The Briefing

After Yamandú Orsi claims victory in a hard-fought presidential run-off election, Andrew Thompson joins Georgina Godwin to discuss what comes next for Uruguay. Plus: Nina Dos Santos on the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting and Melissa Chemam on the Prix Goncourt controversy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 for Ukraine falters? And: we head to Austria for ‘The Global Countdown’ with Fernando Augusto Pacheco. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 encourage a nuanced debate over the Middle East conflict. Plus: Los Angeles declares itself a “sanctuary city” and we get the latest fashion news from Balenciaga to LVMH and Saint Laurent. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 an Asian news roundup. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 looking to move abroad. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 check-in with the COP29 climate summit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Trump appoints Susie Wiles as his chief of staff, Katie Gaddini joins from Washington to discuss the speculations around Trump’s cabinet appointments. Plus: violent attacks on Israeli football fans in Amsterdam and Karen Krizanovich joins us for the latest from the world of film. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Harris delivers her concession speech, Natasha Lindstaedt joins Andrew Mueller to discuss what Trump’s first 100 days could look like. Then: Melissa Hamilton discusses the small matter of Trump’s criminal convictions and ongoing legal problems. Plus: Nic Monisse joins from Dubai Design Week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What will Donald Trump’s second presidency mean for the world? We get the global reaction from Japan, Europe and Bangkok, and look at the future of the West’s war effort in Ukraine too. Plus: we hear from Republican strategist Linda Chavez on what’s next for the GOP. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As America goes to the polls, Monocle’s Chris Cermak joins Andrew Mueller to discuss the latest from Washington. Plus: we look at cybersecurity concerns around the ballots and Yuan Potts details the result of another important vote – the Boeing workers strike. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Donald Trump and Kamala Harris make a final sprint across key battleground states, we consider why the election campaign in Wisconsin has remained so close. Then: we explore Asia Society Switzerland’s annual State of Asia conference and discuss who won big at the CFDA awards. Plus: a tribute to late music legend Quincy Jones. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We check in with Monocle’s US editor Christopher Lord in Atlanta to discuss the climactic showings of the Trump and Harris campaigns ahead of the presidential election on 5 November. Plus: the RA’s Dorfman Prize in architecture with Tim Abrahams and we hear from the minds behind A24’s new cerebral horror film, ‘Heretic’, with Fernando Augusto Pacheco. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

North Korea test-fires an upgraded, long-range missile; at least 95 people have died and many remain missing in Spain’s flash-floods; vice president Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump are both in the pivotal battleground states of Nevada and Arizona; and could Canada get its first high-speed rail service soon? Plus: an election special edition of ‘The Global Countdown’ with Fernando Augusto Pacheco. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump tells supporters in Pennsylvania that Kamala Harris doesn’t have what it takes to be president and more than fifty people die in floods in southern Spain. Then: evidence emerges of new forms of sabotage and a terrifying method of state-sponsored terror carried out by Russia. Plus: we learn who Brazil’s new mayors are and Paul Richardson on his new book, ‘Myths of Geography’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our final US election edition ahead of 5 November is recorded from the US capital. We explore the stakes for American democracy, why trust in elections has been so hard to come by and what the world thinks of the process. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.