← The Globalist
The Globalist
Keir Starmer heads to Japan and the World Governments Summit kicks off in Dubai. Plus: the Grammy Awards
00:58:57
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Craft matters in small ways, like how a coffee is brewed, and in not so small ways, like how your money is cared for. Which is why for 160 years, UBS has elevated banking to a craft, tailoring unique strategies that combine human expertise with the latest technologies, all happening across 24 time zones and 12 key financial hubs. With you at the heart of it all, UBS advice is our craft. You're listening to the Globalist, first broadcast on 2nd February 2026 on Monocle Radio. The Globalist in association with U. Hello, this is the Globalist broadcasting to you live from Midori House in London. I'm Georgina Godwin. On the show ahead, the planned trilateral talks on the Russia Ukraine conflict in Abu Dhabi, due to have begun today, have been postponed until later in the week. We'll look at what's been achieved so far in this process and what to expect on Wednesday and Thursday. Also ahead, when war overseas drives up.
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Fuel prices at home, it's families that feel it first.
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C
So our response together must be one of strength and clarity.
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A
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has returned from his trip to East Asia. We'll join our Tokyo bureau to hear how he and Japanese Prime Minister Sanai Takeichi got on. We'll have a rustle through the papers and then cross to Dubai, where many Monocle staff are heading right now. We'll have a big presence at the World Government summit there and we'll give you a preview of the event and what you can expect from our team on the ground. Now, if you love an old Aston Martin, good design and architecture. Plus crucially, the cold, you won't want to miss a chat with Lord Norman Foster, whom we caught up with @ice, the annual two day celebration of classic cars staged on the frozen surface of Lake Lake St. Moritz.
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Plus, usually artists become super successful about their voices. Me, I try to prove that I can do it with my piano as a voice.
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That's rapper and pianist Sofiane Palmar, who tells us about how he's become the first solo piano artist to sell out all 90,000 seats at the Start de France. We'll hear about last night's winners and losers at the Grammy Awards. And finally, Brenda Toohy, who's just returned from the haute couture and high jewelry shows in Paris, discusses the business of fashion. That's all ahead here on the Globalist. Live from London. First, a look at what else is happening in the news. Iran warned of regional conflict of the United States attacks, designated EU armies as terrorist groups and said it's open to negotiations, though no formal talks have yet begun. Israel said the Rafah crossing into Gaza will reopen today for limited two way civilian movement, allowing sick and wounded Palestinians to leave for treatment abroad. And former British Minister Lord Peter Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party after fresh reports linked him to disgrace financier Jeffrey Epstein. Do stay tuned to Monocle Radio throughout the day for more on those stories. Now, Russia, the United States and Ukraine were due to resume negotiations in Abu Dhabi yesterday. However, these talks have now been postponed to Wednesday and Thursday this week. This follows what officials said had been a constructive round of talks in January. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, those discussions focused on potential parameters for ending the war. Whilst a representative of the government of the UAE where the conversations were hosted, said Russian and Ukrainian representatives engaged directly in a positive and constructive atmosphere. Well, I'm joined now by Charles Hecker, Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute and author of Zero Sum the Arc of International Business in Russia. Charles, good morning to you.
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C
Good morning, Georgina.
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A
Do we know why these talks have been postponed?
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C
We don't specifically know why these talks have been postponed, but I think that what it reminds us is we have to really inject an element of caution and manage how optimistic we get about these talks. It's great that every, that everybody's together, it's talking is better than not talking. But there are still insurmountable obstacles in the way of a full peace or ceasefire.
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A
And I mean, the talks may have been postponed, but there was actually a meeting on Saturday in Florida and that was between the Russian special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, and his US opposite number, Steve Witkoff. Now, he was joined, Witkoff was joined by a number of others, including I thought, interestingly, the U.S. treasury Secretary, Scott Passant. Why was the Treasury Secretary there? Does this suggest a typical for Trump actional arrangement?
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C
Yeah, I think that you don't normally send your Secretary of the treasury to military negotiations. And I think that what this tells us is that meetings that involve bessant, meetings that involve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, the President's son in law, and Kirill Dmitriev, who is Putin's envoy to the Western business community. These are not diplomatic or military negotiations, these are business conversations. This is sort of ironing out the way the two countries are going to engage economically and not how they're going to engage diplomatically, geopolitically or militarily. You know, this is secondary to, to what's happening in Abu Dhabi, but of primary interest to The Trump administration, which, as you point out, is incredibly transactional in these sorts of talks.
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A
And has Ukraine commented on the fact that once again, Kiev was excluded from that meeting?
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C
That's right, yeah. Well, Ukraine has never been invited to these conversations and are indicative of the fact that Ukraine has yet to be a sort of serious, you know, Ukraine's point of view in all of this has yet to be seriously taken into consideration. And even in the talks in Abu Dhabi, the demands that President Putin have put out are far beyond the red lines of Ukraine in resolving this war. So whether Ukraine is at the table or not, the red lines are still there.
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A
And I mean, to understand what might be on the table in Abu Dhabi, I think we need to go back to another meeting. Again, Ukraine was not present and that's the one in Anchorage in August between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. Now, Putin has said any agreement must resolve the issue according, as he says, to the formula agreed upon in Anchorage. What was agreed?
