US SOUTH KOREAN RELATIONS

New South Korean President Moon Jae-in visits President Trump this week amid worsening tensions on the Korean peninsula. This is the first meeting between Mr. Trump and newly elected South Korean President Moon Jae-in, and it comes amid growing tensions in the region; particularly the nuclear ambitions of North Korea. VOA reporter Bill Gallo and VOA English’s Jee Abbey Lee to discuss U.S.-South Korean relations.

US HEALTH CARE DEBATES

Senate Republicans this week put their effort to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare, on hold after several GOP senators voiced objections. VOA Congressional correspondent Kathryn Gypson discuss Republican efforts to overhaul the US health care system.

TENSIONS IN THE WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING ROOM

President Trump’s negative feelings about the news media have never been hidden, but tensions between the press and the Administration have reached new levels of animosity. Just what’s going on in the White House briefing room, and can relations be mended? This week saw several outbursts in the White House briefing room; we explore what’s going on, and the prospects for better relations. VOA reporter Bill Gallo and VOA State Department correspondent Cindy Saine talk about the rising levels of hostility between reporters and Trump Administration spokespersons.

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SOUTH SUDAN FAMINE

A massive humanitarian response has eased the famine in parts of South Sudan. Despite that, more people are now facing hunger as the conflict there continues; UN agencies say the situation across the country remains dire. VOA Africa Division multimedia reporter Salem Solomon discusses the massive humanitarian effort and near-famine conditions that continue to plague South Sudan.

TRUMP RUSSIA PROBE

The US Congress continues to look into Russian meddling in last year’s presidential election campaign with two hearings June 21, one in the Senate and one in the House of Representatives. VOA National correspondent Jim Malone and VOA Congressional correspondent Kathryn Gypson talk about hearings and the progress of the investigation.

RETAKING MOSUL’S OLD CITY

As Iraqi and Coalition forces battle for Mosul’s Old City, soldiers say militants have forced civilians back farther into the densely populated neighborhood, slowing the fight. VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb at the Pentagon and VOA Cairo correspondent Heather Murdock in Mosul talk about the final fighting to retake Mosul’s Old City from ISIS militants, who blew up a historic mosque there this week.

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QATAR TURKEY

 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has placed himself at the forefront of the defense of Qatar, in the face of Saudi Arabia-led economic and diplomatic sanctions; meanwhile, the US should consider moving its air base out of Qatar, the Emirati ambassador to the US has said, encouraging the Trump administration to use its leverage to further pressure Qatar over extremism. VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb, and White House Bureau Chief Steve Herman talk about Turkey’s defense of and political alignment with Qatar, and the US military’s large base and presence there.

AFGHANISTAN – THE NEW US STRATEGY FOR VICTORY

The United States is not winning in Afghanistan. That’s according to U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who testified before lawmakers during a Defense Department budget hearing recently. VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb in Washington and VOA’s Ayaz Gul in Islamabad discuss the US strategy and direction for the war in Afghanistan, now in its 16th year.