newsinsightplus.com
- 18644ExLiverpool
- 1864Published4
- April 10, 2024
- 0 Comments
BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaInquiry hears of foreign meddling in Canada electionsPublished16 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be testifying before the inquiry on WednesdayBy Nadine YousifBBC NewsA busload full of Chinese high school students coerced into voting for a Liberal candidate. An opaque cash injection of thousands of dollars from China. A proxy agent of India’s government providing illegal financial support to pro-India politicians.These allegations and more surfaced during two weeks of testimony in Canada’s ongoing public inquiry into foreign interference in its elections.The accusations – made by Canada’s spy agency in a series of redacted documents tabled before the inquiry – are to be taken with caution, officials said.The reports may include uncorroborated information that is single-sourced or incomplete, and that has not been properly investigated, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) warned.China and India have repeatedly denied any allegations of interference in Canada’s affairs, with India recently calling them “baseless allegations”. But some politicians have said interference may have affected their political careers.And testimony from members of Canada’s varied diaspora communities shone a light on alleged threats to their safety by agents tied to governments in their home countries.Why is Canada so vulnerable to foreign meddling?The inquiry, led by Quebec judge Marie-Josee Hogue, is hearing from more than 40 community members, politicians and federal election officials before its first report is tabled next month.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is scheduled to testify on Wednesday. He has said he is “looking forward” to answering questions before the inquiry. Those affected by the alleged meddling efforts have accused officials and CSIS of not doing enough to combat it, or of keeping them in the dark altogether. And Canada’s own spy agency has said the government is not doing enough to tackle the issue, and that the country lags behind its “Five Eyes” intelligence allies – the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand.What has the inquiry heard so far?From testimony and partially unsealed classified documents, Canadians have learned some of the ways China and other foreign governments may have attempted to interfere in the last two federal elections, in 2019 and 2022.There is no evidence the results of the election were affected. CSIS has alleged that the Chinese government “clandestinely and deceptively” interfered in both elections. The interference was “pragmatic in nature and focused primarily in supporting those viewed to be either ‘pro-PRC’ or ‘neutral’ on issues of interest to the PRC government,” said a briefing by the agency.”We also observed online and media activities aimed at discouraging Canadians, particularly of Chinese heritage, from supporting the Conservative Party (and former) leader Erin O’Toole,” the briefing note added.Mr O’Toole testified last week that his campaign was marred by a deluge of misinformation that he believes lost his party up to nine seats in the 2021 election.He said that, while the overall result of the election – which his party lost to Mr Trudeau’s Liberals – was not affected, he believes it led to his ouster as leader.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Former federal Conservative leader Erin O’Toole testified that his party may have lost some seats in the 2021 election due to foreign meddlingCSIS reports mentioned a possible C$250,000 ($184,000; £145,300) funneled from the PRC during the 2019 election to an unnamed candidate’s staff member, and then to others, in a meddling attempt.The spy agency also accused China of funding a charter bus in 2019 to send Chinese private high school students to help a Liberal politician, Han Dong, secure his party’s nomination. CSIS suggested that the students were coerced, that “their student visas would be in jeopardy and that there could be consequences for their families back in the PRC” if they did not support Mr Dong.In his testimony, Mr Dong, who now sits as an independent, said he met with Chinese students and encouraged them to register as Liberal members during his campaign. But he denied knowledge of anything nefarious. International students are allowed to vote in Liberal party nominations as long as they can prove they live in the riding (constituency or electoral district). India and Pakistan also were named by CSIS as trying to interfere in both elections.In India’s case, the spy agency said activities were carried out by a proxy agent of the Indian government, and “were centered on a small number of electoral districts” to support pro-India candidates.They were motivated by the perception that “a portion of Indo-Canadian voters were sympathetic to the Khalistani movement or pro-Pakistan political stances,” CSIS reported.Mr Trudeau previously accused India of being involved in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist who was killed on Canadian soil in June 2023.Meanwhile, Pakistan’s attempted meddling was allegedly “to counter India’s growing global influence,” though