Join Georgina Godwin and Charles Hecker for a round-up of the week’s news and culture. Plus: a conversation with Sam Crane and Pinny Grylls, writer and director of ‘Grand Theft Hamlet’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This edition of Monocle on Saturday was first broadcast on the 7th of December, 2024 on Monocle Radio.
Hello, I'm Georgina Godwin broadcasting to you live from Midori House in London.
This is Monocle on Saturday.
Coming up on today's program, we'll have a look through the week's news and culture with political analyst and writer Charles Hecker.
Good morning, Georgina.
We're going to be looking at the collapse of the presidential electoral process in Romania.
We'll look at the reconstruction of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, and we'll find out who some of the most stylish people are of 2024.
Then I'm going to speak to the creators of Grand Theft Hamlet, a film made entirely within a video game.
Plus, it's Christmas market day in Zurich.
We'll cross to Dofestrasse90 to hear what's going on.
That's all ahead here on Monocle on Saturday with me, Georgina Godwin.
First, though, here's the news.
Syrian rebels say they seized control of the southern city of Daraa today, the birthplace of the 2011 uprising against President Bashar al Assad and the fourth city.
His forces have lost in a week.
Rebel sources say the military agreed to make an orderly withdrawal from Daraa under a deal giving army officials saf passage to the capital, Damascus.
Romania's top court has annulled the ongoing presidential election after accusations of Russian meddling and ruled that the entire process, which had been due to conclude this weekend, would have to be rerun.
Analysts say the court ruling may erode institutions, trigger street protests and ultimately still endanger the nation's pro western course.
Ghana is holding a presidential and parliamentary election today amid hopes for an economic revival after the worst financial crisis in a gener which led to a major debt default in the West African nation.
Approximately 18.7 million out of Ghana's 34 million population are registered to vote in the poll, which analysts say hold significant importance not only for Ghana, but also for the entire region where democracy is under scrutiny.
And five and a half years after the devastating fire, Notre Dame in Paris reopens.