<p>The United States and European Union on Wednesday (June 7) told Kosovo to back down amid its standoff with ethnic Serbs or face "consequences". The tension with ethnic Serbs has flared up in northern parts of Kosovo.</p>

<p>The warning came as envoys of US and the EU concluded visits to Kosovo and Serbia. The envoys had visited to calm tensions that flared into violence last week. The clashes also wounded dozens of NATO peace-keeping soldiers.</p>

<p>The violence started when Kosovo authorities installed ethnic Albanian mayors who were elected to their offices in elections that saw less than five per cent of voters come out to vote. The election was boycotted by ethnic Serbs who are in majority in northern Kosovan cities. Ethnic Serbs did not consider the mayors to be their representatives.</p>

<p>Gabriel Escobar, the US envoy to the Western Balkans, said that Kosovo must give more autonomy to Serb-majority municipalities if it wants to go in the direction of joining the EU and NATO.</p>

<p>"The actions taken or not taken could have some consequences that will affect parts of the relationship (between Kosovo and the United States), I don't want to get there," Escobar told Kosovo media on Tuesday before going to Belgrade.</p>

<p>Escobar, along with EU's Miroslav Lajcak did not reveal details of what will these consequences be or what's in store for Kosovo PM Albin Kurti's ethnic Albanian-dominated government.</p>

<p>"I don't think that these things are resolved with pressure and by mentioning consequences and even sanctions," Kurti told reporters on Wednesday.</p>

<p>"We have challenges with EU and U.S. envoys but our bilateral relations with the EU and U.S. are excellent."</p>

<p>Lajcak said on Monday that the envoys presented proposals to Kurti to de-escalate the situation in northern Kosovo, adding they had a "long, honest, difficult discussion".</p>

<h2><strong>Fresh elections?</strong></h2>

<p>The EU and the US have called on Kosovan PM to recall mayors from their offices and also to pull out special police unit that helped to install them. They have also stressed on calling fresh elections with Serb participation. The US and the EU have also appealed Kosovo to implement an agreement struck in 2013 that paved way for formation of association of Serb municipalities so that the community can get more autonomy.</p>

<p>Kosovo broke away from Serbia in 2008. Western countries like the US have been staunch&nbsp;backers of Kosovo's independence. Kosovo does not have recognition from all countries in the world. It does not till now, have a seat at the United Nations.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The United States and European Union on Wednesday (June 7) told Kosovo to back down amid its standoff with ethnic Serbs or face "consequences". The tension with ethnic Serbs has flared up in northern parts of Kosovo.

The United States and European Union on Wednesday (June 7) told Kosovo to back down amid its standoff with ethnic Serbs or face "consequences". The tension with ethnic Serbs has flared up in northern parts of Kosovo. The warning came as envoys of US and the EU concluded visits to Kosovo and Serbia. The envoys had visited to calm tensions that flared into violence last week. The clashes also wounded dozens of NATO peace-keeping soldiers. The violence started when Kosovo authorities installed ethnic Albanian mayors who were elected to their offices in elections that saw less than five per cent of voters come out to vote. The election was boycotted by ethnic Serbs who are in majority in northern Kosovan cities. Ethnic Serbs did not consider the mayors to be their representatives. Gabriel Escobar, the US envoy to the Western Balkans, said that Kosovo must give more autonomy to Serb-majority municipalities if it wants to go in the direction of joining the EU and NATO. "The actions taken or not taken could have some consequences that will affect parts of the relationship (between Kosovo and the United States), I don't want to get there," Escobar told Kosovo media on Tuesday before going to Belgrade. Escobar, along with EU's Miroslav Lajcak did not reveal details of what will these consequences be or what's in store for Kosovo PM Albin Kurti's ethnic Albanian-dominated government. "I don't think that these things are resolved with pressure and by mentioning consequences and even sanctions," Kurti told reporters on Wednesday. "We have challenges with EU and U.S. envoys but our bilateral relations with the EU and U.S. are excellent." Lajcak said on Monday that the envoys presented proposals to Kurti to de-escalate the situation in northern Kosovo, adding they had a "long, honest, difficult discussion". Fresh elections? The EU and the US have called on Kosovan PM to recall mayors from their offices and also to pull out special police unit that helped to install them. They have also stressed on calling fresh elections with Serb participation. The US and the EU have also appealed Kosovo to implement an agreement struck in 2013 that paved way for formation of association of Serb municipalities so that the community can get more autonomy. Kosovo broke away from Serbia in 2008. Western countries like the US have been staunch backers of Kosovo's independence. Kosovo does not have recognition from all countries in the world. It does not till now, have a seat at the United Nations. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Back down or face 'consequences', US and EU tell Kosovo authorities

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms - A crocodile made herself pregnant in a rare case of 'Virgin Birth', Explained | How Air India's diverted flight to Russia landed amid row between Moscow, Canada wildfires smoke covers US skies.

Rare case of 'Virgin Birth' | Canada wildfires smoke covers US skies

<p>The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) said on Thursday it was suspending food aid to Ethiopia because its donations were being diverted from people in need.</p>

<p>A spokesperson said in a statement that USAID had determined, in coordination with the Ethiopian government, that a "widespread and coordinated campaign is diverting food assistance from the people of Ethiopia".</p>

<p>The statement did not say who was behind the campaign.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ai-nuclear-weapon-of-software-wion-speaks-to-deepai-founder-kevin-baragona-602187">AI 'nuclear weapon of software': WION speaks to DeepAI founder Kevin Baragona</a></p>

<p>The United States is by far the largest humanitarian donor to Ethiopia, where more than 20 million people need food aid, most of them due to drought and a recently-concluded war in the northern Tigray region.</p>

<p>According to an internal briefing by a group of foreign donors to Ethiopia seen by Reuters, USAID believes the food has been diverted to Ethiopian military units.</p>

<p>"The scheme appears to be orchestrated by federal and regional government entities, with military units across the country benefiting from humanitarian assistance," said the document from the Humanitarian and Resilience Donor Group (HRDG), which includes USAID.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-anti-gay-protests-in-los-angeles-after-school-votes-on-recognizing-june-as-pride-month-602146">Anti-gay protests in Los Angeles after school votes on recognizing June as Pride month</a></p>

<p>Spokespeople for the Ethiopian government and military did not immediately respond to requests for comment. USAID declined to comment on the report.</p>

<p>U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the issue on Thursday with Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen on the margins of a conference in Saudi Arabia.</p>

<p>The State Department said afterwards that Blinken welcomed a commitment by Ethiopia's government to work with the United States to conduct a full investigation.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | CNN Chairman and CEO Chris Licht quits</strong></p>

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<p>The USAID spokesperson said the agency intended to resume food assistance as soon as it was confident in the integrity of the system.</p>

<p>USAID and the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) had already suspended food aid to the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray last month in response to information that large amounts of aid there were being diverted.</p>

<p>A two-year war in Tigray between the federal government and forces led by the region's dominant political party ended in a truce in November after killing tens of thousands of people and creating famine-like conditions for hundreds of thousands.</p>

<p>In the 2022 fiscal year, USAID disbursed nearly $1.5 billion in humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia, most of it food aid.</p>

<p>The HRDG briefing document, which was circulated among donors on Wednesday, recommended that Ethiopia's government allow donors to deliver aid through "alternative modalities" like cash transfers.</p>

<p>It also urged donors to call on Ethiopia's government to make a public statement condemning the diversion and demanding that aid workers not be harassed.</p>

<p>Ethiopia's food crisis has deepened in recent years as a result of the war in Tigray and the Horn of Africa's worst drought in decades.</p>

<p>WFP is also investigating "systemic" food diversion across Ethiopia, according to an email sent last week by the agency's deputy director to staff in Ethiopia.</p>

<p>A WFP spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.</p>

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The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) said on Thursday it was suspending food aid to Ethiopia because its donations were being diverted from people in need.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) said on Thursday it was suspending food aid to Ethiopia because its donations were being diverted from people in need. A spokesperson said in a statement that USAID had determined, in coordination with the Ethiopian government, that a "widespread and coordinated campaign is diverting food assistance from the people of Ethiopia". The statement did not say who was behind the campaign. Also Read | AI 'nuclear weapon of software': WION speaks to DeepAI founder Kevin Baragona The United States is by far the largest humanitarian donor to Ethiopia, where more than 20 million people need food aid, most of them due to drought and a recently-concluded war in the northern Tigray region. According to an internal briefing by a group of foreign donors to Ethiopia seen by Reuters, USAID believes the food has been diverted to Ethiopian military units. "The scheme appears to be orchestrated by federal and regional government entities, with military units across the country benefiting from humanitarian assistance," said the document from the Humanitarian and Resilience Donor Group (HRDG), which includes USAID. Also Read | Anti-gay protests in Los Angeles after school votes on recognizing June as Pride month Spokespeople for the Ethiopian government and military did not immediately respond to requests for comment. USAID declined to comment on the report. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the issue on Thursday with Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen on the margins of a conference in Saudi Arabia. The State Department said afterwards that Blinken welcomed a commitment by Ethiopia's government to work with the United States to conduct a full investigation. Watch | CNN Chairman and CEO Chris Licht quits × The USAID spokesperson said the agency intended to resume food assistance as soon as it was confident in the integrity of the system. USAID and the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) had already suspended food aid to the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray last month in response to information that large amounts of aid there were being diverted. A two-year war in Tigray between the federal government and forces led by the region's dominant political party ended in a truce in November after killing tens of thousands of people and creating famine-like conditions for hundreds of thousands. In the 2022 fiscal year, USAID disbursed nearly $1.5 billion in humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia, most of it food aid. The HRDG briefing document, which was circulated among donors on Wednesday, recommended that Ethiopia's government allow donors to deliver aid through "alternative modalities" like cash transfers. It also urged donors to call on Ethiopia's government to make a public statement condemning the diversion and demanding that aid workers not be harassed. Ethiopia's food crisis has deepened in recent years as a result of the war in Tigray and the Horn of Africa's worst drought in decades. WFP is also investigating "systemic" food diversion across Ethiopia, according to an email sent last week by the agency's deputy director to staff in Ethiopia. A WFP spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 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. ×

US suspends food aid to Ethiopia, says it's not reaching needy

The skies above New York City and many other North American cities grew progressively hazier, with an eerie orangish tinge filtering through the smoky canopy from Canada wildfires.

New York City blanketed in eerie veil of smoke from Canada wildfires

Let’s focus on Nigeria's currency woes as the Naira takes a sharp dive, reaching a record low against the US Dollar. with heavy demand for US Dollars, the central bank recently auctioned dollars at a significantly weaker exchange rate, raising concerns about a potential devaluation as a result, the naira hit a record low, creating a ripple effect across the economy.

Nigeria's Naira hits record low

The US may frequently seem interested in meddling with the affairs of other nations. They want to keep an eye on their allies and foes. In a recent move, the US. Space Force plans to launch a group of spy satellites called 'Silent Barker'. These satellites will monitor space vehicles from China or Russia.

What is Silent Barker? How the US plans to use it to counter Russia, China threats

Microsoft will pay 20 million dollars to settle charges by the US Trade Commission that it illegally collected personal data from children without parents consent the U.S Federal Trade Commission said that the company violated the US children's online privacy protection act by collecting personal information from children who signed up to its Xbox gaming system without notifying their parents or obtaining their parents consent and by retaining children's personal information US Law requires online services and websites directed towards children under 13 to notify their parents about collecting and using personal information.

Child privacy violation costs Microsoft $20 million

<p>United States Vice President Kamala Harris, on Tuesday (June 6) called for “an independent judiciary,” in Israel, while speaking about the contentious proposed judicial overhaul which has led to weeks of mass protests across the country.&nbsp;The next day, the comments prompted criticism from the&nbsp;Israeli foreign minister who said that “she may not be able to cite even one clause that bothers her” about the judicial reform.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Israel needs ‘an independent judiciary’: US VP</strong></h2>

<p>Harris’ comments were made at a reception celebrating the 75th anniversary of Israel’s founding which was hosted by the Israeli Embassy in Washington.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US VP said, “America will continue to stand for the values that have been the bedrock of the US-Israel relationship, which includes continuing to strengthen our democracies, which as the (Israeli) ambassador has said, are both built on strong institutions, checks and balances.”</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israels-netanyahu-meets-sunak-at-downing-street-amid-protests-uk-pm-stresses-democratic-values-575412">Israel’s Netanyahu meets Sunak at Downing Street amid protests; UK PM stresses on ‘democratic values’</a></strong></p>

<p>“I'll add: an independent judiciary,” said the US VP,&nbsp;on Tuesday, as her comments drew applause from some present at the event in Washington. Meanwhile,&nbsp;Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, in an interview, said Harris was perhaps not fully informed about the judicial reform which was proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Israel’s Ambassador to the US Michael Herzog, in a speech before her also mentioned the proposed judicial overhaul. “Israel is an imperfect democracy, and we like you have our own set of internal challenges. As a young nation only 75 years old, we are still grappling with important questions relating to our democratic system,” said Herzog.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added, “But let me assure you, I am confident that Israel will remain a vibrant democracy.” Notably, US President Joe Biden’s administration has faced mounting pressure over the proposed judicial reform and has called on Netanyahu to drop the judicial overhaul plan over the past few months.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/middle-east/explained-israel-can-tens-of-thousands-of-protesters-stop-netanyahus-judicial-overhaul-plan-576345">Explained | Israel: Netanyahu agrees to pause proposed judicial overhaul for now. Here's what happened</a></strong></p>

<p>However, that pressure has reportedly eased after the proposed plan was suspended, in late March after weeks of unprecedented protests across Israel and Netanyahu agreeing to hit pause and compromise negotiations with the opposition.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Israel's foreign minister slams Harris</strong></h2>

<p>In an interview with Israel’s Kan news, Cohen said, “If we were to ask Kamala Harris what bothers her about the reform, she wouldn’t be able to name a single clause,” reported Times of Israel. He added, “I don’t know whether she read the bill…I imagine she has not.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>This was followed by the US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides saying that Harris’ presence at the event was about the strength of the relations between the two nations. Nides told Channel 12 news that while he has “respect” for Cohen, “the VP said things the administration says (at) every opportunity regarding the shared values and policies. Harris is a strong supporter of Israel.”&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/joe-biden-and-benjamin-netanyahu-lock-horns-over-israel-judicial-overhaul-576906">Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu lock horns over Israel judicial overhaul</a></strong></p>

<p>The Israeli foreign minister’s comments had prompted a supposed diplomatic storm between the two allies&nbsp;and hours later Cohen issued a statement where he said he had “deep respect” for their ally the US and Harris who he then called “a true friend of Israel.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added, “Israel’s legal reform is an internal issue that is currently in the process of consolidation and dialogue. The State of Israel will continue to be democratic and liberal, as it has always been.”</p>

<p>Earlier this year, Netanyahu’s government unveiled a legal reform plan which has repeatedly been criticised by the opposition and critics who have said that it would threaten the democracy and freedom of Israel as it supposedly plans to weaken the country’s Supreme Court.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
<br />
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United States Vice President Kamala Harris, on Tuesday (June 6) called for “an independent judiciary,” in Israel, while speaking about the contentious proposed judicial overhaul which has led to weeks of mass protests across the country.

United States Vice President Kamala Harris, on Tuesday (June 6) called for “an independent judiciary,” in Israel, while speaking about the contentious proposed judicial overhaul which has led to weeks of mass protests across the country. The next day, the comments prompted criticism from the Israeli foreign minister who said that “she may not be able to cite even one clause that bothers her” about the judicial reform. Israel needs ‘an independent judiciary’: US VP Harris’ comments were made at a reception celebrating the 75th anniversary of Israel’s founding which was hosted by the Israeli Embassy in Washington. The US VP said, “America will continue to stand for the values that have been the bedrock of the US-Israel relationship, which includes continuing to strengthen our democracies, which as the (Israeli) ambassador has said, are both built on strong institutions, checks and balances.” ALSO READ | Israel’s Netanyahu meets Sunak at Downing Street amid protests; UK PM stresses on ‘democratic values’ “I'll add: an independent judiciary,” said the US VP, on Tuesday, as her comments drew applause from some present at the event in Washington. Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, in an interview, said Harris was perhaps not fully informed about the judicial reform which was proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Israel’s Ambassador to the US Michael Herzog, in a speech before her also mentioned the proposed judicial overhaul. “Israel is an imperfect democracy, and we like you have our own set of internal challenges. As a young nation only 75 years old, we are still grappling with important questions relating to our democratic system,” said Herzog. He added, “But let me assure you, I am confident that Israel will remain a vibrant democracy.” Notably, US President Joe Biden’s administration has faced mounting pressure over the proposed judicial reform and has called on Netanyahu to drop the judicial overhaul plan over the past few months. ALSO READ | Explained | Israel: Netanyahu agrees to pause proposed judicial overhaul for now. Here's what happened However, that pressure has reportedly eased after the proposed plan was suspended, in late March after weeks of unprecedented protests across Israel and Netanyahu agreeing to hit pause and compromise negotiations with the opposition. Israel's foreign minister slams Harris In an interview with Israel’s Kan news, Cohen said, “If we were to ask Kamala Harris what bothers her about the reform, she wouldn’t be able to name a single clause,” reported Times of Israel. He added, “I don’t know whether she read the bill…I imagine she has not.” This was followed by the US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides saying that Harris’ presence at the event was about the strength of the relations between the two nations. Nides told Channel 12 news that while he has “respect” for Cohen, “the VP said things the administration says (at) every opportunity regarding the shared values and policies. Harris is a strong supporter of Israel.” ALSO WATCH | Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu lock horns over Israel judicial overhaul The Israeli foreign minister’s comments had prompted a supposed diplomatic storm between the two allies and hours later Cohen issued a statement where he said he had “deep respect” for their ally the US and Harris who he then called “a true friend of Israel.” He added, “Israel’s legal reform is an internal issue that is currently in the process of consolidation and dialogue. The State of Israel will continue to be democratic and liberal, as it has always been.” Earlier this year, Netanyahu’s government unveiled a legal reform plan which has repeatedly been criticised by the opposition and critics who have said that it would threaten the democracy and freedom of Israel as it supposedly plans to weaken the country’s Supreme Court. (With inputs from agencies) 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.

Israeli foreign minister slams US VP Kamala Harris over call for ‘independent judiciary’

Seven-time world player of the year Messi is headed to the United States, the Argentina World Cup winner has confirmed that he will join the David Beckham co-owned Major League Soccer-side into Miami after leaving PSG.

Messi heading to US, set to join Beckham's Inter Miami | World DNA

Former Vice President Mike Pence filed paperwork on Monday declaring his campaign for president in 2024, setting up a challenge to his former boss, Donald Trump, just two years after their time in the White House ended with an insurrection at the US Capitol and Pence fleeing for his life.

Ex-US Vice President Pence files paperwork launching 2024 presidential bid in challenge to Trump

An eye-watering and cough-inducing smoky haze from Canadian wildfires is now starting to impact parts of the United States. The air quality spiked to unhealthy levels across the US as the cities there are choking on hazardous air across the Northeast.

Canada wildfires worsen air quality, 'stay indoors' alert in New York City | World DNA

Mike pence opened his bid for the republican nomination for the White House with a firm denunciation of former US President Donald Trump. Pence accused his former boss of abandoning conservative principles and being guilty of dereliction of duty. Remember, in January 2021, trump's supporters stormed the US Congress, in a bid to thwart the certification of Joe Biden's election victory.

US: Mike Pence tears into Trump at campaign launch, Chris Christie also hits out at him

<p>New York authorities on Wednesday urged millions of residents of the city to limit their time outdoors as smoke from wildfires in Canada continues to drift and has turned&nbsp;the air quality worst in the world.&nbsp;The air was acrid, skylines looked orange, and municipal officials told people to stay indoors.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The air quality in New York City was the worst in the world on Wednesday, according to IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
More than 400 wildfires are burning in Canada, including&nbsp;150 forest fires in Quebec&nbsp;with more than 110 considered out of control,&nbsp;according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fires Centre.</p>

<p>More than a dozen US states issued air-quality alerts. New York warned its residents that fine particulates in the atmosphere can make breathing difficult and may cause other health risks.</p>

<p>"This is an unprecedented event in our city and New Yorkers must take precaution," New York City Mayor Eric Adams told a news conference.</p>

<p>Air quality alerts were issued by the US National Weather Service from New England to South Carolina.&nbsp;</p>

<p>New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called it “a health and environmental crisis” and urged the residents to take it seriously.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
“Simply stay indoors. Outdoors is dangerous in just about every part of our state. Not just vulnerable communities, but literally everyone,” Hochul said at a news conference.</p>

<p>The Federal Aviation Administration took steps to limit air traffic around New York City, temporarily grounding flights at LaGuardia Airport.</p>

<p>More than a dozen US states issued air-quality alerts. New York warned its residents that fine particulates in the atmosphere can make breathing difficult and may cause other health risks.</p>

<p>"This is an unprecedented event in our city and New Yorkers must take precaution," New York City Mayor Eric Adams told a news conference.</p>

<p>Air quality alerts were issued by the US National Weather Service from New England to South Carolina.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Canada wildfire smoke shrouds US' states, New York becomes most polluted city</strong></p>

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<p>New York City's public schools were open for class, although outdoor events and activities, including a middle school graduation, were cancelled, postponed or moved indoors.</p>

<p>Canada is currently experiencing its worst-ever wildfire season. The wildfire season started unusually early and was of greater intensity because of persistent warm and dry conditions. The smoke is now crossing the northern border of the US.</p>

<h2><strong>Big Apple in haze</strong></h2>

<p>There was a haze in the skies of North American cities and there was a smell of burning wood. The early morning sun appeared like a small glowing orange disc in many places. New York City skyscrapers were nearly invisible. On a clear day, these are visible from miles away.</p>

<p>New York had the worst air quality in the world on Wednesday, according to rankings of major global cities obtained by IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>New York's air quality reaches hazardous levels</strong></h2>

<p>According to the US&nbsp;government&nbsp;online platform&nbsp;AirNow,&nbsp;the city's Air Quality Index reached "hazardous" levels in the afternoon, and&nbsp;by 6 pm (local time), it had reached 333. At that level, the site states "everyone&nbsp;should stay indoors and reduce activity levels."</p>

<p>School officials in Yonkers and Freeport decided late Wednesday to close schools for Thursday due to the worsening air quality.</p>

<p>Rochester, New York, near the Canadian border, had the worst air quality in the country, according to IQAir, while six towns along Maryland's Eastern Shore and Delaware were ranked in the bottom 10 for air quality.</p>

<p>Wildfire smoke has been linked with higher rates of heart attacks and strokes, increases in emergency room visits for asthma and other respiratory conditions, and eye irritation, itchy skin and rashes, among other problems.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-orange-skies-smoke-unhealthy-air-plague-canada-namerica-as-160-wildfires-rage-in-ottawa-601718">Explained: Orange skies, smoke &amp; ‘unhealthy’ air plague Canada, N. America, as 160 wildfires rage in Ottawa</a></strong></p>

<p>Canadian authorities on Wednesday issued a starker air-quality warning for the residents of the country's financial capital Toronto</p>

<p>Western Canada sees wildfires regularly. But this time the fires have engulfed areas even on the eastern coast. At present, there are wildfires in almost all of 10 provinces and territories of the country. Quebec is the worst affected right now.</p>

<p>Wildfires have already burnt about 3.3 million hectares. This is some 13 times the 10-year average. More than 120,000 people have been at least temporarily forced out of their homes.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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New York authorities on Wednesday urged millions of residents of the city to limit their time outdoors as smoke from wildfires in Canada continues to drift and has turned the air quality worst in the world.

