Thursday morning news: June 8, 2023

KENT COVINGTON, NEWS ANCHOR: Canadian wildfires, U.S. air quality » The air quality in parts of the United States has reached hazardous levels as smoke from Canadian wildfires blankets the Northeast and Midwest.

That forced Major League Baseball had to postpone games in New York and Philadelphia last night.

Meteorologist Zack Taylor:

ZACH TAYLOR: Unfortunately, we don’t see a lot of improvement at least to the end of the week, where we’ll probably have some of that poor air quality and pretty hazardous air quality conditions.

Heavy smoke has triggered air quality alerts as far south as South Carolina.

More than 400 fires are currently burning across Canada in what could be the country’s worst wildfire season on record.

Ukraine » In southern Ukraine, authorities rushed to rescue hundreds of people stranded on rooftops Wednesday after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam along the Dnieper River one day earlier.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal:

DENYS SHMYHAL: The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station is a crime against humanity. Russia must face power and unified response.

Moscow claims Ukraine was to blame.

U.S. officials say they cannot yet determine exactly what happened to the dam.

The disaster has left many Ukrainians homeless and without drinking water. Crops are ruined, land mines have been displaced, and the stage is set for long-term electricity shortages.

Pence » Former Vice President Mike Pence opened his bid for the White House on Wednesday in Iowa by blasting President Biden’s policies and firmly denouncing former President Donald Trump.

At a launch event in suburban Des Moines, Pence again said Trump was wrong to demand that he not certify the 2020 election results.

MIKE PENCE: And on that day, President Trump also demanded that I choose between him and the Constitution. Now voters will be faced with the same choice. I chose the Constitution, and I always will.

Pence also said his two-time running mate has abandoned conservative principles.

He said, “After leading the most pro-life administration in American history, Donald Trump [is] retreating from the cause of the unborn” and blaming “election losses in 2022 on overturning Roe v. Wade.”

Burgum » Meantime, another Republican candidate threw his hat in the ring.

DOUG BURGUM: We need a leader who is clearly focused on three things: economy, energy, and national security.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum announced his campaign in Fargo on Wednesday.

BURGUM: And that is why today, I’m officially announcing that I’m running for the president of the United States of America!

The 66-year-old two-term governor is a husband and father of three.

Burgum joins a field of now nearly a dozen Republican candidates.

U.S., China defense chiefs square off in Singapore » White House National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby says the U.S. will keep a strong presence in the Indo-Pacific region despite threats from China:

JOHN KIRBY: If the message that they're trying to send is that we're not welcome or or our presence needs to be diminished or they want us to stop flying and sailing and operating in support of international law. Not going to happen.

At a meeting last weekend in Singapore, China’s Defense Secretary … said no country would be allowed to come between China and Taiwan without facing consequences.

A short time later, Chinese naval vessel harassed a U-S destroyer in the Taiwan Strait.

Target » Stock of retail giant Target continues to fall amid a boycott. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has more.

JOSH SCHUMACHER: Target shares dropped nearly 1% on Wednesday. The corporation has now lost about $13 billion dollars in market value.

Customers revolted in response to Target’s “PRIDE” merchandise displays. And the controversy grew with revelations that the company has long partnered with a group that looks to inject LGBT materials in schools … and keep parents in the dark if their children choose to identify as the opposite gender.

Fox News reported this week that Target has also funded a group that calls for sanctions against Israel and for shutting down Mount Rushmore as a symbol of white supremacy.

Twitter and Tesla CEO Elon Musk this week predicted that Target will eventually face a class action lawsuit from investors over political decisions by the company that have worked against its shareholders.

For WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Pro-life lawmakers in Oklahoma hit unexpected roadblocks. Plus, preserving memories from the mission field.

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