The Truth

France is to bring back a form of military service, weeks after Germany announced plans to assess young people's suitability for military duty. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has forced European states to examine their readiness. So could conscription return? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support .

In the Philippines, a massive corruption scandal is triggering street protests and putting pressure on the government of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The population’s increasing exposure to typhoons, floods and rising sea-levels has seen the government allocate $9.5bn of taxpayer funds to more than 9,800 flood-control projects in the last three years. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreak...

Did the Biden administration help cover up the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by Israeli forces? This week on UpFront, Marc Lamont Hill speaks to Steve Gabavics, a colonel-turned-whistleblower who was sent by the United States Department of State to investigate Abu Akleh's killing in 2022. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/s...

This episode explores the meaning and potential impact of a shutdown by South Africa’s women, including how its online expression amplified the message and linked it to global trends in digital, colour-based activism. We also examine the situation in Mali, where the execution of a female TikTok influencer has raised questions about the dangers women face as their voices and visibility grow online....

The music industry is changing rapidly, with streaming dominating how people listen to music and online content creators constantly reviewing new releases of music. We explore how the music industry has evolved over the past decade. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support .

Has love evolved, or has the modern world rewritten it? Love binds generations and shapes cultures. But in an age defined by individualism, consumerism and algorithms, its meaning is shifting. So is love a noble quest for connection, or is it just a fairytale? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support .

Embera elders often blame malevolent spirits for the deaths of young people, having no word for suicide in their language. Ilsa Banuvi, who was raised between Indigenous tradition and modern society, spearheads organisations that seek to reinforce identity while also recognising the need to adapt. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support .

The World Food Programme is warning 318 million people face critical levels of hunger next year. The United Nations body says that is double the number compared to 2019. What is behind this worsening crisis that is putting so many people in danger? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support .

A boy who grew up during Syria’s war reveals the untold origins of the conflict and the fight for his nation’s freedom. In 2017, Al Jazeera broadcast a documentary by Clover Films that sought to highlight the true origins of the Syrian civil war. By that year, international sympathy for the rebel cause had diminished dramatically as Western media adopted the accepted mainstream position that group...

Mediha, a teenage Yazidi girl from Iraq, shares her story after four years of abduction and enslavement by ISIL (ISIS). Through intimate video diaries, she confronts trauma and seeks justice by initiating legal action against her captors. Meanwhile, rescuers risk their lives to look for her missing mother and younger brother in Syria and Turkiye. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spr...

Global military spending reached its all-time highest level last year. More NATO countries than ever before spent two percent of their GDP on defence. China recorded 30 unbroken years of increased military spending, the longest streak of any country in modern history. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support .

The battle over the investigation files of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has reached a new turn with the US Congress voting for the Department of Justice to release its information on the case. As the world waits for what the full files may reveal, what do we know about the rich and elite who surrounded Epstein? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trut...

In 2022, the Pretoria Agreement ended a brutal civil war between the federal government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support .

Children today grow up surrounded by screens, swipes and algorithm-driven content. While digital life connects, educates and entertains, it can also distract, misinforms and reshape identity. But is social media helping young people or harming them? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support .

The world could be producing more oil than it needs next year. An oversupply usually pushes the price of oil lower. For consumers, that means cheaper transport, shipping and flight costs. Until now, the OPEC+ group appeared to shrug off worries over a glut. It had been unwinding output cuts, putting more barrels on the market to regain share. But, with its new forecasts suggesting demand will only...

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is operating in an unprecedented way during US President Donald Trump’s second term. The agency has existed for over 20 years, but now operates as a masked force. Imposters posing as agents have committed crimes such as kidnapping and sexual assault. The FBI has urged ICE officers to unmask and identify themselves. How did the agency get here? Become a sup...

US President Donald Trump has met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). They held a press conference at the White House. Trump said MBS had agreed to invest $600bn in the US, which could go up to a trillion dollars, but he’d have to “work on him”. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support .

China is experiencing an AI revolution, but what does this $84 billion industry mean for Chinese citizens and the Global South? This week, Professor Shen Yi of Fudan University in Shanghai joins Amanda Yee to discuss how China is harnessing artificial intelligence to transform its economy and society, and how it plans to bridge the digital divide so that no one is left behind. Become a supporter o...

South Africa’s foreign minister Ronald Lamola speaks to Talk to us about the mysterious arrival of a flight carrying Palestinians, why authorities were blindsided, and what the incident reveals about the networks moving people out of Gaza. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support .

More than 150 Palestinians from Gaza landed in Johannesburg on a mysterious charter flight run by a little-known group called Al-Majd Europe. South Africa says it was blindsided, but Israel calls the move “voluntary emigration”. The journey is raising fears that these flights are becoming a new way to push Palestinians off their land. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/po...

What is China's political system really like? China’s Constitution calls for “leadership of the Communist Party of China” over a “system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation.” But could it actually have more “democratic” practices than the U.S.? Western media often frames China as a totally authoritarian top-down state, but this narrative doesn't explain the high levels of public s...

Abby Martin, Empire Files journalist and filmmaker, will discuss her new film Earth’s Greatest Enemy, which reveals how the US military, as the world's largest polluter, impacts the environment while operating with minimal accountability. Brian Becker, host of The Socialist Program, breaks down the latest prospects for peace in the Ukraine proxy war as Washington unveils a new “peace plan” to end...

Artificial Intelligence is everywhere, in workplaces, education, and even relationships. But not everyone is onboard, and more and more people are pushing back against the constant presence of AI. Individuals who value of face-to-face interaction, are rejecting its use in the arts and education, and exposing the dark underbelly of the sector that exploits workers around the world.  Become a suppor...

Iranian-born author and professor Trita Parsi joins Centre Stage to unpack the history between the US and Iran, Iran’s nuclear ambitions and Washington's role as a strategic player in an increasingly divided world. He also breaks down Tehran’s relationships with groups like Hezbollah and Hamas and how those alliances have shaped its regional position. Parsi is also the co-founder and executive vic...

Human rights lawyer Craig Mokhiber joins the show to break down the UN Security Council’s newly adopted resolution that effectively hands the U.S. control over Gaza — a move he says marks a return to 19th-century colonialism. He explains the horrific absurdity of granting governing authority to Washington, a co-perpetrator of the ongoing genocide, while stripping Palestinians of their right to sel...