The Briefing Friday 2 January
4 snips
Jan 2, 2026 Tyler Brulé, editorial director of Monocle, shares insights on the tragic New Year's Eve fire in Switzerland, discussing national shock and media responses. Inzimam Rashid, Monocle's Gulf correspondent, dives into the escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE regarding Yemen, highlighting airport closures and military dynamics. Jeremy Bowen from Sirium discusses airline punctuality, revealing Aeromexico's success and challenges posed by weather and cyberattacks in achieving on-time operations.
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Riyadh And Abu Dhabi's Diverging Yemen Goals
- Saudi Arabia and the UAE once aligned against the Houthis but have diverged, with Abu Dhabi backing southern local actors.
- That divergence—state stability versus local separatism—has driven the current rupture in Yemen policy.
Local Gains Fuel Regional Tensions
- The Southern Transitional Council's territorial gains alarm Riyadh because southern provinces border Saudi Arabia.
- Abu Dhabi's announced troop withdrawal and the STC's assertions have sharpened tensions between the Gulf partners.
On-Time Performance Faces New Shocks
- Running an on-time airline operation is increasingly complex given weather, strikes, cyberattacks and geopolitical shocks.
- Jeremy Bowen emphasises 2025 presented exceptional operational challenges for carriers and airports.