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C
There wasn't anything agreed in Anchorage. And it's important to bear in mind that this was yet another failed effort at diplomacy. And Putin continues to hint at the fact and some of his other, you know, some of the other people in his diplomatic entourage continue to hint at the fact that there was some sort of magical agreement set at Anchorage that that is the framework for, for peace talks going on. I don't think that this is the case because since Anchorage, we've had a 28 point plan, then we've had a 20 point plan, and now Witkoff says we're down to two points. And so I think that this is once a reference to the complexity and the lack of resolution and Russia's unwillingness really to move this forward at all.
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A
I mean, Putin has said there's no point in hoping for a settlement without resolving the territorial issue. So I wonder if there are any points on which either side might compromise in Abu Dhabi this week.
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C
Probably not. In addition to territory, we have to wonder about room for compromise. You know, so far, nonexistent room for compromise on security guarantees where Ukraine and Russia have their red lines. We still don't have agreement on the disposition of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is, which is accountable for 25% before the war was accountable for 25% of Ukraine's electricity. And we know that energy is an extremely critical issue going forward. Ukraine, as it does every winter, is going through a bitterly, bitterly cold winter and Russia is pounding its energy infrastructure. None of that has been resolved.
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A
The two envoys that we were just talking about from US And Russia, Wytkov and Dmitriev again meet to focus on economic affairs. But who else is at the table?
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C
Well, so you've got Jared Kushner's at the table. And what's interesting is, if you don't mind me sort of taking it this way, is who's not at these tables, and that is where is Sergei Lavrov? The Russian foreign minister has been largely invisible now for weeks on end. We haven't heard that much from him at all. Marco Rubio has not been engaged in these conversations. And I think that, you know, American diplomatic capacity right now, we're worried about Iran, we're worried about Greenland, we're worried about Venezuela, we're worried about, you know, Russia and Ukraine. And I just don't think that American diplomatic capacity is built to juggle all of these issues and all of these, you know, arising and existing geopolitical conflicts on multiple continents all at the same time.
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Mm.
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Mm.
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You're an expert on Russian business, and that's obviously what your book Zero Sum is about. Just. Just to unpick this a little further, this Vitkov and Dmitriev connection, they're saying now that there's a. There's an economic panel that's going on without Ukraine, and then there's the main panel that is discussing peace, what kind of business might be on the table.
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C
That's right. So I think that what we're talking. What those two parties are talking about, I mean, Dmitriev's job is to seduce the American business community and the American diplomatic delegation offers of sort of mana waiting for them in Russia and an El Dorado of opportunity if only American businesses were to come back. I think what we're talking about is the potential return of companies in sectors that are strategic to both the United States and Russia, where government negotiations often play an important role anyway. And we're talking about energy, so we're talking about oil and gas, we're talking about metals, mining, minerals. We're talking about the kind of companies that have bottomless appetites for risk, number one. And the kind of sectors that typically do get some small level of government guarantee or at least a little bit of a White House political backstop, were they to go back to Russia.
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A
Meanwhile, of course, the killing continues. We've heard of these miners who were killed. I wonder if you could tell us what the latest situation on the ground is and what hope there is for a ceasefire. If these talks will be any different to previous rounds, I don't see that.
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C
These talks will be any different to previous round. Even though people use words like constructive and encouraging, this is basically sort of diplomatic boilerplate that people say after almost every meeting that they have. No one has walked out of any of these meetings saying that they've been an abject failure, including in Anchorage, which was really an abject failure. We've had strikes on energy infrastructure. We've had a strike on a maternity ward in Zaporizhzhia. Russia thinks that it's winning this war and is going to continue to push on. And it is typical for Russia to step up its attacks and to intensify its military activity in the bombing campaign in the run up to negotiations.
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A
Charles, thank you very much indeed. Charles Hecker is an associate fellow at RUSI and author of Zero Sum the Arc of International Business in Russia. This is the Globalist. It is 1611 in Tokyo, 711 here in London. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer concluded his East Asia tour with a stop in Tokyo, where he met Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. After the meeting, he said UK Japan relations are at their strongest in decades. Japan's the world's fourth largest economy and outside of Europe, one of the biggest investors in Britain. Well, I'm joined now by Monocle's Fiona Wilson, who's Tokyo Bureau Chief and Senior Asia Editor. Fiona, lovely to have you back on the line. A busy week for you with. With the British PM in town.
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B
Yeah, I mean, it's interesting. He appeared. I mean, I have to say it was about the shortest meeting ever. The meeting lasted 20 minutes. The whole thing lasted 90 minutes and then he was gone. They had dinner. Yeah. Very short meeting. But, you know, I think strategically important, particularly coming off the back of a few days in China, and it comes in the middle of an election campaign for Takaichi. So she's kind of. She's made quite a big thing about her diplomatic skills. She's been doing very well. She was very charming with Trump. Meloni, you'll have seen, she was playing drums with the President of South Korea. So I think it plays to that story for her. You've got an election here next Sunday, so. So, you know, a busy time for her, definitely, but I think it was positive, you know, how much can you achieve in 20 minutes? They both said very nice things about each other and they, you know, they made all the right noises about, you know, free and open Indo Pacific, which Japan is something, you know, something they're very keen on emphasizing. I think that's a bit of A nod to China. So I think it was. It was a positive meeting.
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A
Were there any major trade announcements?
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B
No, I mean, honestly, you know, in 20 minutes, you're not expecting much. But they did talk about a visit maybe this year. He invited Take to come to the uk and there are a lot of things. They've talked about agreements on cyber security. They did talk about, you know, economic cooperation, this fighter jet program they have with Italy, moving that up, you know, accelerating that. There was a lot of talk about energy. So a lot of positive noises. And I think it was a good, you know, it was an opening for more negotiations and maybe later in the year, if she does well, she has to be elected first, but if she does come to the uk so we.
