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☆ Chinese Influence Campaign Pushes Disunity Before U.S. Election, Study Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Tiffany Hsu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A Chinese influence campaign that has tried for years to boost Beijing’s interests is now using artificial intelligence and a network of social media accounts to amplify American discontent and division ahead of the U.S. presidential election, according to a new report. The campaign, known as Spamouflage, hopes to breed disenchantment among voters by maligning the United States as rife with urban decay, homelessness, fentanyl abuse, gun violence and crumbling infrastructure, according to the report, which was published on Thursday by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a nonprofit research organization in London. An added aim, the report said, is to convince international audiences that the United States is in a state of chaos. Artificially generated images, some of them also edited with tools like Photoshop, have pushed the idea that the November vote will damage and potentially destroy the country.

Organizations: U.S, Institute for Strategic Locations: United States, London

LOISABA CONSERVANCY, Kenya (AP) — Conservationists in Kenya are celebrating as rhinos were returned to a grassy plateau that hasn't seen them in decades. The rhinos were taken from three parks that are becoming overcrowded to the private Loisaba Conservancy, where herds were wiped out by poaching decades ago. Kenya now has around 1,000 black rhinos, the third biggest population behind South Africa and Namibia. There are just over 6,400 wild black rhinos left in the world, all of them in Africa, according to the Save the Rhino organization. Tom Silvester, the CEO of Loisaba Conservancy, said Kenya's plan is to get its black rhino numbers to 2,000 over the next decade.

Persons: “ It’s, ”, Daniel Ole Yiankere, David Ndere, ” Ndere, Tom Silvester, Silvester, ___ Odula Organizations: Conservancy, Loisaba, Rhinos, Kenya Wildlife Service, Rhino, Loisaba Conservancy, ___ AP Locations: LOISABA CONSERVANCY, Kenya, Nairobi, ”, South Africa, Namibia, Africa, Loisaba, ___, africa

☆ A big win for Wells Fargo — plus what's dragging down Google parent Alphabet
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

One more down: Shares of Wells Fargo hit a new 52-week high after the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency terminated a 2016 consent order linked to its sales practices. This is the sixth consent order that regulators have terminated since 2019. Every consent order that is resolved brings the bank closer to having the Federal Reserve lift the asset cap that's been holding it back since February 2018. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER .

Persons: Jim Cramer, Linde, Wells Fargo, Charlie Scharf, there's, GOOGL, It's, Jim Cramer's, Jim, Krisztian Bocsi Organizations: CNBC, Air Products, Chemicals, Bank of America, Energy, Cisco Systems, Wells, Currency, Federal Reserve, Microsoft, Google, Materials, University of Michigan, PPI, Jim Cramer's Charitable, Shell Plc, BASF, Linde AG, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: We're, Bank, Wells, Coinbase, Leuna, Germany

In 2004, voters approved legislation that imposed a tax on millionaires to finance mental health services, generating $2 billion to $3 billion in revenue each year that has mostly gone to counties to fund mental health programs as they see fit under broad guidelines. San Francisco Mayor London Breed said she supports the measure. The 14-year-old center with a mission of breaking the cycle of trauma in the Black community relies heavily on mental health funding from the county. The state needs some 8,000 more beds to treat mental health and addiction issues, according to researchers who testified before state lawmakers last year. “From a humanitarian and civil rights perspective, we vehemently oppose Proposition 1,” said Mark Salazar, executive director of Mental Health Association of San Francisco, which serves more than 15,000 people monthly.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Newsom, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Tiffany McCarter, —, McCarter, “, ” McCarter, haven't, ”, Mark Salazar, ” Mark Cloutier, Joe Wilson, Anthony Hardnett, “ You’ve, ” Hardnett, ” Kalkowski, “ I’ve Organizations: — Democratic, — Democratic California Gov, San Francisco Mayor London, Cultural Center, Democratic, University of San, Housing Initiative, Mental Health Association of San, House, Sixth, 6th Street Center, Youth Locations: OROVILLE, Calif, — Democratic California, Butte, San Francisco, Butte County, Oroville, California, United States, Mental Health Association of San Francisco, Tenderloin, Chico

☆ Dating apps in 2024: A look at the state of Tinder, Bumble, Hinge and Match
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Rachel Wilson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

But dating apps, including Bumble, Grindr, Hinge and OkCupid, have cemented themselves as a fixture in American life: 2023’s downloads are more than twice the number of downloads in 2012, the year Tinder launched. This is the state of the dating app market, in four charts:Downloads are starting to fallThe popularity of dating apps has remained steady despite a slight decline in overall downloads in recent years. As many as three in 10 of all Americans say they’ve used a dating app, according to Pew. Tinder’s dominance is waningTinder has been the most commonly used dating app for Americans, a status it has held almost since it launched in 2012. Tinder is the largest app in Match Group’s US portfolio, which also includes Match, OKCupid, Hinge, Plenty of Fish and 36 other dating app brands aimed at diverse communities.