New York authorities on Wednesday urged millions of residents of the city to limit their time outdoors as smoke from wildfires in Canada continues to drift and has turned the air quality worst in the world. The air was acrid, skylines looked orange, and municipal officials told people to stay indoors. The air quality in New York City was the worst in the world on Wednesday, according to IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company. More than 400 wildfires are burning in Canada, including 150 forest fires in Quebec with more than 110 considered out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fires Centre. More than a dozen US states issued air-quality alerts. New York warned its residents that fine particulates in the atmosphere can make breathing difficult and may cause other health risks. "This is an unprecedented event in our city and New Yorkers must take precaution," New York City Mayor Eric Adams told a news conference. Air quality alerts were issued by the US National Weather Service from New England to South Carolina. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called it “a health and environmental crisis” and urged the residents to take it seriously. “Simply stay indoors. Outdoors is dangerous in just about every part of our state. Not just vulnerable communities, but literally everyone,” Hochul said at a news conference. The Federal Aviation Administration took steps to limit air traffic around New York City, temporarily grounding flights at LaGuardia Airport. More than a dozen US states issued air-quality alerts. New York warned its residents that fine particulates in the atmosphere can make breathing difficult and may cause other health risks. "This is an unprecedented event in our city and New Yorkers must take precaution," New York City Mayor Eric Adams told a news conference. Air quality alerts were issued by the US National Weather Service from New England to South Carolina. Watch | Canada wildfire smoke shrouds US' states, New York becomes most polluted city × New York City's public schools were open for class, although outdoor events and activities, including a middle school graduation, were cancelled, postponed or moved indoors. Canada is currently experiencing its worst-ever wildfire season. The wildfire season started unusually early and was of greater intensity because of persistent warm and dry conditions. The smoke is now crossing the northern border of the US. Big Apple in haze There was a haze in the skies of North American cities and there was a smell of burning wood. The early morning sun appeared like a small glowing orange disc in many places. New York City skyscrapers were nearly invisible. On a clear day, these are visible from miles away. New York had the worst air quality in the world on Wednesday, according to rankings of major global cities obtained by IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company. New York's air quality reaches hazardous levels According to the US government online platform AirNow, the city's Air Quality Index reached "hazardous" levels in the afternoon, and by 6 pm (local time), it had reached 333. At that level, the site states "everyone should stay indoors and reduce activity levels." School officials in Yonkers and Freeport decided late Wednesday to close schools for Thursday due to the worsening air quality. Rochester, New York, near the Canadian border, had the worst air quality in the country, according to IQAir, while six towns along Maryland's Eastern Shore and Delaware were ranked in the bottom 10 for air quality. Wildfire smoke has been linked with higher rates of heart attacks and strokes, increases in emergency room visits for asthma and other respiratory conditions, and eye irritation, itchy skin and rashes, among other problems. Also Read | Explained: Orange skies, smoke & ‘unhealthy’ air plague Canada, N. America, as 160 wildfires rage in Ottawa Canadian authorities on Wednesday issued a starker air-quality warning for the residents of the country's financial capital Toronto Western Canada sees wildfires regularly. But this time the fires have engulfed areas even on the eastern coast. At present, there are wildfires in almost all of 10 provinces and territories of the country. Quebec is the worst affected right now. Wildfires have already burnt about 3.3 million hectares. This is some 13 times the 10-year average. More than 120,000 people have been at least temporarily forced out of their homes. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Smoke from Canadian wildfires turns New York City air worst in the world, officials issue alert

<p>A United States-bound Air India flight which took off from the Indian capital city of&nbsp;Delhi was diverted to Russia’s Magadan, on Tuesday after a “technical issue” in one of the engines. The diversion incidentally took place a day after the CEO of a US carrier raised concerns about flights using Russian airspace with American citizens on board amid the ongoing tensions between Washington and Moscow.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Air India, on Thursday (June 7) also sent a replacement flight from Mumbai to Magadan to take the passengers to San Francisco from the Russian town. The flight&nbsp;touched down in San Francisco a little after midnight (local time). The incident took place in the midst of Moscow’s ban on some Western carriers and about the use of Russian airspace&nbsp;by&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;airlines with&nbsp;American passengers&nbsp;on board.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here’s what the Russian airspace row with the West is all about:&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What happened to the Air India flight?</strong></h2>

<p>The San Francisco-bound flight&nbsp;from Delhi was carrying&nbsp;216 passengers and 16 crew. However, after facing some “technical issue” in one of the engines the AI173 was reported to have safely landed in the Russian town of Magadan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Indian airline went to assure that passengers were provided support on the ground and later confirmed that it would send an alternative aircraft while passengers are accommodated in local hotels in the Russian town.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-delhi-san-francisco-air-india-flight-diverted-to-russia-after-technical-issue-601306">Delhi-San Francisco Air India flight diverted to Russia after 'technical issue', US says closley monitoring</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The emergency landing was confirmed by the Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsia. Citing a source present at the Magadan airport, Reuters reported that Air India engineers would arrive on the reserve plane with spare parts, on Wednesday.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
It was not until Thursday that Air India addressed the "technical issue"&nbsp;Boeing 777 encountered which was an indication of low oil pressure in one of the engines.&nbsp;"The aircraft encountered a technical issue whereby the pilots received an indication of low oil pressure in one engine. Out of caution, they elected to land the aircraft at a nearby airport rather than continue the journey," said Air India.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Washington is closely monitoring the situation</strong></h2>

<p>US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters they are aware of the incident and “are continuing to monitor the&nbsp;situation closely.”&nbsp;He added that since the flight was bound for the US, it is “likely” that there are American citizens on board.<br />
<br />
So far, Air India has not mentioned anything about the passengers'&nbsp;nationalities. It was on Wednesday, that&nbsp;Patel told reporters that less than 50 US&nbsp;citizens were aboard the Air India flight.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Row between Moscow and the West over airspace</strong></h2>

<p>The Air India incident has brought the recent tensions between the West and Russia over its airspace to the forefront. In a retaliatory move over the thousands of sanctions against Russia, it had last year banned certain foreign carriers from using its airspace, causing disruptions in the global air transport network.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This&nbsp;affected the aviation industry&nbsp;as it was forced to redraw air routes to avoid flying over the largest country in the world. Multiple airlines from the US, Europe, and Japan have already stopped flying over Russia. However, Gulf, China, as well as Air India, continue to use Russian airspace which has made flying times shorter and cut costs giving them an edge over their competitors.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/global-airline-industry-to-report-billions-in-losses-this-year-may-return-to-profit-in-2023-iata-540639">Global airline industry to report billions in losses this year; may return to profit in 2023: IATA</a></strong></p>

<p>Over a year ago, days after Russia began what it calls its “special military operation in Ukraine,” Moscow had moved to ban airlines from 36 countries over the sanctions imposed, which included all 27 member nations of the European Union, Canada, and the United Kingdom. This was after the US, UK, Canada, and Europe banned Russian aircraft from flying over their airspace.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This move prompted US airlines to lobby in Capitol Hill and at the White House as they were losing business to foreign competitors who could take passengers between the US and Asia faster and at a lower cost. Industry lobbying group Airlines for America told lawmakers in Washington last year that the US carriers are expected to witness collective losses of up to $2 billion per year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Over the years, US airlines were able to access to Russian airspace following a series of agreements between Moscow and Washington. The US-based and other foreign carriers would pay what amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars per year to the Russian government as a fee for their air traffic control support, reported the New York Times, citing industry sources.</p>

<h2><strong>United Airlines, Air India chiefs argue at recent global industry meet</strong></h2>

<p>The incident in Russia took place a day after the CEOs of United Airlines and Air India butted heads at the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) annual meeting&nbsp;held in Istanbul. Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, raised concerns about planes flying through Russian airspace with American citizens onboard.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“What’s going to happen if an airline lands in Russia with some prominent US citizens on board? That is a potential crisis in the making,” said Kirby, adding that this issue should be solved “before the crisis happens".</p>

