ah, al jazeera selects ah, the u. s. accuses russia weapon, ising energy as moscow threatened to cut off gas to more european countries. ah, hello, i'm darn jordan. this is out as they are alive. window are also coming up. a surprise prisoner swap between russia and the u. s. a former marine has been traded for russian pilot, who was serving a 20 year sentence, hungry and desperate millions of families across the horn of africa faced the worst

drought. and 40 years plus, you owe a quarter of a 1000000 worshippers, observed the holiest night of ramadan. of the alex, a mosque, unoccupied, east to lucy. ah, russia has threatened to cut off gas to more european countries up turning up the taps to poland and bulgaria, but their refusal to pay in roubles. the european union has accused the kremlin abusing energy to blackmail countries supporting ukraine in its fight against russian forces. but in baba report, it had been predicted by some fear by many more. but european leaders see russia's move to hold gas supplies to poland and bulgaria, because they won't pay in roubles. as aggressive comes as no surprise that the kremlin uses fossil fuels to try to black. my last,

this is something that your pin commission has been preparing for in close coordination and solidarity with member states and international partners. our response will be immediate. united and coordinated. moscow says countries can still pay for gas imports in euro's or dollars, but only if they open russian bank accounts, which then convert the currency and make the final payments. it's thought some countries have already done so, but bo guerria, which gets the vast majority of its gas supplies from gas problem is not one of them. yeah, i want to put them in and we will not succumb to such a racket, but gary ever is reviewing all agreements with gas problem, including the agreement on gas transit, 3 bulk area, because one sided blackmail is not acceptable. the polish president is promised to take legal action, but the prime minister is insisting there's no immediate threat saying storage facilities are 3 quarters full higher than in most of europe. in that port question,

i've emphasized many times poland had previously prepared to diversify supplies and obtain gas from various sources. even before the bolted gas pipeline is launched, will be able to protect our economy. to protect public households from such a dramatic step by russia. some was so residents, if not all seem reassured, the 2nd thing to go to this man says, shutting down gas supplies might end up harming russia. he says his country has reserves 11. she was at the party, which is, well, this woman one does how much pose like her will have to pay for development linked to the ukraine war, saying things are already incredibly expensive. the use biggest economy, germany has been the most reluctant to end gas imports from russia, but a wednesday it said it was speeding up efforts to find alternatives, including liquefied natural gas or the condition of the sea. i can say that our russian gas dependency, which was that 55 percent before the war and dropped to 40 percent

a few weeks ago. now it's 35 percent and retreat. so for now, the common messages there's no need to panic, but it's hard to say how rushes move will play into the existing energy price crisis across europe. nadeem barbara al jazeera. vladimir putin has claimed that ukraine was pushed to clash with russia. man, moscow's reaction was just unfair. speaking to politicians in saint petersburg, he warned that any country that interferes with russia as military campaign in ukraine, will face consequences if anyone would want to interfere with what's happening in ukraine now from the outside, they have to know rushes response will be sweetener and fast we have all sorts of tools that the west cannot obtain, and we will not post of our weapons, but we will use them if need be. and i want everyone to know that you don't have to worry has more from moscow. the russian president, who's not really passing up this opportunity to reiterate,

at the reasons that he felt it was necessary for him to make the decision to send the russian troops into crane in what he calls a special moves here. operation that is now in its 63rd day vladimir putin, as we just heard, a had a very strong and stern warning for those countries that are assisting ukraine in the fight against their russian troops. he said that they are basically a fair game for the russians, and that they are, this is a fight between russia and ukraine and that's the 3rd countries that are getting involved. really, i have no right to do so. and that at he feels that he will be forced to make a decision as to whether or not to use all the tools that are at his disposal to ensure a victory for the russian military. now, vladimir putin was also a speaking quite a bit about the objectives that he set out for his legislative officials about ensuring that russia's economy stays intact. and he said that to the attempts that

