Acute shortages of coal at power plants have triggered a severe energy crisis — which threatens to hit the nation's economic recovery.

Lebanon is once again caught in a regional rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran. A diplomatic row with the Gulf states could add to the country's political instability and economic crisis.

As Germany reports another dismaying record in COVID statistics, its hardest-hit states are planning stricter curbs. Among other things, the country's beloved Christmas markets are being canceled one by one.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has said his country would start selling gas to certain nations in Russia's own currency, prompting a rise in the ruble's value on the Moscow Stock Exchange.

The war in Ukraine has moved Poland from the fringes of US foreign policy into the spotlight. At the same time, Washington has become even more indispensable for Warsaw as a guarantor of security.

Switzerland, Sweden and Finland are just some of the European states that currently maintain a neutral status. But Russia's attack on Ukraine has forced them to reconsider their stance.

The 13-2 vote in favor of the resolution was not enough to secure its adoption as Beijing and Moscow have veto-rights. The US said the rejection means Pyongyang "will feel free to take further escalatory actions."

"When there is war again on our continent, you cannot be neutral." Those were the words of Denmark's prime minister after her country voted by a two-thirds majority to end the Danish opt-out from EU defence and security policy. As Vladimir Putin continues his bloody war against Ukraine, Denmark is not alone in the European Union in making historic moves regarding European defence capacities. We take a closer look with three MEPs.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine four months ago, the cost of living crisis has become a global issue. Prices have gone up around the world. In Europe, the countries that use the euro saw an average of 8.1 percent inflation in May. Pressure on prices, combined with stuttering economic growth, has sparked fears of a recession. These concerns could still come into play regarding the EU's response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In this programme, we're joined by two MEPs to discuss how the EU should balance sanctions against Russia with the risk of recession.

Every year, some 10,000 low-paid migrant labourers return home to southeast Asia from the Gulf in body bags. Half of these deaths are unexplained, and with no labour laws in place — nor any will from home nations to investigate — the cycle of exploitation continues unabated. These figures are estimates published in a report from the NGO FairSquare. As summer begins, more and more of these vulnerable workers are succumbing to heat-related illnesses. For more, we speak to Nicholas McGeehan, Director of FairSquare Research and Projects.

Abortion clinics in Florida and Mississippi were unsuccessful in putting up a legal fight to continue providing the procedure. Other states are likely to soon follow.