<p>However, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson defended the airline’s use of Russian airspace. “Air India, we operate according to the ambit of what is provided to us by the nation of India and not all nations agree,” said Wilson. He added, “So there are going to be different outcomes as a consequence.”&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-air-india-inks-one-of-the-biggest-deals-in-aviation-history-562464">Gravitas: Air India inks one of the biggest deals in aviation history</a></strong></p>

<p>The disagreement, yet again, has&nbsp;brought to the fore&nbsp;the strategic and geographic importance of Russia as the world’s largest country in global aviation. Kirby also said United was forced to stop operating several flights to India before the COVID-19 pandemic and now “we fly one and it’s an extra two hours.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>“It’s clearly a big impact to us,” said the US carrier’s CEO, adding that even with the extra time it cannot fly the other routes non-stop. Additionally, US carriers have also pushed for the government to discourage carriers from landing on US soil after crossing Russian airspace as they are paying Moscow for it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Some Chinese airlines have also avoided flying over Russian airspace to and from the US, months after Senators urged President Joe Biden administration’s to stop Chinese airlines and foreign carriers from flying over Russia, as per Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Should geopolitical differences affect aviation?</strong></h2>

<p>During the meeting in Istanbul, IATA Director General Willie Walsh told Reuters, “What we would like to see is everybody using Russian airspace. I’m clear that it's not a security or a safety issue.” Similarly, Vinod Kannan, CEO of Indian airline Vistara said as long as the “law of the land” is not violated, it should not be an issue.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“It's a sensitive geopolitical issue and applying geopolitics to the aviation industry that does so much to link the world, I’m not sure that’s a link that should be made,” said Wilson, as quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is also worth noting that Kirby’s concerns are not entirely unfounded. In 2018, a Norwegian Air Boeing 737 was forced to make an emergency landing in Iran weeks after Washington had re-imposed sanctions. While the passengers flew out of Iran the next day, the aircraft was stranded for two months as its engines were made by US-based General Electric which waited weeks for a US Treasury export licence.</p>

<h2><strong>Air India sends replacement flight</strong></h2>

<p>Air India sent a replacement plane to ferry stranded passengers in Russia from Mumbai, on Thursday. “The ferry flight is carrying essentials in addition to a sufficient amount of food to cater to all passengers on the onward flight scheduled from GDX (Magadan airport) to San Francisco (SFO),” said the Indian carrier, in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">UPDATE: FERRY FLIGHT TO MAGADAN AIRBORNE<br />
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Our ferry flight AI195 from Mumbai (BOM) to Magadan, Russia (GDX) is now airborne, and is expected to arrive at GDX at 0630 Hours (local time) on 08 June 2023.<br />
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An Air India team is on board the flight to provide any support that the… <a href="https://t.co/oIwrqrF3po">pic.twitter.com/oIwrqrF3po</a></p>
— Air India (@airindia) <a href="https://twitter.com/airindia/status/1666387382629793792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The airline also said that “given the infrastructural limitations around the remote airport, we can confirm that all passengers were eventually moved to makeshift accommodation&nbsp;after making sincere attempts to accommodate passengers in hotels locally with the help of local government authorities.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>“As we do not have Air India staff based in the remote town of Magadan or in Russia, all ground support being provided to passengers is the best possible in this unusual circumstance,” said Air India. The Indian Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia also confirmed that Air India told the ministry some passengers had been housed in a school building near the airport.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
In an update, on Thursday (June 8), Air India said&nbsp;Flight AI173D from Magadan (GDX) landed safely in San Francisco (SFO) at 12:07 am&nbsp;(local time). It added, "All our passengers are being extended maximum on-ground assistance with clearance formalities and provided other necessary support."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Air India Chief Customer Experience and Ground Handling Officer Rajesh Dogra, on Thursday, issuing an apology said, "We will fully refund the fare for your journey and, in addition, provide you a voucher for future travel on Air India," as quoted by PTI.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Air India’s passengers affected by US sanctions on Russia</strong></h2>

<p>A report by the Associated Press, citing Delhi-San Francisco flight passengers, said that they have been barred from leaving the makeshift accommodation where they have been staying and cannot use their credit cards to buy items from vending machines or stores because of the sanctions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Additionally, speaking to the Indian media, a passenger also said how many US citizens were worried due to the ongoing tensions between Moscow and Washington.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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A United States-bound Air India flight which took off from the Indian capital city of Delhi was diverted to Russia’s Magadan, on Tuesday after a “technical issue” in one of the engines.

