Syria marks a year since the fall of Bashar al-Assad

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.