6 days agoworld NewsComments Off on Major disease control measures introduced to stop spread of avian flu as 64k birds culled after suspected case in Tyrone
HOUSING measures for birds and poultry have been introduced in Northern Ireland in a bid to stop the spread of bird flu.
The order, implemented by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), requires owners of pet birds, commercial flocks, backyard flocks, and hobby flocks to keep their birds indoors or otherwise separate from wild birds from Monday.
Some 64,000 birds were culled in Co TyroneMATTHEW HATCHER/AFP via Getty ImagesPoultry housing measures have been brought in a bid to stop the spread of bird fluAlamy
The decision to introduce the restrictions was made before it was announced at the weekend that 64,000 birds were culled in Co Tyrone following a suspected case of avian flu.
Similar measures are also being implemented by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) in Ireland.
Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir said: “This will help ensure industry across both jurisdictions are protected as much as possible as we move through the remainder of this HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) season.
“This decision will mean that all poultry and captive bird keepers must keep their birds housed or otherwise separate from wild birds.
“This strengthens actions taken by my department to ensure mandatory biosecurity measures were implemented, since 18 January 2025.”
Disease control measures were initiated by the department following suspicion of a case of avian flu at a commercial poultry premises near Dungannon on Friday.
Mr Muir said: “A suspect case of notifiable Avian Influenza was reported on Friday 14 February and initial results suggested the presence of notifiable HPAI.
“Following further investigation, the CVO (Chief Veterinary Officer) has taken the decision, as a precautionary measure, to apply appropriate disease control measures, including the humane culling of all poultry on site (64,000) and the introduction of Temporary Control Zones (TCZ) to mitigate for onward disease spread.
“This suspected incursion of HPAI, following the recently confirmed case at a captive bird premises near Magherafelt further shows we cannot afford to be complacent.
“It is crucial that all bird owners – from backyard hobbyists to commercial flock keepers with thousands of birds – adhere to all biosecurity measures to protect their flocks and report any suspect cases to the Department as soon as possible.”
An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) has applied across Northern Ireland since January 18.
The AIPZ places a legal requirement on all bird keepers to follow strict biosecurity measures.
Following the suspected case in Co Tyrone, CVO Brian Dooher said: “The disease control measures have been taken to limit any potential spread of disease and I appeal to all bird owners – backyard and commercial – to take all necessary steps to protect your flock.
“This includes ensuring continuous excellent levels of biosecurity and adhering to all the requirements mandated under the AIPZ.
“Samples from the infected premises have been sent to the National Reference Laboratory to confirm strain and pathogenicity.
“Should HPAI be officially confirmed, these TCZs will be revoked and replaced with a three kilometre Protection Zone (PZ) and 10 kilometre Surveillance Zone (SZ).”
An AIPZ has applied across Northern Ireland since January 18Jamie McDonald/Getty Images
6 days agoworld NewsComments Off on Kansas State vs Utah prediction, pick, college basketball odds
It’s time to continue our College Basketball odds series with a Kansas State-Utah prediction and pick. Find out how to watch Kansas State Utah. Kansas State was humming along. The Wildcats were on a roll when they made their road trip to the state of Utah on Saturday night to visit BYU in Provo. Kansas […]
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The Minnesota Twins collapsed at the end of the 2024 season. They went 9-18 in September, falling out of the American League Wild Card race and making way for the Detroit Tigers. Despite that, they did not add enough in free agency to make a significant push in an improving AL Central. Before the offseason […]
6 days agoworld NewsComments Off on Sweden vs. USA 4 Nations Face-Off prediction, odds, pick
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6 days agoworld NewsComments Off on Chilling warning Putin could deploy obscure ‘Narva Scenario’ to launch surprise attack on Nato…despite Trump peace talks
EVIL Vladimir Putin could deploy the obscure “Narva Scenario” to launch a surprise attack on Nato despite peace talks with President Donald Trump, an expert has warned.
Former Finnish general and MEP Pekka Toveri believes Trump and the West should be wary of trusting the mad dictator – warning that he could take advantage and try to break Nato’s Article 5.
