Issues in the News - Voice of America

Craig Albert, Graduate Director of the Master of Arts in Intelligent and Security Studies program at August University, joins the program to discuss the latest escalation of tensions in the Middle East. Mathew Kerbel, a political science professor at Villanova University, and Rosanna Perotti, a political science professor at Hofstra University, provide an analysis of this week's Iowa Caucuses and preview the upcoming New Hampshire Primary. And, Senior Research Fellow for Northeast Asia at the Heritage Foundation, Bruce Klingner, provides insight into North Korea, labeling South Korea "the most hostile state" and what to expect from Pyongyang in 2024.

After months of Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the United States and Britain and other allies including the Netherlands responded with a series of powerful airstrikes designed to severely degrade the Iranian-backed group’s capabilities. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up a week in the Middle East of meetings with Arab and Israeli leaders which included efforts to avert a widening regional conflict stemming from Israel’s war in Gaza... and about what comes next. Aaron David Miller, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace provides insights into the timing of the U.S. and UK response and what it will take to achieve peace on the ground. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wraps up meetings with Arab and Israeli leaders in efforts to avert a larger regional conflict and look to what comes next when Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza finally ends. Plus, Israel defends itself in hearings at the International Court of Justice on South Africa’s Israel's war in Gaza amounts to genocide. Omer Bartov, Samuel Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University provides insights. And extreme weather conditions could hamper voting for the presidential nominee choice in Iowa. VOA's Kane Farabaugh reports.

Fears of expanding regional escalation in an already volatile Middle East following attacks and assassinations in the Red Sea, Lebanon, Iran and Iraq and fighting intensifies in Central and South Gaza. Dr. Raphael Cohen, director of the Strategy and Doctrine Program of the RAND Corporation Project AIR FORCE discusses implications of a broader conflict following the killing of a senior Hamas official in Lebanon. Associate Press White House Correspondent Sager Megani reports U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken heads back to the Middle East for the fourth time amid growing tensions. Israel's army recently announced several thousand troops will be taken out of Gaza in the coming weeks. Dr. Nimrod Goren, Senior Fellow of Israeli Affairs at the Middle East Institute discusses the possible new phase in the war. Russia escalates attacks on Ukraine as future U.S. aid for Kyiv hangs in the balance as House Republicans refuse to back down on demans for hard-line immigration policies in exchange for backing President Biden’s emergency wartime funding request for Kyiv. Karolina Hird Russia Team Deputy Lead with the Institute for the Study of War provides insight into what the increasing Russian attacks indicate and the implications for Ukraine’s efforts to defend itself going forward without U.S. military aid.

A growing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza as Israel continues its military response to the October 7th Hamas massacre. Sean Casey with the World Health Organization on hospitals overwhelmed with hundreds of incoming patients close to death. Linda Gradstein in Jerusalem reports on what Palestinians and Israelis see for the territory once the conflict is over. 2023 started on a high note for Ukraine, with a number of successes, but ended with uncertainty over continued Western aid and a disappointment over results of its counteroffensive against invading Russian forces. Ukraine war correspondent Christopher Miller discusses the year ahead and the mood on the ground. 2023 was the hottest year on record as supercharged temperatures helped drive catastrophic floods, storms, punishing heat waves and deadly wildfires across the globe. UNICEF’s Global Chief of Migration and Displacement Verena Knaus, discusses how extreme weather driven by climate change is displacing millions of children.

Fighting in Gaza escalates with some of the most intense Israeli bombardment of the war, as world leaders vote to on a resolution to boost humanitarian aid into Gaza. The falls short of calling for a cease fire. John Lyndon Executive Director with the Alliance for Middle East Peace discusses growing concerns as the clock tick for an end to the war, Israel will ramp up bombardment. The UN warns of starvation in Gaza. Henry Ridgwell in London sums up how the year is ending for Ukraine's efforts to combat invading Russian forces. Pope Francis made news this week in a landmark decision that formally allows Roman Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples. Julie Byrne, Chair and Professor at Hofstra University’s Department of Religion provides insight into the significance of this change of Vatican policy and what it means and does not mean.

Israel says it will take months to destroy Hamas as it face increasing international isolation over the devastation from the campaign in Gaza. We hear from John Lyndon with the Alliance for Middle East Peace. Families of those still held hostage by Hamas demand more is done to rescue them. A conversation with the mother of a young woman who is one of those still captive. EU leaders historic decision to open membership talks with Ukraine, but military funding for the war weary nation is in limbo.

The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire as Israel ramps up strikes in Gaza. Hospitals in Gaza are barely functional, we’ll speak to a physician with Doctors Without Borders who describes medical personnel without the ability to provide the desperate care needed as hospitals become non-functional. And the father of a young man still being held hostage by Hamas describes the agony of not hearing any word from his son since October 7. And as Russia’s war on Ukraine continues, U.S. military aid hangs in the balance. White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara brings us details.

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza resume, what it means for Palestinians in the crosshairs. The challenges for getting back to some semblance of normalcy after being held hostage. The implications of climate change displacement for millions living in places that will become uninhabitable.

What happens next and what would make peace possible. The World Health Organization warns of rising threat of disease and epidemic given the collapse of Gaza’s medical system. And another worrisome UN climate report ahead of a meeting of world leaders at next week’s COP28 conference

The U.N. warns potential for widespread starvation as power collapses in Gaza. World Health Organization concerns spread of disease amid paralyzed medical system. Families of hostages held by Hamas plea for release of loved ones. New large climate reports paint dire picture for humanity’s future.