A United States-bound Air India flight which took off from the Indian capital city of Delhi was diverted to Russia’s Magadan, on Tuesday after a “technical issue” in one of the engines. The diversion incidentally took place a day after the CEO of a US carrier raised concerns about flights using Russian airspace with American citizens on board amid the ongoing tensions between Washington and Moscow. Air India, on Thursday (June 7) also sent a replacement flight from Mumbai to Magadan to take the passengers to San Francisco from the Russian town. The flight touched down in San Francisco a little after midnight (local time). The incident took place in the midst of Moscow’s ban on some Western carriers and about the use of Russian airspace by foreign airlines with American passengers on board. Here’s what the Russian airspace row with the West is all about: What happened to the Air India flight? The San Francisco-bound flight from Delhi was carrying 216 passengers and 16 crew. However, after facing some “technical issue” in one of the engines the AI173 was reported to have safely landed in the Russian town of Magadan. The Indian airline went to assure that passengers were provided support on the ground and later confirmed that it would send an alternative aircraft while passengers are accommodated in local hotels in the Russian town. ALSO READ | Delhi-San Francisco Air India flight diverted to Russia after 'technical issue', US says closley monitoring The emergency landing was confirmed by the Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsia. Citing a source present at the Magadan airport, Reuters reported that Air India engineers would arrive on the reserve plane with spare parts, on Wednesday. It was not until Thursday that Air India addressed the "technical issue" Boeing 777 encountered which was an indication of low oil pressure in one of the engines. "The aircraft encountered a technical issue whereby the pilots received an indication of low oil pressure in one engine. Out of caution, they elected to land the aircraft at a nearby airport rather than continue the journey," said Air India. Washington is closely monitoring the situation US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters they are aware of the incident and “are continuing to monitor the situation closely.” He added that since the flight was bound for the US, it is “likely” that there are American citizens on board. So far, Air India has not mentioned anything about the passengers' nationalities. It was on Wednesday, that Patel told reporters that less than 50 US citizens were aboard the Air India flight. Row between Moscow and the West over airspace The Air India incident has brought the recent tensions between the West and Russia over its airspace to the forefront. In a retaliatory move over the thousands of sanctions against Russia, it had last year banned certain foreign carriers from using its airspace, causing disruptions in the global air transport network. This affected the aviation industry as it was forced to redraw air routes to avoid flying over the largest country in the world. Multiple airlines from the US, Europe, and Japan have already stopped flying over Russia. However, Gulf, China, as well as Air India, continue to use Russian airspace which has made flying times shorter and cut costs giving them an edge over their competitors. ALSO READ | Global airline industry to report billions in losses this year; may return to profit in 2023: IATA Over a year ago, days after Russia began what it calls its “special military operation in Ukraine,” Moscow had moved to ban airlines from 36 countries over the sanctions imposed, which included all 27 member nations of the European Union, Canada, and the United Kingdom. This was after the US, UK, Canada, and Europe banned Russian aircraft from flying over their airspace. This move prompted US airlines to lobby in Capitol Hill and at the White House as they were losing business to foreign competitors who could take passengers between the US and Asia faster and at a lower cost. Industry lobbying group Airlines for America told lawmakers in Washington last year that the US carriers are expected to witness collective losses of up to $2 billion per year. Over the years, US airlines were able to access to Russian airspace following a series of agreements between Moscow and Washington. The US-based and other foreign carriers would pay what amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars per year to the Russian government as a fee for their air traffic control support, reported the New York Times, citing industry sources. United Airlines, Air India chiefs argue at recent global industry meet The incident in Russia took place a day after the CEOs of United Airlines and Air India butted heads at the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) annual meeting held in Istanbul. Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, raised concerns about planes flying through Russian airspace with American citizens onboard. “What’s going to happen if an airline lands in Russia with some prominent US citizens on board? That is a potential crisis in the making,” said Kirby, adding that this issue should be solved “before the crisis happens". However, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson defended the airline’s use of Russian airspace. “Air India, we operate according to the ambit of what is provided to us by the nation of India and not all nations agree,” said Wilson. He added, “So there are going to be different outcomes as a consequence.” ALSO WATCH | Gravitas: Air India inks one of the biggest deals in aviation history The disagreement, yet again, has brought to the fore the strategic and geographic importance of Russia as the world’s largest country in global aviation. Kirby also said United was forced to stop operating several flights to India before the COVID-19 pandemic and now “we fly one and it’s an extra two hours.” “It’s clearly a big impact to us,” said the US carrier’s CEO, adding that even with the extra time it cannot fly the other routes non-stop. Additionally, US carriers have also pushed for the government to discourage carriers from landing on US soil after crossing Russian airspace as they are paying Moscow for it. Some Chinese airlines have also avoided flying over Russian airspace to and from the US, months after Senators urged President Joe Biden administration’s to stop Chinese airlines and foreign carriers from flying over Russia, as per Reuters. Should geopolitical differences affect aviation? During the meeting in Istanbul, IATA Director General Willie Walsh told Reuters, “What we would like to see is everybody using Russian airspace. I’m clear that it's not a security or a safety issue.” Similarly, Vinod Kannan, CEO of Indian airline Vistara said as long as the “law of the land” is not violated, it should not be an issue. “It's a sensitive geopolitical issue and applying geopolitics to the aviation industry that does so much to link the world, I’m not sure that’s a link that should be made,” said Wilson, as quoted by Reuters. It is also worth noting that Kirby’s concerns are not entirely unfounded. In 2018, a Norwegian Air Boeing 737 was forced to make an emergency landing in Iran weeks after Washington had re-imposed sanctions. While the passengers flew out of Iran the next day, the aircraft was stranded for two months as its engines were made by US-based General Electric which waited weeks for a US Treasury export licence. Air India sends replacement flight Air India sent a replacement plane to ferry stranded passengers in Russia from Mumbai, on Thursday. “The ferry flight is carrying essentials in addition to a sufficient amount of food to cater to all passengers on the onward flight scheduled from GDX (Magadan airport) to San Francisco (SFO),” said the Indian carrier, in a statement. UPDATE: FERRY FLIGHT TO MAGADAN AIRBORNE Our ferry flight AI195 from Mumbai (BOM) to Magadan, Russia (GDX) is now airborne, and is expected to arrive at GDX at 0630 Hours (local time) on 08 June 2023. An Air India team is on board the flight to provide any support that the… pic.twitter.com/oIwrqrF3po — Air India (@airindia) June 7, 2023 × The airline also said that “given the infrastructural limitations around the remote airport, we can confirm that all passengers were eventually moved to makeshift accommodation after making sincere attempts to accommodate passengers in hotels locally with the help of local government authorities.” “As we do not have Air India staff based in the remote town of Magadan or in Russia, all ground support being provided to passengers is the best possible in this unusual circumstance,” said Air India. The Indian Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia also confirmed that Air India told the ministry some passengers had been housed in a school building near the airport. In an update, on Thursday (June 8), Air India said Flight AI173D from Magadan (GDX) landed safely in San Francisco (SFO) at 12:07 am (local time). It added, "All our passengers are being extended maximum on-ground assistance with clearance formalities and provided other necessary support." Air India Chief Customer Experience and Ground Handling Officer Rajesh Dogra, on Thursday, issuing an apology said, "We will fully refund the fare for your journey and, in addition, provide you a voucher for future travel on Air India," as quoted by PTI. Air India’s passengers affected by US sanctions on Russia A report by the Associated Press, citing Delhi-San Francisco flight passengers, said that they have been barred from leaving the makeshift accommodation where they have been staying and cannot use their credit cards to buy items from vending machines or stores because of the sanctions. Additionally, speaking to the Indian media, a passenger also said how many US citizens were worried due to the ongoing tensions between Moscow and Washington. (With inputs from agencies) 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.

Explained | How Air India’s diverted flight to Russia landed amid airspace row between Moscow, the West

Smoke from Canadian wildfires shrouded new york in a record-breaking apocalyptic smog as cities along the US East Coast issued air pollution warnings and thousands evacuated their homes in Canada.

A clarion call for climate action

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top headlines from all across the globe: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called for a closer relationship with the US, in the lead up to his visit to Washington.

UK PM Rishi Sunak pledges to strengthen ties with US | WION Speed News

Chris Licht the Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of US television giant CNN will leave the TV network after a brief one-year tenure. His tenure at CNN has been anything but smooth in the TV Network's own words. His tumultuous tenure was marked by layoffs, shrinking profits, historically low ratings, the firing of two anchors, and rock bottom employee morale. The final nail in the coffin was his seemed to be a 15,000-word profile in the Atlantic titled 'Inside the Meltdown at CNN'.

CNN Chairman and CEO Chris Licht quits

A man armed with four handguns killed at least two people & wounded others when he fired into a crowd outside a high school ceremony in Virginia. Police said they arrested one suspect, a 19-year-old man who knew one of the victims & shot at him. The crowd had just emerged from a high school ceremony inside a theatre on the campus of Virginia commonwealth university.

The American tragedy: Living through multiple shootings | At least two dead in Virginia | WION

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed human rights with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The trip is aimed at boosting ties with a long time ally which has forged closer relationship with Washington's rivals.

Antony Blinken meets Mohammed bin Salman, focus on Sudan & Yemen conflicts

US Vice President Kamala Harris has renewed calls for Israel to ensure independence of its judiciary, after major protests against changes pushed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

US VP Kamala Harris renews call for independent judiciary in Israel

Two global leaders in a chipmaking industry are fighting a legal battle against each other - Realtek and Mediatek. The stage is set in Northern California Federal Court where Realtek has accused its rival Taiwanese Chipmaker of engaging in a conspiracy to disrupt its business.

Realtek vs Mediatek: Chipmaking giants in a legal battle | World DNA

The United States has called on Pakistan to grant consular access to Khadija Shah, a prominent fashion designer with dual citizenship who was detained during the recent series of protests witnessed in the South Asian nation.

US asks Pakistan to grant consular access to Khadija Shah

<p>The White House said on Tuesday (June 6) that it cannot ‘conclusively’ say what was behind the destruction of a massive dam in Ukraine. However, White House Spokesman John Kirby said that reports that the blast was caused by Russia were being assessed. Russia has been in occupation of the dam since last year.</p>

<p>Kirby noted that the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River may likely have caused "many deaths" and evacuation of thousands of Ukrainians. Dnipro River separates Russian and Ukrainian forces in southern Ukraine.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Russia's rare acknowledgment of losses</strong>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Kirby told reporters the damage could have a devastating impact on Ukraine's energy security.</p>

<p>"We've seen the reports that Russia was responsible for the explosion at the dam," he said. "We're doing the best we can to assess those reports, and we are working with the Ukrainians to gather more information, but we cannot say conclusively what happened."</p>

<p>Ukraine has accused Russia of blowing up the Nova Kakhovka dam. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has claimed that it was Ukraine that sabotaged the dam.</p>

<p>Kyiv said the destruction of the dam — seized by Russia in the early hours of the war — was an attempt by Moscow to hamper its long-awaited offensive, which Ukraine's leader stressed would not be affected.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-russia-ukraine-war-nova-kakhovka-dam-attack-what-we-know-so-far-601391">Explained | What we know so far about the Nova Kakhovka dam attack in Ukraine</a></strong></p>

<p>Kirby opined that it was too soon to discuss the effect of the development on Ukraine's long-planned counteroffensive. He did stress that Russian forces were in illegal occupation of the dam and were in control of it when the blast took place. However, Kirby said that US officials had not determined whether the blast was an intentional act.</p>

<h2><strong>Destruction of dam a war crime?</strong></h2>

<p>Asked if the destruction of the dam would constitute a war crime, Kirby said international law forbade the destruction of civilian infrastructure.</p>

<p>He said US officials would continue to work with humanitarian partners on the ground to supply aid to those affected.</p>

<p>Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24 last year. After sustained territorial gains in the first few months of the war, the Russian forces had to retreat in the face of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. Large swathes of land were won back by Ukrainian forces. As much as the credit goes to the fortitude of the Ukrainian military, the massive international help has been seen as a major factor that affected the situation on the battlefield.</p>

<p>Western countries, led by the United States, have poured in millions and millions in humanitarian as well as military help. This has boosted the military capacity of Ukraine.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The White House said on Tuesday (June 6) that it cannot ‘conclusively’ say what was behind the destruction of a massive dam in Ukraine. However, White House Spokesman John Kirby said that reports that the blast was caused by Russia were being assessed.