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A
Know that Japan is a big investor in Britain, but how important is Britain to Japan?
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B
Yeah, I mean, I think very much so. That obviously the UK is an important partner. I mean, it's as much as strategic as anything. Now, obviously China is a huge partner for Japan, as is the us but both of those countries are giving the region, the world quite a few headaches at the moment. So I think a. A lot of countries, you know, I mean, Japan's the fourth biggest economy, but at the moment it's being buffeted around between China. Obviously, the US was always a very stable ally. That's not the case now. So I think there's a feeling among countries, you know, not just Japan, the UK would be among that. Canada, as we just saw, you know, Carney going off to China to make his own deal. I think there's a feeling that countries, middle countries, as we're calling them at the moment, they. They need to kind of stick together and form their own agreements, their own relationships that don't dep on others. So I think, you know, the UK is very important in that bigger picture.
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A
So Takaichi angered China recently, as you've referred to, with her comments on defending Taiwan. Did Starmer get drawn into that?
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B
No, I mean, he absolutely did not. And quite wise, as you can see. You know, what happened to Takaichi, subject is best avoided. Yeah, she's really been punished for that comment. But interestingly, I think with her ratings in Japan, it served her quite well. I think it's. It served her profile well. People see her as someone who's not going to back down. She hasn't backed down from those comments, whether she said them deliberately or not. She basically said that Japan would come to Taiwan's aid should China invade and that it would impact Japan's security if China did invade and that these are just things that are never normally voiced. There's a sort of degree of ambiguity. It's a discretion that we draw a veil over the reality of what that situation might involve. She didn't. She said it out loud. And I think, you know, obviously anyone watching would think, I will not be mentioning Taiwan. So I think they kept away from that issue and, you know, in 20 minutes, they were not looking for trouble at this meeting. It was very much about cementing the relationship and, you know, all smiles. There was no drumming involved.
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I don't think Starmer's a great musician. I mean, so is it. It's basically a soft power play for both countries.
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Yeah, definitely. It's absolutely a soft power play. It helps Takaichi, absolutely. Right now, you know, she's got a lot of economic issues to deal with at home. You know, she's got. It's looking quite positive. The polling is very good for her. The question is, next weekend, can she get an outright majority just with her own party, which she doesn't have at the moment? She's in this awkward coalition. The party she's in coalition with is looking like it might lose seats. And actually the ldp, her party, may end up doing better. It's an interesting moment for Japanese politics and I think, unexpectedly, she's proved to be quite a good player on the international stage. And, yeah, it'll be really interesting to see how it plays out over the week.
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Absolutely. So, finally, Fiona, when you sort of step back and have a look at it, what does this mean in general for UK Japanese relations?
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You know, I mean, I think relations are good. There's been no problem, I think, you know, definitely Japan was a bit startled by Brexit. You know, that was a bad moment, I think, in the relationship, because up to that point, the UK was seen as the soft landing for Japan into Europe. You know, the Japanese government felt, we know how to deal with the uk. We've got very long relationship, long historical relationship, and this is just a very good entry point. Now, when Brexit happened, that slightly changed that relationship. That made it a bit shaky. And I think, you know, what we're seeing is, you know, the moving forward. It's not a reset, didn't need to be reset, but it cements what was already a good relationship.
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Fiona, thank you very much indeed. That's Fiona Wilson, our Tokyo bureau chief and Senior Asia editor. Now, still to come on the programme.
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And the Grammy goes to Bad Bunny.
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We'll hear all about last night's Grammy Awards in Los Angeles and also what Bad Bunny said from the stage. This is the globalist craft is a matter of perspective, a unique outlook, an obsessive attention to detail. With UBS's Chief Investment Office Houseview, we're focused on identifying the latest investment opportunities and market risks to help you achieve your financial goals. So you get the big picture broken down into thought provoking insights delivered daily and curated by over 200 globally connected, locally active analysts. UBS banking is our craft. Well, let's continue now with today's newspapers and joining me from our Paris studio is Anita Riota, a Monocle Radio producer. Good morning to you, Anita.
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F
Good morning, Georgina.
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Is it freezing there?
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It is actually not freezing here. I hope that is not rubbing it in too much if it is freezing in less London. They've had quite a, quite a temperate January, I'll say.
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Oh well that's, that's, that's lucky for you. Let's talk about this new no confidence vote. So Le Cornue is facing two new confidence motions today.
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F
Absolutely. And as listeners will know, this is just the latest chapter and truly a seemingly endless cycle to get through a budget that has not only not gone through yet, but has taken quite, quite a few prime ministers down with it in the attempt of passing it. So recently the current prime minister Le Cordonneau has used an article 43.4, 9.3 rather the French constitution which avoids going through parliament. And this is a pretty serious about face from his previous position that he would absolutely secure parliamentary approval so that his trigger a fresh load of no confidence votes. This is after he faced no confidences, no confidence votes, you know, just a few days ago. So he's expected to survive them and then push through this budget finally with this article 49.3. But it's certainly, Georgina doesn't really point to anyone having found some sort of compromise or, or, or the parliament really coming together behind this bill.
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A
And I'm assuming that's all over the front pages there today.
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Oh, you can't miss it. And I think, you know, it's interesting you have, you do see some articles that are trying to move the conversation along, trying to say, okay, once we can sort of get this bill through, what else should the government be looking at? What else is really, really on the table. But it really seems that until this budget can get through today or this week, you know, it's going to be tough, it's going to be a tough story to take it off the front page.
