Political Lens

Lebanon under Israeli attack while diplomatic efforts continue to end the war in Iran. And with Israel escalating attacks on Hezbollah, Tehran wants any peace deal to cover both conflicts. So, why is Iran making Lebanon a central issue in its own war?

Ukraine's bid to join the European Union (EU) has received a boost this week. Accession negotiations have finally kicked off. Ukraine is hoping that will provide it with some security guarantees, as the war with Russia drags on. Moscow has long objected to Kyiv strengthening its ties with the West. And now, Ukraine will have to fulfil the EU's requirements before it can be accepted as a member. That will include reforms on a host of issues, including tackling corruption. But what are the risks of integrating a country at war into the bloc? And how will Russia respond?

A possible US-Iran deal is taking shape. But Israeli officials are reportedly worried. What are their concerns? Could it derail negotiations to end the war in Iran, which has caused an unprecedented global energy crisis?

The war on Iran has caused the worst energy crisis in history, according to the International Energy Agency. It's been politically unpopular in the US too, ahead of crucial mid-term elections in November.

Israeli national security minister's mistreatment of Gaza flotilla activists. It sparks international outrage. But will governments act against Israel? The boats were part of the latest attempt to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians. Most efforts have failed. What difference do flotillas make to Palestinians living under Israeli blockade?

Over the years, China and Russia have described their relationship as a friendship without limits. Vladimir Putin's visit to Beijing this week further emphasises the strength of those ties. He and President Xi Jinping hailed their partnership as 'a force of calm among chaos'. They also warned against a return to the 'law of the jungle'. An apparent reference to Donald Trump's actions and policies, which include the war against Iran and sweeping global tariffs. Will the two leaders succeed in their push for a multipolar world, one in which the U.S. does not dominate?

There appears to be a shift in the years-long conflict in Ukraine. Last weekend, Ukrainian forces struck deeper into Russian territory, piercing its air defences in a large strike on the Moscow region. This came a week after fears of a Ukrainian attack forced Russia to scale down its annual Victory Day parade. Kyiv's also been relentlessly striking Russia's oil facilities and military logistics, as it tries to disrupt supplies to the frontlines. All this as Russian missiles and drones continue to target sites across Ukraine.

Havana has announced the country is nearly out of fuel. It comes after months of added pressure from Washington. The US cut off oil shipments from Venezuela and then imposed a near total oil blockade. Paired with Cuba's aging energy grid, the result was sweeping blackouts, supply shortages and a deepening economic crisis. Washington's goal is to force the socialist government to open up the economy and implement political reforms. Donald Trump has even threatened Havana with military action.

A global health crisis - not a pandemic. But the World Health Organization is warning the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring Uganda could be much larger than what has been detected so far. The global health body is advising the countries to activate national disaster mechanisms and introduce cross-border and internal screening.

A year ago, US-China relations reached one of their lowest points when Donald Trump announced his Liberation Day tariffs. The US president made some concessions when he met Xi Jinping a few months later. And the White House yielded more ground in the run-up to Trump's visit to Beijing. It suspended a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan, which China claims as its sovereign territory. But that did not stop President Xi from calling Taiwan 'the single most important issue' in relations with the US. Could a dispute over the territory lead to conflict between Beijing and Washington?