The Briefing

Monocle’s editorial director, Tyler Brûlé, and editor-in-chief, Andrew Tuck, join Tom Edwards, Robert Bound and Gillian Dobias to swap presents, survey the festivities around the world and share their Christmas wishes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us for a Christmas Eve special in which we listen back to some of our best and biggest interviews on Monocle Radio from the past year. Today we hear from Oscar-winning director Susanne Bier; former FBI director-turned-author James Comey; Lisa Jackson, VP of environment, policy and social initiatives at Apple; and legendary film-score composer and music producer, Hans Zimmer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A pacy round-up of the day’s main news stories, anchored from Midori House in London by Emma Nelson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US lurches towards a government shutdown as president-elect Donald Trump torpedoes a bipartisan spending bill. Plus: the EU takes the UK to court. Then: the best films of 2024 and what to eat and drink over the holidays. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, presents her budget to parliament and her image of Italy as a stable, fiscally responsible country in the EU. Plus, the UK becomes the first country outside the Asia-Pacific to sign a trade deal in the region. Then, our final edition of ‘The Global Countdown’ for the year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Officials say that an Israel-Hamas ceasefire could be close as negotiations continue. Plus: we check in with the uncertain political futures of Brazil’s Lula and Canada’s Trudeau. Then: Monocle’s editorial director, Tyler Brûlé, joins to discuss the 80th anniversary of ‘Le Monde’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Germany’s election campaign begins – but what could its next government look like? Then we turn to Sudan to get the latest from the ground and learn how foreign powers are engaging with the conflict. Plus, we tour Croatia’s holiday markets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How are international powers weighing the new power dynamic in Syria? Then: we head to Seoul as president Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment trial begins. Plus: we discuss the Anthropocene, a proposed geological epoch. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emmanuel Macron names François Bayrou as the country’s new prime minister. Will he last longer than Michel Barnier? We ask our Paris bureau chief, Simon Bouvier. Then: Chanel has a new artistic director and a musical compilation album from the South China Sea. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We dive into the latest from Damascus and consider what journalists on the ground make of the country’s new reality. Plus: what are the UK Labour government’s key foreign-policy goals as it heads abroad? Then: we visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo for this week’s edition of ‘The Global Countdown’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As armed gangs continue to terrorise Haiti’s capital, Chris Sabitini joins Georgina Godwin to discuss the unfolding crisis in the country. Plus: German chancellor Scholz calls for a confidence vote, we reflect on a year of Javier Milei and consider whether the US is planning to annex Canada. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Benjamin Netanyahu takes the stand for the first time today in his landmark corruption trial as Israeli forces move into Syria. Also in the programme: how will China spur its economy in 2025? Plus, we head to Jeddah for the Red Sea Film Festival. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leila Molana Allen and Renad Mansour join us to discuss Syria and what the fall of the Assad regime might mean for refugees across the globe. Plus, how a school in Norway is protecting Sámi culture and ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ hits London’s West End. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iraq brings together the foreign ministers of Iran and Syria to discuss the escalating situation in the region and we look at the rising tensions between India and Bangladesh. Plus: an icon of London’s Oxford Street is set to be demolished, the latest fashion and retail news and our team meets Ginevra Moretti, owner of House of Nine, at the International Luxury Travel Market in Cannes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As president Macron searches for a new prime minister and prepares to address the nation tonight, Brussels looks on in concern over France’s debt crisis. Plus, the latest from South Korea after the attempted martial-law takeover. Then, business news and a festive ‘Global Countdown’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Korean MPs begin impeachment proceedings against president Yoon Suk Yeol after thwarting his attempt to impose martial law. Plus, how Syria’s instability could hurt Russia’s military capabilities, a roundup of nordic news and the latest from the design world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We get the latest on the ongoing protests in Georgia. UK prime minister Keir Starmer encourages the transatlantic alliance to be bolstered but avoids discussing the Parthenon marbles with his visiting Greek counterpart. Then we check in on the International Luxury Travel Market and the UK Fashion Awards. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For one of his final international engagements as US president, Joe Biden arrives in Angola, making good on his promise to visit an African country. Another president on tour is Taiwan’s Lai Ching-te, who visits the Marshall Islands after trips to Hawaii and Guam over the weekend. Plus: Monocle’s Paris bureau chief, Simon Bouvier, on Donald Trump’s selection of property developer Charles Kushner – his son-in-law Jared’s father – as US ambassador to France. And we get the latest business news from Bloomberg and look ahead to the Fashion Awards. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emma Nelson discusses nuclear talks in Geneva and a “wonderful” phone call between Mexico City and Washington. Then: rising cinema out of Brasilia and Monocle’s design editor, Nic Monisse, speaks with Soane Medal winner Hanif Kara. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

French prime minister Michel Barnier may be staring down the barrel of a no-confidence vote following an unpopular budget. Beijing is accused of sabotaging cables in the Baltic Sea. Then: how countries are making Thanksgiving foods their own. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.