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A
Right, right now the events in Minneapolis continue to reverberate around the world. And the latest casualty, if you like, is a French IT group. How is that related to ice?
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F
Right. It's not necessarily a link you would imagine, but Capgemini, which is a French tech giant here, has just announced that it will sell its US subsidiary, Capgemini Government Solutions. After a report, which is also interesting to note, an independent newspaper found out about how this subsidiary was issuing some technologies to ice and these technologies were being used, used to track individuals that are not on more traditional platforms. And that ICE was using this technology as part of its immigration enforcement, which obviously we have seen take a really violent and brutal turn in the last few weeks. And what's interesting, I think again, Georgina, like you said, that this, this link is so strange, the fact that it then sparked such outcry when it was revealed in France. You know, we talked last week about how there are protest in Milan ongoing over ICE arriving for the Olympics. It's just really worth noting, as you said, that this issue started in American cities like Minneapolis, but now is finding a foothold really all around the world.
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A
And also the way it was revealed. So this is an independent media outlet. It's called l' Observatoire de Multinational. Tell us a little bit more about this because it must perform actually a very valuable role.
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F
Absolutely. I, you know, it is worth mentioning that this, this wasn't Capgemini, you know, coming forward and saying, oh, you know, we actually stand against ice's actions. This was investigative reporting. So once again, really to, to point out the importance of, of maintaining these practices around the world. But it was an independent investigative report that only then, when it was brought out, really triggered this massive outcry. And then the French Finance minister, Lescure, had to sort of address it and then demanded that the company be more transparent with how these technologies were being used abroad.
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A
Now there's an outcry in another sector and I have to say here, I'm very against what they, what they are against. I think this is an absolutely brilliant idea. France's child free train carriages.
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F
So very astute or very careful listeners of Monocle Radio will, will remember that we didn't mention this story in our headlines at late last week. But there has been a real national outcry about the fact that French national rail operator SNCF has decided that there will be certain train cars where there are no kids allowed. And the idea here, as we mentioned, is that this is going to be for business travelers. So it's quiet, it's a place where people can do work. And I have to tell you, Georgina, I'm also super with you about this. I mean, what's really interesting is that it's, it's triggered an enormous, enormous outcry in the country. It's like this is really how we're moving the story along. It's just plastered all over French TV news shows, over magazines about whether France is becoming a kid unfriendly country. But, you know, I have to say, I'm with you.
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A
I mean, there's a place for them, there's a place for them, but it's not where you're trying to work or travel in comfort. And, and, but one thing that annoys me, it's, it's, it bans only under 12s. Right. I want teenagers gone too.
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F
No teenagers, yeah.
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They must all just go away. Oh, God, I'm a terrible person. Am I a terrible person? That's true.
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F
I think it's fair.
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But I think that it is. I mean, another sort of area about this is that the birth rate has fallen to its lowest ebb since the Second World War.
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Absolutely. And I think part of why the government is, is really take, you know, you know, this could have been something where some people pushed back. It doesn't gain much traction, and that's sort of the beginning and end of the story. That is not what we're seeing here. And we're seeing the French government really try to come out, not just now, but over the last few months, if not, you know, well over a year with these pro kids campaigns. They are trying to highlight spaces that welcome families with children. They're trying to boost tourism within France for French families. So really just allow for some policies that are family friendly, encourage and enable people to have children. And I think that is why this struck such a chord of is France becoming a child unfriendly country.
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A
But it's also a messaging problem. I mean, this could have been sold as, look, we're going to have family friendly carriages. Isn't this wonderful? There'll be special places on the trains for people with cars, kids, and, and that way, you know, everybody wins.
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F
No, it's so true. I think also a big reason that this did not or that this triggered sort of the pushback that it did is exactly because of the marketing. They, when this first went out, the line, the line that was used for the marketing was a calm space on board, and that really got parents sort of hot and bothered, which, again, I'm not a parent, so maybe this is why that is not deeply upsetting. To me. But you know, it's okay to say that sometimes children don't encourage the most calm environments, but that really, really did not go over well.
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A
Well, I guess I'm particularly hypersensitive to it at the moment. Just having done a long haul flight with the baby in the room behind me. Felt so sorry for the mother. She really tried, but honestly, there's, there's nothing much you can do except perhaps have robots instead of babies. Let's talk about, let's talk about this human. And I have to say, I have a child. I love my child. There's a humanoid, humanoid robot. It's the star of Chinese, the Chinese New Year's parade on the Champs Elysees.
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F
Absolutely. I came across this story really only after I was taking my, this lovely Sunday stroll through Paris and my, and I apologize again, very temperate weather. And I just turned a corner and all of a sudden there was this incredible parade with in, you know, gorgeous Chinese dragons and so many people lining the streets. And I really had not known about it and I wasn't expecting it. So it was really fun to learn more about what was going on. And it was, it was the French celebration of the Chinese Chinese New Year, which will be in about two weeks, but it will be the year of the Fire Horse, which I feel very intrigued about and want to learn more about because that feels, you know, not many things have felt like positive omens this year. But Fire Horse feels invigorating. Right? It has to, it has to bring something good. But there were up, right. But there were about 150,000 to 200,000 spectators. The numbers are not sort of finalized, but so many people flooding the streets. So much talent and dancing and excitement. But what ended up really being the star of the show were these humanoid robots sort of dancing and shimmying their way down the Champs Elysees, which as you can imagine is a little bit of a jarring sight. This sort of very majestic, iconic, traditional street in, in Paris being filled with dancing robots was certainly a sight to see.