Persons: CNN — Tinder, Gen, they’ve, ” Tomas Iriarte, Reyes, Tinder, Gen Z Young, who’d, Gen Z, Bumble, X, ”, Amelia Orlando Organizations: CNN, Pew Research Center, Pew, Tinder, Survey Center, American, American Enterprise Institute Locations: data.ai

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A former interim mayor of San Francisco announced Tuesday he's running for his previous job, joining a competitive field of candidates who say the city has crumbled under the watch of Mayor London Breed, who is up for reelection this year. The lawyer and former city supervisor said he had not planned to return to politics but feels he has the right skills to turn San Francisco around. While she's not on the March 5 ballot, Breed is pushing a pair of public safety proposals that are. Critics say the ballot measures are not in line with San Francisco voters who value privacy over surveillance and encouraging rather than mandating participating in drug treatment programs. Meanwhile, political action committees supporting Breed have raised $1.3 million, including $200,000 from Michael Bloomberg, former New York City mayor.

Persons: —, London Breed, Mark Farrell, Breed, Ed Lee, San, ” Eric Jaye, “, ” Jaye, San Jose . San, Farrell, Ahsha Safaí, Daniel Lurie, Levi Strauss, she's, Lurie, E, Miriam Haas, Haas, Michael Bloomberg, Safaí Organizations: FRANCISCO, San Francisco, London, Associated Press, Democratic, New York City Locations: San Francisco, Francisco's, San Jose ., San Jose . San Francisco, New York

☆ Will Voters in San Francisco Go for a Different Kind of Mayor?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Heather Knight | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Famously liberal San Francisco is irritable these days. But what’s not so clear is what kind of mayor they want to fix what’s broken. He’ll test his platform — which he calls common sense and his detractors will surely label too conservative for San Francisco — on the November ballot. Mr. Farrell, the city’s 44th mayor, plans to announce on Tuesday that he wants to be its 46th one too. “I’ve watched San Francisco crumble over the last five years,” Mr. Farrell, 49, said recently over coffee at a downtown cafe.

Persons: San, what’s, Mark Farrell, San Francisco —, Farrell, “ I’ve, ” Mr, we’ve Organizations: Mayor London Breed, San Francisco Locations: San Francisco, Francisco

☆ Veterinarians share 10 things you should never do when taking your dog on a walk
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Sophia Mitrokostas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Vasil Dakov/Shuttershock"No matter how friendly your dog is, you don't know how the other dog might react," said Richardson. "It's never safe to let your dog greet another dog unless you've checked with their owner." "The chemicals can also lead to sickness or potential poisoning if your dog licks their paws clean after the walk." "Owners should never let their dog off the leash unless they are 100% confident the dog will always come back," said Richardson. Venkat suggested keeping waste bags attached to your pet's leash or harness to avoid forgetting them.

Persons: —, Jamie Richardson, Vasil Dakov, Richardson, leashes, Anita Kot, Richard Newstead, Heather Venkat, Venkat Organizations: Service, Business, Getty

☆ A lone stingray mysteriously became pregnant in an aquarium. Scientists now think a male shark could be responsible.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A stingray in a North Carolina aquarium became pregnant without a male in the tank. Scientists believe that a male shark could be the father. AdvertisementStaff at an aquarium in North Carolina were left confused after a stingray became pregnant despite there not being a male in her tank. Scientists have a few theories about how this might have happened — and one involves a male shark. The Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team Ecco in Hendersonville was initially concerned that the stingray had cancer when she began to swell.

Persons: —, April Smith, ” Smith, Smith Organizations: Service, Staff, Lab, Ecco Locations: North Carolina, Hendersonville

☆ Former GOP governor who said that being a senator sucks changes his mind to run for Senate
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Larry Hogan is running for Senate despite trashing the idea last year. "Not a lot gets done in the Senate," Hogan said in May 2023, reaffirming his decision not to run. Larry Hogan of Maryland didn't have especially nice things to say about the US Senate. It’s what I did as Maryland’s governor, and it’s exactly how I'll serve Maryland in the Senate. "Governor Hogan is a great leader for Maryland, and that's why he remains overwhelmingly popular in the state," said Daines.

