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The Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and the resulting war in Gaza led to a dramatic increase in antisemitism worldwide in 2023, a new report reveals. In the U.S., the Biden administration recommitted to the security of Israel and the safety of the Jewish community. Natasha Mozgovaya has the story.

washington — Hard-line Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene stunned colleagues Wednesday by calling for a vote to oust Speaker Mike Johnson. Lawmakers quickly rejected it.  Greene pressed ahead with her long-shot effort despite pushback from Republicans at the highest levels tired of the political chaos.  One of Donald Trump's biggest supporters in Congress, Greene stood on the House floor and read a long list of what she called transgressions that Johnson had committed as speaker. Colleagues booed in protest.  It was the second time in a matter of months that Republicans have tried to oust their own speaker, an unheard-of level of party turmoil with a move rarely seen in U.S. history.  Greene of Georgia criticized Johnson's leadership as "pathetic, weak and unacceptable."  Republican lawmakers filtered toward Johnson, giving him pats on the back and grasping his shoulder to assure him of their support.  House Majority Leader Steve Scalise quickly moved to table the effort — essentially stopping it from going forward. The motion to table was swiftly approved.  The Georgia Republican had vowed she would force a vote on the motion to vacate the Republican speaker if he dared to advance a foreign aid package with funds for Ukraine, which was overwhelmingly approved late last month and signed into law.  Johnson of Louisiana said he had been willing to take the risk, believing it was important for the U.S. to back Ukraine against Russia's invasion and explaining he wanted to be on the "right side of history."  "I just have to do my job every day," Johnson said Monday.  In a highly unusual move, the speaker received a boost from Democrats led by Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, whose leadership team had said it was time to "turn the page" on the Republican turmoil and vote to table Greene's resolution — almost ensuring Johnson's job is saved, for now.  Trump also weighed in after Johnson trekked to Mar-a-Lago for a visit, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee giving the speaker his nod of approval. And Trump's hand-picked leader at the Republican National Committee urged House Republicans off the move. 

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

In the 2024 U.S. elections, there will be 2 million more Asian American voters than there were four years ago, according to the Pew Research Center. VOA Correspondent Scott Stearns reports on how Asian American lawmakers are getting out the vote. Camera: Matt Dibble.

