Latest news with #NewWorld
Straits Times
16 hours ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Bird flu wiped out poultry, and now the screwworm is coming for beef
AUSTIN, Texas – First came bird flu, which led to the culling of large swaths of the nation's poultry flocks and the soaring egg prices that helped undermine President Joe Biden's reelection. Now, ranchers in Texas and officials at the Agriculture Department are raising the next alarm: the New World screwworm. Texas livestock producers and ranchers fear that the United States is ill-equipped to handle a potential outbreak of screwworm, whose incursion into the country appears increasingly likely. With beef prices already soaring, the screwworm, whose Latin name roughly translates to 'man-eater,' is a real threat, to both cows and the cost of living for America's meat lovers. 'If we wait, we lose,' Mr Stephen Diebel, vice-president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, told state lawmakers during a hearing in Austin this month as he pleaded for intervention. The screwworm, like the measles, may have been forgotten by many, but it's not new. And like the measles, which has cropped up in Texas recently, screwworm was once all but eradicated from the United States. Infestations occur when a female fly lays eggs, between 10 and 400 at a time, on a fresh animal wound. Within a few hours, the eggs hatch into larvae that burrow and feed on the flesh. As the wound worsens, it attracts more flies, which lay more eggs. After about a week, adult screwworm flies can reproduce and begin the cycle all over again. The parasitic infection can kill a cow within two weeks if left untreated. There is currently no approved treatment. 'It's like something out of a horror movie,' the Texas agriculture commissioner, Mr Sid Miller, said in an interview. He saw distressed cattle infested with screwworm when he was a child in the early 1960s before it was nearly eradicated. 'It's quite a putrid sight,' he said. Livestock, wildlife, pets and, in rare cases, humans can be affected. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business No clarity yet on baseline or pharmaceutical tariffs with US: DPM Gan Singapore Grace Fu apologises for Tanjong Katong sinkhole, says road may stay closed for a few more days Asia Fragile Thailand-Cambodia truce faces challenges on day one Opinion Nobel Prize? Maybe not, but give Asean credit for Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire Singapore Facts and myths intersect at the National Museum's new glass rotunda installation Singapore Liquidators score victory to recoup over $900 million from alleged scammer Ng Yu Zhi's associates Multimedia Making a splash: Picture-perfect moments from the World Aquatics Championships in S'pore Singapore Terrorism threat in Singapore remains high, driven by events like Israeli-Palestinian conflict: ISD In the 1950s, scientists discovered that radiation effectively sterilises screwworm flies, and the federal government began an eradication program. A small outbreak in a deer population in the Florida Keys was snuffed out in 2017. Now, a potentially bigger threat is approaching, migrating north from South America, where screwworm is endemic. It has been detected as close as 370 miles (595km) from Texas' border, carried by the surge of animals coming through the Darien Gap, a once largely impenetrable jungle area that separates South America and Central America. A joint eradication effort between the United States and Panama has largely kept screwworm south of Central America for decades. Illegal livestock transport and warm weather patterns have also contributed to the worm's climb north, a spokesperson for the Agriculture Department said. 'For small herds, it could wipe us out,' said Ms Shelbie Pippenger, who, with her husband, has a small herd in Texas and helps manage other ranches. 'Once something starts, it's difficult to stop it.' Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced in June an US$8.5 million (S$10.95 million) initiative based in Texas that will produce sterile male screwworm flies and then drop them into affected areas. Female flies mate only once in their lifetime, so the sterile flies eventually overwhelm and eradicate the pest. Ms Rollins also committed US$21 million to renovate a fly production facility in Mexico, where 60 million to 100 million sterile male flies would be produced each week for use in Mexico or Texas by the end of the year. But that effort would yield only about 20 per cent of the sterile flies the United States would need to manage an outbreak, experts said. Around 600 million flies were released each week to eradicate screwworm decades ago. Senator John Cornyn introduced legislation that would provide US$300 million to construct a facility to breed and sterilise flies, but the House has left Washington for the summer. 