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A
Absolutely. Bernita in Paris, that's Anita Riota. Thank you very much indeed. Now here's what else we're keeping an eye on today. Iran warned of regional war if the United States attacks and designated EU armies as terrorist groups while signaling openness to negotiations. Despite no formal talks being scheduled, Washington and Tehran are exchanging diplomatic signals as regional allies push for de escalation. Israel said the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt will reopen for Palestinians on foot today under strict security checks. The move will mainly allow patients to leave Gaza for medical treatment as part of a US backed ceasefire plan. And Lord Peter Mandelson resigned from the British Labour Party after new US court documents revived scrutiny of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. He denied financial allegations, but said he was stepping down to avoid further embarrassment to the party. This is the Globalist. Stay tuned. Now to Switzerland. This weekend saw the return of the Ice Sam Moritz. That's the International Concour of Elegance, a two day annual celebration of classic cars staged on the frozen surface of the lake. The event drew thousands of visitors and collectors along with well known figures from the worlds of culture and design. Among them was Lord Norman Foster, the renowned architect behind many globally loved projects, including the so called Gherkin Building here in London. Our Sophie Grove, editor of Confect, caught up with him at the ICE Awards ceremony. She began by asking about the Engadon region's link to classic cars and his own passion for them.
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C
I love cars. I'm a complete freak for cars. They're beautiful objects. Then they tell a story of the period, of the technology. No, they're once described as rolling sculptures. And a great celebration here of, of that tradition.
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A
And you are a resident of St. Moritz and we often pass your beautiful house in town. Do you think this event really sums up the sort of eccentricity of where we are? Because it's, it's so unique, it's so joyful.
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C
Well, there are lots of traditions of people hurtling down mountain slopes, you know.
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B
On a tea tray.
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C
The Cresta Run, the lakes, the nature of the sun, the extraordinary architecture. It's a valley 45km before you get to the Lower Rangadine. Amazing scenery, amazing villages. It's a region as well as a.
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A
Place and it's such an unusual kind of meeting of minds here, this great artistic tradition. But then, you know, just look at.
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C
The artists and the philosophers who have flocked here and made it their base, a point of inspiration.
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A
Do you have a highlight?
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B
Do you have a favorite car on the ice today?
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A
Can I ask you?
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C
It has to be the one that won the best of show, the Talbot Lago. It's just an extraordinary, beautiful object. I mean, late 30s, teardrop shape, stunning in, in every way. So in many ways emblematic of a, of a period and enduring. A classic, timeless.
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A
That was architect Lord Norman Foster in conversation with our Sophie Grove at the Ice St Moritz. You're with the globalist on Monocle Rad. It is 11:33 in Dubai and 7:11 here in London. I beg your pardon? 7:33 here in London this week, Monocle radio, cafe and editorial departments are all in Dubai for the World Government Summit. Well, I'm joined from there now by Inzamin Rashid, who's Monocle's Gulf correspondent, to give us a preview of what lies ahead. Good morning to you, Insi.
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G
Good morning, Georgina, do tell us about.
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A
The World Government's summit as a whole. What is, is it?
- [34:13]
G
Well, look, it's an interesting event which convenes world leaders, heads of state, government ministers and people from all different backgrounds, whether it be fashion, the world of fashion, hospitality. And it brings them all together at the Medina Jumeirah in Dubai. And they're there to talk. They're there to sit around in a Majlis format and have very open and quite honest discussions. It's an opportunity, particularly for Global south leaders as well, to actually have their voice heard, particularly on the back of Davos, where of course, many world leaders were there. Business owners, CEOs and founders were there as well. But often you don't find many from the Global south trekking to the the mountaintops and in the snow. And then those who who have spent time in Davos come, come over to Dubai to defrost and spend time at World Government Summit to discuss a number of issues. But what you've got to look at this particular summit, they say that this is going to be the largest World Government summit that they've ever put on. 150 plus government delegations, 35 plus heads of state and government. There is around 6,000 or so participants expected, with 340 sessions across the next few days. And of course, you'll be able find the best coffee in town at the Monocle Cafe as well.
- [35:41]
A
Absolutely. At the top of the show, we were talking about the trilateral meeting between Russia and Ukraine and the US and the fact that it's been hosted in Abu Dhabi this week. So as the Gulf becomes more of a mediator on international issues, how does that impact events such as this?
- [36:00]
G
Yeah, I think this World Government Summit in particular falls on with a backdrop of a pretty tense region right now because of what's happening with Donald Trump's beautiful armada arriving here in the Middle east and a potential attack on Iran, and of course, and a potential Iranian retaliation, but also because, as you mentioned, the uae, the Gulf, likes to play this role of kind of mediator in chief, particularly with issues beyond its own borders. So, yes, the first trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the USA were held in Abu Dhabi. And I think this event is probably a reminder actually of how the uae, how the Gulf likes to operate when it comes to diplomacy. They have their doors open for anyone and everyone to come in, to sit around, like I said, in that majlist format all around the room and have these very open and frank discussions. Now, this World Government Summit in particular, I think what we will see over the next few days is there will be a lot of kind of side room conversations around some of the diplomatic tensions, not only here in the region, but around the world as well. I think one thing in particular to know, Georgina, over the next few days is to actually see whether Saudi Arabia will send a delegation to this year's World Government Summit here in the uae. We know that of course, there are heightened tensions and disagreements between the UAE and Saudi Arabia right now. The relationship is probably the worst it is ever been, certainly for a very, very long time. And so that's definitely something I'll be keeping an eye out on, whether Saudi will actually send a delegation. So look, within the World Government Summit of it actually being a convener and bringing people all together, there are still small elements of tension and detail that we need to keep an eye on over the next few days to see how the Gulf countries within themselves will operate as well.
