The Correspondents is VOA’s weekly discussion of the world’s top stories, as seen through the eyes of our dedicated reporters in the US and around the globe. Hosted by Mil Arcega, our panel of journalists goes beyond the headlines to give listeners and viewer real context and understanding of what’s driving the story.

Charlottesville and the President 0:54, US Ready to Talk with North Korea 1:49, A rare Sight in the Sky 20:52

A RARE SIGHT IN THE SKY

People who live along a narrow band of the continental United States will experience a celestial spectacle few people will ever see - a total eclipse of the sun. VOA reporters George Putic and Carolyn Presutti talk about the August 21 solar eclipse, viewable at least in part across most of the US, how people are preparing to see it, and what researchers may learn from the event.

US READY TO TALK WITH NORTH KOREA 

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson suggests Washington is open to talks between Washington and Pyongyang.  VOA State Department Correspondent Nike Ching and VOA National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin discuss the military threat against Guam by North Korea, the status of the standoff and diplomatic efforts to end the crisis.

CHARLOTTESVILLE AND THE PRESIDENT

A controversial march in Virginia that turned deadly leads to another big problem for the US president. VOA National Correspondent Jim Malone and VOA White House Bureau Chief Steve Herman talk about the violence involving far-right marchers in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the outcry against President Trump’s comments about the integrity and motives of protesters on both sides.

North Korea Threat 0:59, Bad Neighbor to the North 11:46, First Crisis for White House 21:59

FIRST CRISIS FOR WHITE HOUSE

After seven months of relative calm, US President Donald Trump is now facing what may be his greatest foreign policy challenge to date - what to do with a belligerent and nuclear-capable North Korea. VOA National correspondent Jim Malone talks about how President Trump may be approaching the crisis with North Korea politically, as he struggles with his agenda in Congress, and low public opinion polls at home.

BAD NEIGHBOR TO THE NORTH

With regional military threat on the rise, South Koreans can only watch and wait, along with the people of Japan - the only country to experience the horrors of a nuclear attack. VOA Korean Service Chief Dong Hyuk Lee, and VOA Senior Investigative reporter Jeffrey Young discuss the response and attitudes of South Koreans to the threat to their north, and what are Pyongyang’s actual current ICBM capabilities and technologies.

NORTH KOREA THREAT

Tough talk from the US president and escalating fears of a military clash after North Korea threatens to launch a missile strike near a US territory. VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb in Hawaii and Bill Gallo of VOA News talk about US President Donald Trump’s rhetorical “fire and fury” response to the provocation, and the US military’s readiness and preparations in the Pacific.

Venezuela: Elections have Consequences 0:54, White House Under New Management 11:27, Kenya Elections 21:17