Asian finance ministers come to Washington

European leaders vote on whether to use Russia’s frozen assets to help Ukraine, France’s social security bill and the end of Air Albania. Plus: newspapers, musician Tiago Caetano and bartenders wanted in Saudi Arabia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest on Ukraine’s peace plan, Christmas celebrations return to Bethlehem, new cultural platform ‘Der Pavilion’ in St Moritz, Brazilian telenovelas head to the US and aviation news.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As authorities stand accused of lax security at Bondi Beach, we assess what could have been done differently. Plus: Ukraine talks in Berlin and why France is delaying an EU trade deal with Latin American nations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Australians grieve yesterday’s shooting at Bondi beach, how will the government respond to the crisis? Nick Bryant, Latika Bourke and Allison Kaplan Summer weigh in. Plus: Chile election results and Jimmy Lai’s verdict.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.