updates us on The Michelin Guide France 2025. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Apr 01, 202534 min

Le Pen banned from running for office

We get the latest from our team in Paris as a French court finds far-right leader Marine Le Pen guilty of embezzling EU funds. Also on the programme: we’re joined by Hopewell Chin’ono as Zimbabwe’s president faces calls for removal from within his own party. Then: rice and dairy farmers march in downtown Tokyo to demand better income security and we discuss the state of the Brazilian telenovela. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Mar 31, 202533 min

Earthquake rocks Thailand and Myanmar

We get the latest from our Bangkok-based Asia editor, James Chambers, as aftershocks from a huge 7.7 magnitude earthquake continue to rock the Thai capital. Also in the programme: Monocle’s editor in chief, Andrew Tuck, discusses the importance of who owns the media. Plus: a look at the papers in Asia with Tom Webb. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 28, 202530 min

Trump’s 25 per cent imported-car tariff and Bolsonaro to stand trial

We’re joined in the studio by our executive editor, Christopher Lord, to get the latest reactions as Donald Trump announces a new 25 per cent tariff on imported cars and parts. Then: a unanimous vote by the Brazilian Supreme Court ruled that former president Jair Bolsonaro should stand trial over an alleged 2022 coup attempt. Plus: Fernando Augusto Pacheco brings us part two of his IFPI Global Music Report 2025 coverage on ‘The Global Countdown’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

Mar 27, 202537 min

What message is the US trying to send to Greenland?

As US vice president JD Vance announces that he will join his wife’s trip to a US army base in Greenland, we unpack what message this sends to the arctic territory and gauge Denmark’s reaction. Also in the programme: we discuss the role of the Netherlands in Nato as the nation looks to increase its defence spending and we discuss the effects of Kyoto’s new lodging tax. Plus: A look ahead to Salone 2025. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Mar 26, 202533 min

Outrage as the White House accidentally sends war plans to a journalist

The world reacts to a major security breach after the White House accidentally shared highly sensitive military plans through a group chat, which included an ‘Atlantic’ journalist. Our security correspondent, Gorana Grgić, brings us the latest. Then: Fiona O’Brien of Reporters Without Borders updates us on the current threats to journalists in Turkey, as anti-Erdogan protests continue. Plus: Chiara Rimella on the latest news in the world of food and drink. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Mar 25, 202536 min

Anti-Erdogan protests continue in Turkey

Protests continue in Turkey following the arrest of Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main political rival and Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu. We get the latest from Ruth Michaelson, who reports the nation’s capital. Also on the programme: Monocle’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco on the importance of Brazil-Japan relations as president Lula visits Tokyo. Plus: Petri Burtsoff joins us from the Nordic Happiness Summit in Finland. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Mar 24, 202534 min

Germany’s Bundesrat approves historic spending plan

As Germany’s upper house of parliament approves a constitutional change to allow a huge increase in spending for the country’s defence and infrastructure needs, Monocle’s senior news editor, Chris Cermak, joins Emma Nelson to explain how significant this bill is. Plus: global travel is plunged into chaos as Heathrow shuts down, South Africa’s ambassador to the US heads home, the new Martin Parr documentary and urbanism news. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Mar 21, 202538 min
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