Palestinian families in East Jerusalem are being evicted from the homes they’ve lived in for decades as Israeli demolition orders escalate in an apparent effort to make room for Jewish settlers. Despite the war in Gaza and now in Lebanon, Jerusalem has been relatively peaceful, but simmering tensions over these displacements could add another layer of turmoil. Correspondent Linda Gradstein in Jerusalem joins us for perspective on the timing of this latest effort and how it squares with the...

South Korea’s spy agency says North Korea has sent 1,500 special forces troops to Russia for training and likely deployment for combat in the war in Ukraine. The allegation comes a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he believed 10,000 North Korean soldiers could join the war, based on intelligence information. The U.S. expresses concern. We talk with Naoko Aoki, a political scientist at RAND who specializes in East Asian security issues.

Israel says it has killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza, the mastermind behind the October 7 attacks in Israel. Families of the hostages still being held in Gaza, plead with the Israeli government to do everything possible to bring them home. For analysis on the significance of Sinwar’s death and if this could be a turning point in the war, we speak with Boaz Atzili, Professor at American University’s Department of Foreign Policy and Global Security at American University’s School of...

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told lawmakers Wednesday that Ukraine’s Western partners are increasing pressure to negotiate with Russia, but he hinted such talks would be unfavorable to Kyiv as he unveiled what he called his “victory plan” for the war. President Biden announces a new Ukraine security assistance program, but Ukraine’s future may likely be decided by the U.S. election. We talk with Doug Klain, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center and policy analyst for...

The U.S. sends a detailed letter warning Israel it must improve the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza within 30 days or risk U.S. military aid. We talked to Stephen Van Evera, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Political Science Department.

China launched large scale military exercises Monday aimed at warning against Taiwanese independence. Taiwan’s defense ministry says Beijing used 125 military aircraft including warplanes, helicopters and drones, a record for a single day. China’s actions drew condemnation from the Taipei and U.S. governments. We talk to David Sacks, fellow for Asia studies with the Council on Foreign Relations.

Since the industrial revolution the United States has pumped more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than any other country on Earth. With less than a month before the U.S. presidential election, the outcome of that contest could determine if the U.S. will continue working on clean energy and decarbonization or throw the programs that do so to the curb. We’ve seen the effects of climate change this week in full force with extreme weather events in the United States, Europe, Africa and Asia....

Back-to-back monster hurricanes in the United States. A hurricane in France and Belgum. Record rainfall in Bosnia and Herzegovinia. Unprecedented levels of flooding, drought and wildfires across the globe. Scientists say weather events are becoming more extreme due to human caused climate change. Despite real-time catastrophes, warnings for action are not leading to the level of urgency that scientists warn is needed. And one of the problems is climate denial. We’ll speak with Joshua Newell,...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks directly to the people of Lebanon, telling them they have an opportunity to take their county back from Iran-backed Hezbollah or face a long war with destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza. We talk with Alex Vatanka, the founding director of the Iran Program at the Middle East Institute. Netanyahu also had a phone conversation with U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday. It’s the first time they have spoken since August.

Back-to-back monster hurricanes across the eastern coast of the United States brings another glaring reminder of the ominous threat of global warming. Storms and weather events all over the world are becoming more and more extreme. We talk to Kim Cobb, Director of the Institute at Brown University for Environment and Society and Michael Wehner, senior scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory about why the planet’s weather is becoming more and more destructive and deadly.

One year ago, a peaceful weekend was shattered by one of the most brutal terrorists attacks the world has ever seen. Hamas militants stormed into Israel murdering more than 1,200 people including children. They raped women, burned homes and bodies and took hostages. In response, Israel bombed the Gaza strip sending in ground troops to root out Hamas, causing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis and killing about 42,000 Palestinians. In the year since the attack, the war has widened to include...

VOA’s The Issue takes you beyond the headlines, diving into the stories shaping our world. Each episode focuses on a single topic, offering in-depth analysis and essential context. We break down complex issues, explaining why they matter and how they fit into the broader global landscape. If you’re a listener who craves more than just surface details, this podcast is for you. From political shifts and economic trends to cultural phenomena, The Issue connects the dots, helping you understand...