Latest news with #AFB
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Perth Now
Esky of meth allegedly found at airport
Police have uncovered an Esky allegedly packed with methamphetamine sent from Perth to Christmas Island. The discovery was made in November, and two Christmas Island men faced court earlier this year. On Friday, a Perth man was scheduled to front the Perth Magistrates Court. The 28g of meth were allegedly concealed in a bag of mince inside a large Esky. 'Methamphetamine is a devastating drug that causes immeasurable harm to users and their families, especially in smaller communities,' Australian Federal Police Inspector Dave Reis said. The Esky and drugs were found at the Christmas Island airport in November. AFB/ABF Credit: Supplied 'The criminals who push these substances are driven by greed and profit and have zero regard for the lives they ruin.' Police alleged the two Christmas Island men paid the Perth man to buy and send the drugs. The parcel was flagged at Christmas Island airport in November. A man aged 24 and another aged 30 were arrested in February. They have been charged with attempting to traffic drugs, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A Perth man, aged 50, was expected to front court on Friday. AFB/ABF Credit: Supplied In May, police stopped and searched a 50-year-old Perth man at Perth airport as he returned from regional Western Australia. Officers searched his home in the suburb of Cannington as well, and a phone and clothing were seized. He is charged with trafficking a controlled drug, a crime that also carries a 10-year maximum sentence. Australian Border Force Superintendent Shaun Senior said officers would hunt down any drug shipments. The three men arrested face maximum penalties of 10 years in prison. AFB/ABF Credit: Supplied 'Regardless of the size of the facility or how the packages are concealed, we remain highly vigilant to those who attempt to circumvent our border controls, and our officers are ready to swiftly intercept and seize any illicit substances,' Superintendent Senior said. As an external territory of Australia, the laws of Christmas Island are officially decided in Canberra, and the island follows almost all Australian laws (with exceptions for laws such as the Corporations Act).
Daily Maverick
19-05-2025
- General
- Daily Maverick
The Chelsea Flower Show 2025, and more from around the world
Moving, tragic, surprising, inspiring, terrifying, shocking... This is a selection of images from our planet, over the past three days. Trainee beekeeping student Mandy Topping poses for a photograph at the Randalstown and District Beekeeper's Association apiary set in the private estate of Lord O'Neill at Shane's Castle on May 4, 2025 in Randalstown, Northern Ireland. Conservation Charity Buglife's recent report into the Bee population in Northern Ireland highlighted that many species in the country are in decline, with 21 species set to become extinct without intervention. Northern Ireland's honey bees are under threat due to the absence of a bee inspectorate since last year, according to the Ulster Beekeepers Association (UBKA). The bee inspector is responsible for supporting bee health, external and addresses diseases such as American foulbrood (AFB) and European foulbrood (EFB) which affect honey bees. Although beekeepers are responsible for reporting diseases within their own colonies, bee inspectors confirm notifiable diseases, contain outbreaks, inspect neighbouring hives, and advise on destroying affected colonies. Honeybees are also facing decline due to habitat loss, climate change, including the effects of extreme weather, parasites and diseases. This Tuesday, May 20th marks International World Bee Day. (Photo by). DM
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Inspector absence puts bee population 'under threat'
Northern Ireland's honey bees are "under threat" due to the absence of a bee inspectorate since last year, according to the chair of Ulster Beekeepers Association (UBKA). The bee inspector is responsible for supporting bee health and addresses diseases such as American foulbrood (AFB) and European foulbrood (EFB) which affect honey bees. Valentine Hodges described the situation as "critical", adding that she is angry and disappointed that the post is vacant. The Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) said it "is responding to recent reductions in inspectorate staff available for bee inspections and recruitment competitions are underway". The last full-time bee inspector retired at the end of October 2024 and the part-time inspector role has been vacant since December 2024. Where AFB and EFB occur, the disease control of infected colonies is the responsibility of DAERA and it's inspectors. Although beekeepers must report diseases within their own colonies, bee inspectors confirm such notifiable diseases, contain outbreaks, inspect neighbouring hives, and advise on destroying affected colonies. Mrs Hodges, a beekeeper in County Down who has around 80-100 hives, said bee inspectors "play a very important part in our normal beekeeping". "We now are at a critical stage where, through lack of recruitment and replacement, we have no bee inspectors," Mrs Hodges stated. "The diseases themselves are not a threat to the public, they are a threat to our bees." However, she said if diseases spread, it could have a knock-on effect for food supply and pollination services due to honey bees being a key pollinator. AFB and EFB do not affect the quality of the honey that the bees produce. Mrs Hodges said Daera's recruitment process is "not good enough". "It is good for the future, but we have a crisis right now," she added. Gareth Gillan, a beekeeper for over 20 years and treasurer at Mid Antrim Beekeepers Association, said he is "really concerned". "Whenever we do get inspectors back, is there going to be loads of cases of foulbrood? "American foulbrood especially is spore forming, so those spores can live up to 50 years, 60 maybe, max, so that will be in the environment for that length of time," he said. "It's not something that will go away after a couple of years, they will still be present in the environment for a long time to come. " Mr Gillan said that about 15 years ago one of his hives had a confirmed case of AFB and he had to destroy the rest of the colony. "I was a bit remorseful because I had only started my beekeeping career and this had happened. But it was best practice". For the next two years his hives were checked regularly by the bee inspector for further signs of disease. In a statement, Daera said it recently met with the UBKA, adding that it is "committed to ensuring that its statutory obligations are fulfilled, which in the case of bee health is primarily to respond to confirmed findings of a notifiable pest or disease in honeybees". "In addition, the Department provides funding to the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) to provide research and free testing for bee disease, available to support all beekeepers to maintain bee health in Northern Ireland," Daera said. Honey bees nested in our chimney for a year Honey bees threatened by 'nasty' disease Honey firm fears impact of new homes on queen bees
