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
The White House’s view on Israel
President Biden rejects the ICC’s arrest warrants while US envoy Amos Hochstein continues ceasefire efforts. Plus, we head to Bucharest ahead of this weekend’s Romanian presidential elections. Then, we’re off to Milan to find out why Via Monte Napoleone is now the world’s most expensive street.
Keir Starmer’s global balancing act
We discuss the first Japan-hosted meeting of the Five Eyes grouping of intelligence officials from the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Plus: the UK prime minister is one of the last centre-left leaders who hasn’t lost an election – can Keir Starmer handle the spotlight as Western support…
US shuts Kyiv embassy ahead of potential air strike
The US embassy in Kyiv closes amid fears of a major Russian missile attack, just as US president Joe Biden agrees to give anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine. Then: Austria’s three-party coalition begins to take shape and a group of authors in Australia provide every federal politician with five books to…
Hong Kong jails 45 pro-democracy activists in landmark case
As the world reacts to Hong Kong’s imprisonment of 45 pro-democracy activists, Steve Tsang joins Georgina Godwin to discuss Beijing’s defence of the landmark sentencing. Then: the first globally extinct bird species from mainland Europe and North Africa and West Asia with Stephen Moss.
Ukraine receives permission to strike inside Russia
After months of asking, Ukraine has been granted permission to use long-range missiles provided by the West, to strike deep inside of Russia. Biden’s decision comes just days before a major assault is expected by Russian and North Korean troops to dislodge Ukrainian forces from Kursk.
Brazil prepares to host G20 summit
Brazil is set to host the G20 summit with world leaders expected to focus on social inclusion, global reform and sustainability. But will it be overshadowed by president-elect Trump? Plus: Marine Le Pen battles to stay on the ballot in French courts, secret plans for pay-per-mile driving in London and…
China’s push to bolster ties with Latin America
As Xi Jinping inaugurates a $1.3bn port during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Peru, we discuss China’s expanding influence in South America ahead of next week’s G20 summit. Plus: is Cop29 doomed to fail? And: we head to Italy for ‘The Global Countdown’ with Fernando Augusto Pacheco.
Can Elon Musk boost US government efficiency?
President-elect Donald Trump has made Elon Musk a cost-cutting tsar as the head of a newly created Department of Government Efficiency. Then: we examine how the violence in Amsterdam surrounding a football match involving an Israeli team unfolded. Plus: how Finns combat the winter blues and the surge in Americans…
Trump’s cabinet takes shape
US president-elect Trump has begun forming his new cabinet. We examine what the White House hopefuls could bring to their roles. Then: world leaders descend on Lima for the Apec summit. Plus: we dig through the archives at Magnum Photos.
Confusion over Trump’s Ukraine strategy
Ukraine takes the fight to Moscow amid confusion over whether Donald Trump actually spoke with Vladimir Putin over the weekend. Will Kim Jong-un be feeling “fire and fury” from the president-elect or will they be exchanging love letters once again? Plus: a round-up of the latest architecture news and a…