International

California suspends the distribution of raw milk from its largest producer due to avian flu

California government authorities ordered the largest producer and retailer of raw milk in the state to suspend the distribution of their dairy products after the H5N1 avian flu virus was detected in several samples sold to the public.

The California Department of Agriculture issued the order against the Raw Farm, which was forced to remove several of its raw milk products from the shelves and ask consumers to discard the product, the Los Angeles Times reported on Friday.

Last Sunday, the California Department of Health (CDPH) asked the public not to consume a batch of raw milk produced and packaged by Raw Farm, after tests of a sample detected the virus.

In a statement, the CDPH said that so far there are no reports of diseases associated with contaminated milk.
Raw Farm, California’s largest producer and retailer of raw milk, has sampled its dairy products as a control after avian influenza was detected in cows on several farms across the country.

Distribution paralyzed

It is not clear until when the farm should suspend the distribution of its product and how this will affect the price of the product.

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Last Friday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a case of avian flu in a child in the state of California, which was the first infection of a minor recorded in the country.

The child, whose age was not informed, is recovering from the disease, the government reported.

The CDPH has been investigating the possible source of the child’s exposure to H5N, but so far it has not been identified.

All members of the minor’s household reported having symptoms, so samples were collected from each one, which tested negative for avian flu.

“Contact tracing continues, but there is currently no evidence of human-to-person spread of H5N1 bird flu from this child to others,” CDC said in a statement.

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In California, at least 29 people have tested positive for the virus and all of them, except the child, are workers who have had contact with infected cows.

International

U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute

The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.

All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.

The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.

The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.

“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.

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International

Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.

“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.

Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.

According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.

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International

Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power

Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.

The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.

Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.

Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.

The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.

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Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.

Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.

In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.