Latest news with #US-Canadian
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
RFK-backed ostrich farm fighting H5N1 cull boasted of turning birds into pet food
An H5N1-infected ostrich farm which has become a cause célèbre among animal rights campaigners and the US health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, once boasted of 'rendering' the birds down in vats so that their oil could be used in cosmetics and pet food. Universal Ostrich Farms, located in British Columbia, made headlines earlier this month after its owners claimed they were being unfairly ordered to cull their flock of around 400 birds by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The cull order came after the CFIA said that several of the animals had contracted H5N1, the deadly avian flu virus that has decimated bird populations worldwide and which experts fear could one day jump to humans. Thousands of similar cull orders have been issued to infected farms around the world as the virus has spread, but the Canadian ostriches appear to have won a brief stay of execution after being swept up in the US-Canadian culture wars. A 'Save our Ostriches' campaign launched by the farm's owners has been jumped on by both animal rights activists and MAGA supporters in the US. Some 69 ostriches have died on the farm since an outbreak began in December last year, when PCR testing came back positive for H5N1. The farm's owners demanded the CFIA carry out further testing but their request was denied, and they are now claiming that the remaining birds have developed 'herd immunity,' catching the eye of RFK Jr, who has petitioned to have the birds relocated to Florida for further testing. Scientists have called the proposal both dangerous and irresponsible, given the serious risks any infected birds pose to public health. The farm's new 'Save Our Ostriches' website certainly pulls at the heartstrings but the contrast with the original website, still available through the internet archive, could not be sharper. While the new site urges readers to donate up to $1,000 or more to save the 398 remaining birds, the original site talked of 'processing and rendering' and selling the 'meat, skin and oil' of ostriches all over the world. 'Full vertical integration improves quality, increases efficiency, and boosts profitability,' the original website reads. 'Help save Anna. She's feisty, confident, and always full of attitude,' says the new, MAGA-friendly site today, beneath a cutesy picture of a fluffy and determined looking bird. Ostrich meat is imported and sold in Britain, including at major supermarkets but it is not clear if burgers and steaks from Universal Ostrich Farms were ever sold here. In British Columbia, Katie Pasitney, the daughter of one of the farm's owners, Karen Espersen, and now acting spokesperson for both her mother and business partner Dave Bilinski, has appeared in several emotional videos in recent weeks appealing for public help and support. The farm says the birds have not been used for meat since 2020, and are now mainly involved in medical research – specifically, the extraction of antibodies from ostrich eggs. However, official court documents from the recent dispute with CFIA contradict this claim. They state that 'some level of ostrich sales, along with sales or planned sales of products derived from ostrich fat and eggshells, continued through to at least December 2024'. The H5N1 avian flu virus was first detected in the late 1990s, but has spread rapidly through animal populations since 2020, killing millions of wild and farmed birds as well as a huge range of mammals – including polar bears, rhinos, whales, foxes, as well as domestic pets including cats and dogs. Thousands of poultry farms around the world – including in Britain – have been forced to cull their flocks, causing the price of eggs to skyrocket to unprecedented levels. Last year, the virus 'jumped' into the US cattle chain and since has become endemic. More than 1,000 dairy herds have been infected with the virus, and a fifth of the country's milk supply now contains detectable traces of H5N1. At least 70 people in the US, mostly poultry and dairy farm workers, have also caught the virus, one of whom has died. The virus's exponential spread comes at a time when the Trump administration has dramatically cut back on the government's response to H5N1. Just last week, the administration announced it had cancelled a $766 million contract with pharmaceutical giant Moderna for the mass-production of mRNA bird flu vaccines. The agreement was intended to strengthen the country's pandemic preparedness by diversifying its emergency H5N1 vaccine stocks. RFK Jr, a long-time vaccine sceptic, has repeatedly expressed concerns over the safety of mRNA vaccines despite them having saved millions of lives during the Covid-19 pandemic. President Trump has also cut funding to several departments at the US Department of Agriculture and Centre for Disease Control responsible for monitoring and containing the spread of H5N1. It makes RFK Jr's intervention into the Canadian ostriches' fate even more baffling. 'We believe significant scientific knowledge may be garnered from following the ostriches in a controlled environment,' Mr Kennedy wrote in a letter to the head of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Experts say the scientific value of the ostriches is minimal, as similar studies have already been conducted in other parts of the world, and transporting any sickened birds would put people and other farms at risk. In a statement published over the weekend, the CFAI said: '[Our] response to highly pathogenic avian influenza in domestic poultry is based on an approach known as 'stamping-out', as defined by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). 'Stamping-out is the internationally recognised standard and is a primary tool to manage the spread of [H5N1] and mitigate risks to animal and human health as well as enable international trade.' 'Given that the flock has had multiple laboratory-confirmed cases of H5N1 and the ongoing serious risks for animal and human health, and trade, the CFIA continues planning for depopulation at the infected premises'. The Telegraph contacted Universal Ostrich Farms for comment. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Euronews
