The Briefing

‘Greatness or obliteration’: Can the UNGA help Iran and the US secure a deal?

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 11:39:00 +0000

If progress can be made with anything at the UNGA, will it be with Iran and the US? Then: why are Milan Fashion Week parties an important event for sartorial diplomacy? Plus: Zürich’s cultural revolution. And: can AI help us sleep better and longer?

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Is UNGA where the middle powers stop talking and start acting?

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 11:41:18 +0000

Leaders from Canada, Japan, Brazil and more take centre stage at the UN General Assembly today. Are they the new power brokers? Then: we head to Fondazione Prada as Milan Fashion week hits the runway.

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The UN General Assembly convenes against the backdrop of the Iran war

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 11:47:18 +0000

As world leaders descend on New York for the 81st UN General Assembly, we discuss the gathering’s relevance. Then: Fresh election setbacks for the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz. And: What do city monuments mean to us?

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Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro battle for votes ahead of Brazil’s big election day

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 11:45:49 +0000

Brazilians prepare to head to the polls as the presidential race narrows. Then: we look ahead to Fine Arts Paris and head to the Toronto Film Festival. And: we hear about the late architect César Pelli’s final project.

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Catwalks, pop-ups and after-parties: London Fashion Week begins

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 11:56:15 +0000

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

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:51:07 +0000

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: what do we know in week 10?

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 12:01:10 +0000

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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The EU ices out the US with its new Arctic agenda

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 12:19:12 +0000

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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Are markets recognising a renewed threat to global energy supplies?

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:00:33 +0000

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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Does the future of the transatlantic relationship lie with Poland and Canada?

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:48:07 +0000

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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How to preserve a political legacy: the view from ‘Trumpapalooza’ and Macron’s twilight years

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 12:51:49 +0000

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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Rubio in South America: celebrating the region’s rightward shift and eyeing 2028

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 12:00:29 +0000

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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Germany’s far-right wins big: The view from the Bundestag and Brussels

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 13:20:53 +0000

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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What the biggest restructuring in Volkswagen’s history says about Germany

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 12:07:35 +0000

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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That’s Goethe hurt: Russia’s cultural swipe at Germany following accusations of drone attacks and spying

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 11:41:59 +0000

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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Live from Zürich, which has just topped an index of the world’s smartest cities

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 11:59:20 +0000

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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The Mecca defence pact and Meloni’s record-breaking run

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 12:16:28 +0000

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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La rentrée politique: France’s presidential hopefuls kick start their campaigns

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 11:56:10 +0000

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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The death of Norway’s King Harald V and the enduring soft power of monarchy

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 12:08:51 +0000

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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A moment of truth for Volkswagen and Germany’s wider car industry

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 11:58:09 +0000

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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Spain vows to overhaul immigration laws as the Ceuta crisis persists

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:58:36 +0000

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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A ‘path to prosperity’? The US removes Syria from list of state sponsors of terrorism

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 11:45:38 +0000

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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Andy Burnham delivers secret missile plans on Ukraine’s Independence Day

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 12:05:00 +0000

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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Myanmar’s post-coup leadership’s diplomacy tour lands in Bangkok – what does legitimacy look like?

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:57:22 +0000

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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Can Ukraine’s new defence minister Yevhenii Khmara deliver what Kyiv needs most?

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 11:53:22 +0000

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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How do trade routes tip the balance of geopolitical scales?

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 13:53:45 +0000

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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Oman, the inadvertent gate keeper

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 11:48:53 +0000

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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Can the US get the Gaza peace plan back on track?

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:48:45 +0000

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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This land is my land: how should countries resolve small territorial disputes?

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 11:44:16 +0000

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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Maga without Trump? The future of The Republicans

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:41:40 +0000

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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Why South Korea is reluctant to help Ukraine as North Korea boosts Russia’s war effort

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:36:51 +0000

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’s defence future: chips and ships

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 11:48:46 +0000

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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The latest from Bangkok and ‘The Growth Story of the 21st Century’

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:49:06 +0000

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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Are European companies outpacing their American peers?

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 13:12:14 +0000

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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‘Portrait of a City: A Century of American Photography’ and ‘The Global Countdown’

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 11:46:01 +0000

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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Revisiting La Rambla and the increasing importance of tree cover

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:41:30 +0000

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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Boeing’s 737 Max 7 finally gets certification from FAA

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 13:16:17 +0000

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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Why is Israeli withdrawal such a key issue for Gaza and Lebanon?

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:01:00 +0000

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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Optimism remains as firefighters battle to get France’s wildfires under control

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 12:45:50 +0000

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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What’s next for Peru as it inaugrates its 10th president in a decade

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 11:53:22 +0000

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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What Japan can teach the world about disaster preparedness?

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:53:52 +0000

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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South Korea battles its ageing population with a foreign workforce

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 11:46:02 +0000

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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The UK-Ukraine special relationship

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 11:51:27 +0000

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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Trump’s ‘Department of Revenge’ and the latest fashion news

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:43:32 +0000

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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Why has Donald Trump signed a nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia?

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:38:43 +0000

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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Ukraine’s president attempts to de-escalate tensions at home

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 11:41:06 +0000

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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Farnborough Air Show highlights defence; China patrols the South China Sea

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 11:36:08 +0000

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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Lebanon's president visits the White House for landmark discussions

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 11:54:38 +0000

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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World Cup final: The mood in Argentina and Spain, plus half-time show preview

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 11:40:35 +0000

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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Why is the world viewing China more positively than the US?

