The Briefing

Ukraine signs a minerals deal with the United States but will this help it secure peace as well? We take a look at demonstrations against prime minister Robert Fico in Slovakia and profile the Japanese whisky industry. Plus: Max Porter unveils the longlist for the International Booker Prize. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since the fall of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, there have been questions about what comes next for the country – and whether any future government will be democratic and inclusive. Today marks the first real test of Syrian plurality as the nation’s interim government holds a national dialogue conference. Plus: we discuss dirty money from fentanyl sales in China, Canada’s televised leadership debates and fashion’s new romance with F1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Germany will have a new government but in what form? Monocle Radio’s Chris Cermak checks in from Berlin to tell Andrew Mueller what a CDU-led coalition could look like. Plus: European leaders rally around Zelensky, Beirut mourns Nasrallah and we have the latest from newspapers in Brazil. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How will the shocking hostage revelation affect an already fragile Israel-Gaza ceasefire? Then: we turn to Germany ahead of this weekend’s federal election, examine the spat between New Zealand and the Cook Islands and meet the team behind Finland’s award-winning digital agency. Plus: our fashion director reports from London Fashion Week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the president of the United States continues to sour relations with the president of Ukraine, Ukrainian MP Oleksii Goncharenko joins Chris Cermak to discuss how the rising tension might be resolved. Then: is Eric Adams off the hook? We discuss with lawyer and journalist Jami Floyd. Plus: our German election series, Boeing’s woes continue and Fernando Augusto Pacheco brings us music from Estonia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss the effects of recent plane crashes on the aviation industry. Plus: How Trump’s threats of 25 per cent tariffs could affect Japan’s auto industry, Casa Loewe’s Shanghai debut and why Zürich cyclists could soon pay traffic taxes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Direct talks between American and Russian officials are taking place in Saudi Arabia, Thailand cracks down on trafficking across its border with Myanmar, why the far-right Alternative for Germany has drawn the backing of Elon Musk and the latest business news from Dubai. Plus: ‘The White Lotus’ returns. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Europe examines the granular practicalities of Zelensky’s call for an “army of Europe”, Simon Bouvier joins Andrew Mueller to discuss the steps that have already been taken towards achieving this. Then: negotiators are in Cairo for Gaza ceasefire talks as Trump sends Israel bigger bombs. Plus: first of our German election series with Nina dos Santos and the exciting return of denim with Natalie Theodosi. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The European Union has vowed to fight back against Donald Trump’s steel tariffs, the Munich Security Conference gets under way and the world’s largest farmed-salmon producer offers a bounty for missing fish. Then: South Korea’s ousted president Yoon Suk Yeol faces an impeachment hearing and we check out Roca’s One Day Design Challenge in Barcelona. Plus: a special Valentine’s Day message. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump says that he had a “lengthy and highly productive” call with Vladimir Putin. Also on the programme: who were the AI power players at Emmanuel Macron’s Paris summit? Then: the Honda-Nissan merger deal collapses and fashion brand Miu Miu taps British filmmaker Joanna Hogg. Plus: ‘The Global Countdown’ comes from Nepal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II meets with Donald Trump at the White House and we analyse the effects of Donald Trump’s executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court. Then: Peru’s National Archives battle for survival and we check in at the World Governments Summit in Dubai. Plus: who is on the longlist for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hamas has said that it is postponing its next release of Israeli hostages, which was due to occur this Saturday. Meanwhile, Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, has announced that he will step down tomorrow and Monocle is at the World Governments Summit in Dubai this week. Plus: why Australia will become the first country in the world to ban under-16s from using social media. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emmanuel Macron and US vice-president JD Vance are the headliners at today’s Paris AI Action Summit. Also on the programme: Poland has the chance to impress upon the EU as it takes over the six-month presidency of the European Council. Then: Japan revives its relationship with the US and we discuss the latest from Kosovo’s elections. Plus: a look at arts and culture in Brazil. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

French parliament finally adopts the state’s 2025 budget – but has the government done enough to get the nation’s finances under control? Then: what do Trump’s tariffs mean for Europe and what are the ramifications of USAID’s dismantlement? Plus: we head to Switzerland where the Monocle team is researching a new book. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The effects of the conflict in eastern sections of the Democratic Republic of Congo has been revealed during the ceasefire. We also take a first look at Ginza Sony Park, Tokyo’s new hub for art and music. Then: Javier Milei announces that Argentina will leave the World Health Organization and ‘Ne Zha 2’ sets an all-time record for the Chinese box office. Plus: ‘The Global Countdown’ comes from Finland. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We analyse US president Donald Trump’s proposal to resettle the Palestinian population of Gaza in other countries, the EU opens the door to UK and Norway for defence “coalition of the willing” and why the UK aims to reset economic relations with the EU by inviting its leaders to a Brexit-reset summit in May. Plus: we flip through the design pages of Monocle’s February issue. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China slaps retaliatory tariffs on the import of US goods and the US secretary of state tells Panama to change its policy on the canal. Then: why the time to invest in Africa’s digital economy is now. Plus: a civil trial begins over the firing of the Vatican’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and why our love of the Moomins continues to grow. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump follows through on his threats to impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, while promising more tariffs against the EU. Also on the programme: Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte meets Hungary prime minister Viktor Orbán. Then: The Christian Democratic Union of Germany holds its party convention today, taking a hard line against immigration. Plus: we cover the Grammy Awards and the César Awards. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hamas confirms the death of its military chief, Mohammed Deif. Also on the programme: DeepSeek makes it hard for big tech to generate the oligopoly-like profit margins that investors hope for. Then: we speak to the mayor of Sør-Varanger, the only Norwegian municipality bordering Russia. Plus: why Australian journalist Peter Greste is on hunger strike and the theatre to look out for this week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

German parliament passes a non-binding motion calling for tougher border and asylum rules, Graubünden named one of the most welcoming places on earth and we check into both the Copenhagen International Fashion Fair and the Angoulême International Comics Festival. Then: we bring you the papers from Switzerland. Plus: ‘The Global Countdown’ comes from Thailand. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.