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to visit US President Donald Trump at the Oval office on Tuesday
ADVERTISEMENT Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Friday that he is set to meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House next Tuesday. Carney's upcoming visit comes in the context of ongoing trade conflicts between the two countries, along with Trump's threats to annex Canada as the 51st state of the US. 'On Tuesday, I had a very constructive call with President Trump, and we agreed to meet next Tuesday in Washington,' Carney said. 'My government will fight to get the best deal for Canada.' 'We are meeting as heads of our government,' Carney stressed, adding that he was not "pretending those discussions will be easy.' On Monday, Carney's Liberal Party recorded an impressive comeback win in a federal parliamentary election that was largely seen as a response to Trump, whose trade conflict and criticisms of Canadian sovereignty angered the electorate. The Liberals secured 168 out of 343 seats in Canada's House of Commons, which allows them to establish a minority government, though they did not reach the 172 seats required for a majority. Speaking after election night, Carney said that Canadians elected a new government to oppose Trump and build a strong economy. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives on stage at his campaign headquarters after the Liberal Party won the Canadian election in Ottawa on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Just (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP) He also said that an upcoming visit from King Charles III will see him deliver a speech outlining the Canadian government's priorities on 27 May, when Parliament resumes. 'That clearly underscores the sovereignty of our country,' Carney said about the upcoming visit, in remarks aimed at Trump's repeated call for Canada to be the US's 51st state. The British monarch is Canada's head of state, a member of the British Commonwealth of former colonies. Queen Elizabeth II delivered the speech twice, in 1957 and 1977. Is Canada's old relationship with the US over? Since becoming prime minister after Justin Trudeau's resignation, Carney has highlighted Canada's founding nations, the United Kingdom and France. He repeated that the old relationship with the US, based on steadily increasing integration, is over. It was not the first time Carney had expressed such. He had previously said that the 80-year period when the US embraced the mantle of global economic leadership and forged alliances rooted in trust and mutual respect is over. While Trump mocked Carney's predecessor, Justin Trudeau, by calling him Governor Trudeau, he hasn't trolled Carney and instead describes him as "the least Trump hater." However, some analysts believe that may not count much in Carney's favour. Related Era of close US-Canadian relations is 'over', warns Prime Minister Mark Carney Will Trump's tariffs against Canada and Mexico hit the 2026 World Cup? According to Robert Bothwell, a University of Toronto professor of Canadian history and international relations, Carney's planned visit to Washington was ill-advised because he risks Trump insulting Canada and him too. ADVERTISEMENT 'There is absolutely no reason to. You can't bargain with Trump. His word is not his bond. It's like writing on the water of a pond, a scummy pond. We have nothing to gain,' Bothwell said. Carney's cabinet to be sworn in on 12 May Meanwhile, days after Canadians voted in the Liberals for a fourth mandate, Carney on Friday outlined the priorities of his new government, which would be sworn in on 12 May. 'Now the election is over, and we are in a once-in-a-lifetime crisis. It's time to come together, to put on our Team Canada sweaters, and win big,' Carney said. 'Now is the time for ambition, to be bold, to meet this crisis with the overwhelming, positive force of a united Canada.' ADVERTISEMENT Prime Minister Mark Carney is seen during a news conference, in Ottawa, Friday, May 2, 2025. (Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press via AP) (Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press via AP) He stated plans to promptly call for an election in a particular district if the Conservative opposition wishes for Pierre Poilievre, who did not win his own seat in the election, to run in a by-election to secure a position in the House of Commons. 'No games, nothing like that,' Carney said. Shortly after, the Conservative Party announced that a current Conservative member of Parliament from Alberta will resign so Poilievre can run in that district. Carney, a former governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England who is considered a political novice, said that he had a constructive conversation with Poilievre about Canada's strategy with the Americans. ADVERTISEMENT 'I am in politics to do big things, not to be something,' Carney said.
New York Post
21-04-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Northern border sector previously overrun by illegal migrants sees dramatic drop in crossings: ‘We haven't seen anyone since November'
Illegal crossings along the busiest section of the US-Canadian border — which encompasses parts of New York, Vermont and New Hampshire — have plummeted thanks to President Trump's immigration crackdown. Just 54 migrants were apprehended in the Swanton sector, which stretches almost 300 miles, in March. It is a drastic 95% drop from the 1,109 border crossers caught in March 2024, according to US Customs and Border Protection. This area recorded more than 80% of all apprehensions along the northern border during the 2024 fiscal year, according to CBP figures. Stark before-and-after photos posted by Swanton sector Border Patrol Chief Robert Garcia on X on Monday show lines of migrants carrying backpacks traversing through the woods a year ago, versus a lone deer grazing in the same spot now. Under the Biden administration, illegal crossings at the northern border hit record highs as migrants were being released into the US en masse. In the Swanton sector, more than 1,400 border crossers were caught in April 2024 — eclipsing the totals from fiscal years 2021 and 2022 combined, according to CBP figures. When Trump returned to the White House, he ended the previous administration's use of the problematic 'catch and release' border policy and commenced a mass deportation effort. Northern border residents told The Post that they've noticed the change as migrant crossings on their properties, which were once very common under Biden, have come to a screeching halt. 'We haven't seen anyone since November. It's been nice not having to scan the yards night and morning,' said Daniel Cowan, who lives along the border in rural Chateaugay, New York, a town of 1,900 residents. 3 Migrants cross the nothern border in the dead of winter. Twitter / @USBPChiefSWB 3 Footprints in the snow emerge from the wooded area onto private property on the northern border. REUTERS The dramatic drop in northern border crossings also coincides with a drop in migrant encounters along the US-Mexico border. Border agents patrolling the southern border saw roughly 7,100 illegal migrant crossings in March, the lowest level on record. That's down 94% from the 137,000 people who poured across the border in March last year. 3 Royal Canadian Mounted Police Corporal Keven Rouleau patrols along the Canadian-US border. AFP via Getty Images Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico last month. However, the president later suspended the duties on goods that are covered by the USMCA trade deal.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Chicago weather: Warmer days ahead with storms possible Thursday and Friday
The Brief Chilly temperatures start the day, but sunshine and lighter winds will make it feel more pleasant, with highs ranging from the 40s to mid-50s. Warmer weather arrives Thursday, possibly reaching 70°, with showers and thunderstorms expected late. Friday brings a slight risk for severe storms, followed by a cooler Easter weekend with showers likely Sunday night. CHICAGO - It's a chilly start to the day, but we will see plenty of sun and it won't be as windy. Highs will range from the 40s near the lake to the mid and upper 50s well west of the city. During the afternoon, some of that lake-cooled air will migrate westward and knock temperatures down. Tonight should be clear to partly cloudy with lows in the 40s. What's next Tomorrow will be warmer with some indications that we might even hit 70°. There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms late in the day and at night. Then we come to Friday which remains questionable regarding thunderstorm prospects. We are now outlooked as a "slight risk" area for severe thunderstorms. However, computer some models remain unconvinced about the intensity and coverage of any thunderstorm activity on Friday. This is still a day to be "weather ready." We will continue to follow the possibility for any stronger storms as we get closer to the potential event. What is certain is that it will be a breezy and very warm day with highs not far from 80°. The weekend will be cooler with highs mainly in the 50s with Easter featuring a good chance of showers then possibly even thunderstorms moving in at night. Dig deeper Despite the hype, the northern lights did not appear in Chicagoland last night. As is often the case, these "geomagnetic storm" alerts end up being underachievers. The aurora borealis did appear near the US-Canadian border briefly last night. I've seen some very nice photos from northern Minnesota and Finland for example. The Source The information in this report came from FOX 32's Mike Caplan.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Canadian Dispatch: Surge in Quebec may help Liberals secure majority
EDITOR'S NOTE: Given the increased interest in US-Canadian relations and Canadian politics during this time, we'll be looking to run additional Peter Black columns as the situation develops, so expect additional supplemental Canadian Dispatch columns in upcoming editions. It's pretty clear as it reaches its half-way point, the Canadian general election on April 28 has become a two-horse race. This is not an unusual thing for Americans, where Democrats and Republicans have been duking it out at all three levels of government for 200 years. In Canada, however, third parties have had an increasing impact on the outcome of elections, so much so that since 1962, 10 of 20 federal elections resulted in minorities, and since 2004, there have been five out of seven. The current Liberal government is the second of back-to-back minorities. With that context, poll-watchers are tracking a rather rare phenomenon in this election where the battle has narrowed down to a duel between the Liberals and Conservatives, with the two main third parties fading away. The simplest explanation is that many voters who normally would have voted for the left-wing New Democratic Party nationally, and the separatist Bloc Quebecois in Quebec, have flocked to the Liberals. There are two reasons for that: One is that new Liberal Leader Mark Carney, with his unique expertise in managing economic crises, is perceived as ideally suited to manage the chaos, damage and insult Donald Trump is inflicting on Canada. The other is a general fear and loathing of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and what a government of his making would mean for Canada. Before the departure of Justin Trudeau, the Trump attacks, and the arrival of Carney on the scene, Poilievre was looking at a majority. Now, though, if Poilievre has any hope of winning even a minority government, he needs to expand his base and that is not looking promising with the Liberals opening up a consistent lead. If an election were held this week, the Liberals would win at least a 20-seat majority, with the NDP holding only nine seats and the Bloc 16. The Bloc's plunge in support is a particularly interesting case because Carney, the very picture of a boring Englishman banker, just doesn't seem like the type to excite French-speaking voters, particularly those who identify with the Bloc's dream of Quebec independence. Carney is not particularly eloquent in spoken French and lacks a solid grasp of the province's cultural nuances. What minimizes Carney's lack of personal chemistry with Quebecers, however, is the fact he has an exceptionally popular trio of Quebec ministers as key players in his campaign and in his government: Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly (often seen on U.S. TV talking tariffs), Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, and Steven Guilbeault, an environmentalist warrior. Quebecers have an historical tendency to vote en masse like a family. For five elections under Pierre Trudeau, for example, the Liberals routinely ran the table, with only a handful of seats going to other parties. Conservative Brian Mulroney, a fluently bilingual son of Quebec's north shore, dominated Quebec in both his elections as leader (1984, 1988). When, in 1993, Mulroney quit and left the country in a constitution mess with Quebec on the brink of separation, the Liberals under Jean Chrétien won a majority, but Lucien Bouchard, head of the newly formed Bloc, became leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, having won the second largest number of seats. The most startling voter stampede of all in Quebec was in 2011. Thanks to a particularly ineffectual Liberal leader, the unpopularity of then-prime minister Stephen Harper and fatigue with the Bloc, the NDP, under charismatic, Montreal-born leader Jack Layton, won 59 of Quebec's 75 seats. Combined with 44 seats elsewhere in the country, the NDP became, for the first time ever, the Official Opposition. The Bloc was reduced to four seats in that election and generally written off as a spent force. Not so fast! As the NDP tide in Quebec receded, the Bloc bounced back, and took 32 seats in the last election in 2021. If current poll projections hold, the Bloc deputation to the federal Parliament could be cut in half, and the Liberals would win the most seats in Quebec since Justin Trudeau claimed 40 in 2015. Pollsters and pundits caution the race, with less than 20 days to go, is not over. Although voter intentions are highly locked in, with Carney having a gaping lead over Poilievre for preferred prime minister, the two-horse race could tighten. Hence, when the party leaders, including the head of the two-seat Green Party, face off in French and English debates next week, the stakes will be especially high. — Peter Black is a radio broadcaster and writer based in Quebec City. He has worked on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, in Montreal as a newspaper reporter and editor, and as a translator and freelance writer. Email him: pmblack@
