The Briefing

We hear from the CEO of the British Fashion Council as London Fashion Week begins. Then: we meet the team behind the One London project. And: Fernando Augusto Pacheco brings us his Slovak “Global Countdown”.

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Canada is set to become the EU’s first associate member. Then: we look at the crackdown against the LGBTQ+ community in Turkey. Plus: we head to the Arab Media Summit and look inside the new issue of Konfekt.

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Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial in the Philippines. Then: We check in with Monocle’s team at the Arab Media Summit in Dubai. And: The best of Venice Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival.

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European leaders carve out a new Arctic agenda without the US at the table. Then: Mark Carney's bid to turn Canada’s political reliability into economic gain. Plus: Design on display in London, Paris, Venice and Zürich.

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Oil is more than $100 (€86) a barrel and European diesel prices have hit record highs. Are markets finally recognising a renewed threat to global energy supplies? Then:Konfekt’s autumn spa special and Paris Design Week.

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Could Poland and Canada’s defence deal mark a new chapter for Western security? Then: can the US Democrats capitalise on their success in the primaries? Plus: Apple’s new CEO is put to the test.

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We’re in Dallas as the Republican party begins to grapple with its post-Trump future and then in Paris, where Macron and his MPs strategise for plans after his departure. Then: New York Fashion Week kicks off.

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US secretary of state Marco Rubio lands in Colombia, lauding the continent’s right-wing swing. Will he leverage his regional influence for a 2028 presidential run? Then: Portuguese architecture and Lisbon’s Cape Verde ties.

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We head to Berlin as Germany’s far-right AFD party eyes a path to power. Then: a global foresight strategist on how businesses can navigate volatility. Plus: 2027 travel trends emerge, with long-haul trips and cooler climes prevailing.

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Could Volkswagen’s restructuring actually be a positive sign that corporate Germany is facing up to reality? Plus: Monocle’s Quality of Life Conference under way in Lisbon. 

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Russia looks to close Germany’s Goethe-Institut cultural centres. Then: big tech makes Trump’s Lake America official, the latest from Hong Kong and the Quality of Life global countdown.

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 Emma Nelson is live from our headquarters in the city that has just topped the IMD’s global Smart City Index. Plus: an alliance unfolding between Al-Qaeda and Houthis in Yemen and the start of the Venice Film Festival.

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We head to Istanbul for Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan’s first-ever Mecca Defence Alliance meeting. Then we’re off to Milan to discuss Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s new era of stability.

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There are seven months to go before the first round of the election that will find a replacement for outgoing leader Emmanuel Macron. As politicians return to their offices after the summer break, we look at the runners and riders in this presidential race, and what the latest polls tell us.

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In light of Harald V’s passing, we explore why monarchy still influences an increasingly divided geopolitical landscape. Then: Dubai airport perseveres amid war and Monocle’s Quality of Life Conference in Lisbon next week.

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Volkswagen’s CEO Klaus Blume and unions are clashing over massive job cuts. Plus: New York Mayor Mamdani takes on Fifth Avenue. And: The Global Countdown.

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The Spanish government requests emergency EU funding as the cabinet holds an extraordinary meeting over the Ceuta crisis. Then: how to fail upwards in business. And: Australia bans AI-generated music from its charts.

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Washington says that it is recognising Damascus’s positive moves to distance itself from international terrorism. Syria’s foreign minister calls the decision a “historic step”. We look at what the Trump administration’s decision means. 

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The UK prime minister is in Kyiv on his first foreign trip, boosting Ukrainian missile production and defying Russian threats. Plus: Iran “D-Day” hyperbole shrugged off by markets and the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

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We head to Bangkok as Myanmar’s post-coup leadership arrives for a diplomatic push. What does it mean for a government to gain legitimacy? Then: Rail Baltica brings the Baltics ever closer. Plus: Rob Bound previews ‘Monocle on Culture’.

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As pressure mounts on Zelensky amid calls for elections, what does the scandal mean for Ukraine’s morale? Plus: Can design be a vehicle for development in post-industrial cities; and a flick through Monocle’s September issue.

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China is launching an Arctic Sea route as an alternative to the fraught Middle East shipping lanes. How would this shift global ties? Plus: will Moldova and Romania merge? Then: Libyan reggae and Lebanese city-pop with Habibi Funk.

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How has Oman found itself in the firing line of the United States? And what is its motivation to reach a deal with Iran in the Strait of Hormuz? Plus: chef-turned-CEO Hugo Worsley and shoe designer Yuki Matsuda. 

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The US pushes to revive its Gaza peace plan as Jared Kushner meets Hamas and Israeli officials. Plus: Anita Riotta previews ‘The Foreign Desk’ and Fernando Augusto Pacheco tells us about ‘Monocle Meets’. 

