Israel's alliance with the European Union is under mounting political pressure. Behind the shift are demands to suspend the main agreement underpinning their close relations. But their ties survived Israel's war on Gaza, so why have there been difficulties between them?

Host: James Bays

In this episode:

• Barry Andrews, Member of the European Parliament
• Sven Kuhn Von Burgsdorff, former EU ambassador to the occupied Palestinian territories
• Eve Geddie, Director of the European Institutions Office at Amnesty International

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Donald Trump in a war of words with the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The U.S. president refuses to apologise for criticising Pope Leo's opposition to the Iran conflict. He says the pontiff should stay out of American affairs. So, is this political interference or a moral duty to speak out? And what are the consequences?

Host: Folly Bah Thibault

In this episode:

• Cornel West, Professor and Dietrich Bonhoeffer Chair at the Union Theological Seminary
• Adolfo Franco, US Republican strategist
• Christopher White, Vatican journalist and author of a book on Pope Leo

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Hungary's opposition has defeated Prime Minister Viktor Orban by a landslide. He governed for 16 years with a far-right agenda often described as 'authoritarian'. What led to his loss? And what does the outcome mean for the EU, US, and Russia?

In this episode:

• Gabor Scheiring, Assistant Professor at Georgetown University in Qatar and a former member of National Assembly of Hungary
• Carl Bildt, Co-Chair of European Council on Foreign Relations and the Former Swedish Prime Minister
• Kim Lane Scheppele, Professor at Princeton University

Host: Scott McLean

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The Iran war has created risks to food security from higher energy costs and shipping restrictions. The world's fertiliser production has been badly hit due to attacks on Gulf chemical plants. Where is food supply most at risk and could there be a lasting impact?

In this episode:

• Mourad Wahba, Acting Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.
• Avinash Kishore, Senior Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute, New Delhi,
• Steve Keen, Economist and Honorary Professor, University College London.

Host: Adrian Finighan

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A negative political and public reaction in Israel to the ceasefire with Iran - regardless of the respite it brings. No pause for Israel's army however or its victims - hundreds killed in Lebanon and more dead in Gaza. Has Israeli society become conditioned to permanent war?

In this episode:

• Ilan Pappe - a historian and professor at Exeter University
• Gideon Levy - a columnist at Haaretz newspaper in Tel Aviv
• Haim Bresheeth - professor at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

Host: Tom McRae

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Opinion polls in Hungary suggest long-time prime minister Viktor Orban has a battle on his hands in Sunday's election. The outcome will be keenly awaited in Washington, Moscow, Kyiv, and Brussels. So why is this election so important outside of Hungary?

In this episode:

• Gabor Scheiring, a former member of the National Assembly of Hungary
• Istvan Kiss, political scientist, director of the Danube Institute and former political adviser in Prime Minister Viktor Orban's office
• Daniel Kelemen, law and politics professor, and McCourt Chair at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University

Host: Tom McRae

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The bombing of Iran has stopped, but the bombing of Lebanon has not. Even as Iran and the US say they'll try to work out their many differences at the negotiating table in Pakistan, Israel is busy ramping up its attacks on what it says are Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. The group has been a key player in Iran's axis of resistance for decades. So how far is Tehran willing to go to protect its allies?

In this episode:

• Hassan Ahmadian, Associate Professor at the University of Tehran
• Rob Geist Pinfold, Lecturer in International Security at King's College London
• Nadim Houry, Executive Director of the Arab Reform Initiative

Host: James Bays

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