The Monocle Daily

Monocle’s Toronto correspondent, Tomos Lewis, recaps a tumultuous week in Canadian politics as outgoing prime minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party sets a date of 9 March for the election of its next leader. Then: Julia Lasica and Anita Riotta look at Donald Trump’s sentencing, Ukrainian drones and SpaceX’s plans in Italy. Plus: could a free coffee influence your choice of commute? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The leaders of the UK and France are meeting today to deepen their alliance ahead of Donald Trump’s second US presidency. To discuss, Georgina Godwin is joined by Terry Stiastny and Sir William Patey, who will also take a look at India’s strengthening diplomatic ties with Afghanistan’s Taliban. Plus: do bank holidays help or hinder the economy? And our Balkans correspondent sends us a letter from Bohinj. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re joined by Marc Adelman in Los Angeles to get the latest on the California wildfires as they go from bad to worse. Then: the reaction from Europe as US president-elect Donald Trump threatens to seize Greenland on the grounds of national security. Also on the programme: after Syria’s new leader refrains from shaking the hand of Germany’s top diplomat, we ask how important handshakes are for diplomacy and a new study shows 40 per cent of Germans are worried about their political future ahead of federal elections in February. Plus: sales of music in the UK hit an all-time high. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After Austria’s centrist parties failed to agree on a coalition to prevent the far right from claiming power, the country’s Freedom Party is attempting to form its own government. What does this mean for increasing nationalist ideals across Europe? Then: China’s foreign minister begins a tour of Africa and we reflect on satire 10 years on from the ‘Charlie Hebdo’ attack. Plus: does classical music have the power to deter criminals? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, resigns. We get the latest from our editorial director, Tyler Brûlé, and correspondent in Toronto, Tomos Lewis. Also on the programme: as Ukraine’s armed forces begin a surprise offensive in the Kursk region of Russia, we ask what this means for the future of the conflict. Plus: Elon Musk’s inflammatory comments on social media platform X target UK politicians. We discuss his reasoning for getting involved. Plus: London is crowned as Europe’s most congested city. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monocle’s Toronto correspondent, Tomos Lewis, discusses Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau’s future amid calls for his resignation. Then: the latest on the looming US government shutdown. Plus: Monocle’s editor in chief, Andrew Tuck, and head of radio, Tom Edwards, discuss the year in elections and Christmas diplomacy for awkward political chats around the turkey. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Volodymyr Zelensky makes a final push to rally EU allies ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration, we discuss growing pressure on Europe to boost its defense budget. Also on the programme: as Emmanuel Macron faces mounting calls to resign, could France be heading toward early presidential elections? Plus: the great Guinness shortage and what not to buy your spouse this Christmas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canada’s prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, is in a political crisis. We examine how bad the situation is. Also on the programme: with Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, calling a snap election for next year, we assess who the nation’s next leader could be. Then: why Donald Trump is suing the Des Moines Register. Plus: the woman who stowed away on a flight from New York to Paris last month was taken into custody again – for a very similar offence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukraine claims responsibility for the killing of Russian chemical-weapons chief, Igor Kirillov. We unpack what might happen next. Also in the programme: the European Commission takes the UK to court for the alleged failure by the UK to protect the rights of resident EU citizens. Plus: we ask why there were so few young men at the impeachment rallies in South Korea and new research shows consuming arts and culture is good for your health. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Israel doubles down on its incursion into the occupied Syrian territory of Golan Heights, we ask whether this is necessary or opportunistic. Also on the programme: we discuss the latest as Turkey’s prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, offers to mediate to resolve tensions between Sudan and the UAE. Then: the remaining Bali Nine return to Australia. What does this say about Indonesia’s new leader? Plus: students at a school in England get a rude awakening when a vicar tells them the truth about Santa Claus. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ed Stocker and Simon Bouvier discuss France’s new prime minister, Francois Bayrou, and the Catalan separatists threatening to end support for Spain’s prime minister. Plus: Fiona Wilson joins to debate doggy-bag guidelines in Japan to tackle food waste. Then: ‘What We Learned’ and the future of Jumeirah in Africa. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest in South Korea’s ongoing political crisis and the implications for its soft-power prowess. Also in the programme: the UK’s changing attitudes toward relations with the European Union and Australia proposes new taxes on tech giants to pay for news coverage. Plus: does the ‘Time Magazine’ person of the year really matter? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Germany's chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has requested a confidence vote, setting in motion the process for the country to hold early elections next year. What happened to the EU's powerhouse? Plus: the fate of Syrian refugees in Europe, Maori tribes' plea to King Charles III and how the way we watch television is changing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tessa Szyszkowitz and Ben Kelly discuss how Western governments might deal with a Syria newly led by a former terrorist group, the controversy over the murder of Unitedhealthcare’s CEO, the ‘Los Angeles Times’ bias debate and our favourite online searches of the year. Plus: why young Croatians are leaving and how to keep them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robin Brant and Giorgia Scaturro discuss how the collapse of the Assad regime will affect Europe. Also in the programme: a migration solution dubbed the ‘Musk bill‘, tensions over an EU-Mercosur trade deal and whether Italy’s trains are the best in Europe. Plus: Karthik Ramanna on his book ‘The Age of Outrage’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are joined by Bucharest-based journalist Alison Mutler as Romania’s top court annuls the results of the first round of its presidential election. Also in the programme, we unpack Mercer’s ranking of the best and worst cities in the world for expats to live. Plus: Andrew Mueller with ‘What We Learned’ and we hear from Janine Marshall of London’s One Aldwych at the International Luxury Travel Market in Cannes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guests Latika Burke and Theo Usherwood join Andrew Mueller to discuss the power of parliament. First, we head to France, where lawmakers passed a no-confidence motion to oust prime minister Michel Barnier, and then, South Korea, where MPs vetoed martial law to stop the president from taking over. Also on the programme: UK prime minister Keir Starmer launches a plan for change. Plus: our team in Cannes reports from the International Luxury Travel Market as they meet the co-founder of Fora, Henley Vazquez. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reports suggest that the recent rebel advance in Syria is still on the march. Will Russia have the resources to protect its interests in the nation? Also in the programme: the most recent trade dispute between the US and China over semiconductor restrictions. Plus: France and Saudi Arabia try their hand at resolving the war in Israel and Palestine. Then: Italy bans Airbnb self check-ins. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We get the latest from John Everard as South Korea’s president, Yook Suk Yeol, declares martial law after accusing anti-state elements of sympathising with North Korea. Also in the programme, Ukraine is high on the agenda as Nato foreign ministers meet in Brussels. But is an invitation likely? Plus: protests in Georgia continue for a fifth day and artificial intelligence in advertising. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We unpack the latest as President Biden issues a ‘full and unconditional’ pardon for the charges facing his son, Hunter Biden. Also in the programme, France’s fragile government teeters on the brink of collapse following Michel Barnier pushes his social security budget past parliament, without consulting MPs and the effect of a Trump presidency for Ireland. Plus: As public service complaints in England soar, we ask whether things are getting worse or do we just moan more? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.