Monocle 24: The Globalist

Caracas accuses the US of “theft” and “international piracy” after its forces seize an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why the US is backing Japan after Chinese radars locked on to Japanese jets at the weekend. And: Belgrade is finally getting a metro – but will it arrive on time? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Belarussian weather balloons are testing the patience of Nato member Lithuania, with the latest incursion raising fresh security concerns and prompting the government to declare a nationwide emergency. Monocle’s Andrew Mueller and exiled Belarussian journalist Hanna Liubakova discuss how much harassment Europe is prepared to tolerate from a Moscow ally.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky sits down with European leaders, Xi Jinping could be about to meet Taiwan’s government and Paramount launches a cash offer for Warner Bros. Plus: Aviation news and Corinthia Hotels at ILTM.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Syrians celebrate ‘Liberation Day’, we get the mood on the ground in Damascus and assess how far the country has come. Then: Hong Kong’s local elections in the wake of deadly fires and the future of Hollywood as Netflix buys Warner Bros Discovery. Plus: Monocle’s Christmas market in Paris.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss what’s on the agenda as Putin meets Modi in India. Then: the potential fallout for Ursula von der Leyen as the EU’s former chief diplomat, Federica Mogherini, is accused of fraud. Plus: we speak to the winner of The Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We assess the situation in Venezuela as US assets build up in the Caribbean and Trump shows no sign of backing down. Then: the search for Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 will resume more than a decade after it vanished. Plus: we’re in Cannes for the International Luxury Travel Market.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can Emmanuel Macron strike a balance with Beijing on his state visit? Then: The US carried out a deadly “double tap” strike on a Venezuelan boat but who was responsible for the order? Plus: The top global cities for cyclists.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We assess the impact of Pope Leo’s first foreign trip to Turkey and Lebanon. Then: the history of democracy in Gdańsk as Polish prime minister Donald Tusk and German chancellor Friedrich Merz meet in Berlin. Plus: we dive into Monocle’s new Switzerland handbook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Ukraine's corruption scandal makes headlines again, we unpack what this means for the prospect of peace. Then: We sit down with with New Zealand’s former prime minister Jacinda Ardern. Plus: News from the Mediterranean.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hondurans head to the polls on Sunday to vote for a new president – we unpack Washington's keen interest. Then: The reaction from France as Macron announces a voluntary military-service plan. Plus: Tyler Brûlé looks ahead to Monocle's Christmas Markets, which begin this weekend in Zürich.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We get the latest as French and Iranian officials work through a nuclear standoff and prisoner dilemma. Then: Pope Leo XIV heads to Turkey on his first foreign trip. Plus: how to make a Thanksgiving feast with an international flair.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump labels Venezuela president Nicolás Maduro the head of a terrorist organisation. What does this mean for the South American country? Plus: why do modern space missions seem to be struggling?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sudan’s army chief dismisses the latest ceasefire proposal as “the worst yet”. What will this mean for the country’s expanding war? Then we flip through the Nordic newspapers and head to Riyadh for a new edition of Salone del Mobile.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We assess the negotiations behind the Trump administration’s 28-point peace plan for Ukraine and ask whether Republika Srpska's presidential election can actually bring change? Plus: The 11th Explorers Festival in Húsavík.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As leaders and diplomats from more than 40 nations arrive in South Africa for a historic G20 summit, the Trump administration’s decision to skip the event is raising eyebrows. With demonstrations expected, we discuss the stakes and what Africa’s first-ever G20 summit could mean for the continent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For a second time, Kosovo’s parliament has failed to elect a prime minister. We assess the implications for the region.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, accuses Russia of an unprecedented act of sabotage. How dangerous a game is Russia playing here? Meanwhile: Zelensky heads to Turkey for talks with president Erdoğan and US envoy Steve Witkoff – but without Russia’s participation. Plus: Zürich’s Christmas market comes to Paris. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In recent months, rocket testing and loudspeaker broadcasts have been added to the list of border incursions in South Korea by North Korean troops. We consider whether military talks could offer a solution. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

