The Briefing

What role can the United Nations play in the war in Ukraine? Plus: Australia’s plans to release a report on Scott Morrison’s impropriety in office, Liz Cheney’s refusal to rule out standing in the next US presidential election and a review of the papers with Monocle 24’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco.

Russia rejects calls to demilitarise the area surrounding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern Ukraine. Plus: talks between Kosovo and Serbia end without agreement, the latest business news from Bloomberg and Monocle’s Andrew Mueller on what the past week has taught us.

What’s driving the deterioration in Afghanistan’s security situation? Plus: a top economic think-tank warns that plans to slash taxes in the UK are fanciful, the latest business headlines from Bloomberg and Monocle 24’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco explores Qatar’s pop music.

What effect will Liz Cheney’s ousting have on the US Republican Party? Plus: the latest on an Australian political scandal, inflation in the UK hits a 40-year high and Monocle’s Petri Burtsoff brings us a roundup of news from the Nordics. 

We have the latest as the US Justice Department says it won’t release details of Donald Trump’s search warrant. Plus: Turkey considers mending ties with Syria, the day’s business news and we find out why the European Space Agency and SpaceX are considering collaborating.

Will a US delegation’s decision to visit Taiwan force a severe response from China? Plus: the latest on Israel’s election, the UK’s energy crisis and Monocle 24’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco reviews the day’s papers.

The United Nations calls for a demilitarised zone around Europe’s largest power plant; we’re live in Freetown as violent protests continue in Sierra Leone over the high cost of living; this week’s What We Learned; and film news with Karen Krizanovich.

Beijing publishes a white paper on Taiwan for the first time in 20 years. In the US, former president Donald Trump refuses to answer questions as he starts to feel the heat of several investigations. Plus: our weekly global countdown.

What do we know about the explosions in Crimea? Plus: Japan’s government attempts to distance itself from a controversial religious group, an update on Kenya’s election and Yuan Potts brings us the latest business news.

As US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, continues his three-country tour of the African continent, we look at the US’s new diplomatic efforts in the region. Plus: as Chinese drills continue around the island, we ask what’s next for Taiwan. And finally, we evaluate the legacy of Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake.

As a fresh ceasefire in Gaza brings hope that the worst violence since 2021’s 11-day war is coming to an end, we ask how long it will last. Plus: a wire-tapping scandal has the Greek prime minister in hot water, the UN issues a stern warning about the safety of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia power plant and we flick through Latin America’s newspapers.

As US basketball star Brittney Griner is sentenced to nine years in a Russian jail, we examine the delicate process of prisoner swaps. Plus, a left-wing former guerrilla chief prepares to become Colombia’s next president, the latest business headlines and Monocle’s Andrew Mueller gives us his take on the week’s news.

As Ukraine warns of a new Russian offensive, we look at the security situation and assess whether Russia’s strategy is changing. Plus, Germany’s chancellor Olaf Scholz visits a stranded turbine as the dispute between the country and Russia’s Gazprom continues; the defamation trial of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones; and this week’s Global Countdown, looking at the pop charts in Argentina.

We assess China’s reaction as US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi concludes her Taiwan trip. Plus, US secretary of state Antony Blinken arrives in Cambodia, Kansas votes to uphold the right to an abortion and a look at a new UK initiative to crack down on Russian oligarchs.

After a US drone strike kills al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, we ask what this means for the terrorist organisation and counterterrorism in Afghanistan. Plus: Russian president Vladimir Putin and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan prepare to meet in Sochi, the latest business headlines and a check-in from Buenos Aires.