Hello and welcome to News Hour from the BBC World Service.

I'm Celia Hatton coming to you live from London.

We start with a stark contrast emerging in the US race for the White House.

The news that President Biden has had to temporarily withdraw from the campaign trail because of COVID

is only adding to the real sense of confidence amongst the

Republicans meeting at their convention. More united than ever, they're buoyed by Donald Trump's

survival of an assassination attempt and also by his choice of running mate,

Ohio's young senator JD Vance.

Our North America correspondent Nomea Iqbal was watching his speech from the convention floor in Milwaukee.

My name is J.D. Vance from the great state of Ohio.

Just two years, that's how long J.D. Vance has been in politics.

And to now be standing here giving this speech, it's quite a remarkable twist of fate.

And as one expects from a VP pick, he talked with the language of loyalty.

Now prior running for president he was one of the most successful businessmen in the world.

He had everything anyone could ever want in a life. And yet, instead of choosing the easy path, he

chose to endure abuse, slander, and persecution. And he did it because he loves this country.

With Donald Trump loyalty is on another level though.

Mr Vance has backed his unsubstantiated claims of election fraud.

But you can't help wonder, was Mr Vance asked

in his interview with Mr. Trump,

will you overturn the election results

if my opponent wins?

...