The man accused of killing African Americans last month in a shooting spree at a Buffalo, New York supermarket, has been charged with federal hate crimes, the US Justice Department announced on Wednesday (June 15). Payton Gendron, the 18-year-old shot dead 10 African Americans on May 14. According to a criminal complaint, Gendron faces 26 counts of hate crimes and firearms offences. Notably, federal hate crime charges mean life in prison or even the death penalty.&nbsp;

The charges state that Gendron was motivated by racist hate when he shot at people. with a semi-automatic assault weapon. The charges said: "Gendron's motive for the mass shooting was to prevent Black people from replacing white people and eliminating the white race, and to inspire others to commit similar attacks."&nbsp;

The charges were announced by Attorney General Merrick Garland, who visited Buffalo and met with family members of those killed. He said, "Hate-fuelled acts of violence terrorize not only the individuals who are all attacked but entire communities. We fully recognize the threat that hatred and violent extremism pose to the safety of the American people and American democracy."&nbsp;

He added, "No one in this country should have to live in fear that they will go to work or shop at a grocery store and will be attacked by someone who hates them because of the colour of their skin."&nbsp;

The recent Buffalo incident and mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas shocked the nation. An increase in gun violence and mass killings have sparked renewed calls for reform of the nation's gun laws.&nbsp;

In the aftermath, a bipartisan group of senators recently announced measures targeted to control the recent increase in gun violence in the country. They have chalked out a framework for new legislation.&nbsp;

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The man accused of killing African Americans last month in a shooting spree at a Buffalo, New York supermarket, has been charged with federal hate crimes, the US Justice Department announced on Wednesday (June 15).

The man accused of killing African Americans last month in a shooting spree at a Buffalo, New York supermarket, has been charged with federal hate crimes, the US Justice Department announced on Wednesday (June 15). Payton Gendron, the 18-year-old shot dead 10 African Americans on May 14. According to a criminal complaint, Gendron faces 26 counts of hate crimes and firearms offences. Notably, federal hate crime charges mean life in prison or even the death penalty. The charges state that Gendron was motivated by racist hate when he shot at people. with a semi-automatic assault weapon. The charges said: "Gendron's motive for the mass shooting was to prevent Black people from replacing white people and eliminating the white race, and to inspire others to commit similar attacks." The charges were announced by Attorney General Merrick Garland, who visited Buffalo and met with family members of those killed. He said, "Hate-fuelled acts of violence terrorize not only the individuals who are all attacked but entire communities. We fully recognize the threat that hatred and violent extremism pose to the safety of the American people and American democracy." He added, "No one in this country should have to live in fear that they will go to work or shop at a grocery store and will be attacked by someone who hates them because of the colour of their skin." The recent Buffalo incident and mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas shocked the nation. An increase in gun violence and mass killings have sparked renewed calls for reform of the nation's gun laws. In the aftermath, a bipartisan group of senators recently announced measures targeted to control the recent increase in gun violence in the country. They have chalked out a framework for new legislation. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Buffalo mass shooting: Shooter charged with federal hate crimes, faces possible death penalty

Volkswagen&nbsp;asked for&nbsp;more&nbsp;time&nbsp;to review reports alleging&nbsp;human&nbsp;rights&nbsp;violations tantamount to "modern slavery" on a farm it owned in&nbsp;Brazil&nbsp;between 1974-1986, according to minutes of an administrative hearing on the&nbsp;probe&nbsp;seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

Public prosecutors summoned&nbsp;Volkswagen&nbsp;to attend an administrative hearing in Brasilia on June 14 to review reports alleging the mistreatment of temporary workers at the farm in&nbsp;Brazil's Amazon region brought forward by the Ministry of Labor.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/we-need-to-change-e-car-approach-in-china-volkswagen-ceo-401451">&nbsp;We need to change e-car approach in China: Volkswagen CEO</a>

The minutes showed lawyers representing the carmaker said that the company needed&nbsp;more&nbsp;time&nbsp;to analyze the reports given this was the first meeting it was participating in on the matter, but that it was treating the case in a serious and committed manner.

Ricardo Rezende, a priest and a professor at the Federal University in Rio de Janeiro, had first gathered testimonials from farm workers before submitting reports of mistreatment to prosecutors in 2019.&nbsp;Brazil's Ministry of Labor then independently investigated the claims, collecting its own testimonials from workers who are still alive, according to the minutes of the June 14 meeting.

Watch |&nbsp;German carmaker Volkswagen to make fewer cars globally in 2022 amid global chip shortage

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"The stories are very strong, reporting situations of intense and long-lasting violence, of very serious nature… the situations depicted are some of the most serious which the Ministry of Labor has come to know of in relation to modern slavery," the minutes said.

The testimonials included allegations of repeated outbreaks of malaria among workers, terrible accommodation conditions, debt systems, and discriminatory treatment between permanent workers in the headquarters and temporary farm workers.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/volkswagen-to-end-sales-of-combustion-engines-in-europe-by-2035-394125">Volkswagen to end sales of combustion engines in Europe by 2035</a>

A spokesperson for&nbsp;Volkswagen&nbsp;said the carmaker takes the described events at the farm very seriously but that it would not comment further on an ongoing legal investigation.

A second meeting between the carmaker and the working group at&nbsp;Brazil's Public Ministry of Labor was scheduled for Sept. 29.

