The Briefing
A fast-paced news round-up with expert reporting, business insights, and industry updates on technology, aviation, retail, and media. Anchored from London.
Latest Episodes
Israel’s cabinet votes on the ceasefire deal
We discuss the aftermath of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Then: Tiktok’s parent company Bytdance, has until Sunday to sell the social media platform to a US company, Austrian far-right lawmakers win defamation case against a newspaper and a new hotel opens in an iconic department-store building. Plus: we…
Israel delays cabinet vote and Mark Carney’s campaign
Benjamin Netanyahu stops the Israeli cabinet from meeting to approve the ceasefire deal, a rise in drug trafficking in Ecuador destabilises state institutions and the economy, and Mark Carney is expected to announce his candidacy to replace Justin Trudeau as leader of Canada’s Liberal Party. Then: we check in at…
The arrest of Yoon Suk Yeol and the glow up of Lux Helsinki
Yoon Suk Yeol becomes South Korea’s first sitting president to be arrested and Mozambique inaugurates president Daniel Chapo despite deadly unrest over his disputed election. Then: we head to Finland to learn more about Lux Helsinki, a popular light art festival. Plus: Paris Design Week and Maison&Objet kicks off today…
The Jack Smith report and Lebanon’s new PM
Andrew Mueller is joined by Chris Cermak to discuss the damning conclusions of the Jack Smith report. Plus: does Lebanon’s new PM signal a brighter future for the country and does Brazilian country star Gusttavo Lima want to become president?
Gaza ceasefire deal: ‘final’ draft
As Qatar hands Israel and Hamas the “final” draft of a ceasefire deal, Hannah McCarthy joins Christopher Cermak to discuss how likely a truce is before Donald Trump’s inauguration. Plus: we examine the aircraft used to fight Los Angeles wildfires and talk about what diplomacy will look like in the…
Austria’s far-right led coalition talks and Taiwan’s digital-nomad visa
Talks begin in Vienna to try to form a government, former French president Nicolas Sarkozy goes on trial, Taiwan introduces a digital-nomad visa and it’s the final day of campaigning ahead of Sunday’s second-round vote in Croatia’s presidential election. Plus: ‘The Invisible Collection’ takes up residency at Féau once again.
Hollywood’s evacuation
An evacuation order is in effect for Hollywood as thousands of acres surrounding Los Angeles are consumed by fire. Then: we’ll uncover the auction selling off the belongings of style-and-design legend Iris Apfel and look at the future of wellness and luxury travel in 2025. Plus: Tibet’s tourism industry in…
Trump’s threats over Greenland and one year of Tusk
US president-elect Donald Trump reiterates his desire to take control of both Greenland and the Panama Canal. Plus, how has the return of Donald Tusk to Polish politics gone down one year on? Then, the latest business headlines and how the major luxury hotel brands mark themselves apart in today’s…
What’s the future of Canada’s Liberal Party and who will lead it?
We discuss the race to succeed Justin Trudeau as Liberal Party leader following the Canadian prime minister’s resignation. Then: what can the outgoing Biden administration achieve before Trump’s return to the White House? Plus: the Pope’s historic appointment of a woman to head a major Vatican office and what’s on…
Ukraine launches fresh offensive in Russia’s Kursk region
With two weeks to go until Donald Trump’s inauguration, we discuss Russia and Ukraine’s efforts to consolidate as much territory as possible. Then: Syria’s foreign minister calls for an end to US sanctions on his first trip abroad to Qatar. And: what Fernanda Torres’s historic Golden Globe win means for…