Today in Focus

Israel’s second front: on the ground in Lebanon

The conflict in the Middle East is being fought from the air – except in southern Lebanon where Israel and Hezbollah are fighting a bitter ground war. Will Christou reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus [https://www.theguardian.com/infocus]

Trump chickens out on Iran deadline – The Latest

Donald Trump has delayed his deadline for Iran to open the strait of Hormuz, saying he is postponing strikes on Iranian power plants for a five-day period. The US president had threatened to ‘obliterate’ the regime’s power plants, while Tehran said in return it would ‘irreversibly destroy’ essential infrastructure across the Middle East, including vital water systems, in the conflict’s latest escalation. The war is now in its fourth week, as Trump declares the US and Iran had ‘good and productive conversations’, but what could come next? Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s diplomatic editor, Patrick Wintour – watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@todayinfocuspodcast]. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus [https://www.theguardian.com/infocus]

What the Epstein case teaches us about grooming

Lucia Osborne-Crowley on what we should learn from Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus [https://www.theguardian.com/infocus]

Off Duty: The Crime

On the evening of 29 December 2011, the police officer Clifton Lewis was moonlighting as a security guard at a Chicago minimart when two men walked in. They shot Lewis several times, then took off with his gun and police star. A week later, officers had their suspects: four men affiliated with a gang called the Spanish Cobras. For hours, under intense police questioning, they all said they didn’t do it. That didn’t seem to matter. This is episode one of Off Duty, an investigation by the Guardian’s Melissa Segura. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus [https://www.theguardian.com/infocus]

Fuel rations and cash handouts: Iran war energy shock hits Asia – The Latest

Across south-east Asia, governments are scrambling to find ways to conserve energy and shield the public from soaring costs, as war in the Middle East causes huge disruption in the global oil market. In Thailand, news anchors have been ditching their jackets after orders to reduce air conditioning use, while government workers in the Philippines are operating on a four-day week. Asia relies heavily on imported energy, much of which passes through the strait of Hormuz, and officials have warned further measures could be considered if the energy crisis worsens. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s south-east Asia correspondent, Rebecca Ratcliffe. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus [https://www.theguardian.com/infocus]