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Volkswagen asked for more time to review reports alleging human rights violations tantamount to "modern slavery" on a farm it owned in Brazil between 1974-1986, according to minutes of an administrative hearing on the probe seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

Volkswagen asked for more time to review reports alleging human rights violations tantamount to "modern slavery" on a farm it owned in Brazil between 1974-1986, according to minutes of an administrative hearing on the probe seen by Reuters on Wednesday. Public prosecutors summoned Volkswagen to attend an administrative hearing in Brasilia on June 14 to review reports alleging the mistreatment of temporary workers at the farm in Brazil's Amazon region brought forward by the Ministry of Labor. Also read | We need to change e-car approach in China: Volkswagen CEO The minutes showed lawyers representing the carmaker said that the company needed more time to analyze the reports given this was the first meeting it was participating in on the matter, but that it was treating the case in a serious and committed manner. Ricardo Rezende, a priest and a professor at the Federal University in Rio de Janeiro, had first gathered testimonials from farm workers before submitting reports of mistreatment to prosecutors in 2019. Brazil's Ministry of Labor then independently investigated the claims, collecting its own testimonials from workers who are still alive, according to the minutes of the June 14 meeting. Watch | German carmaker Volkswagen to make fewer cars globally in 2022 amid global chip shortage "The stories are very strong, reporting situations of intense and long-lasting violence, of very serious nature… the situations depicted are some of the most serious which the Ministry of Labor has come to know of in relation to modern slavery," the minutes said. The testimonials included allegations of repeated outbreaks of malaria among workers, terrible accommodation conditions, debt systems, and discriminatory treatment between permanent workers in the headquarters and temporary farm workers. Also read | Volkswagen to end sales of combustion engines in Europe by 2035 A spokesperson for Volkswagen said the carmaker takes the described events at the farm very seriously but that it would not comment further on an ongoing legal investigation. A second meeting between the carmaker and the working group at Brazil's Public Ministry of Labor was scheduled for Sept. 29. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Volkswagen asks for more time in Brazil human rights probe

Downing Street has published a letter from Prime Minister Boris Johnson's former ethics adviser Lord Geidt who resigned suddenly on Wednesday (June 15). Notably, Christopher Geidt is the second official to quit the role in two years in an apparent protest against Johnson's actions. In his resignation letter to Johnson, Lord Geidt said that "this request has placed me in an impossible and odious position" and he can have "no part in this."&nbsp;

Without divulging details, he referred to a plan that risked breaking the government's ministerial code. Although he said an intention to breach the code to suit a political end would have made a "mockery" of the rules.&nbsp;

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Lord Geidt has arrived very late to the party, but his resignation letter concludes that ‘I can have no part in this.’ 
 
Millions of us reached the same conclusion long ago, so that’s what we should ALL be saying about Liar Johnson’s criminal regime. And acting on it. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LordGeidt?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LordGeidt</a> <a href="https://t.co/89fsaAb4wF">pic.twitter.com/89fsaAb4wF</a>
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Meanwhile, Downing Street also published Johnson's reply to Geidt's resignation letter. He said that he had sought Geidt's "advice on the national interest in protecting a crucial industry" through retaliatory trade tariffs. Geidt's role was to advise Johnson on matters relating to the ministerial code of conduct.&nbsp;

The United Kingdom PM and his government faced criticism for hosting alcohol-fuelled parties at No 10 when such gatherings were banned across the country due to coronavirus lockdown. After an investigation, some members of the government were slapped with fines.&nbsp;

It is understood that Geidt was not happy with the way the prime minister handled the Partygate scandal. A friend of Lord Geidt told the BBC they feel "deeply saddened that such an honourable and dedicated public servant has been put in a position where he feels forced to resign".&nbsp;

Johnson wrote, "My intention was to seek your advice on the national interest in protecting a crucial industry, which is protected in other European countries and would suffer material harm if we do not continue to apply such tariffs."&nbsp;

"In seeking your advice before any decision was taken, I was looking to ensure that we acted properly with due regard to the ministerial code," he added.&nbsp;

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Downing Street has published a letter from Prime Minister Boris Johnson's former ethics adviser Lord Geidt who resigned suddenly on Wednesday (June 15). Notably, Christopher Geidt is the second official to quit the role in two years in an apparent protest against Johnson's actions.

Downing Street has published a letter from Prime Minister Boris Johnson's former ethics adviser Lord Geidt who resigned suddenly on Wednesday (June 15). Notably, Christopher Geidt is the second official to quit the role in two years in an apparent protest against Johnson's actions. In his resignation letter to Johnson, Lord Geidt said that "this request has placed me in an impossible and odious position" and he can have "no part in this." Without divulging details, he referred to a plan that risked breaking the government's ministerial code. Although he said an intention to breach the code to suit a political end would have made a "mockery" of the rules. Lord Geidt has arrived very late to the party, but his resignation letter concludes that ‘I can have no part in this.’ Millions of us reached the same conclusion long ago, so that’s what we should ALL be saying about Liar Johnson’s criminal regime. And acting on it. #LordGeidt pic.twitter.com/89fsaAb4wF — Brexit Buster (@BrexitBuster) June 16, 2022 × Meanwhile, Downing Street also published Johnson's reply to Geidt's resignation letter. He said that he had sought Geidt's "advice on the national interest in protecting a crucial industry" through retaliatory trade tariffs. Geidt's role was to advise Johnson on matters relating to the ministerial code of conduct. The United Kingdom PM and his government faced criticism for hosting alcohol-fuelled parties at No 10 when such gatherings were banned across the country due to coronavirus lockdown. After an investigation, some members of the government were slapped with fines. It is understood that Geidt was not happy with the way the prime minister handled the Partygate scandal. A friend of Lord Geidt told the BBC they feel "deeply saddened that such an honourable and dedicated public servant has been put in a position where he feels forced to resign". Johnson wrote, "My intention was to seek your advice on the national interest in protecting a crucial industry, which is protected in other European countries and would suffer material harm if we do not continue to apply such tariffs." "In seeking your advice before any decision was taken, I was looking to ensure that we acted properly with due regard to the ministerial code," he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Lord Geidt: UK ethics adviser quit after being placed in 'impossible and odious position'

In a response to a crucial high-profile visit of European leaders to a war-damaged Ukrainian town of Irpin, Kremlin said on Thursday (June 16) that it hoped the leaders of France, Germany and Italy would discuss matters other than the supply of weapons to Ukraine.

In a response to a crucial high-profile visit of European leaders to a war-damaged Ukrainian town of Irpin, Kremlin said on Thursday (June 16) that it hoped the leaders of France, Germany and Italy would discuss matters other than the supply of weapons to Ukraine. While speaking with reporters in a call, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and Mario Draghi should use their time with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to take a "realistic look at the state of affairs". Kremlin also warned against new Western weapons supplies to Ukraine. Peskov said that such supplies would be "absolutely useless and will cause further damage to the country". Russia has said multiple times that high-precision weapons supplied by NATO nations have aggravated the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Meanwhile, Zelensky welcomed the leaders who arrived in Kyiv on a train to show support to the war-torn nation. German Chancellor said that Zelensky would take part in this month's Group of Seven summit being held June 26 to 28. While speaking to reporters at Kyiv train station, Macron said that he had a "message of European unity addressed to Ukrainian men and women." This particular visit plays a pivotal role at a time when several European countries are being blamed for not providing Ukraine with the scale of arms and weapons that Zelensky has been asking for. Italy will 'rebuild everything' ItalianPM said that he will "rebuild everything" after the leaders waked through the ruined buildings of the Ukrainian town of Irpin. "We will rebuild everything. They destroyed the kindergartens, they destroyed the children's gardens. Everything will be rebuilt. They have already started," Draghi said. "They know exactly where the sites that need to be rebuilt are. Each family has an app where they describe what happened, and they are already in a very advanced state," he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia-Ukraine war: Kremlin hopes European leaders will discuss more than just weapons during Kyiv visit

Toshiba, Sony and Samsung Electronics on Thursday lost their court fight against an EU cartel fine levied seven years ago for colluding in procurement tenders for optical disc drives.

The European Commission in 2015 fined five companies 116 million euros ($120.5 million), with the biggest fine of 41.3 million euros going to&nbsp;Toshiba&nbsp;Samsung Storage Technology, a joint venture of&nbsp;Toshiba&nbsp;and Samsung Electronics.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-union-court-annuls-qualcomms-billion-euro-antitrust-fine-488650">European Union court annuls Qualcomm's billion-euro antitrust fine</a>

Hitachi-LG Data Storage was fined 37 million euros. Other sanctioned companies were Sony, Sony Optiarc which is a joint venture between Sony and NEC, and Quanta Storage. Philips avoided a fine as it alerted the cartel to the European Union&nbsp;competition enforcer.

The Commission said the collusion concerned optical disk drives for laptops and desktops produced by Dell and Hewlett Packard.

The General Court in 2019 agreed with the Commission's finding of a cartel and threw out the companies' challenge.

Watch |&nbsp;'Want to reduce dependence on Russia,' European Union turns to Israel for gas supply

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Sony, Sony Optiarc,&nbsp;Toshiba&nbsp;Samsung Storage Technology and Quanta Storage subsequently appealed to the European Union Court of Justice (CJEU), Europe's highest.

The Luxembourg-based EU Court of Justice (CJEU), Europe's top court, backed the EU penalties.

"None of the elements relied on by the participants in the cartel, nor any ground of public policy, justifies it (CJEU)&nbsp;making use of its unlimited jurisdiction to reduce that amount," the CJEU said with regard to the fines.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sony-to-build-space-lasers-with-new-satellite-services-unit-484639">Sony to build space lasers with new satellite services unit</a>

Judges however partially annulled some of the EU competition enforcer's decision.

"The Commission failed to satisfy its obligation to state reasons by finding that, in addition to their participation in a single and continuous infringement, the undertakings concerned also participated in several separate infringements," they said.

($1 = 0.9626 euros)

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Toshiba, Sony and Samsung Electronics on Thursday lost their court fight against an EU cartel fine levied seven years ago for colluding in procurement tenders for optical disc drives.

