China reports fatal H5N6 avian flu case
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Farmers must kill 4.2 million chickens after bird flu hits Iowa egg farm
Updated 3:35 PM PDT, May 28, 2024Share https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-iowa-how-many-chickens-6a8cd70e4293d0dee4fef6d0dcfbdce7
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — More than 4 million chickens in Iowa will have to be killed after a case of the highly pathogenic bird flu was detected at a large egg farm, the state announced Tuesday.
Crews are in the process of killing 4.2 million chickens after the disease was found at a farm in Sioux County, Iowa, making it the latest in a yearslong outbreak that now is affecting dairy cattle as well. Last week, the virus was confirmed at an egg farm west of Minneapolis, Minnesota, leading to the slaughter of nearly 1.4 million chickens.
Overall, 92.34 million birds have been killed since the outbreak began in 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Although bird flu has become somewhat common among poultry, its spread to cattle has added to worries about the disease. In May, a second dairy farmworker was diagnosed with bird flu, and the virus was detected in both beef and milk. It has been confirmed on dairy cattle farms in nine states.
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Health and agriculture officials have said the risk to the public remains low. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the meat from a single sickened dairy cow was not allowed to enter the nation’s food supply and beef remains safe to eat.
Workers exposed to infected animals are at a higher risk. The only three human cases confirmed in the United States included two dairy workers and one man working to slaughter infected birds on a poultry farm.
Four poachers imprisoned, fined for hunting wild animals in Dhofar
29 MAY 2024
Muscat – Four citizens were imprisoned for one year and fined RO1,000 for hunting and killing wild animals in Dhofar governorate.
In a statement, Environment Authority (EA) said, ‘The Court of Appeal in Salalah issued a ruling convicting the defendants of the misdemeanour of hunting and killing an Arabian gazelle and Nubian ibex, and a number of wild birds in Dhofar governorate.’
The court ordered that all four defendants should face one year of imprisonment, a fine of RO1,000, and the confiscation of seized items such as weapons, binoculars, phones and vehicle.
The Environment Authority called on everyone to preserve wildlife and avoid actions that may lead to legal accountability.
Rick Steves Has Crucial Tips For Vegetarians Traveling To Europe
https://www.islands.com/1585906/rick-steves-crucial-tip-vegetarians-europe/
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Rick Steves Has Crucial Tips For Vegetarians Traveling To EuropeBy Jenna BuschMay 26, 2024 5:15 pm ESTDave Collins/Getty ImagesTraveling with food restrictions can be difficult, especially as a vegan or vegetarian. You think you’re safe with a salad, and then it arrives at your table with chicken on it. Fear not, fellow veggies, because travel pro Rick Steves has some crucial tips for visiting Europe that can help you navigate menus, find restaurants that have what you want, and ensure you keep yourself fed while on vacation. By the way, if you aren’t familiar with the terms, vegetarians don’t eat meat, poultry, or fish, and vegans eschew animal products altogether, including items like eggs, dairy, and honey.
It’s not that you won’t find vegetarians or vegans in Europe. Steves said of veganism on his website, “Veganism is roughly as common in Europe as in the US, and big European cities, especially those with thriving arts scenes (London, Berlin, Prague, Amsterdam) have at least a handful of restaurants catering to a substantial vegan population. ” However, that doesn’t mean everyone knows the exact definitions, which can get you into trouble.
Fill up on breakfast and utilize grocery stores for snacks and meals
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First, Rick Steves advises vegans and vegetarians to fill up on breakfast foods. While many countries serve meat in the morning, vegetarians can often find cheese and eggs. The first meal of the day also tends to have a lot of snack options, like bread, fruit, cereal, and even sometimes vegetables and beans. Oatmeal, another great option, has fiber that can keep you full through the day. If your hotel happens to have a complimentary breakfast, grab some extra snacks to carry with you. At hotels, you have a better chance of encountering someone who speaks English as well, so you can ask about ingredients if you need to.
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While there are many good reasons to always carry a Ziploc bag, vegans and vegetarians can benefit greatly from using these plastic containers to pack up breakfast food to enjoy later. You can also pick up on-the-go options at a grocery store. Steves points out that you’ll often see the symbol of a green leaf with a “v” on it or a label that says “suitable for vegetarians” or “suitable for vegans.” You should be okay with items bearing these indicators; however, due to the fact that these labels are included voluntarily, you should consider reading the guidelines (pdf) first. Steves further suggests staying at an Airbnb or other self-catering rental with a kitchen where you can make your own meals using ingredients purchased from the store.
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Eating out as a vegetarian or vegan in Europe
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Restaurants can be a bit trickier, as they may not have the same definition of vegetarian or vegan as you do. Rick Steves wrote on his website, “Very often, Europeans think ‘vegetarian” means ‘no red meat’ or ‘not much meat.’ If you are a strict vegetarian, you’ll have to make things very clear. Write the appropriate phrase, keep it handy, and show it to each waiter before ordering your meal.”