have been made by the western powers to try to cripple russia's economy through severe sanctions, have failed. and that to russia is standing still at and they are not going to allow its economy to crumble. he also urge the officials that he was speaking to. he said to it, they have to work on anti crisis measures and also they have to strengthen the country sovereignty. there's a lot of emphasis on trying to basically ensure that russia's economy stays strong and that the rubel doesn't plummet like it did. a few weeks ago. middle, the, you and 2nd general as arrived in ukraine as he pushes for sci fi and the 2 month war. tony bitters was in moscow on tuesday, where he met russia's president. vladimir putin on his arrival in ukraine guitar was treated that he'll continue to work to expand. humanitarian support and security evacuation of civilians is expected to meet ukrainian president vladimir zalinski later in the week. or russian forces have continued to pound the last

known stronghold of ukrainian forces in the besieged city of multiple thousands of troops and civilians are still hold up in the upstairs still works on tuesday, president putin declared that there are no military operations underway in the city . ukraine and officials of coal, the situation, their humanitarian catastrophe. earlier ukrainian commander stuck inside the plant had this to say what they need their over 600 wounded men in our group with different levels that they really need medical attention and health care. there is no medical personnel, all medication. there are also wounded civilian, hundreds of people, the dozens of children. many people have limited mobility. the situation is very difficult. there are huge problems with water and food completely extraction procedure. today is not 19 forties 2022. people are simply die here. well, thousands of ukrainians of fled as the fighting gets closer. those who remain rely

on the bravery of workers who deliver their food. al jazeera charles stratford, reports near tourette's can eastern ukraine. natalia has worked at this bred factory. the town of buck moved in eastern ukraine for 13 years. russian forces of slowly getting closer. they are 1st firing, artillery shells and rockets. then moving in or nearby villages. the closer they get, the more tempted the mother of 2 is to leave for your so let me, let me, i'm very worried for myself, for my family, for the children, for my job is frightening. going to and from work because i hear the explosions in the distance. i love my job and have many friends. i don't want to leave them. the bread factory is the largest and oldest business entailed employee around 200 people. they supply bread to many surrounding villages, but the amount of customers is shrinking as they flee the slow russian army advance

volunteer delivery driver. andre is a brave man. after loading up his van with freshly baked gloves, he heads out of hand towards the front line. we follow him alone, isolated mc country roads to a village near the russian army control town called lyrica, the village shopkeeper. the few people still living here have be waiting for his delivery for 3 days. don't believe there is in school over there. close to part of the whole field has been shelled so heavily. it looks like they're digging it gravel look, but it's so loud there in there. so people living. i don't feel particularly afraid . people need bread. they have to eat, if they show me, so be it to this is was, the village sits in between the advancing russian army, ukrainian military defense dog in across the fields. the train stopped coming here in 2014, when pro russian separatists cease control of the next city down the tracks,

does all the ration which instruction as it's terrifying, there are explosions, constantly getting food to us is dangerous and there's never enough. we feel surrounded because they shoot from the side and not side. all of those who are left here are, there are no medicines available. no buses, nor transport. you're not. so we drive to, to risk swerving between piles of soil, heaped on the road to try and slow down and the russian army advance in nearby village, we find homes destroyed. you create an army, tell us that this village has been hit by russian artillery. a number of times in the last week, they say at least one civilian has been killed in these strikes. the most recent strike was this morning. a number of civilians injured. the soldiers here tell us that the russian positions are around 7 kilometers from here. ukrainian soldiers

say russian forces are trying to destroy a radio antenna. but so far, i've only succeeded in destroying lives. charles stratford al jazeera, eastern new grade. the international criminal court chief prosecutor says he's received no response from russia about his investigation into alleged war crimes committed during the war and ukraine. speaking at the united nations kareem khan said, the world is holding its breath waiting for a resolution of the conflict. this is a time when we need to mobilize to law and send it in to battle, not to not on the side of ukraine, against the russian federation, on the side of the russian federation against ukraine. but on the side of humanity to protect, to preserve, to shield people who are children, who are women, and who are men who have certain basic rights. and at that age at those people, whether they are russian or whether they're ukrainian is absolutely relevant. their families and their lives are being torn apart. so if this moment is not