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As Japan slams Putin’s recent visit to the disputed Northern Territories, we discuss what history tells us about how these matters are resolved. Then: the Gulf gears up for EVs and Eurovision proposes major voting changes. 

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As two of president Donald Trump’s most fervent former acolytes talk about forming a new party, we assess the future of Maga. Plus: what Ottawa’s nightlife mayor can teach the world.

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Ukraine’s president warns that Pyongyang is increasingly bolstering Putin’s war effort. We ask what the fresh shipments of ground troops and weapons could mean for other Asian powers. 

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South Korea announces major ambitions for its defence industry. What does Seoul’s focus on American ships and locally produced chips tell us? Then: European retailers are creating communities in the US market. Is this the future of luxury? 

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As a second shooting in less than a week rocks Thailand, we head to Bangkok for the latest. Then: what economic opportunities exist in climate action? Plus: the future of Schengen and the allure of the cinema.

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We head to Bangkok first for an update from James Chambers on a tragic school shooting in the city. Then: we dive into corporate earnings to see which sectors are leading the pack. Plus: the CEOs of Bombardier and Qantas. 

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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 Augusto Pacheco brings us ‘The Global Countdown’.

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Julia Webster Ayuso reports on the redevelopment of Barcelona’s La Rambla. Then: the increasing demand for tree services and suppliers as Europe grapples with heatwaves. Plus: an update from the first day of Taiwan’s annual military drills.

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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 Monocle’s Nic Monisse.

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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. Then: ‘The Foreign Desk’ explores the “Nerd Reich”; RFK Jr’s new cooking show; and local fashion becomes political. 

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France’s interior minister says optimism remains even as firefighters work to get the blazes in southwestern France under control. Then: we head to Mallorca for the opening of a new Mandarin Oriental. Plus: a conversation with the president of Japanese eyewear brand Globe Specs. 

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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 Guggenheim Abu Dhabi sets an opening date.

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With Japan in recovery mode after a deadly earthquake, what can its disaster preparedness teach the world? Plus: tributes to late French DJ Kavinsky. 

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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 luxury cruise market. 

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Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky meets the fifth UK prime minister since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Does he have more value to offer Andy Burnham than the other way around? Plus: Cape Verde’s new soft power.

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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 Justice. Plus: fashion news from Dior, Burberry and more.

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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 president is letting Saudi Arabia achieve what it has fought so hard to prevent Iran from accomplishing. 

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Volodymyr Zelensky replaces his top army chief and appeals to the former defence minister after protests in Ukraine. Plus: Monocle’s head of radio discusses the case for taking a sabbatical.

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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 US Coast Guard could get involved.

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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 and how the global demand for luxury fashion brands is shifting.

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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 Madonna and Shakira. Then: photographer Misan Harriman.

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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 platform providing nature-based solutions to urban heat. 

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In an historic step that follows decades of divisiveness and years of negotiations, Gibraltar joins Europe’s border-free Schengen community.  

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As France’s president oversees his last parade, we assess why this year’s celebrations focus on European unity and support for Ukraine. 

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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 model country for ‘good losers’? And: we chat with Belgian singer Angèle.

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Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations prepare for their first talks with Myanmar since the 2021 coup. Plus: we examine how Londoners are living with and adapting to extreme heat. And: how flamenco can improve our communication skills. 

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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 rift threatening their mid-term chances? Plus: Klarna’s CMO and ‘The Global Countdown’.

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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 threats? Plus: business news and Japan’s Yumiko Morioka. 

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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 controversy settled on the pitch and Haute Couture Week in Paris.

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Funeral processions for Iran’s slain supreme leader culminate in central Iran but his successor is nowhere to be seen. Plus: Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial gets under way; the chief economist of Swedbank; and how Bank of America is funding art-conservation projects.

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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? And: we speak to the owners of Paris shirtmaker Charvet. 

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A day of mourning is declared in Ukraine’s capital after Russian forces launched a large aerial attack. Then: Chanel buys historic gentleman’s shirtmaker Charvet. And: we bring you more musical World Cup fun. 

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US Supreme Court justices rule against Donald Trump on birthright citizenship. Plus: We look at Le Kilt’s offerings with Monocle’s Brenda Tuohy; and speak with H&M at Almedalen.

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Germany launches its North-South commission as its aid budget is cut. Plus: UAE launches its first passenger-train service, North Korea’s unlikely economic success and Monocle at Almedalen Week in Sweden. 

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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 Mexican chef Santiago Lastra.

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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 and a food neighbourhood in the winning city of Tokyo. 

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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 acquires IM Pei’s archive; and The Global Countdown World Cup tournament.

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Russian president Vladimir Putin says Moscow is ready for peace talks with Ukraine after infrastructure strikes lead to a fuel shortage. Then: Grace Charlton takes us front row at Paris Fashion Week Men’s. 

