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OTTAWA — An official probe found evidence of foreign interference in Canada's last two federal elections, but the results of the votes were not affected, and the electoral system was robust, according to initial findings released on Friday. The findings in the interim report confirm Trudeau's assertion that China tried to meddle in the elections to no avail. The commission will release its final report by the end of this year. Beijing has repeatedly denied any interference. "Acts of foreign interference did occur during the last two federal general elections, but they did not undermine the integrity of our electoral system," said commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue, who is leading the independent public inquiry. The Foreign Interference Commission was set up last year by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government under pressure from opposition legislators unhappy about media reports on China's possible role in the elections. The commission is mandated to investigate allegations of foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 elections. "Our system remains sound. Voters were able to cast their ballots, their votes were duly registered and counted, and there is nothing to suggest that there was any interference whatsoever in this regard," Hogue said in a statement. "Nonetheless, the acts of interference that occurred are a stain on our electoral process and impacted the process leading up to the actual vote," she said.

VOA Connect Episode 329 - Unraveling the music within and beyond.

Fred’s Lounge, open exclusively on Saturday mornings, has been a vibrant hub for Cajun culture since 1946, hosting lively Cajun bands and preserving this rich heritage. Reporter | Camera: Aaron Fedor, Producer: Kathleen McLaughlin, Editor: Kyle Dubiel

Gravelly Point, managed by the National Park Service and nestled along the George Washington Memorial Parkway, offers a haven for bikers, walkers, and picnickers, while also being renowned as one of the prime spots in the nation for airplane-watching. Camera | Editor | Producer: Philip Alexiou

Refik Anadol, an artist at the forefront of data painting and AI-generated art, explores the fusion of technology and creativity. By leveraging machine-learning algorithms, Anadol is known for innovative media works and showcases the creative potential of AI. Camera | Producer | Editor: Genia Dulot

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.

OTTAWA — Canadian police charged three people on Friday with the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in the province of British Columbia in June 2023, Canadian media said, citing court documents.  Nijjar, 45, was shot to death outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, a Vancouver suburb with a large Sikh population.  The news of his death came days after the White House expressed concern about the reported role of the Indian intelligence service in assassination plots in Canada and the United States.  The presence of Sikh separatist groups in Canada has long frustrated New Delhi. Nijjar was labeled a terrorist by India.  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in September that Canadian authorities were pursuing allegations linking Indian government agents to the death of Nijjar, a Canadian citizen. New Delhi rejected Trudeau's claim as absurd.  CTV and Global News first reported the news of those arrested on Friday, with CTV saying all three were Indian nationals.  Neither the RCMP nor the Indian mission in Ottawa were immediately available for comment.  Canada had been pressing India to cooperate in its investigation.  Last November, U.S. authorities said an Indian government official had directed the plot in the attempted murder of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist and dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada.  Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, in charge of Canadian law enforcement agencies, did not directly confirm the arrests but told reporters the probe into Nijjar's murder was "still an active police operation."  The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation earlier cited a source saying investigators had identified the suspects in Canada some months ago and had been keeping them under tight surveillance. 

Abuja, Nigeria — Nigerian authorities said Thursday they have arrested the mastermind of a 2022 terrorist attack on a moving train that killed 10 passengers. Police arrested Ibrahim Abdulahi, who is also known as “Mande,” during a raid in January at the Abuja-Kaduna road flyover near Rido junction, Police Force public relations officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi told journalists. "The suspect confessed to being the leader of the kidnap syndicate terrorizing Abuja-Kaduna highway," Adejobi said. Police had received a tip-off about Abdulahi’s whereabouts, Adejobi said, adding that Mande admitted to participating in several deadly attacks on citizens, including the kidnapping of 20 Greenfield University students in Kaduna in 2021 and the 2022 attack on the train. On March 28 of that year, armed terrorists bombed the passenger train traveling from Abuja to Kaduna and opened fire on passengers. Ten people were killed, and the attackers abducted at least 61 passengers. The abductees were freed many months later. The attack sparked fear and widespread criticism of the government. Authorities shut down the train service for nine months and, when they reopened it, provided improved security and escorts on each trip. Security analyst Senator Iroegbu praised the arrest but said authorities must be more proactive. "What actually Nigerians want is to be sure that never [happens] again,” Iroegbu said “They [shouldn’t] wait till people get kidnapped before they start taking actions, whether militarily or through ransom payments. Nigerians want the kidnappings to end.” Insecurity is one of the major problems standing in the way of prosperity in Africa’s most-populous country. In the past year, gangs have kidnapped more than 4,700 people, according to security consulting firm SBM Intelligence. Last month, Nigeria’s president said the country would no longer pay ransom to armed gangs to free hostages and pledged that gangs will face the full force of security agencies. Many victims and relatives of those in captivity are hoping the decision does not ruin their chances of rescuing their loved ones.