a moment for us to define and strain our sinews and come together, what moment will we wait for? and will we be alive to see it? for a short breakout to 0, when we come back, we look at how a fi at a landfill coupled with a heat wave is making life unbearable for some new jelly. more that stay with us. ah ha. the weather is set fair across eastern parts of the us just means eastern parts of canada over the next couple of days, caraway now in the process of pulling out to the way, brightest guys come back in behind. courtesy of high pressure which will keep a satellite where the systems getting squeezed out to the way we have got a little disturbance towards the south west, which will gather and develop further as we go on through the next day or so ahead of that loss. a warm air across the plains to the north of that some cold air in

play chicago, 4 degrees celsius. but south of that line, south of our cold front, kansas city had around $23.00 degrees and it's going to be the warmer where, which was grassy ease a little further east was. we got some live showers and from that area of low pressure which is pushed across the plains by this stage, thursday, seeing some bacon foundry showers, and friday showers a little more widespread. running right up across the prairies into west central parts of canada for a time. some live the storms coming through here. and this weather next weather system out to both pacific northwest will bring cloud and rain in here for the weekend. cloud and rain being some big, big downpours into where panama into were costa rica, few showers around central america. not too bad for the caribbean, but rain for the limits. ah. the wake temperatures reach minus 35 degrees celsius and mounted roads become barely

possible. one small may be best served as a lifeline for a community facing environmental and cultural change. al jazeera well joined the regulars on board techies. shin chi, a boss analogies in mm oh oh, we'll get back to pick them out about top stories here. this salad, russia has threatened to cut off gas supplies to more european countries oper, turning off the tops to poland, gumbo guerria of their refusal to pain roubles. the you says the president is using

energy to blackmail come for support in the ukraine. and russian president vladimir putin. us warned that any country that attempts to interfere with moscow's military campaign in ukraine will faced immediate consequences on russian forces. i've continued to pound the last known stronghold of ukrainian forces and multiple thousands of soldiers and civilians are still hold up in there also style steel works where conditions are set to be growing more dire. now despite being deeply divided over the ukraine of war, russia and the u. s. have completed a surprise, prisoner swap, rushes, foreign ministry says former us marine trevor read has been traded for a russian pilot that was serving a 20 year sentence. our white house correspondent, kimberly hulk. it reports the release of trevor read a former us marine serving a 19 year jail sentence, and russia follows a lengthy negotiation process. the 30 year old was released as part of a prisoner exchange for constantine. yar shinkel,

a russian pilot convicted of conspiracy to smuggle cocaine into the united states. yar shanker was arrested in liberia in 2010, but then extradited to the us in a statement president joe biden praised the safe return of read as a testament to the priority. his administration places on bringing home americans held hostage and wrongfully detained abroad, adding it require difficult decisions that i do not take lightly. the timing is unexpected. us russia relations are at their lowest point in decades following russia's invasion of ukraine. but the biden white house has always maintained there's value in dialogue with adversaries. for example, america or russian cosmonaut nationals are flying together and the other nurses playstation. let's continue with this martha warren recruit. so it is true. oh,

you're awesome. russia. oh carry on the number of or from her to lose some of which will not always you lou reed was sentenced following a public trial in russia for assaulting a police officer in 20. 19. it's a charge. his family denies reeds. family had been concerned for his health during detention. they say he contract a tuberculosis and was suffering and solitary confinement and from forced hard labor entailed last month reeds, family stage to protest at the white house, and met with bite and pleading for help to secure their sons release in a state. and wednesday they credited the president forgetting trevor out saying biden's actions may have saved trevor's life. trevor read is said to be in good spirits and on his way to the united states. but other americans like security executive, paul whalen, and basketball player. brittany greiner remain in russian captivity,

and despite tensions with russia, president biden says the united states will not stop working to secure their release. kimberly, how can al jazeera, the white house and my can joins us live now from washington dc. mike, so we understand trouble reads, family have been talking about his unexpected release. what melvin said yes indeed. well there at the home in texas, preparing for his arrival. they watched footage of his transfer from a russian aircraft to a u. s. one at a turkish air base, and they expressed concern about his health, his father saying that he appears to be walking a little unsteadily, his mother remarking that he appears to be thin. they spoke to him by telephone once he was on the u. s. plane as well and he does appear to be in good spirits despite his apparent ailments. but above all, his family are utterly delighted that he is returning back to the us. and this is