'We are desperately short on sterile fly production,' Mr Diebel said. Even before the fear of pestilence, the industry was facing challenges. Drought and high feed prices have pushed the American cattle inventory to the lowest it has been since 1952, according to the Agriculture Department. Domestic beef prices hit record highs in May, at an average of US$5.98 per pound for ground beef, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Beef from Brazil, the world's largest beef exporter, could bring some price relief, although President Donald Trump has promised to impose a 50 per cent tariff on Brazilian imports, beginning in August. And now, the screwworm is threatening to wipe out whole cattle herds in the United States. The tusklike mandibles protruding from the screwworm larva's mouth. The larva, left by a parasitic fly on a fresh animal wound, attracts more flies eventually killing a cow within two weeks. PHOTO: JOHN KUCHARSKI/U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE/NYTIMES Before the screwworm was eradicated, US beef producers experienced as much as US$20 million of economic loss each year from animal deaths, decreased livestock production, increased veterinary costs and other expenses, according to the Agriculture Department. Texas Governor Greg Abbott did not respond to questions about whether he would approve state funding for a fly factory. Mr Abbott has directed the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Animal Health Commission to create a response team to lead the state's screwworm preparations. Meanwhile, based on how fast the screwworm is traveling, Mr Miller said it could reach Texas within four months. In economic terms, the screwworm is already here, modestly at least. About 3 per cent of US cattle come from Mexico, but citing inadequate surveillance of screwworm, the Agriculture Department cut off imports of Mexican cattle in November 2024. Federal officials resumed the trade in February after Mexico put in place more rigorous inspection protocols. But imports were shut off again in May after the pest was detected in Veracruz and Oaxaca. NYTIMES
RNZ News
a day ago
- General
- RNZ News
Supermarket sign catches fire while customers were in store
File photo. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon A supermarket on Auckland's North Shore has had to be evacuated after a fire this evening. Fire and Emergency were alerted to the blaze about 7.45pm, after the New World sign at the Brown's Bay supermarket ignited. The building, which was open at the time, was evacuated with smoke entering the store. A video posted on a Brown's Bay community group on social media showed flames coming from the building. Four fire appliances including a high reach truck were deployed. The fire has since been extinguished with two trucks remaining on scene. Last month a massive blaze broke out at the New World Victoria Park supermarket in central Auckland in June, taking more than 10 hours to extinguish.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
England vs Spain LIVE streaming info, Women's EURO 2025: Where to watch final? Predicted lineups
Spain will be looking to clinch its first-ever European title when it faces reigning champion England in the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 final at St Jakob Park in Basel, Switzerland. Spain beat Germany in the semifinal while England completed a comeback win against Italy in the other clash. The match will be a repeat of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 final, where La Roja triumphed. Six of the last seven games between the two sides have been decided by a single goal, and the seventh was a scoreless draw. LIVESTREAM AND TELECAST INFO When will the England vs Spain Women's EURO 2025 final kick off? The England vs Spain Women's EURO 2025 final will kick off at 9:30 PM IST on Sunday, July 27 at the St. Jakob Park in Basel, Switzerland. Where to watch the England vs Spain Women's EURO 2025 final? The England vs Spain Women's EURO 2025 final will not be telecast anywhere in India. The match will be livestreamed on the FanCode app and website. PREDICTED LINEUPS England: Hampton (gk), Bronze, Williamson, Morgan, Greenwood, Toone, Walsh, Stanway, James, Russo, Hemp Spain: Cata Coll, Batlle, Paredes, Aleixandri, Olga, Bonmatí, Patri, Alexia, Mariona, Pina, Esther