Shows / The Briefing
The Briefing
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.
Episodes
- The Briefing
‘Portrait of a City: A Century of American Photography’ and ‘The Global Countdown’
We visit a photography exhibition that takes us through the decades of American city life. Plus: we get the latest on a possible Iran-Oman deal, and Fernando…
- The Briefing
Revisiting La Rambla and the increasing importance of tree cover
Julia Webster Ayuso reports on the redevelopment of Barcelona’s La Rambla. Then: the increasing demand for tree services and suppliers as Europe grapples…
- The Briefing
Boeing’s 737 Max 7 finally gets certification from FAA
We explore what it means for Boeing’s Max 7 to finally get off the ground. Plus: Japan’s currency intervention and the latest in hotel design with…
- The Briefing
Why is Israeli withdrawal such a key issue for Gaza and Lebanon?
In both the Hamas disarmament deal and upcoming talks with Lebanon in Rome, Israel refuses to withdraw. We discuss what that says about regional dynamics…
- The Briefing
Optimism remains as firefighters battle to get France’s wildfires under control
France’s interior minister says optimism remains even as firefighters work to get the blazes in southwestern France under control. Then: we head to…
- The Briefing
What’s next for Peru as it inaugrates its 10th president in a decade
We head to Peru, where Keiko Fujimori has been inaugurated, to explore how she fits into the cast of characters reshaping politics in Latin America. Plus: the…
- The Briefing
What Japan can teach the world about disaster preparedness?
With Japan in recovery mode after a deadly earthquake, what can its disaster preparedness teach the world? Plus: tributes to late French DJ Kavinsky. See…
- The Briefing
South Korea battles its ageing population with a foreign workforce
Solutions for South Korea as it becomes the latest country to officially become a “super-aged” society. Plus: why it’s a buoyant time for the…
- The Briefing
The UK-Ukraine special relationship
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky meets the fifth UK prime minister since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Does he have more value to offer Andy…
- The Briefing
Trump’s ‘Department of Revenge’ and the latest fashion news
We begin live from the West Bank after four people die in the deadliest attack of the year. Then: Donald Trump’s weaponisation of the Department of…
- The Briefing
Why has Donald Trump signed a nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia?
Washington and Riyadh have inked a landmark pact which could allow the Gulf kingdom to develop its own civilian nuclear programme. We look at why the US…
- The Briefing
Ukraine’s president attempts to de-escalate tensions at home
Volodymyr Zelensky replaces his top army chief and appeals to the former defence minister after protests in Ukraine. Plus: Monocle’s head of radio…
- The Briefing
Farnborough Air Show highlights defence; China patrols the South China Sea
We speak to Lockheed Martin at the Farnborough Air Show about the renewed focus on European defence. Then: how China is patrolling the South China Sea and why…
- The Briefing
Lebanon's president visits the White House for landmark discussions
Joseph Aoun meets Marco Rubio ahead of his talks with the US president, Donald Trump. Then: Monocle's view of World Cup soft power, Italy's short-haul flights…
- The Briefing
World Cup final: The mood in Argentina and Spain, plus half-time show preview
Fernando Augusto Pacheco and Ed Stocker assess the mood ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final. Plus: what to expect from an unusual half-time show featuring…
- The Briefing
Why is the world viewing China more positively than the US?
We unpack a new survey from PEW Research Center which shows that China is now viewed more positively than the US. Plus: Greener, Cooler, Healthier is a new…
- The Briefing
Western Europe’s last frontier fence falls as Gibraltar joins the border-free Schengen community
In an historic step that follows decades of divisiveness and years of negotiations, Gibraltar joins Europe’s border-free Schengen community. See…
- The Briefing
Macron uses his last Bastille Day to unite Europe in show of military strength
As France’s president oversees his last parade, we assess why this year’s celebrations focus on European unity and support for Ukraine. See…
- The Briefing
Is the Strait of Hormuz open or closed? US and Iran exchange tit-for-tat strikes
Tehran says it can’t allow Washington to use the Strait of Hormuz to harm Iran’s sovereignty. Plus: why is Volkswagen changing? Then: is Norway the…
- The Briefing
Coming out of the cold? Myanmar tries to re-engage with the Asean bloc
Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations prepare for their first talks with Myanmar since the 2021 coup. Plus: we examine how…
- The Briefing
Will an establishment-versus-outsiders rift sink the Democrats’ mid-term hopes?