what his mother paula had to say. finally, after waiting all this time, i'm going to be able to hug my kid. you know, my arms around him. i had a little bit of a panic attack. when he told me he was going to spend the whole summary russia. so 9 months and then now it's been almost a 1000 day, so i'm just excited to see him. a state department spokesman says that trevor read is expected to arrive in the u. s. a. some time overnight. there's no specific time about his arrival, but the swap would have been remarkable even in times of peace. but it's all the more surprising, given the fact that the russian invasion of ukraine has reduced relations to the u . s. to the lowest point in decades. mike, thank you. now, one of the holiest nights of the year in islam was being observed and occupied east jerusalem. earlier there were an estimated quarter of a 1000000 worshippers of the alex um mosque for layla al qaeda, which marks the 27th night of the month of ramadan. ah,

it follows is ready to raise the holy site down the killing of at least 17 palestinians in a crank, down across the occupied westbank 2 of them. in the last 2 days, stephanie becker sent us this report from occupied east jerusalem. it is the holiest night in the slimy calendar from muslims and a quarter of a 1000000 worshippers are now inside the compound, carrying out prayers. i'll let you take your little closer. you can see the courtyard filmed, filled with worshipper, as they are now going to be carrying out prayers throughout the night until sunrise, the lady at the others. you mentioned there is the night that it's believe that the court on was revealed to the prophet mohammed by god. it's believed that the prayers that people's prayers are heard that the heavens open and angels come to earth. this is why you see so many people gathering here. they've come from the occupied westbank from north israel from all over really there's been a lot of traffic during the day around this area. roads have been closed and it's

the largest number of people that we've seen over the last couple of years because of course, the corona pandemic. and also last year, you had the escalation, you had the tensions on the compound which led to the gods award. i think will so a reminder that this is as many palestinians will tell you as many muslims will tell you a red line alex, the mosque is a red line and it has the ability to trigger a much wider conflict. what happens at this site, but certainly to night on the holiest night for muslims are going very peacefully with a huge amount of people on the compound praying. and we are expecting them to stay there and more to come throughout the night. firefighters are trying to contain a huge blaze of the landfills, sides outside in the us capital during a heat wave. the prime minister says, temperatures are getting too high, too early in the year. adding to the risk of fires under chappelle reports.

flames burn for a 2nd day at the ballast while landfill adding to the hazardous air quality in the capitol. the plumes of smoke hard for any one to avoid, especially waste workers. why does not allow galaxy? yet ne botany. there's a fire every year. it's not new, there is a risk to life and livelihood. many slum dwellings caught fire people left. but what do we do? picking through rubbish to earn a living, they're only option is to carry on and risk the dangerous smoke as firefighters continue to battle the blaze. either alicia, observe the method of damage. we are very scared. we inhaled these gases which caused diseases. i feel pain, hold breathing the fall, and there are many others like this modem again. if indians are suffering a heat wave, which is adding to the risk of fires, march was the hottest month and more than a century galbraith prime minister neurons remote, a warrant state governments at temperatures are rising much earlier than normal leading to wildfires and fires and buildings such as hospitals,

he's urging the urgent implementation of safety checks the landfill was supposed to close years ago. the decaying waste produces methane gas that feeds the fire, instead of shutting the way stumped. the city adds 2000 tons of new waste every day . and a chappelle al jazeera, the un says it's a pole by the killing of at least $213.00 people in sedan since monday. michelle bachelor, the jo ann's human rights chief, is quoting for an investigation into the deaths. doctor's incident say they were killed in gun battles between nomadic arab tribes on non arabs and west dar for state on rest. later spread to the state capitol alga remains so scarce resources of caused confrontations from any 20 years. even morgan has more from cotton. from friday up until monday evening, there was a lot of tension and a loss of fighting between the non arab mosley tribe. and the arab nomads in west are 4 in the area of carina, which then eventually moved to the capital of west

