Latvia reports bird flu in backyard poultry
PARIS, June 2 (Reuters) - Latvia has reported a first outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza among poultry, the World Organisation for Animal Health said on Monday.
The outbreak occurred in a flock of 190 backyard poultry birds in the district of Birzgales, Paris-based WOAH said in a notice, citing Latvian authorities.
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The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Four ways you can use your kitchen scraps to help your plants grow
DON'T bin you kitchen scraps – use them to get your garden blooming. From tea leaves to egg shells, your waste items can give your plants a boost. Here's how . . . BANANA PEEL: Skin from bananas can be give plants a natural potassium boost which helps when flowers are forming, according to David Denyer, from He said: 'Bake your banana peels at a low temperature for a few hours, then either blend or grind them into a fine powder. 'Mix the powder into your soil to provide a slow, steady release of nutrients that can really make a difference to plants such as dahlias, calendula or cosmos.' EGGSHELLS: You can support repeat bloomers such as petunias and geraniums with old eggshells. Grind them into a fine powder and soak in vinegar for 24 hours, says David. Once the solution has cooled, you can pour it around the base of your flowering plants. RINSE WATER: When washing dried pulses such as lentils and chickpeas, save the water rather than pouring it down the drain. Then use it to tip on plants to give soil a gentle drink. David says: 'It contains natural starches and minerals from the legumes, which feed the helpful microbes in your soil. "These help unlock nutrients like phosphorus and potassium that plants need to stay healthy and flower well.' TEA LEAVES: Acid-loving plants such as roses, hydrangeas and azaleas will appreciate used tea leaves for a health boost. They contain small amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which lightly lower the soil pH. This makes it easier for certain plants to absorb nutrients that help deepen petal colour. David adds: 'Sprinkle the damp tea leaves directly on to the soil around your plants and gently water them in. "Just make sure there's no milk or sugar, as that can attract pests or lead to mould in your soil.' 7 Aldi is selling a cheap $2.19 item in the 'finds aisle' that will transform your garden into a colorful summer paradise All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability Deal of the day KEEP it cool when temp-eratures rise with the 29in Neo tower fan, down from £89.99 to £23.43 at Debenhams. Cheap treat GIVE your pout some shine with this lip gloss duo, £4.99, from H&M. Top swap COMFORT is all in the sole with these Birkenstock clogs, £130, from Office. Or trot to Primark and pick up a similar style for £10. Shop & save 7 KICK back with help from this mushroom footstool, down from £49.99 to £29.99 at Wilko. Hot right now BAG three for two on Co-Op's newly launched picnic range which includes pork pies, salads and more. PLAY NOW TO WIN £200 7 JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we're giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you're saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
James Blunt shares heart-wrenching reason he made Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher his son's godmother
James Blunt asked Carrie Fisher to be his son's godmother in the hope the honor would encourage her to 'look after [herself]' better. The You're Beautiful singer, 51, lived with the late Star Wars star in the early 2000s while recording his debut album Back To Bedlam. And they remained close over the years. So when he and wife Sofia Wellesley welcomed the first of their two boys, he asked Carrie to take on a special role in the youngster's life. And James revealed there was an underlying motivation in asking his friend — who died in December 2016 aged 60 after going into cardiac arrest, with drugs found in her system during post-mortem tests — to be godmother. He recalled to People magazine: 'I told her everything. I told her when I met my wife, we chose engagement rings together. She's godmother to my child. I was with her the day before she died, and it was very, very sad.' He added, 'What was saddest, I suppose, is how I asked her to be godmother to my child, saying, "I'm asking you to do this in the hope that you'll look after yourself a little bit better." And she didn't, really.' James met Carrie when he was dating one of her family friends and during a group lunch in London. He told the Sibling Rivalry actress he was a musician planning to head to Los Angeles, and when he admitted he didn't know where he was going to live, she invited him to stay with her. He reflected: 'It was remarkable. The first three months, I didn't speak to her. I literally didn't. Her mom, Deborah Reynolds, was on the property. I'd see them around, but I would leave in the morning. I'd go off to the studio. I'd come back late, late, late at night, and I just didn't speak to her.' But after three months, the musician went into the kitchen late at night and found Carrie's staff talking about the actress, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 24. He recalled: 'They were saying, "She's having an episode," and that she was going mad. She needed to change her medication and maybe they needed to get help. James shared, 'What was interesting about all of this, while they were talking about her, she was in the room.' James and Carrie began chatting and quickly became friends. 'I just could see she was just skipping between subjects rather quickly, [but] her brain was still working. Suddenly, we just had this kind of moment where I went and sat on the end of her bed, and she spoke to me until five in the morning. 'And the next day, I came in after the studio. I sat on the end of the bed, and we spoke until five in the morning, and we kind of did that for the rest of the time that she was alive. She became my best friend, really, at that stage,' he looked back. While Carrie was godmother to his firstborn son, he made Ed Sheeran godfather to his second child. Blake is days away from kicking off his 20th anniversary Back to Bedlam tour. Between mid June and early July he will travel throughout the US, ending with three shows in Mexico. The star teased an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show on Thursday, writing to his 1.2 million Instagram followers: 'Hello America! Having a little pre-tour catch up with the wonderful @kellyclarkson this morning!'
Sky News
2 hours ago
- Sky News
Prisoners to be transferred to lower security jails to ease overcrowding
Prisoners are to be transferred to lower security jails in an effort to ease overcrowding, as part of a new measure quietly unveiled by the government. Sky News understands that as of Monday, offenders serving standard sentences can be transferred to open or category D prisons up to three years earlier than previously, to free up space in higher security jails. Open prisons have minimal security and allow eligible prisoners to spend time on day release away from the prison on licence conditions to carry out work or education. It's unclear how many prisoners this will apply to, but the majority of those in prison custody serve standard determinate sentences. This is an extension of a policy which previously existed, as the prison service is warned of urgent capacity pressures. Exemptions will include sex offenders, terrorists, violent criminals, those convicted of stalking, and prisoners serving a sentence of over four years. It could mean those convicted of domestic abuse-related crimes are eligible for transfer to open prisons. The Prison Governors Association told Sky News it has "concerns" about the measure. "This would still mean that after just two weeks in prison a man serving a seven and a half year prison sentence could be moved to an open prison, where there are no physical barriers like high walls, fences, secure gates and minimal staff supervision that could prevent prisoners from simply walking out," the association said in a statement. Prison governors will have some discretion to judge the risk of the move, but it's understood the "presumption" will be that the transfer should take place. Despite early release measures, prisons in England and Wales continue to face chronic overcrowding. The male estate is currently operating at around 98% capacity. This latest measure comes after the government accepted recommendations made in the sentencing review, which will see almost 10,000 fewer people sent to prison in the next three years. However, these measures will take time to become legislation. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "We are building new prisons and are on track for 14,000 places by 2031 - the largest expansion since the Victorians. Our sentencing reforms will also force prisoners to earn their way to release or face longer in jail for bad behaviour, while ensuring the most dangerous offenders can be kept off the street. "Only certain thoroughly risk-assessed offenders are eligible for moves to open prison and anyone found breaching the rules can be immediately returned to a closed prison."