Toshiba, Sony and Samsung Electronics on Thursday lost their court fight against an EU cartel fine levied seven years ago for colluding in procurement tenders for optical disc drives. The European Commission in 2015 fined five companies 116 million euros ($120.5 million), with the biggest fine of 41.3 million euros going to Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology, a joint venture of Toshiba and Samsung Electronics. Also read | European Union court annuls Qualcomm's billion-euro antitrust fine Hitachi-LG Data Storage was fined 37 million euros. Other sanctioned companies were Sony, Sony Optiarc which is a joint venture between Sony and NEC, and Quanta Storage. Philips avoided a fine as it alerted the cartel to the European Union competition enforcer. The Commission said the collusion concerned optical disk drives for laptops and desktops produced by Dell and Hewlett Packard. The General Court in 2019 agreed with the Commission's finding of a cartel and threw out the companies' challenge. Watch | 'Want to reduce dependence on Russia,' European Union turns to Israel for gas supply Sony, Sony Optiarc, Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology and Quanta Storage subsequently appealed to the European Union Court of Justice (CJEU), Europe's highest. The Luxembourg-based EU Court of Justice (CJEU), Europe's top court, backed the EU penalties. "None of the elements relied on by the participants in the cartel, nor any ground of public policy, justifies it (CJEU) making use of its unlimited jurisdiction to reduce that amount," the CJEU said with regard to the fines. Also read | Sony to build space lasers with new satellite services unit Judges however partially annulled some of the EU competition enforcer's decision. "The Commission failed to satisfy its obligation to state reasons by finding that, in addition to their participation in a single and continuous infringement, the undertakings concerned also participated in several separate infringements," they said. ($1 = 0.9626 euros) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Toshiba, Sony lose court fight against EU cartel fine

Russia, supported by Belarus, Central African Republic, Kyrgyzstan and Mali, has torpedoed a Western-backed proposal to discuss whether its diamonds are funding war ahead of an international conflict diamond meeting in Botswana, letters seen by Reuters show.

The rift in the Kimberley Process (KP), which certifies rough diamond exports, risks paralyzing the body which makes decisions by consensus.

The letters, which have not been previously reported, show a dispute over a proposal by Ukraine, the European Union, Australia, Britain, Canada, and the United States to discuss&nbsp;Russia's invasion of Ukraine and whether to broaden the KP's definition of conflict diamonds to include state actors at its June 20 - 24 meeting in Botswana.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-says-howitzers-among-other-nato-weapons-destroyed-in-western-ukraine-488535">Russia: Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny moved to 'strict-regime' penal colony</a>

The United States and Britain have already placed sanctions on&nbsp;Russia's Alrosa, the world's largest producer of rough diamonds, which accounted for around 30% of global output last year, and is partly state-owned.

A draft agenda dated May 20 included an hour-long slot to discuss the issue, but the item was removed after objections from&nbsp;Russia, Belarus, Central African Republic (CAR), Kyrgyzstan, and Mali. "We find ourselves at an impasse," Botswana's KP chair Jacob Thamage told participants, who include 85 nations, industry representatives, and civil society organisations in a June 9 letter urging them to find common ground.

The KP defines conflict diamonds as gems used to fund rebel movements seeking to undermine legitimate governments.

Officially labelling&nbsp;Russian diamonds "conflict diamonds" would require widening the definition. The KP Civil Society Coalition has been calling&nbsp;for such a change for years, along with some KP member countries.

The certification scheme, designed to eliminate the trade in so-called "blood diamonds", was set up in 2003 in the wake of devastating civil wars in Angola, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, which were largely financed by the illicit diamond trade.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Ukraine-Russia conflict: EU leaders take night train to Kyiv

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Russia's KP delegate said in a May 20 letter that the situation in Ukraine has "no implications" for the Kimberley Process and is "absolutely beyond the scope" of its certification scheme. Belarus, CAR, Kyrgyzstan and Mali all similarly argued that the proposal was "political" or outside the scope of the KP, and that its inclusion on the agenda was inappropriate.

All four countries have backed&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;in recent United Nations General Assembly votes. War-torn CAR is the only country in the world currently under a partial KP embargo for rough diamond exports.&nbsp;Russia, with which it has close trade and security ties, has worked to lift those restrictions.

Mali also has close ties with&nbsp;Russia. Hundreds of&nbsp;Russian military contractors have deployed there since the beginning of this year to help the government fight insurgents.

"If the Kimberley Process is to be a credible guarantor that diamonds exported with a KP certificate are actually conflict-free, it cannot refuse to consider the valid questions that have been raised about whether rough diamonds exported by&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;are financing its invasion of Ukraine," Canada's Ioanna Sahas Martin wrote to the KP chair earlier this month.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-says-howitzers-among-other-nato-weapons-destroyed-in-western-ukraine-488535">Russia says howitzers among other NATO weapons destroyed in western Ukraine</a>

In a letter to the chair on Monday, Ukraine KP representative Andrii Tkalenko proposed two amendments to the certification scheme: To widen the definition to include government actors, and to allow KP countries, by a majority vote, to expel a country that infringes on another KP member's sovereignty.

Britain, the European Union and the United States also said&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;should step down from the KP committees it currently chairs.

&nbsp;"Inaction would undermine the credibility and integrity of the Kimberley Process not only as a conflict prevention mechanism but also as a trade regulation mechanism," the European Commission's Marika Lautso-Mousnier said in a letter

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Russia, supported by Belarus, Central African Republic, Kyrgyzstan and Mali, has torpedoed a Western-backed proposal to discuss whether its diamonds are funding war ahead of an international conflict diamond meeting in Botswana, letters seen by Reuters show.