Are global energy markets engaging in wishful thinking as the conflict in Iran deepens? Then: does the Maine Senate race prove Democrats cannot resolve the…
- The Briefing
Damascus rocked by explosions during Macron’s visit to Syria: what comes next?
As the first visit to Syria by an EU leader is marred by explosions, we get the view from France and Damascus. Then: what next for Nato after renewed Trump…
- The Briefing
Trouble on the right: Meloni faces Trump at Nato summit while Le Pen awaits her fate
Donald Trump mocks his erstwhile ally Giorgia Meloni, while Marine Le Pen’s presidency is in the hands of a French court ruling. Plus: the US-Belgium…
- The Briefing
Iran mourns Ali Khamenei amid questions over his son’s whereabouts
Funeral processions for Iran’s slain supreme leader culminate in central Iran but his successor is nowhere to be seen. Plus: Sara Duterte’s…
- The Briefing
Press freedoms in the spotlight on the 250th anniversary of US independence
As Donald Trump prepares to mark America’s birthday, we look at how press freedoms have evolved. Then: why has Moldova’s prime minister resigned?…
- The Briefing
Kyiv suffers one of the worst nights of the war as Russia strikes back
A day of mourning is declared in Ukraine’s capital after Russian forces launched a large aerial attack. Then: Chanel buys historic gentleman’s…
- The Briefing
Wins and losses for Donald Trump at the end of the US Supreme Court’s term
US Supreme Court justices rule against Donald Trump on birthright citizenship. Plus: We look at Le Kilt’s offerings with Monocle’s Brenda Tuohy…
- The Briefing
Germany looks to the Global South for a new international order
Germany launches its North-South commission as its aid budget is cut. Plus: UAE launches its first passenger-train service, North Korea’s unlikely…
- The Briefing
Protests in Gaza erupt over living conditions in the besieged strip
We examine the future of life in Gaza as Israeli strikes kill three Palestinians. Then: Sweden’s Almedalen week, Paris Fashion Week Men’s and…
- The Briefing
Quality of Life special: From Tokyo to Oslo
In this special edition of The Briefing we look at some of the top cities in Monocle’s Quality of Life survey. Plus: a look into postcards of the past…
- The Briefing
Donald Trump and the US Senate battle over Iran ahead of midterm elections
We look at how the Iran war has irked Congress and affected Republicans’ domestic agenda. Then: Monocle’s Quality of Life Survey 2026; MIT Museum…
- The Briefing
Will Russia’s fuel crisis bring peace to Ukraine?
Russian president Vladimir Putin says Moscow is ready for peace talks with Ukraine after infrastructure strikes lead to a fuel shortage. Then: Grace Charlton…
- The Briefing
Would Britain be better off closer to Europe?
Ten years after Brexit, British voters now see the referendum as a disaster. Then: we look at the newspapers in Brazil and our Quality of Life series takes us…
- The Briefing
Keir Starmer resigns as UK prime minister
The UK prepares for its seventh head of government in 10 years as Keir Starmer stands down. Plus: Iran and the US hold talks in Switzerland. And: we head to…
- The Briefing
Colombia’s polarising run-off election and the view from the south
Colombia faces a hugely polarising presidential run-off election. Plus: Singapore beats Switzerland to the top spot in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking…
- The Briefing
Tell it to me Strait: Will the Iran deal repair the global economy?