- [38:14]
A
Now, you mentioned great coffee, and that's because our cafe is represented. What will our other various teams on the ground be up to?
- [38:22]
G
So our editor in chief, Andrew Took, will be hosting a session at the World Government Summit stage where he'll be speaking to the boss of Waymo. So I think they'll be talking a lot about autonomous vehicles, whether that's ready to come in a place like the uk. Can we see autonomous vehicles soon? On the busy streets of London, we know kind of autonomy in terms of vehicles and flying taxis and all that kind of stuff is very much ready to roll here in the uae. So it'll be interesting to see how they continue that across other parts of the world. So Andrew Tuck will be talking about the future of how we live on the stage. Tom Edwards, head of radio, of course, will be host of the entrepreneurs will be joining myself in the radio studio here at World Government Summit, where we'll be grabbing people as they walk past. Now, you gotta remember, doorstopping isn't actually allowed here in this country. So we have to politely grab a world leader and usher them past the Monocle Cafe, get them a cardamom bun and into the studio to have a discussion. So there'll be plenty of that over the next few days as well.
- [39:36]
A
Insi, thank you very much indeed. That's Insamin Rashid. Welcome Monocle Gulf correspondent and do listen out for interviews coming from our pop up studio. I think the next one will be on this show tomorrow. And if you're in town for the summit, join us for a coffee in the Monocle Cafe there. And while in Dubai, also check out Al Kabulan. That's the world's first African dining hall. And then to give it context, listen to the latest edition of Meet the Writers with opera singer and chef Alexander Smalls on how and why he created that particular dining hall. This is Monocle Radio. Now. A pianist had never sold out a solo concert at Paris's famed Stade de France. Never. That is, until rapper and classical pianist Sophie Anne Palmar brought his music to the 90,000 capacity stadium earlier this month. A recipient of of the Chevalier d', Or, France's highest cultural award, and a performer at Paris's 2024 Olympics opening ceremony, Sophie Anne believes classical music can shape modern discourse. Monocle's contributor Julia Webster Ayuso sat down with Sophian and began by asking him how he felt about his sold out show at the Stade de France.
- [40:55]
D
It felt like a moment out of time because the walls of the opera are full of history and you find feel that centuries passed and so much music happened in this very particular place. It's the kind of place that makes you feel that you are becoming part of a little, little, little piece of history.
- [41:16]
A
You're known for bridging classical music, rap and pop. You've collaborated with some big names in the French rap scene, but also with Sia on the song Give Me Love and with the Prague Philharmonic choir. Choir. You sometimes call yourself the piano king because it seems that you can do anything. So why is it important to you to bring all of these different genres together in your music?
- [41:40]
D
It's important to me to express freedom, to express that with this instrument I can go through anything of any emotion of life. And to do so, I need to be able to combine my music with other kind of genres, other kind of approaches of life, because I feel that my music is a reflection of life itself. It's a reflection of what's happening in the world between humans. And I try to make it as sincere and as reflective as possible of the real life.
- [42:12]
A
What is it about the piano as an instrument that seduced you early age?
- [42:18]
D
So beautiful, it's like grand, it's majestic, it has so much possibility, possibilities. You can do both hands at the same time. So it means that you can have a melody supported by some polyphonic Harmonies under looks like, for me, when I think about it, an orchestra, but in black and white. There's something that you have everything, but you cannot push as far as an orchestra because you have so many timbre, so many options of colors in an orchestra. But in a piano, you can still, by yourself alone, be a conductor of a music that is already super full with all the keys you have on the keyboard.
- [42:56]
A
We're in the same hotel where earlier this year you were knighted for your contributions to art and culture. What was that like? What was it like, that ceremony?
- [43:07]
D
There is two kinds of awards. There are awards that you can receive because you are successful as an artist. And it reminds you that they a lot of numbers around your music, about sales, gold records, platinum records, diamond records. It's one kind of award that are very important for an artist. And the other kind of award are the awards that are about honor, about being recognized as a contributor of a form of art. And this one is in this category. And this category is priceless because it gives you back something I have been stolen from because as a kid I worked so, so, so, so much. And it took us as a family, several generations to reach that point. So when your own country is giving you back something that is honorific, it means very, very, very a lot. Something super deep.
- [44:05]
A
You performed at the Olympics opening ceremony. You played Imagine with French singer Juliette Armanet on a floating platform on the Seine. And the piano you were playing was on fire. Can you tell me a little bit about that experience? Because it was a really beautiful performance, but it also looked like quite a challenging one. Like there was fire, there was a little bit of rain as well. What was that like?
- [44:28]
D
I think the most challenging part is the feeling you have the last 10 seconds before you have the last countdown. You know that you are going to be live in front of 1 billion people. This is the most intense thing because, like the fire, the rain, the water, it's challenging, but it's still technical. But this moment, the feeling of you prepared yourself a lot for a long time. I knew two hours and a half that I would do this. And it was a secret, you know, I signed crazy confidential agreements to protect this secret. And then suddenly, after two years and a half, you have the final countdown. 10, 9, 8, etc. And then, boom, 1 billion people are watching. This is the most intense feeling.
