Issues in the News - Voice of America

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.

A growing number of Democrats in Congress are publicly calling on President Joe Biden to end his reelection bid against Republican rival Donald Trump. Jessica Taylor analyst with the Cook Political Report talks about the challenges facing Biden's campaign. NATO leaders wrapped up their summit in Washington Friday with unity in support for Ukraine and as the political turmoil in the U.S. lingered under the cloud of uncertainty in its most powerful member – the United States. Rose Gottemoeller, lecturer at Stanford University, research fellow at the Hoover Institute and deputy secretary-general of NATO from 2016 to 2019 joins us for insights.

Britain’s new Prime Minister officially takes office after his UK Labour Party’s landslide victory in a parliamentary election that ended 14 years of Conservative government. Timothy Hellwig, Professor of Political Science with a focus on politics of European Nations at the University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences provides insights into what the historic vote says about how voters are feeling, and if it signals a shift of the trend toward right leaning leadership. And with the U.S. presidential election just months away, Senior Clinical Professor of Law and the director of Appellate Practice clinic at Cleveland State University Law Doron Kalir talks about what the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity could mean for democratic norms in the United States.

We’re halfway through 2024, and the elections taking place across the globe this year will set the course for the latter half of this decade. Political landscapes are shifting, and the outcomes of four contests could shape our collective future. What are these critical elections and what is their potential impact on the world stage?

A peace summit for Ukraine in Switzerland this weekend will be attended by at least 90 countries and organizations —except Russia. World leaders explore ways of ending the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two. G-7 world leaders boost support for Ukraine while aiming to raise the cost to Russia’s war efforts. U.S. and NATO leaders were at odds over the extent to which Ukrainians can use Western-provided weapons to hit military targets inside Russian territory. The U.N. nuclear agency or IAEA says Iran is expanding its nuclear capabilities