Eighteen months in the making, Ukraine’s Operation Spider’s Web saw hundreds of AI-trained drones target military aircraft deep inside Russia’s borders. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Sunday's attack will go down in history. He followed it up with a proposal for an unconditional ceasefire as the two sides met in Istanbul. The EU is preparing its 18th package of sanctions on Russia, while U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to use 'devastating' measures against Russia if he feels the time is right. So, is the time right now? And after the audacious attack, does Zelenskyy finally hold the cards?

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support.

The US and Israel attacked Iran - saying it cannot have nuclear weapons - while the Islamic Republic denies trying to build one. The two are among nine countries armed with such weapons. So who decides who can have nuclear arms? And have the Israeli and US attacks increased the risks that more countries will want them?

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support.

By cracking down on immigration and defunding scientific research, the United States is slowly losing its position as the world leader in research and development, argues Holden Thorp, editor of Science journal and former chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Thorp tells host Steve Clemons that the US government had made a concerted effort over the past 80 years to fund scientific research, but with the changes ushered in by the administration of President Donald Trump, Thorp predicts the results will be “bad for science in general, and also for the US role in innovation”.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support.

A longtime columnist for Foreign Policy and professor of international relations at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Stephen Walt is a sharp critic of how the United States has pursued its version of liberal democracy globally, which he calls liberal hegemony. His books include Taming American Power, The Hell of Good Intentions, and the New York Times bestseller The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support.

The hungriest place on Earth -- that’s how the United Nations has described Gaza. Months of a total Israeli blockade -- on top of severely reduced aid supplies -- have left 2.3 million Palestinians facing famine. Hundreds of deaths have been reported due to shortages of food, water and medicine. Tonnes of aid are waiting at the border, but the UN says only a trickle is being allowed through. So, is Israel using starvation as a weapon of war? And what effects will famine and hunger have on Palestinians -- especially children -- in years to come?

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support.

Israel says it plans to build 22 new illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. The largest number to be built at one time. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says, the settlements aim to stop a Palestinian state. While the Israeli army continues its expanded offensive destroying homes, roads and facilities like waterways and hospitals - essentially making areas of the occupied West Bank unlivable. And settler violence - including destroying crops and uprooting trees - is at an all time high, according to the UN. Europe has hit back against the move to build more illegal settlements - threatening sanctions - but can they have a real impact? What does this mean for millions of Palestinians? And is a Palestinian state now becoming nearly impossible?

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support.

Obesity has become one of the most rapidly escalating health crises of our time. The World Obesity Federation says one billion people will be overweight by 2030, twice as many as in 2010. This epidemic goes far beyond individual choices or diet. It is fuelled by entrenched social inequalities, the far-reaching influence of the food industry and systemic obstacles that make healthy living increasingly difficult.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support.

Christian nationalism has gained significant ground under US President Donald Trump. This rise has led to growing concern about the movement’s influence on US policy - both at home and abroad. So what does this mean for the future of American democracy? And with the influence of Christian Zionism - how is it shaping the US response to the war in Gaza?

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support.

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Myanmar in March 2025, devastating communities across the country. Al Jazeera was the only international broadcaster with a team on the ground to witness the unfolding crisis. What emerged was a story of survival against overwhelming odds. From the capital Naypyidaw to the spiritual heart of Mandalay, our cameras captured the desperate search for survivors and the scale of destruction. At the epicentre, entire neighbourhoods lay in ruins as hundreds of thousands of people found themselves without shelter, clean water or food. Emergency services struggled to cope with the response required.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support.

It is the latest move by the Trump administration, in a campaign against US universities and international students. A decision to revoke the visas of Chinese students which number in the hundreds of thousands in the US. The Secretary of State also announced the suspension of interviews for new student visa applicants - and an increase in the vetting of their social media. With China being the second-biggest source of international students in the United States after India, the reduction in revenues for American schools and universities is expected to be heavy. President Donald Trump has already cut funding to Harvard. How is academia and research likely to be affected in the country - and around the world?

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support.