r for janina that the sovereignty counselled as the highest ruling body or the only governing body right now here in sudan has held an emergency meeting or led by general adams at the uncle han who headed the security and defense committee. and the issued following the fallen positions. they said that they will be sending a team of, or, or rather they will be deploy military to the area to try to separate between the 2 warring sides. but that they will also try to address the root causes of the conflict. a member of the sovereignty council also is visiting jeanina to day on wednesday, and he will be looking into the issue with the state authorities. so there has been a lot of tension between the 2 sides between the arabs and the non arabs. but this latest round of violence has resulted in a very high death dole, including people who have been injured to comments. he puts it in, his doctor says at least 200 people have been injured. as a result of the violence and tens of thousands have been displaced. now, millions of people living in the horn of africa are experiencing some of the worst

effects of climate change. 2019 brought extreme rain and flooding, followed by swarms of locusts. well now the regions experiencing its worst drought in 40 years and 20000000 people are at risk of starvation. the conditions have destroyed crops and killed millions of livestock forcing people to leave their homes in search of food and water full of harm. matessa reports from masa bit county in northern kenya, around 3 and a half 1000000 people. there are suffering after years of drought, lo chico, and had a coating. young a worries about the baby boy. he 7 months old and sick, weak and hungry. there isn't enough food because of a drug. his mother can get enough food to eat and comp would use enough milk for him. they lost another child in february. they say he stopped a little going to, he'll get along. he got sick and died. i don't know what to do about this other child. he might also die because he's hungry. millions of families across the horn

of africa, a hungry and desperate might. it might not be facing the worst drought. the region has seen in 40 years. in kenya, more than 3 and a half 1000000 people need immediate help. agencies say nearly 800000 of them are children. the animals too are dying as it gets hotter and dryer. people out here tend to move around a lot, looking for food and water for themselves, and the animal of many areas are remote to the nearest hospital can be hours away. some of the women have say they can be very early in the morning and only get to the clinic late at night. cases of malnutrition, arising at this local health center, health workers are struggling to cope. they say when some of the children get here, they are severely malnourished. my to join us new here for so long myself. i can say it is her pony, my position, but it wasn't because of the drought. for the last 2 years, we have not received winful grace gibbons,

his many children are going to school hungry. she says this drought is the worst she has ever seen. some of them, they're just die. and we have nothing to just feed them. and i me more all day. good, good. just depend a flaw on what little water is left in streams and rivers may soon run out. desperate family's strength, the little that's left and can only hope the rains soon fall again. had him attached to al jazeera, martha bit county, northern king. the 1st woman to serve as us secretary of state has been laid to rest. hundreds of politicians and diplomats from around the world paid their respects to madeline albright at the washington national cathedral. political hey, was that? oh, the status of those in attendance said much about who madeline albert was and what she accomplished in life. current and former president and vice president,

secretary of state cabinet members, congress and diplomats and politicians from around the world celebrating the life of the former us ambassador to the united nations. and then the 1st female secretary of state, a fierce advocate for women in national security. she did just help other women. she spent her entire life counseling and cajoling, inspiring and lifting up so many of us who are here to day. her work remembered as a hawkish proponent of u. s. military power. pushing her then boss bill clinton to take action in kosovo. she tried to stick up for people who were left out on wealth behind. and in spite of all of its own perfections and we all know them. i'm very grateful to pieces held and bought it for now or the 26 years. madeline was a big part of the reason. nato was still strong and

galvanized as it is to day. madeline never minced words or wasted time when she saw something new fixing or someone who needed helping. but she was also controversial, among other things, pushing for tough sanctions on iraq, the critic se led to children dying of hunger and medicine shortages. we have heard that a half a 1000000 children have died. is the price worth it? i think this is a very hard choice, but the price we think the price is worth it. still here, she was remembered by those who knew her best as a diplomat, mentor, author, and mother, and all that she accomplished. much of the focus was on what a truly remarkable life madeline albright led firstly in europe twice coming to the united states. eventually rising to the top position. the 1st woman,

secretary of state, a leader and national security and foreign policy that lasted for decades. she died at the age of $84.00 patty calhane al jazeera washington. and a quick reminder, you can catch up with all the news on our website. there it is on your screen. the address al jazeera dot com. ah, norfolk richard of the headlines here on al jazeera, russia has threatened to cut off gas supplies to more european countries, often turning off the taps to poland and bulgaria over their refusal to pay in roubles. the e u says the kremlin is using energy to blackmail countries supporting ukraine. vladimir putin, his claim, but ukraine was.