Persons: Larry Hogan, Hogan, aren't, —, NewsNation, I've, Senate aren't, Hogan's, United States Senate –, Let’s, d0TuZchAtN —, @GovLarryHogan, Sen, Steve Daines, Mitch McConnell, Maeve Coyle, he'd, He's, Donald Trump, Republican Sen, Mitt Romney, Democratic Sen, Joe Manchin, Independent Sen, Kyrsten, GOP that's Organizations: Maryland Gov, Service, Senate, Republicans, GOP, United States Senate, Maryland, Maryland Senate, Democratic, Democrats, Democratic Senatorial, Committee, Republican, Independent, Trump Locations: Maryland, Montana, Ohio, Utah, West Virginia, Arizona

☆ I'm an AI startup founder and love hiring liberal arts grads. They give us a surprising edge.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Megan Carnegie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Barthélémy Kiss, 36, is a politics graduate running his second AI company Powder. Kiss has hired career switchers and liberal arts grads to work on his most recent AI project. Working on this startup, I've learned that people with a liberal arts background have a major edge in our industry. The liberal arts grads we've hired have a creative, human-centric approach to understanding the best applications of AI in their respective fields. We need creative thinkers to get the best out of AI technologyHuman creativity is crucial in the AI space.

Persons: Barthélémy, Kiss, switchers, grads, —, Eric Risser, We've, I've, grads we've, Stan, Maryan, Pierre Boulez Organizations: Service, Unity, Creative, Ircam Locations: Paris

☆ We're making a small stock sale to add to our newest position in the portfolio
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

We are buying 85 shares of Abbott Laboratories at roughly $113.91 and selling 60 shares of Procter & Gamble at roughly $158.97. We're making a small swap to add to our newest position in the portfolio. The quarter showed a 4% increase in organic sales, thanks to the consumer staple company's ability to raise prices on its products while also improving volumes. This momentum is expected to continue in 2024, with management forecasting organic sales to grow 8% to 10%. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.

Persons: Jim Cramer's, Abbott, Jim Cramer, Jim Organizations: Abbott Laboratories, Procter, Gamble, ABT, Abbott Labs, GE, CNBC

☆ Linde shares pop as industrial gas giant underpromises and over-delivers — again
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

We expect another year of strong earnings growth from this best-of-breed industrial stock. Quarterly results As we can see in the chart below, this was an all-around strong quarter for Linde. In APAC (27.6% of sales), growth was led by end markets in chemicals, energy, and manufacturing. Updated expectations are for a mild recovery in a few end markets in China for the first half of 2024. EMEA (29.3% of sales) showed growth across all "resilient" end markets, which Linde defines as more consumer-related (healthcare, food and beverage, and electronics), while industrial end markets (manufacturing, chemicals and energy, and metals and mining) lagged.

Persons: Linde, shouldn't, —, haven't, We'll, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim Organizations: Linde, LIN, EMEA, Electronics, CNBC, Tanks, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: Americas, Africa, APAC, Asia, China

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Democratic mayor of San Francisco is pushing a pair of controversial public safety proposals on the March 5 ballot, including one that would require single adults on welfare be screened and treated for illegal drug addiction or else lose cash assistance. San Francisco is in a struggle to redefine itself after the pandemic left it in economic tatters and highlighted its longstanding problems with homelessness, drugs and property crime. Violent crimes are low in San Francisco, but the city has long struggled with quality-of-life crimes. But she said San Francisco needs to do more. Yet Trent Rhorer, executive director of the San Francisco Human Services Agency, which provides cash assistance and employment services to low-income residents without dependent children, said the current situation is in conflict with the agency's mission: to improve lives.

Persons: she'll, San, Breed, Black, Chris Ballard, Coleman, ”, Trent Rhorer, “, Gavin Newsom, Rhorer, ” Rhorer, Michael Hsu, Hsu Organizations: FRANCISCO, —, Democratic, Mayor London Breed, San Francisco Human Services Agency, Democratic Gov, Department of Public Health, . Police Locations: San Francisco, Francisco, Democratic California

☆ How long will your dog live? