Snapshots

The city's capture will free up resources for Russia's offensive in Donbas, secure a land corridor to Crimea and boost Moscow's internal propaganda efforts.

An opposition win would see a faster transition to greener energy sources, and perhaps softer China rhetoric, while a win for the ruling party would see policy continuity.

The selections do not reduce the potential for post-election unrest, especially in the event of a close or contested vote.

Small changes in the legislature probably won't yield the economic reforms needed to ease the country's financial crisis.

While Lebanon-Israel normalization is unlikely, growing talk of it by Lebanese Christian leaders could fuel anger at pro-Iran groups like Hezbollah seen as standing in the way.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son of the country's late dictator, is the frontrunner. But a surprise win by his main rival could see a big shift away from Duterte-era policies.

While it may condemn Western efforts to financially alienate Russia, Brasilia is unlikely to help Moscow build an alternative global payments system.

By focusing on maritime threats, Canberra risks overlooking its island neighbors' other security concerns like climate change, which could enable Beijing to gain more influence in the region.

On top of destabilizing Moldova's pro-EU government, the attacks in Transdniestria could distract Kyiv from Moscow's eastern offensive by amplifying the threat to southern Ukraine.

The multitude of stakeholders in the conflict -- each with their own aims and deep-rooted grievances -- will limit the effectiveness of peace initiatives and continue to fuel low-level clashes.

Lopez Obrador will likely try to find other ways to bolster the state utility against private competitors after failing to do so through a sweeping constitutional overhaul.

The economic fallout from the Russia-Ukraine war is leaving more people hungry in a region already facing major droughts, political unrest and armed insurgencies.