Issues in the News - Voice of America cover image

Issues in the News - Voice of America

Latest episodes

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Jan 4, 2025 • 25min

Steel deal hits a brick wall and new alcohol cancer warning - January 03, 2025

U.S. President Joe Biden officially blocked Nippon Steel's proposed $14.9-billion purchase of U.S. Steel Friday over national security issues, dealing a fatal blow to the contentious merger plan with the Japanese company. We speak with Scott Laing, a professor at the School of Management, University at Buffalo. The U.S. Surgeon General calls for warning labels on alcoholic beverages. We get insights with Elizabeth J. Kovacs, Director, Alcohol Research Program at the University of Colorado Denver / Anschutz Medical Campus.
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Dec 28, 2024 • 25min

Chaos in South Korea and making workers come back to the office - December 27, 2024

Victor Cha, a prominent expert on geopolitics and former advisor in the Biden administration, delves into South Korea's ongoing political turmoil, discussing the impeachment of acting President Han Duck-soo and its implications for international relations, particularly regarding North Korea. The dialogue also shifts to the challenges and opportunities of transitioning back to office work post-pandemic, focusing on employee adaptation, particularly for parents, and the evolving hybrid work models that aim to balance flexibility with effective collaboration.
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Dec 21, 2024 • 25min

U.S. economic uncertainty & China’s loss is Vietnam’s gain - December 20, 2024

Donald Trump seemed poised to inherit a relatively strong economy when he begins a second term in January, but things may be changing. And during the first Trump administration tariffs on China proved to be a boon for Vietnam. Will that happen again?
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Dec 14, 2024 • 25min

Syrians celebrate freedom while Sudan becomes biggest humanitarian crisis ever - December 14, 2024

Thousands of Syrians gathered Friday in Damascus' historic main mosque for the first Muslim Friday prayers since the ouster of President Bashar Assad, while giant crowds celebrated in the capital's largest square. We spoke with Paul Salem, vice president for international engagement with the Middle East Institute. While Syria, Ukraine, the Middle East are taking most of the world’s attention, Sudan has been ranked as the world's single biggest humanitarian crisis ever. Michelle Gavin, Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations provides insights into the crisis.
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Dec 7, 2024 • 25min

The problems of TikTok and plastic - December 06, 2024

TikTok edged closer to being banned in the United States after it lost an appeal on Friday against a law requiring the video-sharing app to divest from its Chinese parent company by January 19. UN talks on plastic pollution concluded in Busan, South Korea Monday without reaching an agreement. This was supposed to be the fifth and final round to produce the first legally binding treaty to tackle the exponential problem by the end of 2024.
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Nov 30, 2024 • 25min

Lebanon post war - November 29, 2024

There's relief over a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah, but the Lebanese are now facing the realization of the challenges that lie ahead. The U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement raises multiple questions. President-elect Donald Trump on Monday pledged big tariffs on the United States' three largest trading partners - Canada, Mexico and China.
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Nov 23, 2024 • 25min

Escalation in Ukraine and Middle East war crimes charges - November 22, 2024

It’s expected that the new U.S. Trump administration may force Russia and Ukraine to sit down and negotiate. In anticipation of that, both sides escalated their war efforts this past week. We speak with Jim Townsend, adjunct senior fellow in the Center for a New American Security Transatlantic Security Program. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas officials, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Leila Sadat, Washington University Professor of International Criminal Law and Special Advisor on Crimes Against Humanity to the ICC Prosecutor help us understand what it means.
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Nov 16, 2024 • 25min

U.S. election and climate conference dominate the week - November 15, 2024

Donald Trump wins a second term as president. Are there parallels from the founding fathers of our country? We speak with author and presidential historian Lindsey Chervinsky, executive director of the George Washington Presidential Library, whose latest book is Making the Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents That Forged the Republic. Also, this week, clashes between climate activists and big oil at the UN climate conference in Azerbaijan. We talk with correspondent in Chermaine Lee, who is at the conference in Azerbaijan.
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Nov 9, 2024 • 25min

How Trump won and what it could mean for U.S. foreign policy - November 08, 2024

What will a Donald Trump presidency look like in terms of foreign affairs. He has summarized his approach as peace through strength, remains critical of NATO and has repeatedly praised authoritarians. Could his approach help end the war in Ukraine, bring peace to the middle east and help the U.S. as the world realigns? The pre-election polls indicated it was a tight race, giving Kamala Harris a slight edge. But in the end, American voters chose Donald Trump. A look at what led to Trump’s decisive win.
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Nov 2, 2024 • 25min

Fears of violence surrounding the U.S. election - November 01, 2024

As election day approaches, U.S. officials issue warnings about potential violence from domestic extremists. The concerns go beyond election day into January and the inauguration. Also, as America continues to become more ethnically diverse as divisions over immigration and the nation’s division deepen. It’s become a major theme in the presidential campaign.

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