The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was slowing traffic but lifted a groundstop on flights from the upper Midwest and East Coast bound for New York LaGuardia International Airport on Wednesday afternoon. The FAA said it had also begun slowing traffic from the East Coast and Midwest bound for Philadelphia International Airport due to reduced visibility from wildfire smoke. The FAA said there were average delays of 29 minutes. United, the largest carrier at Newark, said it was adjusting its schedule as needed, while Delta, the biggest at LaGuardia said it does not expect cancelations at the moment from the visibility issues. Hundreds of forest fires in Canada have led to a blanket of smoky air, triggering health alarms in U.S. cities. The FAA said Newark was currently experiencing delays averaging 82 minutes while average LaGuardia ground delays are about two hours and departure delays are about 30 minutes. The New York City area has the most congested airspace in the … [Read more...] about Wildfire smoke from Canada disrupts New York, Philadelphia flights
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Canadian wildfires prompt new evacuations, alarm over air quality
OTTAWA - Firefighters battled hundreds of forest blazes on Wednesday as Canada's worst-ever early season wildfires prompted the evacuation of thousands and a blanket of smoky air wafting over U.S. cities. There are fires in nearly all of Canada's provinces and territories, with the eastern province of Quebec among the worst affected. The province, Canada's second-most populous, has suffered four times its 10-year average of wildfires so far this year. "Right now, with the manpower we have, we can fight about 40 fires at the same time. But we have 150 fires so we have to make sure that we focus where the problems are the more urgent," Quebec premier Francois Legault told reporters. South of the border, more than a dozen U.S. states were under air-quality alerts on Wednesday as smoke from the wildfires wafted south, casting a dull gray pallor over the skyline of New York and other big cities. Smoke from wildfires in Canada blankets the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool … [Read more...] about Canadian wildfires prompt new evacuations, alarm over air quality
UNDP one of Vietnam’s most important partners on development path: ambassador
Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang (second from right), Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, speaks at the dialogue. (Photo: VNA) New York (VNA) - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been and will continue to be one of the most important and trusted partners of the Government and people of Vietnam on the country’s development and integration pathway, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang has affirmed. Addressing an interactive dialogue between the UNDP Executive Board and UN member states held in New York on June 6 on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam - UN relations , the Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN pointed out impacts of such global issues as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, geo-political tensions, and food and energy crises. As a speaker at the meeting to share the country’s success story, he said that in this context, the Vietnamese Government has implemented a number of measures to protect people’s health, … [Read more...] about UNDP one of Vietnam’s most important partners on development path: ambassador
Beyond sushi: Japan expands veggie options to tempt tourists
Even on a weekday, there's a queue at Tokyo's vegan Izakaya Masaka, including many tourists eager to try meat-free versions of Japanese classics like fried chicken and juicy dumplings. While millions of visitors have happily savoured Japan's fish- and meat-heavy cuisine, options for vegetarians and vegans are harder to find. Now, Tokyo and other cities are on a mission to show the country's renowned gastronomy is not off-limits to those who don't eat meat. Tina Bui, a 36-year-old vegan from San Francisco, said she was very excited to order the signature "karaage" soy fried chicken at Izakaya Masaka. She said plant-based options were limited in Japan compared to the United States, with just "enough for me to survive" a short trip. Chef Katsumi Kusumoto (L), of the vegan restaurant Saido, is helping other eateries expand their veggie offerings Tokyo's government has held seminars for restaurateursand dispatched experts to help eateries develop new menu items, … [Read more...] about Beyond sushi: Japan expands veggie options to tempt tourists