Russia, supported by Belarus, Central African Republic, Kyrgyzstan and Mali, has torpedoed a Western-backed proposal to discuss whether its diamonds are funding war ahead of an international conflict diamond meeting in Botswana, letters seen by Reuters show. The rift in the Kimberley Process (KP), which certifies rough diamond exports, risks paralyzing the body which makes decisions by consensus. The letters, which have not been previously reported, show a dispute over a proposal by Ukraine, the European Union, Australia, Britain, Canada, and the United States to discuss Russia's invasion of Ukraine and whether to broaden the KP's definition of conflict diamonds to include state actors at its June 20 - 24 meeting in Botswana. Also read | Russia: Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny moved to 'strict-regime' penal colony The United States and Britain have already placed sanctions on Russia's Alrosa, the world's largest producer of rough diamonds, which accounted for around 30% of global output last year, and is partly state-owned. A draft agenda dated May 20 included an hour-long slot to discuss the issue, but the item was removed after objections from Russia, Belarus, Central African Republic (CAR), Kyrgyzstan, and Mali. "We find ourselves at an impasse," Botswana's KP chair Jacob Thamage told participants, who include 85 nations, industry representatives, and civil society organisations in a June 9 letter urging them to find common ground. The KP defines conflict diamonds as gems used to fund rebel movements seeking to undermine legitimate governments. Officially labelling Russian diamonds "conflict diamonds" would require widening the definition. The KP Civil Society Coalition has been calling for such a change for years, along with some KP member countries. The certification scheme, designed to eliminate the trade in so-called "blood diamonds", was set up in 2003 in the wake of devastating civil wars in Angola, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, which were largely financed by the illicit diamond trade. Watch | Ukraine-Russia conflict: EU leaders take night train to Kyiv Russia's KP delegate said in a May 20 letter that the situation in Ukraine has "no implications" for the Kimberley Process and is "absolutely beyond the scope" of its certification scheme. Belarus, CAR, Kyrgyzstan and Mali all similarly argued that the proposal was "political" or outside the scope of the KP, and that its inclusion on the agenda was inappropriate. All four countries have backed Russia in recent United Nations General Assembly votes. War-torn CAR is the only country in the world currently under a partial KP embargo for rough diamond exports. Russia, with which it has close trade and security ties, has worked to lift those restrictions. Mali also has close ties with Russia. Hundreds of Russian military contractors have deployed there since the beginning of this year to help the government fight insurgents. "If the Kimberley Process is to be a credible guarantor that diamonds exported with a KP certificate are actually conflict-free, it cannot refuse to consider the valid questions that have been raised about whether rough diamonds exported by Russia are financing its invasion of Ukraine," Canada's Ioanna Sahas Martin wrote to the KP chair earlier this month. Also read | Russia says howitzers among other NATO weapons destroyed in western Ukraine In a letter to the chair on Monday, Ukraine KP representative Andrii Tkalenko proposed two amendments to the certification scheme: To widen the definition to include government actors, and to allow KP countries, by a majority vote, to expel a country that infringes on another KP member's sovereignty. Britain, the European Union and the United States also said Russia should step down from the KP committees it currently chairs. "Inaction would undermine the credibility and integrity of the Kimberley Process not only as a conflict prevention mechanism but also as a trade regulation mechanism," the European Commission's Marika Lautso-Mousnier said in a letter WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Top producer Russia thwarts move to redefine 'conflict diamonds'

YouTube on Wednesday said that more than 1.5 billion people monthly tune into its Shorts video service, which competes with global sensation TikTok.

Alphabet-owned YouTube and Facebook-parent Meta both added short-form video sharing formats to their services after TikTok which late last year said it topped a billion users became the rage.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/tiktok-video-of-canadian-woman-reuniting-with-her-40-year-old-skates-goes-viral-486972">Tiktok video of Canadian woman reuniting with her 40-year-old skates goes viral</a>

YouTube Shorts went live less than two years ago, adding videos of no longer than 60 seconds to the mix of offerings on the platform.

"Shorts has really taken off and are now being watched by over 1.5 billion logged-in users every month," said YouTube chief product officer Neal Mohan.

"We know the product will continue to be an integral part of the YouTube experience moving forward."

YouTube last year launched a $100 million fund to "reward creators" whose video clips attract audiences to the online stage.

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YouTube has also put the Silicon Valley tech titan's advertising skills to work helping creators generate income from content on the platform, which brought in billions of dollars in revenue in 2021.

Creators are taking advantage of podcasting, shorts, and live streaming at YouTube in a "multi-platform approach," said vice president of the Americas Tara Walpert Levy.

"This approach is yielding real results; channels uploading both short and long-form content are seeing better overall watch time and subscriber growth than those uploading only one format," Levy said.

She billed YouTube as a one-stop shop for people to "flex their creative muscles."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/cybercriminals-stream-fake-elon-musk-videos-on-youtube-to-promote-bogus-cryptocurrency-giveaways-486913">Cybercriminals stream fake Elon Musk videos on YouTube to promote bogus cryptocurrency giveaways</a>

TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, early this year began letting users upload slightly longer videos, raising the maximum length to 10 minutes from 3 minutes.

YouTube, Meta, and TikTok compete to be the platform of preference from popular online personalities with revenue making features such as subscriptions or shares in ad revenue.

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YouTube on Wednesday said that more than 1.5 billion people monthly tune into its Shorts video service, which competes with global sensation TikTok. Alphabet-owned YouTube and Facebook-parent Meta both added short-form video sharing formats to their services after TikTok which late last year said it topped a billion users became the rage.