As US president Donald Trump signs a deal with Iran, we examine the key takeaways and the effects on global markets. Then: Fernando Augusto Pacheco brings us…
- The Briefing
G7 summit talks critical minerals and Art Basel kicks off in Switzerland
Day two of the G7 summit in France focused on critical minerals and trade. Plus: Monocle’s Sophie Monaghan-Coombs reports from Art Basel. And: the Tokyo…
- The Briefing
Is Trump ready to turn a corner on the war in Ukraine? Plus: Pitti Uomo
US president Donald Trump says that Russia should make a deal with Ukraine to end the war. Then: the rise of the farther-right. Plus: we head to Florence with…
- The Briefing
Iran and the US reach a peace deal, with the Strait of Hormuz set to reopen
Tehran and Washington agree to end their war, with the deal set to be signed in Switzerland. Plus: Russia’s strikes on a religious landmark in Ukraine…
- The Briefing
Albania’s flamingo protests take off as anger builds over Jared Kushner’s planned resort development
Pro- and anti-government protests grip Albania as anger builds over a luxury resort development. Then: we examine Switzerland’s referendum on capping the…
- The Briefing
2026 Fifa World Cup opens amid fanfare and controversy
Monocle’s Tom Edwards and Anita Riotta walk us through their impressions of the World Cup, which begins in Mexico City today. And: Fernando Augusto…
- The Briefing
What’s behind the resurgence in inter-state conflict?
The number of inter-state conflicts around the world doubled in 2025 compared to the previous year, we discuss why. Then: why does the majority of Europe no…
- The Briefing
Who’s calling the shots?: Trump and Netanyahu both look to sway the war in Iran
As a rift between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu grows, who will hold influence over the other? Then: SpaceX, Anthropic and OpenAI look to make megacap…
- The Briefing
Israeli and Iranian retaliatory strikes as Trump administration looks on
Israel and Iran show little interest in maintaining a ceasefire demanded by Donald Trump. Our Gulf correspondent, Inzamam Rashid, explains. Plus: China’s…
- The Briefing
Culture wraps, Konfekt’s new travel special and the Mount Street Neighbourhood Summer Festival
Hezbollah rejects a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Then: a look at Konfekt’s summer issue with Sophie Grove and a pop-up bookshop by…
- The Briefing
Why did Germany fail to secure a seat on the UN Security Council?
We discuss Berlin’s failure to secure a seat on the UN Security Council. Then: are the world’s worst displacement crises under-reported? Plus…
- The Briefing
Serpentine Pavilion by Lanza Atelier opens in London
Nic Monisse takes a look at London’s Serpentine Pavilion ahead of opening on Saturday. Plus: Anita Riotta brings us the results of primaries across the…
- The Briefing
What’s next in Colombia’s presidential runoff between the left and the far right
We consider what Colombia’s polarising election could mean for Latin America’s third-largest economy. Plus: we meet Ari and Ethan Gold, the twins…
- The Briefing
Why Poland’s leaders continue to jockey for power
We examine the prospects for Poland’s ruling coalition ahead of the 2027 parliamentary election. Plus: we head to Paris to speak with Laetitia and Arthur…
- The Briefing
Ukraine’s boosted confidence on display at the Odesa Black Sea Security Forum
Contributing editor Andrew Mueller joins from the Black Sea Security Forum in Odesa, Ukraine. Plus: a painting of Sue Tilley, one of Lucien Freud’s main…
- The Briefing
Bolstering UAE defence and Monocle’s coffee special
We get the latest from Iran, go behind the scenes with UAE defence manufacturer Edge Group and talk all things coffee with a special feature in Monocle’s…
- The Briefing
Israel’s offensive against Lebanon intensifies
As the US and Iran battle on with strained efforts to find peace, we assess the implications for Israel as its offensive against Lebanon intensifies. Plus: we…
- The Briefing
Iran warns that the US will no longer have a safe haven in the region
As Tehran and Washington discuss a framework to end their three-month war, Iran’s supreme leader warns that Gulf powers will no longer be a shield for…
- The Briefing
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…
- The Briefing
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…
- The Briefing
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…
- The Briefing
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…
- The Briefing
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…
- The Briefing
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…
- The Briefing
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…