washington — In a rare discussion of Central Asia policy on Capitol Hill, a senior legislator told VOA that the United States needs to look past the abysmal human rights records of the countries in the region to confront terrorism and Russian and Chinese influence. "If we want their help somehow, we need to be able to help them," Representative Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said in a one-on-one interview. The 27-year House lawmaker was part of the most recent congressional delegation to visit Uzbekistan, along with Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers, Salud Carbajal and Veronica Escobar. The message they carried to the region was clear: Washington wants to enhance security cooperation while backing political and economic reforms. The Uzbek leadership, in turn, conveyed enthusiasm for broadening the strategic partnership, which dates to the early 2000s. During the March 26-27 visit to Tashkent, the delegation met with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov and Minister of Defense Major General Bakhodir Kurbanov. According to Smith, these discussions underscored Uzbekistan's pivotal role in "keeping an eye on what's going on in Afghanistan." He sees the Islamic State extremist group, or ISIS, and radicalization in general, as the most prominent terrorism threats. “Uzbekistan is close and could potentially be a partner in tracking ISIS or other extremist elements,” he said. “So, having a partner in the region that we can work with to identify potential threats and counter radicalization, to make sure that the ideologies don't take hold or produce terrorists, like the ones that struck in Moscow.” Several Central Asian citizens were arrested in connection with an attack on a Moscow concert hall in March that killed 144 people. Responsibility was claimed by Islamic State-Khorasan, also known as ISIS-K or IS-K, a regional offshoot of Islamic State. Despite the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, Smith said the United States still has interests in that country and that Tashkent, which maintains a tight relationship with the Taliban, can help in that regard. "Al-Qaida is still in the region. ISIS, obviously. The Taliban are fighting ISIS-K," the congressman said. "We are still very interested in the region. The difference is we're not there. We don't have a good ability to monitor it and act. So, we are looking for partners." In Smith’s view, the U.S. must be more strategic in competing with Russia and China as they try to advance their own influence in the region. Unlike Moscow and Beijing, Washington does not build infrastructure. Instead, it offers technical assistance and works through international financial institutions — endeavors that Smith describes as substantial. One way the United States could help Uzbekistan, he said, is by helping to find a way to advance the landlocked country’s goal of establishing a rail link through Afghanistan and Pakistan to the Indian Ocean. Security relationships with countries in the region “have not significantly increased” since the U.S. left Afghanistan, Smith acknowledged, but “we're trying to build some of those relationships with Uzbekistan." In 2021, Congress appropriated $10 million under the Foreign Military Financing program to enhance Central Asia's border security and counterterrorism capabilities, supplying vehicles, communications equipment and training. Brushing off Russian speculation that the U.S. is seeking to open a military base in Central Asia, Smith said there are no such efforts. “We're seeking partners. We're not seeking a presence," he said while emphasizing the importance of overflight agreements and intelligence collaboration. Smith and other lawmakers, including those in the congressional Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan caucuses, concede that Central Asia has some of the world’s most authoritarian regimes, which suppress dissent and independent media. State Department reports describe the countries as prominent human rights violators. In Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov ruled for 15 years before passing the presidency to his son, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, in 2022. In Tajikistan, President Emomali Rahmon has been in power since 1992 and is expected to follow Berdimuhamedov’s path. In Uzbekistan, a government-engineered constitutional referendum in 2023 allowed Mirziyoyev, president since 2016, to continue for two seven-year terms. Nursultan Nazarbayev governed Kazakhstan for 30 years before stepping down in 2019. His hand-picked successor, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, also changed the constitution but promised to leave at the end of his term in 2029. For years, Kyrgyzstan stood out as having the most democratic potential in the region. However, its current president, Sadyr Japarov, has jailed critics and recently adopted a Russian-style “foreign agents” law. Smith says the U.S. does not ignore reality, yet he favors pragmatism over preaching. "If you simply say, ‘We don't think your elections were as free and fair. We're out, we're not working with you,’ those countries can very, very easily turn to China, Russia, Iran and who knows, maybe someday, North Korea. So, we have to understand what's doable and realistic." Having met the Uzbek president in Tashkent, Smith calls Mirziyoyev "a smart guy" who is moving Uzbekistan "in the right direction." "I think they are genuinely trying to improve their economy, deal with terrorism but they've got a long way to go," he said. As on many issues, Democrats and Republicans differ on Central Asia. But Smith stresses that "most members of Congress don't pay attention to that part of the world. There is not a well thought-out approach." "If you were to poll 435 [representatives] over their two-year term, how many times have they thought about Uzbekistan? Very few. I'd say probably 400 of them never thought about it," Smith said. "So, we are working on that."

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Turkey’s decision last week to stop all trade with Israel until Israeli leaders reach a permanent cease-fire in Gaza is likely to hit Israel’s economy hard. Adding to those concerns are signs Turkey is encouraging other nations in the Islamic world to do the same. Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Commencement ceremonies are being scaled back or canceled at U.S. universities because of security concerns over pro-Palestinian student protests. While some campus demonstrations have resulted in concessions, others have led to violent confrontations. VOA’s Tina Trinh has the story from New York.

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is set to tighten access to asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border via a new regulation that could be issued as soon as Thursday, three sources familiar with the matter said. The change is aimed at reducing illegal crossings. The regulation would require migrants to be assessed at an initial asylum screening to see whether they should be barred from asylum and quickly deported, said the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss internal government planning. They added that the measure appeared limited in scope. The migrants would be assessed for asylum bars related to criminality and security threats, two of the sources said. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat seeking another term in the November 5 election, has struggled with record numbers of migrants caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border since taking office in 2021. Former President Donald Trump, Biden's Republican challenger, has criticized Biden for rolling back more-restrictive, Trump-era policies.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

