Russia’s nuclear weapons drills and Xi Jinping arrives in Belgrade

Michael Cohen returns to the witness stand for cross-examination on his third day of testimony. Then: South Africa asks the International Court of Justice to order Israel to immediately withdraw from Rafah and we hear from the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Stephen Adly Guirgis. Plus: your weekend drinks menu with Maxim Kassir, head sommelier at The Aubrey, Mandarin Oriental.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vladimir Putin touches down in China for a two-day state visit and meeting with Xi Jinping. Meanwhile, Gaza is at the top of the agenda as the Arab League Summit begins in Bahrain. Plus: Dutch coalition talks, free speech in Tunisia, climate news and Design Miami.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Giorgi Tabagari tells us what’s next for Georgia as its parliament passes the ‘foreign agents’ bill. Also in the programme: Monocle’s Asia editor, James Chambers, on Singapore’s new prime minister and Suzanne Lynch gives us the latest from the Copenhagen Democracy Summit. Plus: Bernie Cho updates us on the NewJeans controversy that’s rocking the K-Pop world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hear the latest as Israel invades Rafah from north and south. Plus: the UK arrests three men for assisting Hong Kong’s intelligence services, the Norwegian Refugee Council reports on a record number of internally displaced people around the world, the latest in arts and culture, and a preview of Cannes Film Festival.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A spotlight on Greek-Turkish relations as prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visits Ankara. Then: presidential elections in Lithuania, how the Austrian Beer Party could bolster far-right support and a call from Somalia to end the UN’s decade-long political-assistance mission. Plus: the winners and losers from this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israeli build-up continues outside Rafah despite US warnings that it will withhold weapons if a major invasion is launched. Then: disappointment for China as Nicaragua cancels a controversial canal linking the Atlantic and Pacific and Malaysia’s plan to offer orangutans to the biggest importers of its palm oil. Plus: we’re in Malmö, Sweden, with the latest from Eurovision.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We examine at Western responses to Israel’s actions in Rafah, explore why all five Central Asian leaders have agreed to attend Vladimir Putin’s Victory Day celebrations and check in on South Korea’s scandal-plagued president Yoon Suk-yeol. Plus: we visit Marseille for the Olympic torch festival and hear from Greece’s Eurovision entrant. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We get the latest on the Rafah crossing as Israel and Hamas continue negotiations. Then: Russia is ready to hold nuclear weapons drills, China’s Xi Jinping touches down in Belgrade and we speak with Neil J Young about his new book ‘Coming Out Republican’. Plus: fashion news and the economics behind doner kebabs in Germany.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Monocle’s Emma Nelson for the current-affairs stories of the day, including the third phase of India’s general election with Maya Sharma, the latest aviation news with Greg Waldron of Flight Global and the papers with Agnes Poirer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest as Israel’s military orders Palestinians to evacuate eastern Rafah and we report as China’s president Xi Jinping arrives in France for the beginning of his European tour. Then: the importance of countering Russia’s influence in Africa as Moscow’s troops enter a military base in Niger. Plus: we’re in Bahrain to meet contemporary artist Rashid Al Khalifa, and the chef cooking for the stars.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.