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It can also help to put your restrictions through a translator. In fact, tourists traveling abroad can use the Google Translate app to keep meals stress-free. In conversation mode, you and the server can each speak in your own language, and the app will translate it for you instantly. You can also use its camera mode to translate food labels. Steves further mentioned looking for street food, including pizza, falafel, and salads, which you can eat at a fountain or on steps (check for signs, just in case).
Doing some research before you arrive can also serve you well. If you have an idea of how some of the more popular local dishes are made, you may find some veggie options to look out for on menus. Keep in mind the pretty but costly tourist trap quality to avoid when picking a restaurant in Italy and around Europe. One incredible resource is HappyCow.net. This great site that Steves recommends (and that we at Islands have used a lot) has listings of vegetarian and vegan restaurants all over the world. For instance, if you search “Athens, Greece,” you’ll find over 200 results with information and reviews from other travelers.
Read More: https://www.islands.com/1585906/rick-steves-crucial-tip-vegetarians-europe/
Mexico is so Hot, Monkeys are Dropping Dead from Trees
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By Trinity Sparke
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Mexico is grappling with an unprecedented heatwave so severe that it’s causing howler monkeys to fall dead from the trees in the Gulf Coast state of Tabasco. At least 83 of these midsize primates have perished, with the brutal heatwave also claiming the lives of at least 26 people since March.
Residents have been rescuing some of the stricken monkeys, including five that were rushed to a local veterinarian, Dr. Sergio Valenzuela. “They arrived in critical condition, with dehydration and fever. They were as limp as rags,” said Valenzuela. The monkeys are showing signs of recovery thanks to prompt treatment involving ice and IV drips. Once listless, they are now more lively, which is a positive sign for their recovery.
Unfortunately, many howler monkeys have not been as fortunate. Wildlife biologist Gilberto Pozo reported that around 83 monkeys were found dead or dying on the ground beneath the trees. The die-off, which began around May 5, peaked over the weekend. Severely dehydrated, the monkeys often died within minutes of falling from heights, their weakened state exacerbating the fatal impact.
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The deaths are attributed to extreme heat, drought, forest fires, and logging. These factors have deprived the monkeys of essential resources like water, shade, and food. Pozo emphasized the significance of this tragedy, stating, “This is a sentinel species. It is telling us something about what is happening with Climate change.”
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Secret to life…
Alaska fisherman pleads guilty to federal charges after ordering crew to shoot whale
BY: JAMES BROOKS – MAY 25, 2024 5:00 AM
A sperm whale is seen in an undated photo published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (NOAA photo)
A Southeast Alaska fisherman has agreed to plead guilty to a federal misdemeanor after admitting that he directed the shooting of a sperm whale northwest of Sitka in March 2020.
According to federal court filings, fisherman Dugan Daniels ordered a member of his crew to shoot the whale and tried to ram it with his fishing boat, the Pacific Bounty.
Daniels also agreed to plead guilty to a felony for lying about a sablefish catch in fall 2020, according to the text of the plea deal. His attorney declined comment on the case.
The charges and the plea deal were filed by federal prosecutors last week and were first reported by Court Watch, a newsletter that monitors federal legal filings nationwide.
Under the terms of the agreement, Daniels will pay a $25,000 fine and be sentenced to no more than 6 months in prison, with the exact term to be set by a judge.
Daniels also will perform 80 hours of community service, and if he owns, operates or manages a commercial fishing boat in the future, it must be monitored by the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Daniels is a board member of the Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association, which oversees fish hatcheries in southern Southeast Alaska.
Association manager Susan Doherty said she was unaware of the charges until contacted by a reporter. Daniels had been appointed to the board to fill a vacancy, she said, and had been serving since January.
Reagan Zimmerman, spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s office in Alaska, said the office is “unaware of any prior criminal case involving the taking of a sperm whale in the District of Alaska, so this is a first of its kind case.”
The case was investigated by the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement, she said. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is the parent agency of the National Marine Fisheries Service.
A NOAA attorney declined comment on Friday.
According to the plea deal, Daniels recounted his encounter with the whale, “specifically, his crew shooting the sperm whale, his efforts to ram the whale with the vessel and coming within five feet of doing so, and his desire to kill the sperm whale,” in text messages to multiple people.
The document isn’t clear about whether the whale survived the encounter.
“That information is not within the public record, so our office cannot comment on the status of the whale,” Zimmerman said.
Explaining the sablefish felony, the plea deal states that Daniels falsified fisheries records so that it appeared his boat caught more than 12,000 pounds of sablefish — also called black cod — in federal waters. In reality, federal prosecutors said, he caught the fish in state waters, where the fishery is more tightly regulated.
Court records show Daniels is scheduled to appear in court at Juneau on June 6 to be arraigned and formally offer a guilty plea.