YouTube on Wednesday said that more than 1.5 billion people monthly tune into its Shorts video service, which competes with global sensation TikTok. Alphabet-owned YouTube and Facebook-parent Meta both added short-form video sharing formats to their services after TikTok which late last year said it topped a billion users became the rage. Also read | Tiktok video of Canadian woman reuniting with her 40-year-old skates goes viral YouTube Shorts went live less than two years ago, adding videos of no longer than 60 seconds to the mix of offerings on the platform. "Shorts has really taken off and are now being watched by over 1.5 billion logged-in users every month," said YouTube chief product officer Neal Mohan. "We know the product will continue to be an integral part of the YouTube experience moving forward." YouTube last year launched a $100 million fund to "reward creators" whose video clips attract audiences to the online stage. Watch | Pakistani TikTok star faces backlash for posing next to forest fire YouTube has also put the Silicon Valley tech titan's advertising skills to work helping creators generate income from content on the platform, which brought in billions of dollars in revenue in 2021. Creators are taking advantage of podcasting, shorts, and live streaming at YouTube in a "multi-platform approach," said vice president of the Americas Tara Walpert Levy. "This approach is yielding real results; channels uploading both short and long-form content are seeing better overall watch time and subscriber growth than those uploading only one format," Levy said. She billed YouTube as a one-stop shop for people to "flex their creative muscles." Also read | Cybercriminals stream fake Elon Musk videos on YouTube to promote bogus cryptocurrency giveaways TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, early this year began letting users upload slightly longer videos, raising the maximum length to 10 minutes from 3 minutes. YouTube, Meta, and TikTok compete to be the platform of preference from popular online personalities with revenue making features such as subscriptions or shares in ad revenue. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

YouTube Shorts touts 1.5 billion users, taking on TikTok

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi left Poland on Thursday (June 16) on board a train bound for Kyiv. In a show of support, the leaders walked amid the ruined buildings of the Ukrainian town of Irpin. Notably, it is the first time that the leaders of the three European Union countries have visited Kyiv since Russia announced the invasion of Ukraine on February 24.&nbsp;

During the visit to war-damaged Irpin, Macron praised Ukrainian "heroism" against Moscow's invasion. "It's here, among other places, that the Ukrainians stopped the Russian army descending onto Kyiv," the French leader said.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japanese-airline-ditches-pro-russia-logo-letter-z-associated-with-russias-invasion-of-ukraine-488744">Japanese airline ditches pro-Russia logo, letter 'Z' associated with Russia's invasion of Ukraine</a>&nbsp;

"It represents the heroism of the army, but also of the Ukrainian population. And alongside that, you have traces of barbarism," he further said, adding that Ukraine must "resist and win".&nbsp;

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Scholz said that they want to ensure Ukraine gets military, financial and humanitarian aid "for as long as necessary".&nbsp;

The leaders are due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Amid the crucial visit, the Kyiv government hopes will be followed by concrete action to help it in the war with Russia.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-and-egypt-sign-mou-with-eu-to-boost-gas-exports-to-europe-488729">Israel and Egypt sign MoU with EU to boost gas exports to Europe</a>&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Signs of war crimes&nbsp;

While speaking in the town of Irpin, Macron said that there are signs of war crimes in a Kyiv suburb following "massacres" by Russian forces. The French president also denounced the "barbarism" of the attacks that devastated the town.&nbsp;

The visit is extremely crucial as it comes when EU leaders prepare to make a decision on June 23-24 on Ukraine's request to become a candidate for EU membership.&nbsp;

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French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi left Poland on Thursday (June 16) on board a train bound for Kyiv.

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi left Poland on Thursday (June 16) on board a train bound for Kyiv. In a show of support, the leaders walked amid the ruined buildings of the Ukrainian town of Irpin. Notably, it is the first time that the leaders of the three European Union countries have visited Kyiv since Russia announced the invasion of Ukraine on February 24. During the visit to war-damaged Irpin, Macron praised Ukrainian "heroism" against Moscow's invasion. "It's here, among other places, that the Ukrainians stopped the Russian army descending onto Kyiv," the French leader said. ALSO READ | Japanese airline ditches pro-Russia logo, letter 'Z' associated with Russia's invasion of Ukraine "It represents the heroism of the army, but also of the Ukrainian population. And alongside that, you have traces of barbarism," he further said, adding that Ukraine must "resist and win". Meanwhile, German Chancellor Scholz said that they want to ensure Ukraine gets military, financial and humanitarian aid "for as long as necessary". The leaders are due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Amid the crucial visit, the Kyiv government hopes will be followed by concrete action to help it in the war with Russia. ALSO READ | Israel and Egypt sign MoU with EU to boost gas exports to Europe Signs of war crimes While speaking in the town of Irpin, Macron said that there are signs of war crimes in a Kyiv suburb following "massacres" by Russian forces. The French president also denounced the "barbarism" of the attacks that devastated the town. The visit is extremely crucial as it comes when EU leaders prepare to make a decision on June 23-24 on Ukraine's request to become a candidate for EU membership. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

To show support, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Mario Draghi visit war-damaged Irpin in Ukraine

Hong Kong’s famed Jumbo Floating Restaurant was towed away on June 14 after the operators said the business was suffering losses since 2013. People gathered to bid final goodbye to the buoyant behemoth which had opened up in 1976.

