The Briefing

Julia Jen, Ukraine expert at Monocle, walks through Bucha’s grim anniversary, rebuilding tensions and Zelensky’s Easter ceasefire pitch. Nada Altar, senior foreign reporter at The National, breaks down Israel’s contested death-penalty law, West Bank violence and regional fallout. Nick Manese, Monocle design editor, shares sharp takes on presidential library plans and playful brand collaborations.

Michael Dillon, historian and author on modern China, reflects on Shanghai's rise. Fernando Augusto Pacheco, Monocle correspondent and Eurovision expert, previews Eurovision's Asian expansion. Brenda Toohey, luxury markets editor, outlines Britain’s BFC 2030 fashion strategy. Inzimam Rashid, Gulf correspondent in Dubai, reports on a Kuwaiti tanker strike and regional maritime security.

Ewan Potts, Bloomberg business reporter on markets and oil. Benoit Foucault, Wall Street Journal Middle East correspondent. They discuss why the Houthis struck now and Iran’s influence. They examine Houthi control of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and the threat to Bab el-Mandeb trade. They cover market reactions, oil price spikes and implications for global energy flows.

Raoul Peck, Haitian filmmaker and former culture minister, discusses his Orwell documentary. Natalie Theodosie, Monocle fashion director, covers London fashion’s revival and spring trends. Alexis Self, Foreign Affairs Editor, examines diplomacy, embassies and Europe’s stance as Rubio seeks support on Iran. Multiple short, punchy conversations range from soft power and embassies to fashion moves and geopolitics.

Gorana Gergic, Monocle security correspondent in Zurich, offers diplomatic and regional security analysis. Richard Haydarian, academic and Inquirer columnist, explains the Philippines' fuel shortages and energy reserves. They discuss protests over diesel scarcity, policy failures and geopolitical spillovers from the Middle East. Brief segments also cover Iran negotiations and global headlines.

Julia Jen, Ukraine analyst, breaks down recent Russian drone and missile assaults. Bruno Kaufmann, global democracy correspondent, unpacks Denmark’s election shock and leadership fallout. Penny Toyama, Okinawa-born city pop singer, reflects on the genre’s global comeback. Inzamam Rashid, Gulf correspondent, reports from the region on Iran’s strikes and Pakistan’s push to broker US–Iran talks.

Abdullah Al-Haidan, executive director overseeing Riyadh’s King Salman Park project, describes the park’s scale and green design. Anita Riotta, Monocle politics producer, breaks down Italy’s referendum fallout for Meloni. Nada Makarant Atala, Beirut-based correspondent, reports on bombardment, displacement and worries over a southern security zone in Lebanon.

Guy Delaney, Monaco’s Balkan correspondent covering Slovenia’s tight vote. Irina Nikorak, Ukrainian MP on energy, munitions and European solidarity. Sophie Grove, Confect editor on horticulture, design and spring fashion features. Mary Fitzgerald, Monocle reporter from Marseille on local results, security and the far right. They discuss municipal wins, coalition math, wartime needs and seasonal culture in short, punchy conversations.

Brenda Toohey, Monocle luxury markets editor on the Zara–John Galliano collaboration. Ewan Potts, Bloomberg markets reporter on global market reactions to Middle East energy shocks. Hendel Hento, Japan Times writer on Tokyo‑Washington diplomacy and constitutional constraints. Inzimam Rashid, Monocle Gulf correspondent reporting stalled shipping, strikes near the Strait of Hormuz and damage to regional energy infrastructure.

Fernando Augusto Pacheco, Monocle music correspondent; Marcus Hippie, Finnish Embassy press counsellor; James Chambers, Monocle Asia editor; Suzanne Lynch, Bloomberg Brussels bureau chief. They discuss the European Council's stance on Middle East tensions and energy risks. Thailand’s surprising coalition and its bid for stability. Why Finland keeps topping happiness charts and what that image brings. Global music market trends and standout regional hits.