Gonzalez WHERE TO WATCH WOMEN'S EURO 2025 AROUND THE WORLD? Europe Albania: RTSH Sport Andorra: RTVE PLAY, TF1, France Televisions Armenia: First Channel of Public TV Company of Armenia Austria: ORF ON Belgium: RTBF Tipik & Auvio, Sporza and VRT Max Bosnia and Herzegovina: BHT1 & HD BHT1 Bulgaria: BNT 3 Croatia: HRTi Cyprus: CyBC Czechia: CT Sport Denmark: Viaplay Estonia: ERR Finland: Yle Areena France: TF1, France Televisions Georgia: Channel 1 Germany: Das Erste, Sportstudio Greece: ERT Hungary: M4 Sport Online Iceland: RÚV / RÚV 2 Israel: sport1 Italy: RAI PLAY Kazakhstan: Eurovision Sport Kosovo: RTK1 Latvia: LTV7 Liechtenstein: Play RSI - Sport-Livestreams Lithuania: LRT Luxembourg: RTBF Tipik & Auvio, Sporza and VRT Max Malta: TVMSPORT Moldova: TVR Monaco: TF1, France Televisions Montenegro: RCTG Netherlands: NPO1 North Macedonia: MRT Norway: NRK, TV 2 Play Poland: TVP Sport Portugal: RTP1 + RTP2 Republic of Ireland: RTÉ Romania: TVR San Marino: RAI PLAY Serbia: RTS Serbia Slovakia: STVR Slovenia: TV Slovenija 2 Spain: RTVE PLAY Sweden: SVT, Switzerland: Play SRF - Sport-Livestreams, Play RTS - Sport Livestreams, Play RSI - Sport-Livestreams Türkiye: TRT SPOR Ukraine: Megogo United Kingdom: BBC1, BBC2, BBC iPlayer, ITV, ITV4, ITVX, S4C Vatican City: RAI PLAY Rest of the world Afghanistan: FanCode Algeria: bein connect Angola: DStv Stream Argentina: Disney+ Australia: Optus Sport Bahrain: bein connect Bangladesh: FanCode Belize: Disney+ Benin: DStv Stream, New World Sport Bhutan: FanCode Bolivia: Disney+ Botswana: Azam SPORTS, DStv Stream Brazil: CazéTV Burkina Faso: DStv Stream, New World Sport Burundi: Azam SPORTS, DStv Stream, New World Sport Cameroon: DStv Stream, New World Sport Canada: TSN Cape Verde: DStv Stream Central African Republic: DStv Stream, New World Sport Chad: bein connect, DStv Stream, New World Sport Chile: Disney+ Colombia: Disney+ Comoros: DStv Stream, New World Sport Congo Republic: DStv Stream, New World Sport Costa Rica: Disney+ Democratic Republic of Congo: DStv Stream, New World Sport Djibouti: bein connect, DStv Stream, New World Sport Dominican Republic: Disney+ Ecuador: Disney+ Egypt: bein connect El Salvador: Disney+ Equatorial Guinea: DStv Stream Eritrea: DStv Stream Ethiopia: DStv Stream French Guyana: Disney+, TF1, France Televisions French overseas territories (including French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis & Futuna, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Barts, St. Martin, St. Pierre & Miquelon, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Mayotte, Réunion): TF1, France Televisions Gabon: DStv Stream, New World Sport Gambia: DStv Stream Ghana: DStv Stream, SportyTV Guatemala: Disney+ Guinea: DStv Stream Guinea-Bissau: DStv Stream, New World Sport Guyana: Disney+ Honduras: Disney+ Hong Kong SAR: Hoy India & Indian Sub-Continent: FanCode Iran: bein connect Iraq: bein connect Ivory Coast: DStv Stream, New World Sport Jordan: bein connect Kenya: Azam SPORTS, SportyTV Korea Republic: SPOTV NOW Kuwait: bein connect Lebanon: bein connect Lesotho: DStv Stream Liberia: DStv Stream Libya: bein connect Madagascar: DStv Stream, New World Sport Malawi: Azam SPORTS, DStv Stream Maldives: FanCode Mali: DStv Stream, New World Sport Mauritania: bein connect, DStv Stream, New World Sport Mauritius: DStv Stream, New World Sport Mexico: Disney+ Morocco: bein connect Mozambique: DStv Stream Namibia: DStv Stream Nepal: FanCode Nicaragua: Disney+ Niger: DStv Stream, New World Sport Nigeria: DStv Stream, SportyTV Oman: bein connect Pakistan: FanCode Palestine (Gaza strip & West Bank): bein connect Panama: Disney+ Paraguay: Disney+ Peru: Disney+ Qatar: bein connect Rwanda: Azam SPORTS, DStv Stream, New World Sport Sao Tome and Principe: DStv Stream Saudi Arabia: bein connect Senegal: DStv Stream, New World Sport Seychelles: DStv Stream, New World Sport Sierra Leone: DStv Stream Somalia: bein connect, DStv Stream South Africa: DStv Stream, SportyTV South Sudan: bein connect Sri Lanka: FanCode St Helena and Ascension: DStv Stream Sudan: bein connect Suriname: Disney+ Syria: bein connect Tanzania: Azam SPORTS, DStv Stream Togo: DStv Stream, New World Sport Tunisia: bein connect Uganda: Azam SPORTS, DStv Stream United Arab Emirates: bein connect United States (including American Samoa, Guam, Mariana Islands, Midway, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, United States of America): FOX Sports, ViX Uruguay: Disney+ Venezuela: Disney+ Yemen: bein connect Zambia: Azam SPORTS, DStv Stream Zimbabwe: Azam SPORTS, DStv Stream In-flight/in-ship: Sport 24
