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.
- Update frequency
- every day
- Average duration
- 33 minutes
- Episodes
- 155
- Years Active
- 2025
Germany enters a new European security era
Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, resets UK relations but tussles with Brussels’ budget. Plus: Milan’s mayoral woes, the UK lowers the voting age and how Superman overcame an attempted Maga backl…
Trump turns his attention to the Gulf
President Trump hosted Qatar’s prime minister and Bahrain’s Crown Prince, reinforcing a growing diplomatic push in the Gulf. We discuss the strategy and why US engagement with the region is intensify…
Trump hosts Qatar’s prime minister amid Gaza-ceasefire efforts
Qatar’s prime minister joins the US president for dinner as the push for a ceasefire in Gaza continues.
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Air India investigation prompts aviation authorities in at least two countries to check Boeing fuel switches
We discuss the latest from the Air India crash investigation as the country’s aviation regulator tells its airlines to inspect the fuel switches on several Boeing planes, despite US regulators insist…
Bastille Day military parade yields Macron promises on defence spending
France’s president pledges to double defence spending by 2027 as Paris prepares for its Bastille Day parade at a time when Russia continues to pummel Ukraine.
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Trump’s letter to Canada threatening a 35 per cent tariff rate
Another day, another letter from the Trump administration spelling out tariff rates and sending markets into confusion.
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Ukraine suffers another record barrage of Russian drone-and-missile strikes overnight
The fourth annual Ukraine Recovery Conference is under way in Rome during record drone-and-missile strikes from Russia in Kyiv.
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How recent IDF deaths are fuelling the debate in Israel to end the war
Hamas says more captures are coming after five Israeli soldiers are killed in Gaza, threatening the coalition in Israel.
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Netanyahu, Trump and Israel Katz plan for the relocation of Palestinians
What would a “humanitarian city” in southern Gaza look like? And could it become permanent? We explore the plans of Israel’s defence minister and consider whether Netanyahu and Trump will back the mo…
Brics summit: genocide accusations, tariff threats and absentee leaders
We discuss the latest from the Brics summit in Rio de Janeiro as Donald Trump threatens tariffs on the bloc due to “anti-American policies”. Then: a Swedish church or a Russian spy enclave?
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Russia hammers Kyiv with largest drone attack and France’s travel chaos continues
Russian attacks on Ukraine’s capital continue as Trump labels his call with Putin “disappointing”. Plus: the chaos of French travel disruption continues. And: Monocle’s Nic Monisse tells you how desi…
What’s happening inside Iran as the US assesses its effect on the country’s nuclear programme?
As the US assesses its effect on Iran’s nuclear programme, we ask if things are settling down with a look inside the country.
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A 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Vietnam halves its cities and France’s smoking ban
Israel agrees to a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza – but will Hamas? Vietnam halves its cities, France bans smoking at the beach, Monocle’s Tyler Brûlé on our Quality of Life Survey and Brazil’s singing amb…
Thailand’s Prime Minister suspended over leaked phone call
As the political turmoil in Thailand continues to worsen, Monocle’s Asia editor, James Chambers, gives us the view from Bangkok.
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Canada caves to Trump, dropping tech tax to resume trade talks with US
Canada scrapped its digital tax on US tech giants hours before launch. Ottawa calls it strategic but many see a concession to Trump. Is Carney entering critical trade negotiations on the back foot?
Se…
Live from Paris: Why Iran is clamping down on its own people
The latest from Iran as the state embarks on a wave of arrests and executions of suspected Israeli spies.
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Live from Paris: Accounting for the missing people of Ukraine
How the fates of 40,000 missing people in Ukraine remain unknown.
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Live from Paris: Tensions rise as Trump descends on Nato Summit
Donald Trump’s words to Nato might seem friendly enough but there are doubts about the future of US commitment.
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Live from Paris: Israel orders strikes on Tehran while Iran denies breaking truce
Israel accuses Iran of violating the ceasefire as hostilities begin once again.
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Live from Paris: Europe reacts to US strikes on Iran
Live from 16 Rue Bachaumont in Paris, Emma Nelson and guests assess Europe’s response to US strikes on Iran.
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