Hong Kong’s floating restaurant, popular tourist attraction, towed away

Media outlets in the United Kingdom reported that four Metropolitan police officers are being probed for misconduct after a 15-year-old black schoolgirl was strip-searched while at school. The teenager is being referred to as Child Q. Reports added that the girl was strip-searched by female Met officers in 2020. The girl was apparently wrongly suspected of carrying cannabis at her east London school. At the time of the search, no adult was present there and also her parents were not informed. She was strip-searched when she was menstruating.&nbsp;

The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC), a police watchdog in the UK stated that it a voluntary referral from the Met was received on May 6, 2021. As per IOPC, the investigation was started five days later.&nbsp;

As quoted by BBC, a spokesperson said: "We can confirm that four Metropolitan Police Service officers have been served with gross misconduct notices by us in connection with our ongoing investigation into complaints that Child Q was inappropriately strip-searched.&nbsp;

"As with all of our investigations we continually review the evidence and lines of inquiry as the investigation progresses. As a part of this, matters were identified which required new notices of investigation to be served on officers," the spokesperson added.&nbsp;

As per the police watchdog, the officers were being investigated for "potential breaches of the police standards of professional behaviour at the level of gross misconduct, which does not necessarily mean that disciplinary proceedings will follow."&nbsp;

IOPC also said that they are considering whether or not the girl's ethnicity "played a part in the officers' decision" to strip-search her.

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Media outlets in the United Kingdom reported that four Metropolitan police officers are being probed for misconduct after a 15-year-old black schoolgirl was strip-searched while at school.

Media outlets in the United Kingdom reported that four Metropolitan police officers are being probed for misconduct after a 15-year-old black schoolgirl was strip-searched while at school. The teenager is being referred to as Child Q. Reports added that the girl was strip-searched by female Met officers in 2020. The girl was apparently wrongly suspected of carrying cannabis at her east London school. At the time of the search, no adult was present there and also her parents were not informed. She was strip-searched when she was menstruating. The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC), a police watchdog in the UK stated that it a voluntary referral from the Met was received on May 6, 2021. As per IOPC, the investigation was started five days later. As quoted by BBC, a spokesperson said: "We can confirm that four Metropolitan Police Service officers have been served with gross misconduct notices by us in connection with our ongoing investigation into complaints that Child Q was inappropriately strip-searched. "As with all of our investigations we continually review the evidence and lines of inquiry as the investigation progresses. As a part of this, matters were identified which required new notices of investigation to be served on officers," the spokesperson added. As per the police watchdog, the officers were being investigated for "potential breaches of the police standards of professional behaviour at the level of gross misconduct, which does not necessarily mean that disciplinary proceedings will follow." IOPC also said that they are considering whether or not the girl's ethnicity "played a part in the officers' decision" to strip-search her. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

In UK, four Met Police officers facing gross misconduct case, being probed over strip-searching a teen

Swiss&nbsp;airspace reopened Wednesday morning after a computer glitch grounded flights across the country for several hours, officials said.

"Swiss&nbsp;airspace is now open again," the Alpine nation's air traffic control service Skyguide said on Twitter, adding "the technical malfunction at Skyguide has been resolved".

It did not say what had caused the problem that shut&nbsp;Swiss&nbsp;airspace for hours Wednesday morning, but said that "air traffic over Switzerland and operations at the national airports of Geneva and Zurich are resuming".

Those airports too announced that flights had begun taking off.

"Good news! Air traffic has gradually resumed since 8:30 am (0630 GMT)," Geneva airport said in a tweet, warning that a number of flights had been cancelled and urging passengers to check with their airlines.

Zurich airport also said flight operations were "running again" at full capacity by 10:00 am (0800 GMT).

But it warned that "delays are to be expected today. We still recommend passengers to check with their airline about the status of their flight."

'Vacation could fall through'

At Geneva airport, where the first morning flights were delayed by more than three hours, dozens of travellers crowded around the information screens, with phones stuck to their ears.

Airport spokesman Ignace Jeannerat told AFP that around 2,000 people had seen their flights affected, adding that while flights were resuming, there would not be a return to normal before early Thursday.

"We are trying to find a solution," Sandrine Vert, 52, told AFP, after her family's easyJet flight to Split in Croatia was cancelled.

She, her husband and teenage daughter, who drove to the airport from Annecy in France, had been told there were now no flights from Geneva to Split until Friday, putting their one-week holiday plans on the line.

"Our vacation could fall through," she said.

The chaos erupted when Skyguide announced it had "experienced a technical malfunction in the early hours of this morning, which is why&nbsp;Swiss&nbsp;airspace has been closed to traffic for safety reasons".

It said it regretted "this incident and its consequences for its customers, partners and passengers."

The closure blocked all overflight of the country, and forced a number of flights to be rerouted to airports in neighbouring countries.

The&nbsp;Swiss&nbsp;news agency ATS said some international flights to Switzerland had been re-routed to Milan in northern Italy.

Zurich airport's website meanwhile showed that a United Airlines flight from New York had been rerouted to Frankfurt in western Germany, while a Singapore Airlines flight from the city state had been sent to the southern German city of Munich.&nbsp;

Zurich is Switzerland's largest airport, with more than 10.2 million passengers going through its terminals in 2021.

But with Covid restrictions lifted, air traffic has picked up significantly since then, with 1.9 million passengers registered there in May alone. For this summer season, it is serving flights to 191 destinations.

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Swiss airspace reopened Wednesday morning after a computer glitch grounded flights across the country for several hours, officials said. "Swiss airspace is now open again," the Alpine nation's air traffic control service Skyguide said on Twitter, adding "the technical malfunction at Skyguide has been resolved".