APPresident Donald Trump meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2017[/caption]
AlamyNarva castle at the bank of Narova River in Narva, Estonia[/caption]
But the former general and MEP for Finland has warned against the West trusting Putin in peace deals and giving him land as it would only make his “appetite bigger” – encouraging the tyrant to make a future invasion.
Toveri told The Sun that Putin would just need to wait for a couple of years and be prepared to sacrifice another 100,000 Russians before attacking again as, in Putin’s mind, the “spineless West will give up”.
And even if Europe built up its armies, Putin wouldn’t need to challenge them directly.
Instead, he could carry out the feared Narva Scenario and try and break Article 5 of Nato.
Russia would invade Estonia and seize the city of Narva in a small operation and then threaten to nuke anyone who tried to get it back.
Narva – which sits on the border between Russia and Estonia – was first occupied by Russia between 1558 and 1581, and then again in 1704.
It borders a river between the two countries – not far from Narva Bay – and over 97 per cent of the almost 60,000 residents there speak Russian.
On the edge of Nato’s eastern flank by the Baltic Sea, Narva is Estonia’s third biggest city.
There is a red line painted on the point where Narva crosses into Russia – on a bridge over the river.
APRussian servicemen operate at an undisclosed location[/caption]
ReutersServicemen of the 24th Mechanized brigade, named after King Danylo, of the Ukrainian Armed Forces fire a BM-21 Grad multiple-launch rocket system toward Russian troops[/caption]
Estonian border cops have previously told the BBC that thousands of Ukrainians have escaped war zones and fled into Estonia through this border crossing.
Toveri said it would take longer than six months, which is what the Danish spooks suggested, for Russia to invade Europe – but that it would definitely happen before the end of Trump’s administration.
He believes that Europeans would come to the defence of Estonia – but he questions whether America would as Putin would take advantage of Trump’s trust.
Toveri added: “That’s what the Estonians and other politics states are worried about – that Article 5 is questioned.
“And.the thing is, it’s easy for Putin to do that.”
In order to be victorious, Europe must pick up the production of weaponry and keep up sanctions so Russia will struggle to produce high-tech equipment.
But Toveri warned that trying to encourage peace with Putin would make him more likely to commit acts of sabotage in Europe.
He added: “Russians might be evil, but they are not stupid.
Putin's sights on three Nato countries
ESTONIA, Lithuania and Latvia have all strongly condemned Putin’s horrific war in Ukraine.
These major Russian-speaking cities in each country are of historical importance when thinking about the Russian empire Putin follows on from.
Geographically they also all provide important elements, like coastal locations, sea ports, industrial centres or key borders.
NARVA – ESTONIA
Narva – which sits on the border between Russia and Estonia – was first occupied by Russia between 1558 and 1581, and then again in 1704.
97 per cent of the almost 60,000 residents there speak Russian.
It borders a river between the two countries – not far from Narva Bay.
On the edge of Nato’s eastern flank by the Baltic Sea, Narva is Estonia’s third biggest city.
There is a red line painted on the point where Narva crosses into Russia – on a bridge over the river.
Estonian border police told the BBC that thousands of Ukrainians have escaped war zones and fled into Estonia through this border crossing.
Narva has welcomed Ukrainian refugees during Putin’s war, the BBC reports.
KLAIPEDA – LITHUANIA
Lithunia downgraded its diplomatic relations with Russia after Putin invaded Ukraine.
It closed its Russian consulate in Klaipeda, which is bordered by Latvia, Belarus and Poland on the Baltic Sea coast.
The third largest city in Lithuania, Klaipeda is a major seaport.
It has the highest number of native Russian speakers among Lithuanian cities.
Under the USSR, Russia turned Klaipeda into a valuable marine base.
DAUGAVPILS – LATVIA
This Latvian city, in the south, is bordered closely by Belarus and Lithuania.
It is the second largest city in the country and well populated.
It is also only 75 miles from the Latvian border with Russia.
Daugavpils is historically a major railway and industrial point – and was part of the Russian Empire in the late 1700s.
It has an overwhelmingly Russian speaking population.
Latvia has strongly condemned Putin’s war in Ukraine, and has been added to a list of all EU countries dubbed “unfriendly” by Putin.
