Monocle’s Amy Van Den Berg meets the creative director of the Frankfurt Book Fair to get a read on the mood ahead of the industry’s largest event. Then: the editorial director of Cheerio Publishing, Darren Biabowe Barnes, discusses independent publishing in 2024. Plus: Charles Hecker joins to go through the latest news and culture, including Russia…

When Audrey Knoth was growing up, there was a great deal that the family did not talk about. There seemed to be huge gaps in their past, and she always worried that this silence might have something to do with her. Only in the last couple of years have Audrey and her brother come to understand why their Czech mother and grandparents came to the Uni…

The animal rights group 'We do not eat animals' has released shocking footage of abuse in twelve cattle farms. It shows employees beating, kicking, and hitting animals with sticks, dragging them by chains around their necks behind tractors, and verbally abusing them. The group claims that the large number of documented cases proves this is not isol…

Prague Coffee Festival is an event that brings together the world of professionals and coffee enthusiasts alike. The 12th edition of the Prague Coffee Festival took place on 12 and 13 October 2024 in the Holešovice Market Hall. I went there to speak to its head coordinator Tereza Vybíralová to find out more about the event and what was new this yea…

With three floors and hundreds of exhibits, Identita is a new absorbing and eye-catching exhibition at Museum Kampa – and it is only one part of the overall project. Identita is in fact a multi-genre experience, which also comprises a series on Czech Television’s iVysílání service, a feature-length documentary, and a book that accompanies the exhib…

For this week’s ‘The Global Countdown’, Monocle Radio’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco explores the sounds of Kazakhstan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Monocle által

After years of problems fighting bark beetle infestation, scientists from the University of South Bohemia and the Biological Centre of the Academy of Sciences in České Budějovice have come up with a major breakthrough. They have developed a probe that detects infested trees accurately and at an early stage.…

This weekend, Prague’s Cemetery and Funeral Services are opening their doors to the public for the first time, offering a unique opportunity to explore the city’s cemeteries and funeral facilities. The event will feature guided tours, workshops hosted by gravediggers and undertakers, and a chance to learn more about the often-overlooked world of fu…

A new machine will now present a selection of Czech culture to waiting passengers at Václav Havel Airport. Thanks to the organisation "Pianos on the Street" and the cultural activist Ondřej Kobza, the new ‘poetry jukebox’ freely offers the best of Czech history, legends, poetry, drama and music in a cosy corner of Terminal 2. Danny Bate went along …

Seemingly from nowhere, the online sports betting market has swept across Brazil like a tsunami, and the pernicious effects of gambling addiction are already having clear signs on society. Support the showThe Brazilian Report által

Most visitors to Prague are drawn to its iconic landmarks—Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, the Astronomical Clock—but there’s another side to the city that often goes unnoticed, hidden beyond the main squares and bustling streets. Woven through Prague’s streets is a network of passages and arcades, which allow you to take shortcuts and avoid the crow…

Czechia ranks second globally in the number of manipulated sports matches, surpassed only by Brazil, according to Sportradar.

A rich programme of film, food, dance and music awaits visitors to this year’s Kino Brasil film festival, which begins on October 15th. Barbora Kovářová, one of the team behind the festival, spoke to Danny Bate, about what is included in the programme, and what the team is looking to achieve with the festival.…

Following years of complaints from the public, the Prague authorities have banned the popular “pub crawls” in which organized groups of tourists go from pub to pub in the night hours. The measure is part of a broader effort to make the city “livable” for its inhabitants.

Political analyst Jiří Pehe says 2024 is the year when the traditional Czech Social Democratic Party came to an end.

In the German state of Brandenburg, a mighty circular fortress, a replica of a Slavic castle from the ninth or tenth century, has been acquired by a Czech owner. Care of the historical attraction has passed into the hands of David Chmelík, who emigrated from Czechoslovakia in the 1990s.

Edith Pargeter was a writer who achieved fame in Britain for her historical murder mysteries. What is less well known is her career as a (self-taught) translator and promoter of Czech literature.

Experts have started scanning the town of Terezín with the help of drones. The aim of the project is to create a detailed model of the fortress town and fifteen selected monuments.

From Monocle’s Quality of Life Conference in Istanbul, we hear insights from US submarine officer Taylor Sheppard on maximising quality of life underwater. Then: award-winning author, playwright and essayist Kate Mosse joins Vincent McAviney to talk about her research process and the release of the fourth and final part of her Joubert Family Chroni…

Prague’s Wenceslas Square is currently undergoing a major renovation, which includes the return of trams to its upper part. An exhibition is now underway at the bottom section of the square, which presents the upcoming changes to the public.

To mark the 600th anniversary of the death of the famous Czech warrior Jan Žižka of Trocnov, an international scientific team led by Brazilian 3D expert Cícer Moraes has created a digital model of his face. As a basis, experts used the so-called Čáslav calva, part of a skull considered to be an authentic relic of the Hussite warlord.…

Coinciding with Monocle's Quality of Life Conference in Istanbul, this week’s Global Countdown sees Monocle Radio’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco listen to some of the most important moments in Turkish pop history. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Monocle által

Monocle’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco speaks with Montpellier-born musician Kazy Lambist on his latest album, ‘Moda’, and how Turkey influenced the release. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Monocle által

Monocle’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco speaks with veteran Italian DJ, producer, chef and label owner Manfredi Romano, professionally known as DJ Tennis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Monocle által

Brazilians in almost 5,600 municipalities went to the polls to pick new mayors and city council members. The dispute was settled on Sunday in all but 52 cities. This week, we will discuss what conclusions can be drawn from the results, the key races still in play, and the effects of these local races on national politics. Support the show…

After a week of escalating tensions in the Middle East, Yossi Mekelberg, associate fellow with the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, joins Emma Nelson to reflect on the week’s news from the region. Then: Monocle’s Helsinki correspondent, Petri Burtsoff, tells the story of a restored cultural icon in the city, and we learn abo…

For Lula's third term as president, international prominence and influence was set out as a priority — but a Pew survey shows that things are moving in the opposite direction Support the showThe Brazilian Report által

The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly concluded this week but what did it achieve? What can we expect from Keir Starmer’s meeting with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday? And what is behind the surge in popularity of South Korean skincare in the UK? Georgina Godwin and international broadcast correspon…

For this week’s ‘The Global Countdown’, Monocle Radio’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco previews the new songs added to the Monocle playlist. From Clara Luciani to Brazilian samba, it’s a good selection for the cooler seasons. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Monocle által

Fernando Augusto Pacheco speaks with Charles de Montalivet, UK managing director for Shiseido, about the current landscape of the beauty and wellness market and the company’s plan for growth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Monocle által

X has been banned in Brazil for more than three weeks now, with billionaire CEO Elon Musk refusing to comply with Supreme Court demands. He seems to now have backed down, but what of the future of the platform in Brazil? Support the showThe Brazilian Report által

Author and political correspondent Tessa Szyszkowitz joins Georgina Godwin to talk about the pager explosions in Lebanon, seeing Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza in London and fashion at political conferences. Plus: Monocle’s Mae-Li Evans heads to Amsterdam for the Glue design festival and ‘Financial Times’ senior business writer A…

For this week’s Global Countdown, Monocle Radio’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco listens to the top songs in Sri Lanka See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Monocle által

Monocle’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco speaks with the founder of Ostinato Records Vik Sohonie, who just released a new compilation entitled ‘Synthesizing the Silk Roads: Uzbek Disco, Tajik Folktronica, Uyghur Rock & Crimean Tatar Jazz from 1980s Soviet Central Asia’ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

Monocle’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco speaks with the founder of Ostinato Records Vik Sohonie, who just released a new compilation entitled ‘Synthesizing the Silk Roads: Uzbek Disco, Tajik Folktronica, Uyghur Rock & Crimean Tatar Jazz from 1980s Soviet Central Asia’Monocle Radio által

Smoke-filled skies, wildfires, lack of rain, and scorching heat that have lingered for weeks offer a glimpse of what’s in store for Brazilian cities as climate change takes hold in the coming years. Support the showThe Brazilian Report által

Monocle’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco speaks with leading Brazilian fashion voice Lilian Pacce, UNWTO sustainability specialist Camila Villas and Brazilian designer Marilia Biasi, curators of ‘Brazil: Creating Fashion for Tomorrow’. The exhibition is being held at the Embassy of Brazil in London until Tuesday 17 of September. This year’s theme is ‘A C…

Monocle’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco speaks with leading Brazilian fashion voice Lilian Pacce, UNWTO sustainability specialist Camila Villas and Brazilian designer Marilia Biasi, curators of ‘Brazil: Creating Fashion for Tomorrow’. The exhibition is being held at the Embassy of Brazil in London until Tuesday 17 of September. This year’s theme is ‘A C…

Author Kate Kruimink joins Georgina Godwin to talk about her award-winning novella ‘Astraea’ and China Moses discusses her music ahead of the London Jazz Festival launch party. Plus: Charles Hecker on British diplomats accused of spying in Russia, soaring coffee prices in Italy and the 2024 Ig Nobel Prize.…

For this week’s Global Countdown, Monocle Radio’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco listens to the top songs in the Middle East and North Africa. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Monocle által

Pablo Marçal, a candidate for mayor of São Paulo who has become a hot name within Bolsonarism — despite not being endorsed by Bolsonaro. Marçal defends many of the values espoused by Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters. More importantly, he deploys a social media strategy that seems to be a version of the Bolsonaro campaign on steroids. Support the s…

Monocle’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco speaks with Danish award-winning director Susanne Bier to discuss her latest series, ‘The Perfect Couple’, on Netflix. It’s a new must-watch murder-mystery with an incredible cast that includes Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber and Isabelle Adjani. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…