BBC News
17-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
NI's honey bees: Population at risk due to no bee inspectorate
Northern Ireland's honey bees are "under threat" due to the absence of a bee inspectorate since last year, according to the chair of Ulster Beekeepers Association (UBKA).The bee inspector is responsible for supporting bee health and addresses diseases such as American foulbrood (AFB) and European foulbrood (EFB) which affect honey Hodges described the situation as "critical", adding that she is angry and disappointed that the post is vacant. The Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) said it "is responding to recent reductions in inspectorate staff available for bee inspections and recruitment competitions are underway". The last full-time bee inspector retired at the end of October 2024 and the part-time inspector role has been vacant since December AFB and EFB occur, the disease control of infected colonies is the responsibility of DAERA and it's beekeepers must report diseases within their own colonies, bee inspectors confirm such notifiable diseases, contain outbreaks, inspect neighbouring hives, and advise on destroying affected colonies. 'A threat to our bees' Mrs Hodges, a beekeeper in County Down who has around 80-100 hives, said bee inspectors "play a very important part in our normal beekeeping"."We now are at a critical stage where, through lack of recruitment and replacement, we have no bee inspectors," Mrs Hodges stated."The diseases themselves are not a threat to the public, they are a threat to our bees."However, she said if diseases spread, it could have a knock-on effect for food supply and pollination services due to honey bees being a key and EFB do not affect the quality of the honey that the bees Hodges said Daera's recruitment process is "not good enough"."It is good for the future, but we have a crisis right now," she added. Gareth Gillan, a beekeeper for over 20 years and treasurer at Mid Antrim Beekeepers Association, said he is "really concerned"."Whenever we do get inspectors back, is there going to be loads of cases of foulbrood?"American foulbrood especially is spore forming, so those spores can live up to 50 years, 60 maybe, max, so that will be in the environment for that length of time," he said."It's not something that will go away after a couple of years, they will still be present in the environment for a long time to come. " Mr Gillan said that about 15 years ago one of his hives had a confirmed case of AFB and he had to destroy the rest of the colony. "I was a bit remorseful because I had only started my beekeeping career and this had happened. But it was best practice".For the next two years his hives were checked regularly by the bee inspector for further signs of disease. In a statement, Daera said it recently met with the UBKA, adding that it is "committed to ensuring that its statutory obligations are fulfilled, which in the case of bee health is primarily to respond to confirmed findings of a notifiable pest or disease in honeybees"."In addition, the Department provides funding to the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) to provide research and free testing for bee disease, available to support all beekeepers to maintain bee health in Northern Ireland," Daera said.
Associated Press
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Author Andrew Leland Receives 2025 Helen Keller Achievement Award
NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is pleased to announce author Andrew Leland will be among those to receive the prestigious Helen Keller Achievement Award, which AFB will present during a special evening ceremony on April 24th in Midtown Manhattan. Recognized for his outstanding contributions as a published author and journalist, Mr. Leland brings a body of published work that exemplifies Helen Keller's own artistry in crafting narratives with mass appeal. 'Mr. Leland's gift to wield words in a way that both informs and inspires us offers our generation a powerful voice capturing the blind experience in modern life,' said Eric Bridges, AFB president and CEO. 'Helen Keller knew well the power that personal narrative could play toward altering perceptions, and it's clear Andrew's craft as a storyteller carries on Keller's legacy of bridging culture and humanity through the power of words. Mr. Leland's nonfiction book, The Country of the Blind, a Memoir at the End of Sight,' published in 2023 on Penguin/Random House, received strong praise from the literary community. The book chronicles his experience of losing sight due to retinitis pigmentosa while offering a deeper look into blind culture. Further published works through print, radio, and podcasting speak to the hearts of millions of people who are blind or have low vision. For this collective body of work, Mr. Leland is quickly becoming one of the leading voices within the disability community. His memoir was a finalist for the 2024 Pulitzer Prize, and his audio works have reached tens of millions of listeners across the globe. He currently serves as the Koppel Fellow in Journalism at Wesleyan University. Since 1994, the Helen Keller Achievement Award has recognized the finest thought leaders, change-makers, and performing artists committed to carrying on Keller's mission to create a world of full and equal inclusion for people with disabilities. For over 40 years, Helen Keller was AFB's leading ambassador, inspiring millions worldwide as she demonstrated all that can be accomplished through determination and perseverance. AFB continues to honor Keller's legacy by recognizing exceptional individuals and organizations from industry, education, and the arts who have distinguished themselves in pursuit of expanding possibilities for those who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision. Past honorees include author and advocate Haben Girma, tech leader and entrepreneur Bernard Newcomb, Chef Christine Ha, filmmaker Shawn Levy, and performing artists Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder. Founded in 1921, the American Foundation for the Blind creates equal opportunities and expands possibilities for people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision through advocacy, thought leadership, and strategic partnerships. In addition to publishing the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB), AFB is also the proud steward of the Helen Keller Archive, which is available on the AFB website at