The White House said on Tuesday (June 6) that it cannot ‘conclusively’ say what was behind the destruction of a massive dam in Ukraine. However, White House Spokesman John Kirby said that reports that the blast was caused by Russia were being assessed. Russia has been in occupation of the dam since last year. Kirby noted that the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River may likely have caused "many deaths" and evacuation of thousands of Ukrainians. Dnipro River separates Russian and Ukrainian forces in southern Ukraine. Watch | Russia's rare acknowledgment of losses × Kirby told reporters the damage could have a devastating impact on Ukraine's energy security. "We've seen the reports that Russia was responsible for the explosion at the dam," he said. "We're doing the best we can to assess those reports, and we are working with the Ukrainians to gather more information, but we cannot say conclusively what happened." Ukraine has accused Russia of blowing up the Nova Kakhovka dam. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has claimed that it was Ukraine that sabotaged the dam. Kyiv said the destruction of the dam — seized by Russia in the early hours of the war — was an attempt by Moscow to hamper its long-awaited offensive, which Ukraine's leader stressed would not be affected. Also Read | Explained | What we know so far about the Nova Kakhovka dam attack in Ukraine Kirby opined that it was too soon to discuss the effect of the development on Ukraine's long-planned counteroffensive. He did stress that Russian forces were in illegal occupation of the dam and were in control of it when the blast took place. However, Kirby said that US officials had not determined whether the blast was an intentional act. Destruction of dam a war crime? Asked if the destruction of the dam would constitute a war crime, Kirby said international law forbade the destruction of civilian infrastructure. He said US officials would continue to work with humanitarian partners on the ground to supply aid to those affected. Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24 last year. After sustained territorial gains in the first few months of the war, the Russian forces had to retreat in the face of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. Large swathes of land were won back by Ukrainian forces. As much as the credit goes to the fortitude of the Ukrainian military, the massive international help has been seen as a major factor that affected the situation on the battlefield. Western countries, led by the United States, have poured in millions and millions in humanitarian as well as military help. This has boosted the military capacity of Ukraine. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Ukraine dam explosion: US not sure but possibility of Russian role being assessed

<p>The US knew of a Ukrainian plan to attack the Nord Stream pipelines as early as three months before underwater explosions damaged them, claimed the Washington Post in a report. The news outlet cited leaked information posted online. The report said that America's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) learned in June last year that a Ukrainian special operations force consisting of six people intended to blow up the pipelines.</p>

<p>Nord Stream pipelines carry natural gas from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea. In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the pipelines and the subsequent explosions had assumed great political importance.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The intelligence cited by the Washington Post was reportedly shared on chat platform Discord, allegedly by Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira, who was arrested for the leak of classified documents.</p>

<p>Teixeira was recently charged for leaking sensitive US documents. The Post said that it got a copy from one of Teixeira's online friends. The intelligence report was based on information obtained from an individual in Ukraine. The newspaper said that the CIA shared it with Germany and other European countries in June 2022.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Russia's rare acknowledgment of losses</strong></p>

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<p>The Post said officials in multiple countries had confirmed that the intelligence summary posted on Discord accurately stated what the European service told the CIA.</p>

<p>The report in the Washington Post said that the newspaper was withholding the name of the European intelligence agency as well as some aspects of the alleged plan after a request from government officials.</p>

<p>Reuters said that the CIA and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nord Stream 1 and the newly built Nord Stream 2 pipelines were ruptured after several undersea explosions took place last year in September. The explosions occurred in the economic zones of Sweden and Denmark.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-russia-ukraine-war-nova-kakhovka-dam-attack-what-we-know-so-far-601391">Explained | What we know so far about the Nova Kakhovka dam attack in Ukraine</a></strong></p>

<p>Both nations have said that the explosions were deliberate. However, it is yet to be clearly determined who was responsible. The two countries are investigating the incident along with Germany.</p>

<h2><strong>The situation last year</strong></h2>

<p>Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year. As the Western countries led by the US imposed harsh economic sanctions on Russia, the latter responded by leveraging its position as the major energy supplier of Europe. Russia even halted energy supplies, partially in some cases, which sent fuel prices skywards globally. It was feared that Europe and particularly Ukraine would face extremely harsh conditions due to energy shortage and approaching winter in the latter part of the year.</p>

<p>The explosions rupturing Nord Stream pipelines hence came into quick international focus and both sides accused the other of doing the deed in order to play politics over it.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p>

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The US knew of a Ukrainian plan to attack the Nord Stream pipelines as early as three months before underwater explosions damaged them, claimed the Washington Post in a report.

The US knew of a Ukrainian plan to attack the Nord Stream pipelines as early as three months before underwater explosions damaged them, claimed the Washington Post in a report. The news outlet cited leaked information posted online. The report said that America's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) learned in June last year that a Ukrainian special operations force consisting of six people intended to blow up the pipelines. Nord Stream pipelines carry natural gas from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea. In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the pipelines and the subsequent explosions had assumed great political importance. The intelligence cited by the Washington Post was reportedly shared on chat platform Discord, allegedly by Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira, who was arrested for the leak of classified documents. Teixeira was recently charged for leaking sensitive US documents. The Post said that it got a copy from one of Teixeira's online friends. The intelligence report was based on information obtained from an individual in Ukraine. The newspaper said that the CIA shared it with Germany and other European countries in June 2022. Watch | Russia's rare acknowledgment of losses × The Post said officials in multiple countries had confirmed that the intelligence summary posted on Discord accurately stated what the European service told the CIA. The report in the Washington Post said that the newspaper was withholding the name of the European intelligence agency as well as some aspects of the alleged plan after a request from government officials. Reuters said that the CIA and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Nord Stream 1 and the newly built Nord Stream 2 pipelines were ruptured after several undersea explosions took place last year in September. The explosions occurred in the economic zones of Sweden and Denmark. Also Read | Explained | What we know so far about the Nova Kakhovka dam attack in Ukraine Both nations have said that the explosions were deliberate. However, it is yet to be clearly determined who was responsible. The two countries are investigating the incident along with Germany. The situation last year Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year. As the Western countries led by the US imposed harsh economic sanctions on Russia, the latter responded by leveraging its position as the major energy supplier of Europe. Russia even halted energy supplies, partially in some cases, which sent fuel prices skywards globally. It was feared that Europe and particularly Ukraine would face extremely harsh conditions due to energy shortage and approaching winter in the latter part of the year. The explosions rupturing Nord Stream pipelines hence came into quick international focus and both sides accused the other of doing the deed in order to play politics over it. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

US knew of Ukrainian plan to blow up Nord Stream three months before blasts: Report

As per reports, the Biden administration received an intelligence report that Ukraine had a plan for an attack on the Nord Stream pipelines three months before an underwater explosion disabled the natural gas link from Russia to Germany.

US knew of Ukraine's plan to attack Nord Stream gas link: Reports

Months after launching an investigation, the world still does not have a concrete answer to the question - Who was behind the Nord Stream blast? But a Washington Post now claimed that the attack was carried out by a group of special Ukrainian servicemen.