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 11:49:02 +0000

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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Western Europe’s last frontier fence falls as Gibraltar joins the border-free Schengen community

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 11:45:56 +0000

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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Macron uses his last Bastille Day to unite Europe in show of military strength

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:39:59 +0000

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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Is the Strait of Hormuz open or closed? US and Iran exchange tit-for-tat strikes

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:48:47 +0000

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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Coming out of the cold? Myanmar tries to re-engage with the Asean bloc

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:05:07 +0000

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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Will an establishment-versus-outsiders rift sink the Democrats’ mid-term hopes?

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 14:22:10 +0000

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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Damascus rocked by explosions during Macron’s visit to Syria: what comes next?

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 11:40:28 +0000

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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Trouble on the right: Meloni faces Trump at Nato summit while Le Pen awaits her fate

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 12:13:03 +0000

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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Iran mourns Ali Khamenei amid questions over his son’s whereabouts

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 11:48:07 +0000

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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Press freedoms in the spotlight on the 250th anniversary of US independence

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 11:41:41 +0000

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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Kyiv suffers one of the worst nights of the war as Russia strikes back

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 11:44:32 +0000

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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Wins and losses for Donald Trump at the end of the US Supreme Court’s term

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 11:41:47 +0000

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 looks to the Global South for a new international order

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:46:54 +0000

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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Protests in Gaza erupt over living conditions in the besieged strip

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 11:50:23 +0000

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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Quality of Life special: From Tokyo to Oslo

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 11:46:28 +0000

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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Donald Trump and the US Senate battle over Iran ahead of midterm elections

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:43:25 +0000

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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Will Russia’s fuel crisis bring peace to Ukraine?

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 11:37:39 +0000

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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Would Britain be better off closer to Europe?

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 11:52:59 +0000

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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Keir Starmer resigns as UK prime minister

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:49:27 +0000

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’s polarising run-off election and the view from the south

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 11:43:19 +0000

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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Tell it to me Strait: Will the Iran deal repair the global economy?

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 11:51:39 +0000

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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G7 summit talks critical minerals and Art Basel kicks off in Switzerland

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 11:44:13 +0000

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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Is Trump ready to turn a corner on the war in Ukraine? Plus: Pitti Uomo

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 11:36:55 +0000

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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Iran and the US reach a peace deal, with the Strait of Hormuz set to reopen

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:55:28 +0000

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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Albania’s flamingo protests take off as anger builds over Jared Kushner’s planned resort development

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 11:51:18 +0000

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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2026 Fifa World Cup opens amid fanfare and controversy

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:49:35 +0000

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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What’s behind the resurgence in inter-state conflict?

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 11:45:00 +0000

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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Who’s calling the shots?: Trump and Netanyahu both look to sway the war in Iran

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:37:24 +0000

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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Israeli and Iranian retaliatory strikes as Trump administration looks on

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 11:43:56 +0000

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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Culture wraps, Konfekt’s new travel special and the Mount Street Neighbourhood Summer Festival

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 11:42:48 +0000

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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Why did Germany fail to secure a seat on the UN Security Council?

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:42:27 +0000

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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Serpentine Pavilion by Lanza Atelier opens in London

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:40:23 +0000

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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What’s next in Colombia’s presidential runoff between the left and the far right

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 12:02:33 +0000

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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Why Poland’s leaders continue to jockey for power

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 11:39:08 +0000

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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Ukraine’s boosted confidence on display at the Odesa Black Sea Security Forum

Fri, 29 May 2026 12:01:08 +0000

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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Bolstering UAE defence and Monocle’s coffee special

Thu, 28 May 2026 11:42:30 +0000

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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Israel’s offensive against Lebanon intensifies

Wed, 27 May 2026 11:49:06 +0000

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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Iran warns that the US will no longer have a safe haven in the region

Tue, 26 May 2026 11:34:56 +0000

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 has views on AI: will Silicon Valley listen?

Mon, 25 May 2026 12:10:11 +0000

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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Hungary’s constitutional reform and prime minister Péter Magyar’s first weeks

Fri, 22 May 2026 11:41:29 +0000

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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Will Donald Trump’s Republican party purges cost him in the midterms?

Thu, 21 May 2026 11:47:47 +0000

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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Nato under strain as members seek clarity on US plans to withdraw troops

Wed, 20 May 2026 11:46:18 +0000

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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Vladimir Putin heads to Beijing for talks with his Chinese counterpart

Tue, 19 May 2026 11:44:47 +0000

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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The political controversy engulfing Cannes film festival

Mon, 18 May 2026 11:45:29 +0000

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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Is Russia looking to end the war or escalate it?

Fri, 15 May 2026 11:33:50 +0000

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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On stage for Emmanuel Macron’s viral moment in Kenya

Thu, 14 May 2026 11:56:08 +0000

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-Russia ceasefire ends but Kyiv’s renewed confidence continues

Wed, 13 May 2026 11:40:39 +0000

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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Is it all over for Keir Starmer? The cabinet faces questions

Tue, 12 May 2026 11:42:53 +0000

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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Trump rejects Iran’s peace proposal

Mon, 11 May 2026 12:02:19 +0000

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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Trump’s global 10 per cent tariffs ruled illegal as he pushes for an EU-trade deal

Fri, 08 May 2026 11:39:34 +0000

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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Can Marco Rubio smooth things over with Pope Leo XIV and Giorgia Meloni?

Thu, 07 May 2026 11:59:58 +0000

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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