Caracas accuses the US of “theft” and “international piracy” after its forces seize an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. 

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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? 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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