German finance minister Lars Klingbeil travels to Beijing at a time of serious questions about just how reliant Germany’s economy is on China. Plus: Andrew Ross Sorkin on the next financial bubble, Pope Leo goes to Hollywood and Shezad Dawood on using art to profile the environment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Switzerland’s hopes rise for tariff relief as talks in Washington intensify. Plus: Chile prepares for a lurch to the right in Sunday’s elections. And: the winner of the Latte Art Grading System World Championship.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Venezuela is preparing guerrilla-style resistance in the case of a US attack and the UK halts some intelligence-sharing with Washington over increasingly unpredictable offensives in the Caribbean. Then: Saudi Arabia hosts Tourise. Plus: Japan’s carmakers feel the sting of US tariffs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iraq holds parliamentary elections plagued by political boycotts and voter disillusionment. Can they buck the trend? Then: will a new EU intelligence community secure the bloc’s international standing? Plus: the latest aviation news and Abu Dhabi’s cultural offerings. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We explore life on the ground in Ukraine with a charity founder and the business editor of the ‘Kyiv Independent’ as Russian attacks limit the country’s ability to provide heat and electricity to its citizens. Plus: The Booker Prize winner and Christie’s London head of jewellery.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Syria’s leader can celebrate the UN Security Council lifting sanctions, just ahead of his visit to the White House today. Plus: We ask the founders of A Land for All: is there is a better two-state solution for the Middle East? Also: Baillie Gifford Prize winner Helen Garner.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump hosts Hungary’s prime minister, who hopes that Russian oil won’t be on the meeting agenda. Plus: What next for Hamas, news from the Mediterranean and can you guess the Louvre’s password? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Morocco has declared a national holiday after UN powers recognised its plans for Western Sahara. But what if the Trump administration and others miscalculated in the name of peace? Plus: why the Summit of the Americas is cancelled and the latest from World Travel Market.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss the significance of the fierce battles around the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk. Plus: the results of a series of US elections, the State of Asia conference in Zürich and the Tokyo International Film Festival comes to a close. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taiwan’s ongoing battle for resignation has stalled in Estonia over the naming of its representation. Plus: The director of Dubai Design Week, Natasha Carella; and OK Go frontman Damian Kulash on why the music video lives on.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Serbians gather in Novi Sad for protests marking a year since the station-canopy collapse that killed 16 people. Plus: US nuclear testing, Victoria’s Indigenous treaty, London’s oldest Islamic bookshop and theatre news. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a meeting between the leaders of the world’s two biggest economies seems to go better than expected, we discuss the ramifications for the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Presidents Trump and Xi hold a consequential meeting in Seoul to iron out trade relations. Is progress possible? Plus: police raids rip through Rio de Janeiro and the Dutch election results. Then: are you faster than the Slovakian pedestrian speed limit?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dutch voters head to the polls, Lebanon’s race to disarm Hezbollah, Australia’s PM heads to Malaysia and the US government shutdown’s impact on aviation. Plus: the ‘Perfume, sculpture of the invisible’ exhibition in Paris.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peace talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan continue. Will Trump’s intervention help? Then: Canada’s ambitions for a trade agreement with the Philippines. Plus: European aerospace companies look to build a rival to Elon Musk’s Starlink.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Asean summit kicks off in Kuala Lumpur as the world watches trade negotiations between China and the US. Then: Argentinians head to the polls, Pope Leo embarks on his first foreign trip and we take you to the Helsinki Book Fair.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moscow is hit with new sanctions from the EU and the US, we explore Art Basel Paris, hear how tariffs are reshaping the superyacht industry and get the latest business news. Plus: newspapers and ‘What We Learned’ this week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss the European Council meeting and what’s on the agenda for today’s high-profile talks. Plus: Ramaphosa’s Asia tour, Germany takes on AI, the soft power of football and food news from Tokyo. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, visits the Gulf, Japan stocks hit record high and the Berlin Process Summit 2025 begins. Plus: The rise of microdramas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan has a new prime minister, the next phase of the Israel-Gaza ceasefire, how Russian drones have impacted politics in Poland, L’Oréal acquires Kering’s beauty portfolio and we meet alt-pop star Allie X.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthony Albanese travels to Washington for his first formal meeting with Donald Trump since the US president took office.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the presidents of Ukraine and the United States prepare to meet in Washington, we explore how much support will be on offer this time around.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss the biggest lines from the Nato defence ministers' meeting yesterday and the European Commission gets ready to unveil a defence roadmap.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.