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Man from Pontypool shares journey through the music scene
In 2003, Pontypool man Matt Lewis went by the name of 'Stitch'. Back then, he was signed under Some Bizarre Records, a label which managed legendary acts such as Depeche Mode and Soft Cell. Matt Lewis of Malphorix formerly known as Stitch (Image: Matt Lewis) Matt, now 46-years-old, opened up about his musical journey. He told the Argus: 'I've been writing music for as long as I can remember, since I was about eight or nine years old. 'I started a band called Mainstream Distortion. It was just me and a guitarist in the beginning. I would lay down lyrics over the top of our music, and before long, we evolved into an 'industrial band. 'We got signed to Some Bizarre Records—a label known for huge names in the electronic scene, especially in the 80s. We released an album with them, but to be honest, they didn't do us justice.' Matt was under the thumb of major record producer Stevo Pearce. Stevo, known as a 'live wire', gained a reputation for being a maverick. Mainstream Distortion's debut album Bully (Image: Matt Lewis) It was under Stevo's London based record company that Matt's career in music first blossomed. During this time Mainstream Distortion released an angsty electro album called 'Bully.' A standout feature of the album is the video for the track 'Insect,' directed by cult filmmaker Alex Chandon, known for his work on Cradle of Fear. Matt said: 'One of our tracks, Redefining the Prologue, appeared on a compilation just two songs down from Soft Cell, that was a big moment.' Now, 22 years later, Matt has made the decision to return to the music scene. Speaking about what prompted this he said: 'I've recently undergone a full creative redesign and now go by the name Malphorix. 'I've gone through my entire back catalogue. Stuff I've worked on over the last 30 years that's never been released.' Malphorix's new release New World (Image: Matt Lewis) Malphorix's new album 'New World' is Matt's latest project. Speaking of the album Matt said: 'One of the songs on the new album, Hybrid, I actually wrote back in 1997. 'The full album is 16 tracks deep, spanning over three decades of music.' Matt added: 'I just wanted to finally get this out there. I thought, 'It's time' I got a kick up the backside so let's see what happens.' New World is available to stream on Spotify, YouTube and Amazon for more information on Malphorix click here.
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Smeg New World giveaway smart move, says marketing expert
Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas Being part of New World's latest promo is unlikely to hurt Smeg's higher-end image, even if people are picking up its products for nothing, marketing experts say. The supermarket is offering baking dishes and utensil organisers in return for stickers collected at a rate of one per $20. Some items, such as the cast iron braiser, require cash on top of stickers. Kitchen Things is selling Smeg casserole dishes for more than $450 and a set of three containers for $439. Sarah Dodds, a senior marketing lecturer at Massey University, said it was a smart move for Smeg to be involved in the New World giveaway. "It gives them exposure to a broader target market, a sensible growth strategy in today's market to increase market share. "Although Smeg is typically positioned as a premium, designer appliance brand, partnering with a major supermarket like New World offers widespread visibility across New Zealand, creating brand awareness and interest from aspirational consumers who may not have previously considered high-end appliances." She said giveaways could often generate excitement and goodwill. "Associating the brand with a Kiwi supermarket can personalise the brand and increase its relatability. "The key will be to preserve the brand's premium appeal while benefiting from New World's broad reach to grow the brand in New Zealand. Having said that, New World is positioned as a supermarket that offers quality product and a full-service, premium shopping environment, so in that sense, Smeg fits reasonably well with New World." University of Auckland marketing professor Michael Lee said, if it was a new type of promotion, it could be detrimental to the Smeg brand, but the model was well known. "New World has done enough of these now, all with high-end brands, that they have sort of become pseudo status promoters of the brands involved." Foodstuffs said the promotion was a successful one, with 92 percent awareness among New World shoppers. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