- [45:12]
A
How do you feel about the music scene in Paris? Because I hear you come here regularly, but that you're based in LA now. Why la?
- [45:21]
D
I move in a place for like A certain amount of time and this is how I'll create. My first album was touring all over the world. The second one was focusing on Asia. The third one was focusing on South America. And now I'm like in a LA cycle. So I was here, I'm still here. I've been here since two years to compose my next album.
- [45:40]
A
So you've been in LA for two years?
- [45:42]
D
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [45:43]
A
And you've got a big show coming up at the Stade de France in 2027. You'll be the first pianist to headline at a 90,000 seat St Stadium. What do you think this says about how people listen to classical music today?
- [45:59]
D
I mean it's the first time in history. So it doesn't mean that people are listening to classical music this way. It's too early to have this conclusion, but I think that I am opening a new door of experiencing instrumental music. You can listen to instrumental music in a very, very close situation, a very intimate one. But you can also bring these instruments into a rock star situation like this huge event. And this is what I, I try to prove, I tried to prove it that with different medium than the voice, usually artists become super successful about their voices. Me, I, I try to prove that I can do it with my piano as a voice.
- [46:39]
A
So you're touring Europe over the next few weeks. You're playing at the Tonhalle in Zurich and the Berlin Philharmonic. That's ahead of your new album coming out in April. What can you tell us about it?
- [46:51]
D
This is the most ambitious album of my life. I created 20 songs for this album that were a selection among 100 songs that I created over the last two years. It was a huge and complicated process because I wanted to elevate myself to a new kind of music because after doing three album of piano solo that was. I needed a change. I found it and I'm super proud of what I did. And so I can't wait to share this album to the world.
- [47:23]
A
That was French pianist Sophian Palmar in conversation with Julia Webster, Ausso. This is the Globalist on Monaco Radio. Music's biggest night took place for the 67th time in Los Angeles last night. Well, I'm joined by Kate Hutchinson, who's a music journalist and host of the Last Bohemians podcast, who was watching. Kate, good morning to you. Is it still music's biggest night?
- [47:57]
H
Oh, absolutely. I feel like all the stops were pulled out this evening. Well, last evening, lots of, lots of massive wins, lots of record wins and also a side serving of politics and protest.
- [48:13]
A
Oh, Absolutely. I'm longing to hear about that. Now, that came mostly from Bad Bunny. What did he win and what did he say on stage?
- [48:21]
H
So obviously the big headline is that Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican artist, won album of the year for his album Debbie Tirra Mass photos. It was the first bad Spanish language album to win album of the year and it fended off stiff competition from Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga and Tyler the creator. And when he got up on stage, the first thing that he said before he got started with his acceptance speech was ice out. So that slogan was everywhere. It was everywhere on people's badges and pins that they were wearing on their outfits. And there was a sense, I think, of the music community really taking a.
- [48:55]
A
Stand together with any snubs or surprises.
- [49:00]
H
Absolutely. It wouldn't be the Grammys without any snubs. I think Sabrina Carpenter went home empty handed, as did Chapel Rowan. But Chapel Rowan's big outfit reveal looked like it might need its own award entirely. The red carpet looks this year did not disappoint, but I, I feel also that the Grammys can feel, you know, fairly familiar with the same names dominating, you know, Billie Eilish wins best song. Kendrick Lamar took home five awards, but there were some twists and turns. I think it was also the first time that K Pop won a Grammy. K Pop Demon Hunters took the award back for best song written for Visual Media for Golden. I think they would have been outraged if they didn't win. And there was also a. I have to, as a British music journalist, I have to pick up the Brits. There were lots of wins for British artists this year, which was really incredible to see. Such as we had Lola Young who beat off Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and other megastars to win the best pop solo performance for Messi. Youngblood won the award for best Rock performance. Although I would have also loved, love to see Australia's Ammo and the Sniffers in there. Olivia Dean won Best New Artist, FKA Twigs took home the award for Best Dance Electronic Album. And then the Cure won two awards as well. So it was a really big turnout for the Brits.
- [50:28]
A
Now we know that the Oscars will be streaming from 2029. Is that likely to be the case for the Grammys too?
- [50:35]
H
Streaming from 20? I mean, it just makes sense in order to reach a bigger, you know, audience as possible. I think everybody always wants to see what people turn up to wear on, on the red carpet, what they say on the podium, who's going to say what and what the performances Are there were some incredible performances at this year's Grammys, including Lady Gaga's return to form performing in sort of the middle of a basket. She was wearing a basket on her head, so that's brilliant.
- [51:04]
A
Tell us more about the. The look, the sort of whole red carpet look.
- [51:08]
H
I think it's quite hard to talk about it in terms of, you know, there wasn't sort of one look that dominated, but certainly a sort of maybe romantic flouncy sort of frills. A sort of. Yeah. New romantic kind of look or Renaissance era look I feel was quite big and also quite a lot of. A lot of flesh. I did mention Chapel Roan earlier, who dropped the cape that they were wearing to. To reveal quite a sort of striking topless outfit. If you haven't seen it, it's maybe you might not want to look at it. It might make you spit your. Your cornflakes out. I'm not sure. It's quite shocking.
- [51:52]
A
Topless outfit. That sounds like. Not an outfit, half an outfit. Yeah.
- [51:57]
H
Quite cold, quite. Quite literally quite nippy on the red carpet it there.
- [52:01]
A
And so do you think there'll be any careers that are hugely changed by the results last night?
- [52:06]
H
Oh, definitely. In terms of the British artists that I mentioned, I think, you know, this was a really huge breakthrough moment for Olivia Dean. I think we're going to see her win hugely at the Brit Awards in the UK after this. And yeah, I think the Grammys can still. It's funny because I think. I think the Grammy still does make a massive difference to artists and to their streaming figures and to their album numbers and their album sales. But there are something like 96 categories, so it does sort of feel sometimes like who hasn't won a Grammy at this stage?
- [52:43]
A
Kate, thanks very much indeed. That's Kate Hutchinson there. You're listening to the Globalist on Monocle Radio. Iq, EQ and AI, three components key to the craft of innovation at ubs. Because to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving age, you need a partner with decades of experience, endless passion for the work and a finger on the pulse of leading technologies. Bridging human expertise with artificial intelligence. All to elevate you. UBS banking is our craft. Now, my friend Brenda Tuohy, who's also Monocle's luxury markets editor, is here with me to report back on what seems to have been a fabulous time at the haute couture and high jewellery shows in Paris. Brenda, I have to just start by mentioning you're the only person I know who can rock a sling and still look elegant.
- [53:45]
E
I'm so sick of this sling. But, yeah, I sleep in it. I wear it all day, you know, I just take it off to shower.
- [53:52]
A
And this is because you fell down the stairs in our Zurich studio.
- [53:56]
E
I just fell because I wasn't watching where I was going. And I have very big feet, but.
- [54:02]
A
Elegantly shod, it must be said. Now, listen, we want to talk about the business of fashion. How do you define haute couture? I mean, it's not a profit line. What is, is it?
- [54:13]
E
Well, it's really the culture of the fashion house, haute couture itself. To achieve haute couture status, you must meet the right criteria. So it's not for everyone. You have to show twice a year in Paris, in January and in July, you have to employ at least 15 specialist artisans. You have to create clothing by hand. So unique pieces of clothing, absolutely unique. One offs. There can't be, you know, any doppelgangers there, all done by hand. Your client must come in for multiple fittings. You know, they might prefer to have their arms covered or to have the length a little, little bit, you know, longer, shorter, whatever. So unique. It's a little bit like champagne, I suppose. Haute couture, you know, it's not for everybody. Not everybody meets the criteria. You can be invited as a foreign couturier to show in Paris, but predominantly it's the French.
- [55:25]
A
So what's the business model, though, if this is going to make?
- [55:29]
E
Well, it's a. Lastly, you know, this is really the high art of fashion, so it's where a couturier can try out fun, daring ideas without having to worry about it being commercial. But it is really the birthplace for everything and all, you know, couture Chanel showed tweed jackets, let's say originally, you know, tweed that was manufactured specifically for a couture show might find its way in another iteration in a ready to wear something. A piece of jewelry might lend its way to a perfume bottle, but couture does set the tone for ready to wear, for high jewels, for fine jewels, for perfume. It really is the place of dreams and it's the culture and the art form that then might find its way into a museum. So haute couture is the art really of fashion.
- [56:35]
A
So is it still relevant? Does it need updating?
- [56:39]
E
I don't think you can update it, Georgina, because as it has to be handmade, think of the hours and hours and hours of stitching that might go into a couture gown that could sell for anywhere between. Let's say, say €80,000, maybe up to half a million, maybe more.
- [57:01]
A
But sell to who?
- [57:02]
E
There are typically around 2,000 clients that buy haute couture a year and they're royalty high net worth individuals and other wealthy people who maybe wear it by day and by night. You know, it's not just about ball gowns. Dedicated clients who like to look unique, who want something that can't be bought anywhere else and also who value that handmade creation, the hours and hours and hours. And that's why it costs so much. It's because of all the hours and all the different hands that this garment has passed through.
- [57:45]
A
And so what was your main takeaway apart from the fabulous dinners I saw you posting on Instagram, what was your main takeaway from the show shows you saw last week?
- [57:53]
E
Well, I really saw jewelry. So the jewelry is exactly like haute couture. So this is the creme de la creme. This is as good as it gets. It's really a treat because you see things you may never see again. And, and it's a fantasy really for me. Obviously I'm not one of the 2,000 people who'll be buying haute jewelry or haute couture. So the jewels were passing just ever so so, you know, slightly and swiftly through my hands. But it was wonderful to see it. I also went to the super de Beers party at the Hotel Delvaux in Place Vendome. And in true Brenda style, I missed Lily Allen's performance by about five minutes because I was hungry.
- [58:40]
A
If there was one piece you could have taken away with you put in.
- [58:43]
E
Your pocket, I think it would have been actually something quite simple, but bold and big. Graff had a fabulous sapphire surrounded just by two diamonds, rather large. The sapphire was perhaps 180 carats.
- [59:00]
A
It was gorgeous and I'm sure it would have looked fabulous on you. Brenda Toohey, thank you very much indeed. And that's all we have time for today. Thanks to our producers, Christy o', Grady, Carlotta Rebelo and Anita Riota, our researcher Anneliese Maynard and our studio manager, Mariella Bevan. After the headlines. There's more music on the way and the briefing is live at midday. In London, I'm Georgina Godwin and I'll return on the Globalist at the same time tomorrow. Thanks for listening. With ubs, you have a trip truly global partner. Incorporating new technologies, innovative approaches and unexpected opportunities leading you to insights that help answer the questions that matter. Delivered with passion, care and unmatched expertise. Because it's about rising with the dawn. Each day knowing that we can do even better. That's what banking is to us. Not just work, but a craft. UBS advice is our craft.