Malawi is grappling with an unprecedented rise in the water level of its largest body of water, Lake Malawi. Authorities say nearly 90% of the beach area has been submerged, damaging property and crops. Lameck Masina reports from Mangochi.
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... Читать дальше...
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
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. Читать дальше...
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... Читать дальше...
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.
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... Читать дальше...
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... Читать дальше...
Defense ministers from the United States, Australia, Japan and the Philippines met for a second round of quadrilateral talks in less than a year this week amid further aggression from the Chinese military. VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb reports on the allies’ growing military ties.
"Threats to democracy" have overtaken the economy and immigration as the chief concern of U.S. voters ahead of the 2024 presidential election, according to a recent Ipsos poll. VOA's Veronica Balderas Iglesias breaks down the results.
WASHINGTON — Roughly 100,000 immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children are expected to enroll in the Affordable Care Act's health insurance next year under a directive the Biden administration released Friday. The move took longer than promised to finalize and fell short of Democratic President Joe Biden's initial proposal to allow those migrants to sign up for Medicaid, the health insurance program that provides nearly free coverage for the nation's poorest people. But it will allow thousands of people... Читать дальше...
YAOUNDE, CAMEROON — Angry youths in Chad are pulling down campaign posters of transitional President General Mahamat Idriss Deby in protest of what they call his attempt to seize power. Deby's main challengers in the May 6 election, including former opposition leader and current Prime Minister Succes Masra, say several hundred of their supporters have been arrested. Some among the disgruntled opposition are calling for an election boycott. Several hundred civilians shout as they pull down campaign posters of Chad's transitional president... Читать дальше...
PESHAWAR — A bus veered into a ravine in Pakistan's far north early on Friday, a local government spokesman said, killing 20 passengers, while 21 injured were rescued and taken to hospital. The bus was headed to the mountainous northern area of Gilgit-Baltistan from the garrison city of Rawalpindi in Pakistan's eastern province of Punjab, when the accident happened in the early hours. "The bus was passing through Diamer district in Gilgit-Baltistan when it fell into a deep ravine," Faizullah Firaq... Читать дальше...
This year’s World Press Freedom Day theme is “journalism in the face of the environmental crisis,” and a South African media outlet called Oxpeckers focuses on exactly that. For VOA, Kate Bartlett spoke to some of its journalists about what drives and challenges them as they report on people and practices that hurt the planet. Camera and edit: Zaheer Cassim
Of the five indicators that media watchdog Reporters Without Borders used to compile its 2024 World Press Freedom Index, the political indicator has been the most problematic, showing that governments failed to protect journalists. VOA Nairobi Bureau Chief Mariama Diallo looks at the rankings in Africa, where political actors were violent toward journalists.
Nairobi, Kenya — Save the Children says more than 140,000 people in the Malian town of Menaka, including 80,000 children, face malnutrition and disease due to a blockade by Islamic State-linked insurgents. The organization warns that the months-long blockade has driven supplies to alarmingly low levels as aid agencies and Malian government programs struggle to deliver basic necessities. In a statement this week, Save the Children said that unless aid gets to the Menaka communities soon, the area could see many deaths in coming months. Читать дальше...
The United States is promoting a plan for a hostage release and cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, leading eventually to the establishment of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The plan comes amid tensions between the U.S. and Israel over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence that he will invade Rafah. Linda Gradstein reports for VOA from Jerusalem. Camera: Ricki Rosen