ISLAMABAD — Human rights in Pakistan took a nosedive and civic spaces contracted to an extraordinary degree in 2023 in the wake of violent political protests, the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said in a new report reviewing the past year. “This year was remarkable for the State’s blatant disregard for its own Constitution, adherence to a bare, notional democracy, and civic spaces having shrunk to an all-time low,” said the report released Wednesday. The document covers a wide range of human rights issues that weakened Pakistani democracy last year, from unelected caretaker governments exceeding their constitutionally mandated term to the parliament hastily passing laws including those granting more powers to security agencies. Political repression The commission said the human rights situation reached a new low on May 9, 2023, “a defining day” on which supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan stormed military and government installations to protest his arrest. “The state retaliated with a fierce crackdown and mass arrests of thousands of party workers and leaders, including women,” the report said. “Many [were] kept in military custody, not allowed to meet their families. Internet and social media shutdowns were imposed.” The report recorded at least 15 instances of internet services being shut down in the last year. Following the violence on May 9, government suspended internet services for nearly four days across much of Pakistan. The HRCP said the authorities repeatedly banned gatherings of more than four people in a bid to restrict political activities. Missing persons According to HRCP’s monitoring of media reports, 82 men and seven women were forcibly disappeared during 2023. The report said some of the disappearances were short-term, targeting political party members. Referring to data provided by the government’s Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, HRCP said nearly 2,300 cases of missing persons remained unresolved at the end of last year. A weekslong protest movement led by Baloch women seeking recovery of missing family members returned empty-handed from Islamabad after talks with caretaker government officials stalled. The protesters were brutally dispersed upon arrival in the capital. “Baloch women were not even given the dignity of a conversation,” said Munizae Jahangir, co-chairperson of the HRCP. Holding security agencies responsible for enforced disappearances, the commission’s chairperson, Asad Iqbal Butt, said the acts violated an array of civil rights. The security agencies “think they are friends of Pakistan, but whenever I have a meeting with them, I tell them, ‘You are not a friend of Pakistan. You are engaging in animosity with Pakistan,’” Butt said. He urged the courts to ask recovered victims of enforced disappearances to identify the agencies that detained them. “Unless those who pick people up are not brought to justice, unless they are punished, this problem cannot be resolved,” Butt said, adding that the issue of enforced disappearances was hurting the public’s trust in state institutions. Military’s response In a rare press conference a day earlier, military spokesperson Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry defended the crackdown on the Pakistan Tareek-e-Insaf Party, or PTI. “If, in any country, an attack is launched on its army, symbols of its martyrs are insulted, its founder’s house is set on fire, hatred is created between its army and public. And if the people behind it are not brought to justice, then there is a question mark on that country’s justice system,” Chaudhry told the media. The chief of Inter-Services Public Relations, Chaudhry supported PTI’s demand for a judicial commission to probe the events of May 9. However, he said the commission should investigate the party’s past attacks on government properties as well. Calling PTI a group of anarchists, the military spokesperson demanded the party “apologize publicly.” Speaking to reporters in court on Wednesday, Khan said he would not apologize. “I should be apologized to, as I have been arrested illegally,” said Khan, who has been in jail since Aug. 5, 2023, on multiple corruption charges that he has denied. While speaking to the media on Tuesday, Chaudhry said it was unfair to blame enforced disappearances on law enforcement agencies, since some allegedly missing persons are found to be involved in terrorism and other illegal activities or are in private jails run by local militias. He said the issue was serious and complex but rejected the debate surrounding it as propaganda by “certain political elements, media elements, NGOs and some with links overseas.” “Here [in Pakistan] there is exaggerated propaganda on this issue,” Chaudhry said, arguing that the scope of the problem in Pakistan was smaller than in many other countries. Butt on Wednesday dismissed Chaudhry’s assertions as “foolish,” saying men in uniform were seen abducting people. Jahangir called for stronger legislation to determine the mandate of security agencies. She urged the government to ratify the United Nations’ International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

MARSEILLE, France — French Olympic swimmer Florent Manaudou became the first Olympic torch carrier in France after the Olympic flame arrived in Marseille's Old Port Wednesday on a majestic three-mast ship from Greece for the welcoming ceremony at sunset in the city's Old Port.  The ship sailed into Marseille's old port with the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, echoing from the embankment and a French Air force flyover with planes first drawing the five Olympic rings and then the red-blue-white colors of the nation's flag.  The ship docked on the pontoon that reflects an athletics track and Manaudou carried the torch to mainland France as tens of thousands cheered and thousands of others waved from balconies and windows overlooking the festivities.  "We can be proud," said President Emmanuel Macron, who attended the ceremony to welcome the torch.  "The flame is on French soil," Macron said. "The games are coming to France and are entering the lives of the French people."  The torch was lit in Greece last month before it was officially handed to France. It left Athens aboard a ship named Belem, which was first used in 1896, and spent twelve days at sea.  Paris 2024 Olympics Organizing Committee President Tony Estanguet said the return of the Olympic Games to France was cause for a "fantastic celebration."  "As a former athlete, I know how important the start of a competition is. That is why we chose Marseille, because it's definitely one of the cities most in love with sports," added Estanguet, a former Olympic canoeing star with gold medals from the 2000, 2004 and 2012 Games.  Safety of visitors and residents has been a top priority for authorities in Marseille, France's second largest city with nearly a million inhabitants. About 8,000 police officers have been deployed around the harbor.  Thousands of firefighters and bomb disposal squads have been positioned around the city along with maritime police and anti-drone teams patrolling the city's waters and its airspace.  "It's a monumental day and we have been working hard for visitors and residents of Marseille to enjoy this historical moment," said Yannick Ohanessian, the city's deputy mayor.  The torch relay will start on Thursday in Marseille, before heading to Paris through iconic places across the country, from the world-famous Mont Saint-Michel to D-Day landing beaches in Normandy and the Versailles Palace.  A heavy police and military presence was seen patrolling Marseille's city center Tuesday, as a military helicopter flew over the Old Port, where a range of barriers have been set up.  French Interior Ministry spokesperson Camille Chaize said officials were prepared for security threats including terrorism.  "We're employing various measures, notably the elite National Gendarmerie Intervention Group unit, which will be present in the torch relay from beginning to end," she said.  The Olympic cauldron will be lit after the Games' opening ceremony that will take place on the River Seine on July 26.  The cauldron will be lit at a location in Paris that is being kept top-secret until the day itself. Among reported options are such iconic spots as the Eiffel Tower and the Tuileries Gardens outside the Louvre Museum.

