Ukraine assassinates Russian chemical weapons chief

Monocle’s Toronto correspondent, Tomos Lewis, discusses Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau’s future amid calls for his resignation. Then: the latest on the looming US government shutdown. Plus: Monocle’s editor in chief, Andrew Tuck, and head of radio, Tom Edwards, discuss the year in elections and Christmas diplomacy for awkward political chats around the turkey.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Volodymyr Zelensky makes a final push to rally EU allies ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration, we discuss growing pressure on Europe to boost its defense budget. Also on the programme: as Emmanuel Macron faces mounting calls to resign, could France be heading toward early presidential elections? Plus: the great Guinness shortage and what not to buy your spouse this Christmas.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canada’s prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, is in a political crisis. We examine how bad the situation is. Also on the programme: with Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, calling a snap election for next year, we assess who the nation’s next leader could be. Then: why Donald Trump is suing the Des Moines Register. Plus: the woman who stowed away on a flight from New York to Paris last month was taken into custody again – for a very similar offence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukraine claims responsibility for the killing of Russian chemical-weapons chief, Igor Kirillov. We unpack what might happen next. Also in the programme: the European Commission takes the UK to court for the alleged failure by the UK to protect the rights of resident EU citizens. Plus: we ask why there were so few young men at the impeachment rallies in South Korea and new research shows consuming arts and culture is good for your health.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Israel doubles down on its incursion into the occupied Syrian territory of Golan Heights, we ask whether this is necessary or opportunistic. Also on the programme: we discuss the latest as Turkey’s prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, offers to mediate to resolve tensions between Sudan and the UAE. Then: the remaining Bali Nine return to Australia. What does this say about Indonesia’s new leader? Plus: students at a school in England get a rude awakening when a vicar tells them the truth about Santa Claus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ed Stocker and Simon Bouvier discuss France’s new prime minister, Francois Bayrou, and the Catalan separatists threatening to end support for Spain’s prime minister. Plus: Fiona Wilson joins to debate doggy-bag guidelines in Japan to tackle food waste. Then: ‘What We Learned’ and the future of Jumeirah in Africa.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest in South Korea’s ongoing political crisis and the implications for its soft-power prowess. Also in the programme: the UK’s changing attitudes toward relations with the European Union and Australia proposes new taxes on tech giants to pay for news coverage. Plus: does the ‘Time Magazine’ person of the year really matter?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Germany's chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has requested a confidence vote, setting in motion the process for the country to hold early elections next year. What happened to the EU's powerhouse? Plus: the fate of Syrian refugees in Europe, Maori tribes' plea to King Charles III and how the way we watch television is changing..See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tessa Szyszkowitz and Ben Kelly discuss how Western governments might deal with a Syria newly led by a former terrorist group, the controversy over the murder of UnitedHealthcare's CEO, the 'Los Angeles Times' bias debate and our favourite online searches of the year. Plus: why young Croatians are leaving and how to keep them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robin Brant and Giorgia Scaturro discuss how the collapse of the Assad regime will affect Europe. Also in the programme: a migration solution dubbed the ‘Musk bill‘, tensions over an EU-Mercosur trade deal and whether Italy’s trains are the best in Europe. Plus: Karthik Ramanna on his book ‘The Age of Outrage’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.