

The Papal tour and Monocle’s Paris Christmas Market
As the world reflects on Pope Leo XIV’s first trip to Turkey and Lebanon, Andrew Mueller and Juliet Linley give us their two cents.

US Congress roiled by Venezuelan strikes and the latest from the Xi-Macron meeting
A bipartisan resolution to block US military action against Venezuela without congressional approval and calls for an investigation into self-proclaimed “secretary of war” Pete Hegseth roil US Congress. Then: the latest from presidents Xi Jinping and Emmanuel Macron’s meeting. And: will an afternoo…

Nato foreign ministers demand a say in a future peace agreement for Ukraine
Nato foreign ministers meet in Brussels following a US-Russia summit in Moscow. Then: we look ahead to Australia’s teen social-media ban. Plus: the campaign to bring back doors in hotel-room bathrooms.

Steve Witkoff arrives in Russia for talks with Putin – is peace in sight?
As Washington's delegation arrives in Moscow, we discuss how close we are to peace in Ukraine. Then: India begins testing long-range missiles – why is China so interested? Plus: Denmark prepares to cancel Christmas cards.

Tensions ramp up between the US and Venezuela. Plus: How much sway does the Pope have in the Middle East?
The latest as Trump ramps up pressure on Nicolás Maduro’s Venezuela. Then: as Pope Leo continues his tour of the Middle East, we discuss how much sway he has in the region. Plus: Switzerland rejects a wealth tax on the super-rich.

Jakarta is the largest megacity, Louvre hikes tickets for non-EU visitors and Brazilian soaps go international
We discuss the UN’s new report on megacities, Louvre’s price rise for non-EU nationals and Brazil’s telenovelas expansion. Plus: Mina al-Oraibi, editor in chief of The National.

France relaunches military service, Pope Leo’s first foreign trip and the housing crisis
Our guests Elisabeth Braw and Nina dos Santos unpack Emmanuel Macron’s decision to relaunch a limited military service in France. Plus: Pope Leo’s first overseas trip and how the housing crisis relates to a rise in populism.

Why is Europe taking a back seat when it comes to Ukraine’s peace?
Washington continues to take the lead on a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, where is Europe in all of this? Then: Trump asks his loyal supporter and Paramount Skydance’s largest shareholder, Larry Ellison, to revive ‘Rush Hour’. Plus: Sweden encourages its visitors to be bored.

The White House says that a peace deal for Ukraine is close – does Russia agree?
We unpack the latest on the Ukraine peace deal, as Washington scrambles to meet Moscow’s delegates in Abu Dhabi. Then: We unpack whether it's possible for Iran to have a soft-power makeover. Plus: Should airlines enforce dress codes?

The US claims progress on Ukraine talks, the G20 wraps up and Israel targets Hezbollah
US and Ukrainian delegations meet in Geneva to talk peace; Israel targets Hezbollah’s chief of staff; the G20 wraps up; and Saudi Arabia quietly allows alcohol sales for expats. Plus: Julia Ioffe on her new book, ‘Motherland’.