“What they have learned from Ukraine? So far they have learned that well, their own army sucks.
“But another thing they have learned is that hybrid warfare works.
“They’ve been attacking us over a decade. They’ve been attacking us in cyber with the information operations now support us and what we are doing?
“They can break the unity of Western organizations like EU and NATO, and they can can break the unity within the nations and force us to use a lot of effort to to secure our infrastructure, like undersea cables, and so on.”
If Russia signs a peace with America and Ukraine rejects it – then Europe could step in and continue to support Ukraine defending against Russia.
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer has said he is willing to deploy British troops on the ground in Ukraine to enforce a peace deal.
Toveri said: “It would be in our interest to say that step in and say ‘Okay, don’t worry. We will replace the American support. We have money, we have resources. We will replace the American support so that Ukraine can keep on fighting until Russia is ready for more reasonable peace.
“You have to remember that Russia is nowhere near to winning in this war.”
Ukraine could continue fighting Russia on the defensive and killing as many Russians as possible with the support of Europe, as Zelensky’s people “are ready to accept the peace”.
Toveri explained how despite Ukrainian citizens being prepared to accept temporarily losing some areas, “they are not willing to take a peace where they don’t get real security guarantees.”
He added: “They can continue it long time with low intensity but it’s hurting them and the economy bad – so we should just not to give up now on the ceasefire/demilitarised zone.
“You would need 150-to-200,000 troops there and then you have to rotate them. You need three times more.
“We, the West, have to support Ukrainian so that they can rearm the army – so it is strong enough with modern Western technology so that they can be the main deterrence, and then, of course, some kind of presence from the Western countries.”
ReutersA rescuer works at a site of a residential building heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike[/caption]
ReutersA view shows cars and a building heavily damaged during a Russian missile strike[/caption]
6 days agoworld NewsComments Off on First look as huge British DJ enters Love Island villa for surprise performance as he treats All Stars to his new single
THE remaining Love Island stars will tonight be seen being treated to a performance from a huge British DJ.
The All Stars finalists are getting ready to find out who will be crowned winner, but before that they got to enjoy one last pool party.
ITVLove Island All Stars kicks off with Sammy getting a text[/caption]
ITVThe Islanders are treated to a pool party[/caption]
RexDJ Nathan Dawe played a performance for the Islanders[/caption]
RexThe couples will also be seen refelecting on their time in the villa[/caption]
This evening’s final episode will see the remaining couples wake up and be told by text that they’re going to get a pool party.
The message reads: “Finalists, get ready to dive into a good time, as you’re invited to a VIP All Stars pool party! #MakingWaves #FinalFiveOnly.”
The Islanders are then treated to a surprise performance from DJ Nathan Dawe.
The DJ plays some of his biggest hits and gives the Islanders an exclusive listen to his newest track, Here in Your Arms.
The remaining cast will be seen dancing in slow motion as they drink cocktails and enjoy their last party together.
TIME FOR REFLECTION
After their party, the couples will tonight be seen reflecting on their time in the Villa.
ElmaandSammy chat in the pool and she tells him: “You walked in and it changed everything, it’s almost like it was meant to be.”
Sammy then adds: “As soon as we sat down and started chatting I was like…yeah.”
Casey is seen telling Gabby: “Right now we’re at the perfect stage to want to carry on on the outside.”
“I actually feel excited for you to meet my family, this is where we learn about each other in others ways,” Gabby replies.
DUMPED FROM THE VILLA
Meanwhile, last night it all kicked off when Ronnie Vint and Harriet Blackmore were dumped from the villa.
After a public vote made them one of three vulnerable couples, it was up to the former islanders to cast their vote on who would make it to the final.
Ronnie and Harriett bid an emotional farewell to the showErotemeRonnie pointedly told Montel he wasn’t ‘his boy’ after being picked to be dumpedEroteme
6 days agoworld NewsComments Off on OnlyFans star Merve Taskin ARRESTED over offering Valentine’s night with fan for £9k…& listing what she’d give in return
A GLAMOROUS OnlyFans star was put under house arrested after she offered to spend a Valentine’s Night with a fan for £9,000
Turkish adult actress Merve Taskin is in hot water after she posted an advert on X offering to be a fan’s “girlfriend” for a dinner date.
