I have just come back from Florence. It's like Disneyland... not that I've ever been there. Not a local insight, let alone an Italian, and English is the first language. themayor.eu/en/a/view/flor…

Do people in Latin America use the term LatAm? I'm just writing about the TV industry and wanted to shorten 'Latin American'. Any views? Fernando Augusto Pacheco

Sit back for 3 mins and let @GavinEsler take you through the water privatisation scandal

Government sources always need to be thoroughly checked, double checked and seen from a 360 degree perspective... Thank goodnes for Ciaran Jenkins

1h15min to get through to HMRC Customer Support to find it is no more than the 'reception' desk ... all ready for another hour of waiting 😭😭😭

Amid the gloom, I find real solace in Monocle Radio #meetthewriters ... and the joy of reading the featured books... although I know this might be a dark read. Thank you Georgina Godwin

Welcome back Christopher Cermak to the London studio of Monocle Radio It's always good to hear your voice.

What I call people power... theguardian.com/world/2024/feb…

“Thames Water boss says bills need to rise by 40%.” Here’s why 👇

a reminder that Thames Water’s debts have grown from *zero* to over £18bn since privatisation - with billions sucked out in dividends

I would have been shocked to find one spillage. Instead I found 638 in my area over the past year! theguardian.com/environment/ng…

Key rule for organisers of talks, conferences, presentations ... make sure the audience can see the speaker National Portrait Gallery

Wrenching apart Germany and football for a moment, my memories of a recent trip to Berlin were about sparrows (none in London) – and bird song 🇩🇪🐦 gina-power.com/blog/weekend-i…

The need to CONNECT ... with each other, ourselves, and with nature. As always, the words of Elif Shafak struck my heart.

An example of how to do business casual...

In my preparation for the Monocle Magazine Quality of Life conference in Istanbul, I'm ploughing through a fascinating book, 'To the City: Life & Death along the Ancient Walls of Istanbul', by @AChristieMiller My kind of writing style.

Israel strikes Lebanon's Tyre as civilians flee new evacuation orders bbc.in/4eSxGKl

Contact me via my website gina-power.com, or follow me on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Thank you Charles Hecker and Pushkin House for such a fascinating insight into Russia. And what a great bookshop!