VOA marks World Press Freedom Day with a conversation with the director of Reporters Without Borders. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin does not think that Hamas is planning to attack American troops. Israeli reaction to college protests, plus elections in Chad and an update from Kyiv.

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.

As Orthodox Christians in Ukraine prepare to celebrate Easter on May 5th, Orthodox priests in Ukraine are finding themselves trying to serve their church and support their state, even when those two are at adds. VOA’s Anna Kosstutschenko reports.

HARARE, ZIMBABWE — Marking this year’s World Press Freedom Day, Amnesty International said Thursday it is concerned about eastern and southern African authorities’ imposition of severe restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom. The organization said there was increased intentional disruption of internet connectivity and the enactment of tough cyber security laws aimed at silencing the media and controlling the spread of information. Sarah Kimani, the media manager of Amnesty International in east and southern Africa, outlined other ways governments are hampering the media. “Some of the issues we documented include the fact that across the east and southern Africa region, authorities used national security laws, including counterterrorism and cybersecurity legislation, to undermine the right to freedom of expression, punish journalists and suppress media freedom,” she said. “For example, in Madagascar, the Cybercriminality Code and the Communication Code have forced journalists to self-censor due to fear of reprisals,” Kimani said. “The laws are broad, and vaguely defined provisions within the laws — such as attacks on state security, defamation, dissemination of fake news and incitement to hatred — have been used to intimidate, harass and target journalists.” Kimani said Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Mozambique, Somalia, South Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe are other countries where Amnesty recorded serious violations over the past year. In Zimbabwe, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government says it is making a better environment for journalists, having awarded 14 licenses for private radio and television stations in the last few years. Zimbabwe Information Minister Jenfan Muswere told VOA, "The second republic has made significant progress in ensuring a safe, free and competitive operating environment. This has been done through enactment of media-friendly laws and the repealing of laws that affected media operations. This has also led to the opening up of airwaves for both radio and television, thus ensuring media diversity.” Muswere said more regulations are yet to come to, in his words, professionalize and allow the independence and co-regulation of the media sector and ensure growth and development. Tabani Moyo, the director of the Media Institute of Southern Africa, acknowledged Muswere’s comments but said Zimbabwe and several other countries in the region still present a difficult environment for journalists in which to operate. “All these are the mix of challenges within these countries, including restrictive laws, laws that are curbing civic space, others coming with cyber security laws,” he said. “But what this means is that the region is ... a mixed bag, in terms of going backwards — two steps forward, five backwards.” This situation, he said, calls for a consolidated approach towards media development at a regional level. Moyo said it would be helpful if regional bodies such as the Southern African Development Community and the African Union promoted model progressive laws on the issue of media freedom on the continent.

Washington — Marking World Press Freedom Day on Friday, Somali journalists continue to struggle with reporting on climate change and environmental issues in their country because of insecurity and the dangers connected to environmental journalism. This year, Somalia marks the day as El Nino, a naturally occurring climate pattern associated with increased temperatures worldwide, worsens the abnormally heavy rainfall hitting the country’s south and central regions. Farah Omar Nur, the secretary general of the Federation of Somali Journalists, a Mogadishu-based agency that advocates for reporters’ rights and safety, said environmental journalism is not easy, especially in Somalia. “In Somalia, reporters and the news outlets do not always get the funding and the proper training for environmental journalism, and those who try often face challenges, including insecurity and threats from the armed groups,” Nur said. Nur said that the small amount of training given journalists for environmental reporting has helped many to understand the significance of reporting about the planet. “With the help of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia, we have been able to provide training to some journalists for environmental issue reporting, but that is not enough,” Nur said. According to a recent report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, heavy rains have led to localized flooding affecting more than 120,000 people. The worst-affected areas are Jubaland, Hirshabelle and Southwest states of Somalia. Nur says another challenge is the logistics of reporting on environmental problems. “The rain has caused flooding in many areas of Somalia, destroying roads, bridges and other important infrastructure. Therefore, it is not easy for a journalist to travel to remote rural locations,” Nur said. “In addition, armed clan militias and the al-Shabab militant group — who are not friendly with independent journalists — have [a] huge presence in many areas.” Marking World Press Freedom Day, the United Nations in Somalia raised the importance of the work Somali journalists do in reporting on “the climate challenges facing their country” and encouraged increased coverage. “Somalia is on the front line of climate change, with the climate crisis affecting the lives of millions of Somalis, especially the most vulnerable. Much more needs to be done to raise awareness of all aspects of the environmental crisis, and journalism is indispensable for this purpose,” said the U.N. secretary-general’s special representative for Somalia, Catriona Laing. “For Somalia to achieve its goals of stability and sustainable development, it is necessary for journalists to report accurately, timely and comprehensively on environmental issues and their consequences, as well as on possible solutions,” she said. The U.N. General Assembly established World Press Freedom Day in 1993. The theme this year is “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of the Environmental Crisis.” It’s dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis. It aims to highlight the significant role that the press, journalism, access and dissemination of information play in ensuring a sustainable future. A new report published by UNESCO on May 3, warns of increasing violence against and intimidation of journalists reporting on the environment and climate disruption. The report said about 749 journalists or news media reporting on environmental issues have been attacked in the last 15 years, and online disinformation has surged dramatically in this period. UNESCO is calling for stronger support for environmental journalists and better governance of digital platforms.

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.

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.

Bangkok — Global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, or RSF, says press freedom in Asia continues to see a decline, with 26 out of 31 countries falling on its annual index. According to the group’s latest press freedom index, Asia is the second-most difficult region for practicing journalism. Five countries in the region — Myanmar, China, North Korea and Vietnam — are among the world’s 10 most dangerous countries for media professionals in the 2024 rankings. There are no countries in the Asia-Pacific region in the top 15 ranking for press freedom. China, North Korea and Vietnam, three of the world’s remaining communist governments, have long been near the bottom of RSF’s press freedom index ranking of 180 countries. This year, China was ranked 172, Vietnam 174 and North Korea 177. Overall, it’s the countries and territories that have shown a drop in press freedom in recent years that have contributed to East Asia becoming a difficult place for media to operate. Hong Kong was once a model for press freedom in the Asia region, but the city’s ranking recently dropped from 80 to 148 following political unrest and new laws that affect media freedoms. Since the Beijing-imposed national security law came into force in 2020, at least a dozen media outlets have closed. Beijing says the law has been necessary to stabilize the city following mass political unrest in 2019. Aleksandra Bielakowska, an advocacy officer at RSF, said Hong Kong’s media freedoms still haven’t improved. “The worst for Hong Kong is the political and legal factors. Hong Kong’s position is very low; the situation remains very difficult,” she told VOA. Hong Kong is in the middle of two high-profile national security trials. Jimmy Lai, the media mogul and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, faces national security charges for “collusion with foreign forces” that could see him sentenced to life in prison. Stand News, which ceased operations in 2021 after a police raid, is also on trial, with its chief editors facing charges under Hong Kong’s colonial-era sedition law. The verdict was recently postponed until August. Hong Kong’s Justice Secretary Paul Lam recently said that press freedom still exists in the city and that media can criticize the government. But Emily Lau, a former journalist and former chair of Hong Kong’s Democratic Party, said many reporters are unsure whether that is the case. “There is concern. I don’t know whether that is reassuring. Journalists themselves are concerned. People are not sure whether it is really true,” she told VOA. Due to the sensitivity of the cases and concerns over press freedom, several media experts in Hong Kong declined to speak to VOA when requested. Although RSF ranked Hong Kong up five spots to 135 in 2024, that doesn’t mean press freedoms have improved. “The reasons for that are because of the movement of other countries inside the index itself,” Bielakowska said. RSF said the deteriorated media environments in Afghanistan, Syria and Eritrea, which are the bottom three countries of the rankings, have pushed other countries further up the list. The same can be applied with Myanmar. The new RSF rankings puts Myanmar up two places to 171, but it doesn’t mean press freedom is improving. Today, the Southeast Asian country is the world’s second-worst jailer of journalists, only behind China, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Following a military coup led by General Min Aung Hlaing and his troops in 2021, Myanmar’s junta has been accused of arbitrary arrests, harassment and torture, while at least four journalists have been killed by the military, rights groups say. At least a dozen media outlets have had their licenses revoked by the military government in three years, while hundreds of journalists have been arrested. Media outlets who are allowed to legally report in Myanmar must be registered with the military government to operate. But registering for press accreditation means journalists must provide the junta with their personal details, which discourages them from doing so over fear of arrest. For the journalists who have continued to report, they have had to work “undercover” to avoid being targeted by military personnel. Aung Naing Soe, a Myanmar reporter, said journalists are a “primary threat” toward the military’s attempts to rule. “The junta arrests not only journalists but everyone against them. They see journalists as one of their primary threats since before the coup,” he told VOA. Since the junta attempted to rule, ousted politicians formed a civilian-led government, while civilian defense forces and ethnic political groups have taken up arms against the military. But Aung Naing Soe, who is also the filmmaker of the documentary “Undaunted” —about the uprising against military rule — added that the difficulties in reporting come from both sides. "Everybody knows the risks from the military's intimidation. We expected a little bit of press freedom from the revolutionary groups, but lately we've started seeing some [rebel] groups attempt to control the media," he said. "Like everyone else in the country, Myanmar journalists are getting tired. Sometimes we don't have any energy left to write a short story or make a short interview. We're all emotionally drained." There was some encouraging news for media freedom in East Asia. Thailand saw the biggest jump in the 2024 rankings, moving up 19 spaces to 87. Thailand’s security performance was one of the main reasons for the jump, according to Bielakowska. “There was less violence than in other years, and the electoral campaign for the general elections of May 2023 did not result in demonstrations of violence against journalists,” she said. On the other hand, she said that despite the political transition, there has not been notable improvement in the overall political environment.