Issues in the News - Voice of America

Tensions are reaching a boiling point between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Rocket fire pounded northern Israel Friday while Israeli warplanes carried out intense airstrikes on southern Lebanon, including a rare strike on the Beirut suburbs. A Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel shares his concerns for a broader regional conflict. The crisis will be one of many complex global issues world leaders will confront next week at the UN General Assembly. And what does Israel’s expanding military operation mean for any sort of ceasefire deal and the fate of the hostages still being held in Gaza? We’ll speak with a member of the Hostages Family Forum.

President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met at the White House Friday as Ukraine intensifies pressure to loosen restrictions of U.S. and U.K. provided weapons to strike Russia. With the U.S. presidential election less than two months away, the next president will have to contend with ongoing conflicts and other serious foreign policy issues. A look at the differences in potential approach of each candidate and what’s at stake. And despite their historically low record of turnout, could young voters tip the scales in deciding the winner?

Outrage over the murders of 6 hostages in Gaza, Israelis came out in droves demanding a ceasefire deal, as Prime Minister Netanyahu dug into his own demands. A conversation on the sentiment on the ground from policy expert Shira Efron with the Israel Policy Forum. Israel’s military operation in the West bank left dozens of people dead, including an American woman attending a demonstration against settlement expansion. Another warning from the U.N. on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and a conversation with a Doctors without Borders physician in Khan Younis on the polio vaccination efforts.

Israel agrees to a series of daily humanitarian pauses for a major polio vaccination campaign in Gaza, as a resurgence of the highly contagious virus creates alarm. Israel continues its large-scale military operation in the West Bank. John Lyndon, Executive Director with the Alliance for Middle East Peace on the motivation and why now. Also, we hear from a Russian American journalist freed from jail by the Kremlin and look at the rising threats to those risking their lives to bring truth to light.

On the final, and most anticipated night of the Democratic National Convention, Kamala Harris formally accepts her party’s nomination for President, a speech before an electrified crowd. Drawing a sharp contrast with her Republican opponent Donald Trump, Harris made a rousing call to the war in Gaza and promised to fight tyranny around the world. If elected, she will become the first woman to in U.S. history to hold the office of President. We’ll dive into the historical significance.

The mpox virus has been detected in Pakistan, the health ministry said on Friday, days after the WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency. A new variant case was also confirmed in Sweden on Thursday, the first case outside Africa. We talk to Dr. Jarod Fox, Chair of the Infectious Disease Department at Orlando Health. Gaza cease-fire talks resumed Thursday in Doha. Will they succeed? We talk to Boaz Atzili is a professor at the Department of Foreign Policy and Global Security, School of International Service, American University. And as the Democratic National Convention approaches, we’ll talk to John Mark Hansen, a professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago to find out what he thinks they need to accomplish.

Israeli troops began a new assault into the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, where officials believe Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ newly named leader - one of the architects of the October 7 attack on Israel could be hiding in underground tunnels. Russia declares a “federal level” emergency in the Kursk region after hundreds of Ukrainian troops pour in across the border. New polls show Kamala Harris edging ahead of Donald Trump with less than three months to election day. The historic nature of what it would mean for Americans to elect the first woman to hold the office of President of the United States.

Tears of joy at Joint Base Andrews outside of Washington as three Americans released from Russian custody stepped off the plane that returned them to U.S. soil and their families. Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and American journalists Alsu Kurmasheva and Evan Gershkovich were greeted with hugs by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Freedom House interim President Nicole Bibbens Sedaca on why this is really a part of the autocrat playbook and suppressing free speech. A deeper look into the dictator's mindset in a conversation with author Anne Applebaum.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a divided U.S. Congress Wednesday, with many Democratic lawmakers boycotting his speech and protesters surrounding the U.S. Capitol. But congressional Republicans said the speech was key to reaffirming the U.S. commitment to its Middle Eastern ally in the midst of the 10-month-old war with Hamas. Netanyahu’s speech to Congress was as much an address to the Israeli and Arab worlds about Israel’s goals as it was an address to the American public about the importance of U.S. support of Israel. VOA Flashpoint: Global Crises host Steve Karesh speaks with Avi Melamed, author and former Israeli intelligence officer and negotiator, for a look at how Netanyahu’s message was received at home. In addition to addressing the U.S. Congress, Netanyahu also met with U.S. President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and 2024 Republican nominee for President, Donald Trump. What did the trip achieve? Professor Michael Provence, who teaches modern Middle East history, focusing on the 20th century Arab East, at the University of California, San Diego shares his insight. Scott Paul, Oxfam America Associate Director of Peace and Security discusses the ongoing humanitarian concerns in Gaza after it released a scathing report on conditions there. Plus, Agusta University political science professor discusses the latest developments in the 2024 U.S. Presidential election following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal.

Donald Trump accepted the Republican presidential nomination with a marathon speech that began with a call for unity pivots into grievance and apocalyptic warnings for the country if he is not returned to the White House. Former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman joins us for her view on what's at stake in the presidential election. Trump’s coronation before an adoring audience on Thursday stood in contrast to the turmoil roiling President Joe Biden’s campaign who is said to be considering whether to abandon his reelection bid under pressure from fellow Democrats. William Howell, professor of political science at the University of Chicago has analysis. Could domestic and foreign policy dramatically change in Trump wins? Liana Fix, fellow of European Policy with the Council on Foreign Relations weighs in.