Swiss airspace reopened Wednesday morning after a computer glitch grounded flights across the country for several hours, officials said. "Swiss airspace is now open again," the Alpine nation's air traffic control service Skyguide said on Twitter, adding "the technical malfunction at Skyguide has been resolved". It did not say what had caused the problem that shut Swiss airspace for hours Wednesday morning, but said that "air traffic over Switzerland and operations at the national airports of Geneva and Zurich are resuming". Those airports too announced that flights had begun taking off. "Good news! Air traffic has gradually resumed since 8:30 am (0630 GMT)," Geneva airport said in a tweet, warning that a number of flights had been cancelled and urging passengers to check with their airlines. Zurich airport also said flight operations were "running again" at full capacity by 10:00 am (0800 GMT). But it warned that "delays are to be expected today. We still recommend passengers to check with their airline about the status of their flight." 'Vacation could fall through' At Geneva airport, where the first morning flights were delayed by more than three hours, dozens of travellers crowded around the information screens, with phones stuck to their ears. Airport spokesman Ignace Jeannerat told AFP that around 2,000 people had seen their flights affected, adding that while flights were resuming, there would not be a return to normal before early Thursday. "We are trying to find a solution," Sandrine Vert, 52, told AFP, after her family's easyJet flight to Split in Croatia was cancelled. She, her husband and teenage daughter, who drove to the airport from Annecy in France, had been told there were now no flights from Geneva to Split until Friday, putting their one-week holiday plans on the line. "Our vacation could fall through," she said. The chaos erupted when Skyguide announced it had "experienced a technical malfunction in the early hours of this morning, which is why Swiss airspace has been closed to traffic for safety reasons". It said it regretted "this incident and its consequences for its customers, partners and passengers." The closure blocked all overflight of the country, and forced a number of flights to be rerouted to airports in neighbouring countries. The Swiss news agency ATS said some international flights to Switzerland had been re-routed to Milan in northern Italy. Zurich airport's website meanwhile showed that a United Airlines flight from New York had been rerouted to Frankfurt in western Germany, while a Singapore Airlines flight from the city state had been sent to the southern German city of Munich. Zurich is Switzerland's largest airport, with more than 10.2 million passengers going through its terminals in 2021. But with Covid restrictions lifted, air traffic has picked up significantly since then, with 1.9 million passengers registered there in May alone. For this summer season, it is serving flights to 191 destinations. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Flights resume after computer glitch shuts Swiss airspace

Taiwan&nbsp;on Wednesday demanded organisers of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar correct an official fan identification card which labels its citizens as Chinese, and urged that politics be kept out of sports.

The "Hayya" fan ID card acts as a visa to enter the country and a pass to access stadiums.

But neither&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;or "Chinese Taipei" -- the name used for the island in international sports events -- are listed on the online portal as options.&nbsp;

China claims self-ruled, democratic&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;as part of its territory, a stance Taipei firmly rejects.

The island lives under the constant threat of invasion by China, which Beijing has vowed to retake one day, by force if necessary.&nbsp;

Taiwan's foreign ministry said it has demanded that organisers in Qatar correct its "unfriendly" and "improper" measures against Taiwanese fans, said spokeswoman Joanne Ou in a statement.&nbsp;

"We again urge the World Cup organisers not to allow improper political factors to interfere in a pure sports event ... to let sports be sports and return a clean World Cup to global fans," she said.&nbsp;

The issue of&nbsp;Taiwan's name has cropped up in nearly every major global sporting event, as authoritarian China baulks against even the merest signal of the island's sovereignty.&nbsp;

The sporting world's use of the name "Chinese Taipei" is based on a 1981 compromise made with the International Olympic Committee to allow&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;to compete on the international stage.&nbsp;

Hayya programme chief Saeed al-Kuwari told reporters he "believed" the card system would list China for the nationality of Taiwanese passport holders.&nbsp;

He said fans should follow the country designation provided when the application reads the fan's passport, rather than try to select a nationality.&nbsp;

Organisers have insisted that all nationalities will be welcomed to the tournament.

Qatar is expecting more than one million fans to visit during the World Cup, which runs from November 21 to December 18, and all must register for the ID card.&nbsp;

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Taiwan on Wednesday demanded organisers of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar correct an official fan identification card which labels its citizens as Chinese, and urged that politics be kept out of sports.

Taiwan on Wednesday demanded organisers of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar correct an official fan identification card which labels its citizens as Chinese, and urged that politics be kept out of sports. The "Hayya" fan ID card acts as a visa to enter the country and a pass to access stadiums. But neither Taiwan or "Chinese Taipei" -- the name used for the island in international sports events -- are listed on the online portal as options. China claims self-ruled, democratic Taiwan as part of its territory, a stance Taipei firmly rejects. The island lives under the constant threat of invasion by China, which Beijing has vowed to retake one day, by force if necessary. Taiwan's foreign ministry said it has demanded that organisers in Qatar correct its "unfriendly" and "improper" measures against Taiwanese fans, said spokeswoman Joanne Ou in a statement. "We again urge the World Cup organisers not to allow improper political factors to interfere in a pure sports event ... to let sports be sports and return a clean World Cup to global fans," she said. The issue of Taiwan's name has cropped up in nearly every major global sporting event, as authoritarian China baulks against even the merest signal of the island's sovereignty. The sporting world's use of the name "Chinese Taipei" is based on a 1981 compromise made with the International Olympic Committee to allow Taiwan to compete on the international stage. Hayya programme chief Saeed al-Kuwari told reporters he "believed" the card system would list China for the nationality of Taiwanese passport holders. He said fans should follow the country designation provided when the application reads the fan's passport, rather than try to select a nationality. Organisers have insisted that all nationalities will be welcomed to the tournament. Qatar is expecting more than one million fans to visit during the World Cup, which runs from November 21 to December 18, and all must register for the ID card. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Taiwan slams Qatar World Cup over 'unfriendly' fan labelling

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