NewsflashMerve Taskin is a Turkish OnlyFans actress[/caption]
NewsflashMerve Taskin, 27, is accused of offering “obscene services”[/caption]
NewsflashThe Turkish influencer warned fans “not to fall in love” with her[/caption]
Soon after, the 27-year-old Turkish model was arrested on Valentine’s Day and accused of offering “obscene services”.
The influencer also warned fawning fans to “be careful not to fall in love” with her.
Judges at the Caglayan Court ordered that Taskin be placed under house arrest on 15 February whilst her phone and social media are investigated.
The original post on X to her 124,000 followers offered lonely punters a Valentine’s Day dinner date.
She said: “I can be a girlfriend for ‘dinner’ for those who are single on 14th February.
“Fee: TRY 400,000 (£8,770).”
The erotic content creator then boasted some of her assets to entice potential customers.
She added: “1) I am talkative, we can chat a lot.
“2) My beauty, you can create a good image with me outside.
“3) I am known in Turkey, you can satisfy your ego within yourself.
“4) I’m smarter than you expect, you’ll be surprised.”
She also listed bonuses for fans: “Bonus: I have great manipulation skills, be careful not to fall in love.
“Bonus 2: If you need motivation on anything, I’m pretty good at that too.
“Bonus 3: I am humble.”
After her post went viral, she was reported to police.
Taskin posted on social media again once she was released, saying she was detained and had to share a cell with prostitutes from the local area.
She said: “I spent one night in a cold, stuffy, unhygienic detention cell.
“One of the girls was crying at first because she got locked up in the detention cell, then she started laughing when she found out that I was Turkish and that I was there because of social media.
The content creator complained: “Someone please tell me that they played a prank on me and none of it is real.”
In 2021, Taskin was sentenced to five months in prison for posting erotic pictures online during her holiday in Amsterdam, including one of her riding a giant penis at the city’s Sex Museum.
NewsflashThe OnlyFans star remains under house arrest[/caption]
6 days agoworld NewsComments Off on Secret Married At First Sight UK romance revealed as two stars hook up after heartbreaking split from show wife
MARRIED At First Sight UK is one for its matchmaking skills, but this new couple we didn’t see coming.
This MAFS couple have been secretly dating away from the public eye after one dealt with heartbreak from the series.
Instagram / hannahkate_norburnHannah had a disastrous run on MAFS[/caption]
GettyPaul Liba remained with Tasha Jay for more than a year after appearing on the show[/caption]
The Sun can exclusively revealed that Hannah Norburn – who appeared on the 2024 series, is dating the newly single Paul Liba.
Paul appeared on the 2023 version of the show, getting married to bride Tasha Jay.
The couple remained together after the show aired, but shocked fans when they announced they split after a year together in November 2024.
Tasha posted a statement online that read: “It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing Paul and I have decided to part ways.
“There isn’t any major reason, we have just come to terms with the fact that we are not right for each other.
“Paul is the loveliest guy I’ve ever met and I’m grateful for the time we’ve shared together and I’m glad that we can remain friends.
“I’m utterly heartbroken that I’m having to write this post, but it is best for both of us.’
“Thank you to everyone who has supported us as a couple. I hope you can now support us on our individual journeys.”
In comparison, Hannah had a disastrous time on MAFS, joining the show as a late bride and tying the knot with Stephen Nolson.
But despite initially seeming like a good fit, the pair’s relationship dissolved quickly – and it was only made worse when the girls of the group didn’t get along with her.
However, by the reunion she made a reappearance and was revealed to be dating Ryan outside of the experiment.
Their relationship didn’t last however, with the couple going their separate ways shortly after.
The Sun Online has contacted representatives for comment.
Tasha had a turbulent run on the show, splitting with her husband, kissing another, and then dating a thirdE4Tasha and Paul first got together in 2023 thanks to the show[/caption]
InstagramTasha and Paul split after ‘admitting they weren’t right together’[/caption]
hannahkate_norburnHannah has been going on secret dates with Paul since his split from Tasha[/caption]
6 days agoworld NewsComments Off on Keir warns Trump ‘don’t let Ukraine become another Afghanistan’ as PM vows to send in UK troops to guarantee peace deal
SIR Keir Starmer has issued a stark warning to Donald Trump over Ukraine.