it was limited in nature, CSIS reported.According to testimony, while CSIS and other officials knew about these allegations, they didn’t alert the targeted politicians or the public. Mr O’Toole said he raised concerns about meddling during the 2021 election and was not taken seriously. But Mr Trudeau’s national security advisor Nathalie Drouin, who was on a panel of top bureaucrats at the time tasked with reviewing election threats, countered by saying there was not enough proof at the time of China’s activities against the Conservative Party.”There was some risk that any intervention by the panel could create more harm than good,” she said, adding there were fears that it would incite confusion and alarm the public.Related TopicsChinaJustin TrudeauIndiaCanadaMore on this storyUS must work with Canada to stop China meddling – MPPublished13 September 2023Canada launches inquiry into foreign interferencePublished7 September 2023Canada police investigating China meddling claimsPublished13 June 2023Top StoriesWeak evidence and toxic debate letting down gender care children, report saysPublished1 hour agoArizona court reinstates abortion ban law from 1864Published4 hours agoOver 7 million struggling with bills, survey findsPublished1 hour agoFeaturesThe Papers: Major gender care review, and ‘Mr Bates vs thugs in suits’Peter Higgs – the man who changed our view of the UniverseIs this K-drama? No, it’s South Korea’s election nightChappell Roan is the freaky, fun pop star you need to knowHow much is the cost of a UK passport going up?’Airport car park fire turned my life upside down’Big Zuu cuts down on cooking and rap for RamadanFirst ever climate change victory in Europe courtIsrael’s Gaza withdrawal hints at what comes nextElsewhere on the BBCWhat was so special about yesterday’s solar eclipse?Science correspondent Pallab Ghosh’s brief guide to the cosmic phenomenonAttributionSoundsHow did Sweden become a hotbed for hot tracks? James Ballardie charts Sweden’s remarkable rise as a music superpowerAttributioniPlayerWill China’s electric car industry shock Europe?Steve Fowler explores the potential risks Chinese electric car manufacturing poses to Western brandsAttributionSoundsOne of the world’s biggest stars through a unique lensThe stories behind ten defining images of Amy Winehouse, from iconic shots to private snapsAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Major gender care review, and ‘Mr Bates vs thugs in suits’2Children let down by ‘weak’ gender care – report3Arizona court reinstates abortion ban law from 18644Ex-Liverpool midfielder Murphy was addicted to cocaineAttributionSport5’Zombie’ drug found in cannabis THC vapes in UK6Was an extinct fox once man’s best friend?7Alan Bates says Post Office run by ‘thugs in suits’8Over 7 million struggling with bills, survey finds9MP targeted in Westminster honeytrap resigns party whip10Peter Higgs, father of ‘God particle’, dies aged 94
[ad_1] Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to testify before the ongoing inquiry on Wednesday.
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaEx-US generals who oversaw Afghan exit describe chaos and challenges of withdrawalPublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsWar in Afghanistan (2001-2021)This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Afghanistan evacuation a ‘strategic failure’, says former generalBy Max MatzaBBC NewsTwo ex-American generals who led the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 have testified to Congress. Mark Milley, former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, and Kenneth McKenzie, who led US Central Command, testified for the first time since retiring.Republican lawmakers held President Joe Biden responsible for the disastrous exit, while Democrats blamed the Trump administration’s deal with the Taliban. But the two generals seemed unwilling to back either party’s argument. Instead, they said that both the Biden and Trump administrations had a role in the disastrous withdrawal, as did the administrations that preceded them.The Doha agreement – a deal former President Donald Trump negotiated with the Taliban that set the terms for the US departure – “pulled the rug out, morale wise” of both the Afghan security forces and government, Mr Milley said. But he added later that the “fundamental flaw” of the US exit was the timing of the Biden administration’s decision to order a civilian evacuation in Afghanistan. He said it had come “too slow and too late”.He also emphasised that he had advised top American officials that the US “needed to maintain a minimum force of 2,500 troops on the ground” in order to prevent the Taliban from seizing control.”Without this support, it was my view at the time, that it was a matter of ‘when, not if’ the Afghan government would collapse and the Taliban would take control,” said Mr Milley.Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani’s decision to flee the country as the Taliban marched toward Kabul was then “the straw that broke the camel’s back”, he said. Still, both men maintained that no single factor alone led to the US failure in Afghanistan, and they seemed to support the idea that the US should review the entire 20-year history of the conflict, not just its conclusion – a point supported by Democrats.”We helped build an army, a state but we could not build a nation,” Mr Milley said, calling the outcome a “strategic failure”.They also acknowledged that remaining in Afghanistan would probably have put American troops in harm’s way, as the Taliban would have restarted its fight with the US for staying on beyond an agreed 31 August departure deadline, Mr McKenzie said, citing intelligence reports he had reviewed. Both men said the Taliban, which they characterised as a terrorist organisation, harbours militants who wish to target the US. “They themselves [the Taliban] don’t have a desire to attack us and our homeland, but they do harbour entities and organisations that do have a desire to do that,” Mr McKenzie said.Image source, Getty ImagesFamily members of American soldiers who died in the suicide blast at the Kabul airport and others who served in Afghanistan attended the hearing. They watched as the former military leaders gave their sober assessments about the US withdrawal. As it was the two retired generals’ first time testifying since leaving the service, both were able to be more candid in their criticisms of US civilian officials and policymakers. Much of their criticism was directed at the US Department of State for not issuing the order to evacuate American civilians months earlier. Mr McKenzie and Mr Milley both testified that the US still does not know how many Americans were in Afghanistan, and it remains unclear how many were able to safely get out.While much of the hearing rehashed old arguments made by Democrats and Republicans, there was some bipartisan news welcomed by lawmakers in the room.Michael McCaul, the Republican chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, announced that the White House and Congressional leaders had agreed to grant 12,000 more special immigrant visas for Afghan nationals who assisted the US. He said it would be included in a budget deal that is expected to pass this week. Veterans of the war in Afghanistan and lawmakers have been fighting to expand the number of visas for Afghanistan immigrants, as only about 7,000 remained. The US has issued about 1,000 per month recently, raising fears that they could run out. US troops pulled out of Afghanistan after 20 years – the country’s longest ever war – and it left many Afghans who supported American forces in danger, particularly as viable exits from the country closed. The violent withdrawal dented perceptions of Mr Biden’s international competence. Republicans have since seized on the failed exit as key line of attack ahead of the November presidential election.The Biden administration and Democrats have regularly blamed Donald Trump for negotiating the agreement with the Taliban that led to the withdrawal, arguing that his decisions “severely constrained” Mr Biden’s options.A government watchdog found that both administrations were to blame for the disastrous withdrawal that saw Afghan forces overwhelmed.Related TopicsWar in Afghanistan (2001-2021)AfghanistanTalibanDonald TrumpUnited StatesJoe BidenMore on this storyWhite House blames chaotic Afghan pull-out on TrumpPublished6 April 2023Taliban are back – what next for Afghanistan?Published30 August 2021Ten days that shook AfghanistanPublished16 August 2021Top StoriesEntire Gaza population facing acute hunger – USPublished5 hours agoFirst convicted cyber-flasher jailed under new lawPublished5 hours agoHong Kong passes tough security law fought by protesters for yearsPublished7 hours agoFeaturesWhat is Hong Kong’s tough new security law?Trump needs a $464m bond in six days. What if he can’t get it?Gillian Anderson: Why I changed my mind on playing Emily MaitlisIs TikTok really a danger to the West?The English heiress who joined the IRA’Untreated trauma led to our soldier son’s suicide’Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan: Why I hate on-screen vanityThe highs and lows of Welsh First Minister Mark DrakefordWould you recognise Wales’ next first minister? VideoWould you recognise Wales’ next first minister?Elsewhere on the BBCA fun and judgement-free guide to RamadanBig Zuu joins Mehreen to debunk some of the popular myths around the holy monthAttributionSoundsFrom slaps to snubs…Thirteen iconic moments from Oscar historyAttributioniPlayer’A few people laughed, a few cried, most were silent’The extraordinary story of the rise and fall of the inventor of the atomic bomb, J Robert OppenheimerAttributioniPlayerThe powerful emotional impact of Pink Floyd’s musicShine On You Crazy Diamond has helped people through their hardest timesAttributionSoundsMost Read1How Kate body-double conspiracy theory spread on social media2Deliveroo rider bites off customer’s thumb3First convicted cyber-flasher jailed under new law4Tesco forced to change Clubcard logo after Lidl row5Trump needs a $464m bond. What if he can’t get it?6Chancellor hints at October general election7Hong Kong passes tough security law fought by protesters for years8The English heiress who joined the IRA9’Impossible trade-offs’ if no UK growth – Reeves10Speculation mounts over who will be next James Bond](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/790A/production/_132968903_gettyimages-2089846849.jpg)