LONDON — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was accused Wednesday of leading a "chaotic" government as another one of his Conservative lawmakers defected to the main opposition Labour Party ahead of a looming general election.  In a stunning move just ahead of the weekly prime minister's questions, Natalie Elphicke crossed the floor of the House of Commons to join the ranks of Keir Starmer's Labour Party, which appears headed for power after 14 years.  "We need to move on from the broken promises of Rishi Sunak's tired and chaotic government," said Elphicke, who represents the constituency of Dover in southern England, which is at the front line of migrant crossings from France. "Under Rishi Sunak, the Conservatives have become a byword for incompetence and division."  Elphicke is the second Conservative lawmaker to defect to Labour in two weeks,; Dan Poulter quit in anger over the government's handling of the National Health Service.  The defection of Elphicke is particularly surprising as she was widely considered to be on the right of the Conservative Party. She has been hugely critical of Labour in the past and Starmer himself but has recently been increasingly disapproving of the government's approach to migrant crossings.  "From small boats to biosecurity, Rishi Sunak's government is failing to keep our borders safe and secure," she said.  Just under 30,000 people arrived in Britain in small boats in 2023, and Sunak has made reducing that number a key issue ahead of the election due this year, notably with his controversial plan to send some asylum-seekers to Rwanda. More than 8,000 have made the dangerous crossing already this year.  Elphicke was elected in 2019, taking over the Dover seat that had been held by her then-husband Charlie, who was found guilty in 2020 of sexually assaulting two women and sentenced to two years in prison, of which he served half.  Elphicke will not be standing in her Dover seat at the next election, although she said she will help the party with Labour's housing policies.  Starmer welcomed Elphicke to the Labour benches as well as Chris Webb, the party's new lawmaker in Blackpool South in northwest England following his big victory in a special election Thursday.  The Labour Party's head reiterated his call for Sunak to immediately call for a general election, saying the Conservatives cannot carry on when even a lawmaker at the forefront of the small-boats crisis — meaning Elphicke — said Sunak "cannot be trusted with our borders."  The date of the general election rests in the hands of the prime minister. It must take place by January, and Sunak has repeatedly said his "working assumption" was that it would take place in the second half of 2024.  Last week, the Conservatives suffered a historic drubbing in local elections, with nearly half of its candidates losing, while Labour made gains and won most of the key mayoral races it fought, including in London.  Particularly encouraging for Labour was winning in areas that voted for Britain's departure from the European Union in 2016 and where it was crushed by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the general election in 2019.  Elphicke's defection may help Labour deflect Conservative attacks during the election that the opposition party may seek to reverse Brexit. In her statement Wednesday, she said Labour "has accepted Brexit and its economic policies."  Her defection has not only raised eyebrows within the Conservative Party.  The left-wing Labour grouping, Momentum, said that Elphicke has "consistently demonized refugees and aid groups" and that she "should have no place in a Labour Party committed to progressive values and working-class people." 

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The U.S. has paused some arms shipments to Israel because of actions Israel has taken in the southern Gaza city of Rafah and discussion about the strategic significance of closing the border crossing there. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was the target of a foiled assassination plot as his country commemorates World War II amid shelling of its civilian infrastructure. President Biden addresses the rise of antisemitism globally and in the U.S. as an American Jewish charity raises money for Gazans. A town in northern Libya is rebuilding after devastating floods.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.