Is there a connection between the North Korea nuclear talks, Syria's alleged nuclear facility, which was bombed by Israel last year, and the prospect of a peace deal between Israel and Syria? On this edition of Encounter, David Schenker, Director of the Program on Arab Politics at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and Murhaf Jouejati, professor of Middle East Politics at the National Defense University, sift through the evidence for possible linkages with host Carol Castiel.

Airdate:  4 May  2008

The rising cost of food has sparked protests from Asia to the Caribbean and is threatening to plunge 100 million people into hunger. On this edition of Encounter, Daniel Gustafson, Director of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization's Washington office and Eric Holt-Gimenez, executive director of the non-profit organization "Food First---Institute for Food and Development Policy," discuss the factors behind the crisis as well as short and long-term solutions with host Carol Castiel.

Airdate:  27 April  2008

Father John Langan, a jesuit priest and Professor of Catholic Social Thought at Georgetown University, and William V. D'Antonio, Sociology Professor and a Fellow at the Life Cycle Institute at Catholic University - discuss Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States and the challenges facing US Catholics, with host Neal Lavon.

Airdate:  20 April  2008

Protests against China's crackdown in Tibet have marred the Olympic Torch Relay ceremonies from Paris to San Francisco. Will such protests or threats to boycott the Olympics pressure China to change its approach on Tibet and other human rights issues? Drew Thompson, Director of China Studies at the Nixon Center, and Mary Beth Markey, Vice President for the International Campaign for Tibet, talk with host Carol Castiel about China's growing public relations dilemma as Beijing prepares to host the summer Olympics.  

Airdate:  13 April  2008

Is the United States heading for a recession? On this edition of Encounter, host Carol Castiel talks with Robert Scott, Director of international programs at the Economic Policy Institute, and VOA economics correspondent Barry Wood, about US slump and its toll on the global economy. 

Airdate:  6 April  2008

A preview of the NATO Summit in Bucharest. Charles Kupchan, senior fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations and Nile Gardiner, Director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at the Heritage Foundation, talk with host Carol Castiel about the major issues and controversies likely to dominate the NATO Summit agenda. 

Airdate:  30 March  2008

Akbar Ahmed, chair of Islamic Studies at American University and former high commissioner of Pakistan to Great Britain, discusses his new play The Trial of Dara Shikoh, which examines the competing forces within Islam. Guest host Ravi Khanna of VOA TV talks with professor Ahmed and artistic director, Manjula Kumar, in this special edition of Encounter.

Airdate:  23 March  2008

On this edition of Encounter two national Security experts discuss Iraq on the 5th anniversary of the US-led invasion. P.J. Crowley, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and Michael Eisenstadt, senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, talk about the successes, shortcomings and future of US policy toward Iraq with host Carol Castiel.

Airdate:  16 March  2008