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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 to a Viennese bunker.

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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 Sydney’s Little Portugal.

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Colombia faces a hugely polarising presidential run-off election. Plus: Singapore beats Switzerland to the top spot in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking; how the US-Iran deal will affect Asia; and French culture news.

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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 third World Cup special edition of ‘The Global Countdown’. 

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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 Music Hour features Thai musician Notep.

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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 Grace Charlton for Pitti Uomo.

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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. And: we discuss the redevelopment of London’s Olympia. 

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Pro- and anti-government protests grip Albania as anger builds over a luxury resort development. Then: we examine Switzerland’s referendum on capping the population. And: Nic Monisse on Copenhagen’s design festival.

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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 Pacheco with a special tournament on ‘The Global Countdown’. Plus: Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer receives an Outstanding Leader award.

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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 longer see the US as an ally? Plus: the Baltics join financial forces and Alexis Bittar on buying back his jewellery business. 

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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 IPO history. Plus: the Bengali art of Jamdani weaving.

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Israel and Iran show little interest in maintaining a ceasefire demanded by Donald Trump. Our Gulf correspondent, Inzamam Rashid, explains. Plus: China’s president in Pyongyang and the co-directors of furniture fair ICFF.

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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 Thames & Hudson at London’s Mount Street Neighbourhood Summer Festival.

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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 Global Countdown’ kicks off its World Cup special.

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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 US and we wrap the Black Sea Security Forum in Odesa with Andrew Mueller.

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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 behind one-shot musical film ‘Brother Verses Brother’.

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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 Cohen, owners of the best Franco-Japanese restaurants in town.

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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 muses, is set to go under the hammer.

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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 June magazine, out today. Plus: The Global Countdown from Namibia.

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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 discuss opera and AI with the Royal Opera’s Netia Jones.

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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 US and its bases. Plus: Why guilty consumption is taking off in Japan.

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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. Anthropic CEO Christopher Olah is in attendance but will anyone in Silicon Valley truly pay attention to the Church’s teachings?

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Hungarian prime minister Péter Magyar wants to limit the terms of his office to eight years – preventing his predecessor from returning. We’ll discuss the constitutional reforms and how Magyar is doing in his first weeks in office.

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We discuss Trump’s punishment of disloyal Republicans in the primary elections. Separately, his IRS settlement could permanently block him and his family from tax audits. What will his base make of these moves?

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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 burden sharing’ look like and who will plug the gaps?

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As Moscow recovers from huge Ukrainian strikes, Russia’s president prepares to meet Xi Jinping. Then: how one European development bank is expanding operations. Plus: Dutch designer Iris Van Herpen at her new retrospective.

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Hundreds of actors have been blacklisted for protesting Vincent Bolloré’s political influence over Canal+. Then: how a shadow network across Europe is helping Russia to evade sanctions. Plus: Monocle on Eurovision 2026. 

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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 of Hormuz is over? Plus: South African music lands in Kyoto. 

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We speak with Marie Lora-Mungai, who was on stage in Nairobi when French president Emmanuel Macron implored the audience to show respect, about the viral moment and the future of Africa’s creative industries. Plus: the latest from the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing and a Eurovision-themed ‘The Global Countdown’.

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Ukraine pushes for an airport ceasefire after its three-day truce with Russia comes to an end. Plus: Katharine Hayhoe on how climate scientists maintain their optimism in the face of the Trump administration.

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Cabinet members are asked to pledge support for embattled UK prime minister Keir Starmer. Plus: redistricting battles heat up in the US, Thaksin Shinawatra is released from prison and Sweden’s Eurovision entry.

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An end to the Iran war looks unlikely as Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu refuse to entertain Tehran’s demands. Then: a taste of Corsican food in Paris. Plus: the case for Australia Fashion Week.

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We discuss what next for Donald Trump’s tariffs as he is pushed back for a second time by a US trade court. Then: protests over Russia at the Venice Biennale. Plus: the latest cultural news.

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The US secretary of state is in Rome for talks with Pope Leo XIV and Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, two leaders whose relations with US president Donald Trump have soured. Can Marco Rubio revive them?

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As Donald Trump backs down from ‘Project Freedom’, Andrew Mueller weighs the likelihood of peace and what it would look like. Plus: Grace Charlton on Paris under its new mayor and a shocking trend.

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As Israel ramps up its killing in southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire, we discuss where things could go next. Then: Merz a year on, Romania’s vote of no-confidence and the Venice Biennale. 

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We discuss Donald Trump’s new plan for the US military to guide stranded ships through the strait of Hormuz. Then: Zambia cites misalignment with ‘national values’ as it cancels major human rights gathering

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