US intelligence CIA was aware months before blasts, says report

The UK government has ordered China to shut unofficial police stations operating on the British soil. Remember, UK previously stated any intimidation on British soil of foreign nationals by China or other states was unacceptable. The foreign office told the Chinese embassy that any functions related to such police service stations are unacceptable and they must not operate in any form. The Chinese embassy responded that all such stations have been closed permanently. Similar operations have been investigated in the United States, Canada and several European countries. US Authorities recently arrested two men for allegedly setting up one such outpost in New York. Chinese security officials were charged over a campaign to monitor and harass US-based dissidents.

China's long-arm policing: UK acts against unofficial police stations | Transnational repression

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has thrown his hat into the ring he has launched his presidential campaign on Tuesday under the slogan because truth matters this is Christie's second presidential campaign and he is entering the growing Republican primary race as former U.S president Donald Trump's main antagonist the former New Jersey governor took aim at Trump throughout his campaign calling him a bitter angry man who wants power back for himself and Donald Trump made us smaller by dividing us even further and pitting one group against another.

Chris Christie attacks Donald Trump as he launches 2024 presidential bid

The race for US Presidency is definitely on with a string of Republicans already officially in the race with many ready to jump in to challenge the Democrats' incumbent Joe Biden. The latest to join the race on the Republican side is former New Jersey governor Chris Christie. He formally launched his bid for the Republican Presidential candidate in 2024 on June 6th. He was also an advisor during Trump's 2016 campaign.

Former President Donald Trump leading in polls as race for GOP nominations heats up in the US

<p>A United States-bound Air India flight which took off from the Indian capital city, Delhi was diverted to Russia, on Tuesday (June 6) after it developed a “technical issue” in one of the engines, a spokesperson from the airline. The Air India flight AI173 was reported to have safely landed in the Russian town of Magadan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The incident also comes a day&nbsp;United Airlines CEO had raised concerns about flights using Russian airspace with American citizens on board, a decision which was defended by the Air India chief.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Air India about the incident</strong></h2>

<p>The flight in question which took off from Delhi and was headed to San Francisco was carrying 216 passengers and 16 crew. “The passengers are being provided support on the ground and will be provided an alternate option to reach their destination at the earliest,” said Air India, in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It added, “The aircraft is undergoing mandatory checks on the ground. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers.” Hours after the diversion, Air India confirmed that it would send an alternative aircraft from Magadan to San Francisco for passengers who are currently accommodated in local hotels in the Russian town.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Washington reacts</strong></h2>

<p>The United States on Tuesday said it is closely monitoring the situation. "We are aware of a US-bound flight that had to make an emergency landing in Russia and are continuing to monitor that situation closely. I'm not able to confirm how many US citizens were aboard the flight at this time," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters at his daily news conference.</p>

<p>"It was a flight that was bound for the United States. So, it is, of course, likely that there are American citizens on board. There's public reporting from Air India that they are sending – what my understanding is – a replacement aircraft to the destination to have the passengers carry on for their route, but I would defer to the air carrier to speak to anything further on this," Patel said in response to a question.</p>

<h2><strong>Russian aviation authority deals with passengers</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Russia had earlier said that it was ready to give permission to the Indian airline to land an additional reserve aircraft if needed in the country’s Far East, said Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsia. It also reported 220 passengers and 16 crew on board while Air India has said there were 216 passengers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rosaviatsia also said that they are checking on the aircraft's technical condition. “At present, the question of passengers' stay and accommodation is being resolved by border, customs and regional authorities,” said Rosaviatsia, as quoted by Reuters.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, an employee at the airport’s flight dispatch service in Magadan told Reuters that all passengers had been taken to hotels by buses. The anonymous source also told the news agency that the aircraft was “closed off and put under guard” as it waits for Air India specialists “to land on the reserve plane tomorrow”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added, “It’s unclear (what happened), something is wrong with the engine, something is leaking out, they’ll look into it tomorrow,” as quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Arguments about using the Russian airspace</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, the incident also comes a day after Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, raised concerns about planes flying through Russian airspace with American citizens onboard.</p>

<p>“What’s going to happen if an airline lands in Russia with some prominent US citizens on board? That is a potential crisis in the making,” said Kirby, adding that this issue should be solved “before the crisis happens.”</p>

<p>However, on the same day, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson defended the airline’s use of Russian airspace. “Air India, we operate according to the ambit of what is provided to us by the nation of India and not all nations agree,” said Wilson, adding that the airline industry plays a critical role in connecting economies, people and cultures.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

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A United States-bound Air India flight which took off from the Indian capital city, Delhi was diverted to Russia, on Tuesday (June 6) after it developed a “technical issue” in one of the engines, a spokesperson from the airline.

A United States-bound Air India flight which took off from the Indian capital city, Delhi was diverted to Russia, on Tuesday (June 6) after it developed a “technical issue” in one of the engines, a spokesperson from the airline. The Air India flight AI173 was reported to have safely landed in the Russian town of Magadan. The incident also comes a day United Airlines CEO had raised concerns about flights using Russian airspace with American citizens on board, a decision which was defended by the Air India chief. Air India about the incident The flight in question which took off from Delhi and was headed to San Francisco was carrying 216 passengers and 16 crew. “The passengers are being provided support on the ground and will be provided an alternate option to reach their destination at the earliest,” said Air India, in a statement. It added, “The aircraft is undergoing mandatory checks on the ground. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers.” Hours after the diversion, Air India confirmed that it would send an alternative aircraft from Magadan to San Francisco for passengers who are currently accommodated in local hotels in the Russian town. Washington reacts The United States on Tuesday said it is closely monitoring the situation. "We are aware of a US-bound flight that had to make an emergency landing in Russia and are continuing to monitor that situation closely. I'm not able to confirm how many US citizens were aboard the flight at this time," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters at his daily news conference. "It was a flight that was bound for the United States. So, it is, of course, likely that there are American citizens on board. There's public reporting from Air India that they are sending – what my understanding is – a replacement aircraft to the destination to have the passengers carry on for their route, but I would defer to the air carrier to speak to anything further on this," Patel said in response to a question. Russian aviation authority deals with passengers Russia had earlier said that it was ready to give permission to the Indian airline to land an additional reserve aircraft if needed in the country’s Far East, said Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsia. It also reported 220 passengers and 16 crew on board while Air India has said there were 216 passengers. Rosaviatsia also said that they are checking on the aircraft's technical condition. “At present, the question of passengers' stay and accommodation is being resolved by border, customs and regional authorities,” said Rosaviatsia, as quoted by Reuters. Meanwhile, an employee at the airport’s flight dispatch service in Magadan told Reuters that all passengers had been taken to hotels by buses. The anonymous source also told the news agency that the aircraft was “closed off and put under guard” as it waits for Air India specialists “to land on the reserve plane tomorrow”. He added, “It’s unclear (what happened), something is wrong with the engine, something is leaking out, they’ll look into it tomorrow,” as quoted by Reuters. Arguments about using the Russian airspace Notably, the incident also comes a day after Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, raised concerns about planes flying through Russian airspace with American citizens onboard. “What’s going to happen if an airline lands in Russia with some prominent US citizens on board? That is a potential crisis in the making,” said Kirby, adding that this issue should be solved “before the crisis happens.” However, on the same day, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson defended the airline’s use of Russian airspace. “Air India, we operate according to the ambit of what is provided to us by the nation of India and not all nations agree,” said Wilson, adding that the airline industry plays a critical role in connecting economies, people and cultures. (With inputs from agencies) 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.

Delhi-San Francisco Air India flight diverted to Russia after 'technical issue', US says closley monitoring

Another mass shooting incident in the United States. At least two people are killed and five others injured after a gunman fires into a crowd outside the venue of a high school graduation ceremony in Virginia

2 killed in Virginia mass shooting

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Explained | How Air India’s diverted flight to Russia landed amid airspace row between Moscow, the West

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Ukraine dam explosion: US not sure but possibility of Russian role being assessed