The PM has vowed British troops will help guarantee any peace deal brokered by the US President – but says the war-torn country cannot become an Afghanistan-style disaster zone.
PAPrime Minister Sir Keir Starmer[/caption]
ReutersU.S. President Donald Trump[/caption]
AFPRussia’s President Vladimir Putin[/caption]
Trump, who returned to the White House last month – branded the collapse of Kabul in 2021 “one of the greatest defeats in American history”.
And Sir Keir has urged the US not to make too many concessions with invading Russia.
He said any such resolution must be “lasting” and prevent tyrant leader Vladimir Putin from “coming again” for more territory.
LAUNCHING NEGOTIATIONS
It comes as the Labour leader heads to Paris for talks on how to respond to Trump’s launching of negotiations with Putin.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has touched down in Saudi Arabia and is due to meet Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov tomorrow.
Ukrainian leader Volodomyr Zelensky is expected in the Middle East state on Wednesday.
However, he has insisted he has no knowledge of the talks pencilled in for Tuesday.
He has insisted he will not accept a deal brokered between Washington and Moscow – with the US set not to invite any European leaders to the talks.
Sir Keir, meanwhile, says he will attempt to “bridge” any gap with the new White House.
Speaking in The Daily Telegraph, the UK PM laid out his plans, saying Ukraine’s future cannot be protected without security guarantees from Trump.
He referred to the chaos created as Trump’s previous successor Joe Biden ordered the withdrawal of American troops after decades.
Trump has heavily criticised the decision, but is said to have drawn up the original deal with the Taliban.
Sir Keir wrote: “We cannot have a situation like Afghanistan, where the US negotiated directly with the Taliban and cut out the Afghan government.
“I feel sure that president Trump will want to avoid this too.”
During a visit to Bristol today, the PM said: “I think what the US wants to achieve is lasting peace in Ukraine that aligns precisely with what we want in the United Kingdom, what Ukraine wants and what our European allies want.
“What we now need to do is to make sure that we work together on a plan that could get us to that point and that’s why it’s really important, I think, to focus first on the immediate questions in Ukraine, but also to look at the wider picture, which is now we are in this generational point, really, where we do need to step up across Europe in terms of our capability, our funding and our commitment to defence.
Because this isn’t just about Ukraine, it is about our own national security, and that’s why my message will be we’ve all got to step up across Europe.”
He went on to say: “It’s very important, after three years now of this dreadful conflict, to try to move forward. Of course we could have a resolution tomorrow if Russia, the aggressor, pulled back.”
Donald Trump's statement on the Ukraine peace talks in full
DONALD Trump took to Truth Social after his chat with Putin to say...
“I just had a lengthy and highly productive phone call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia.
We discussed Ukraine, the Middle East, Energy, Artificial Intelligence, the power of the Dollar, and various other subjects.
We both reflected on the Great History of our Nations, and the fact that we fought so successfully together in World War II, remembering, that Russia lost tens of millions of people, and we, likewise, lost so many!
We each talked about the strengths of our respective Nations, and the great benefit that we will someday have in working together.
But first, as we both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine.
President Putin even used my very strong Campaign motto of, “COMMON SENSE.” We both believe very strongly in it.
We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other’s Nations.
We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now.
I have asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Ambassador and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, to lead the negotiations which, I feel strongly, will be successful.
Millions of people have died in a War that would not have happened if I were President, but it did happen, so it must end. No more lives should be lost!
I want to thank President Putin for his time and effort with respect to this call, and for the release, yesterday, of Marc Fogel, a wonderful man that I personally greeted last night at the White House. I believe this effort will lead to a successful conclusion, hopefully soon!”
AFPDonald Trump and Vladimir Putin[/caption]
EPATrump also spoke with President Zelensky[/caption]
GettyThe phone calls come as the world continues to look toward an end to the conflict in Ukraine[/caption]
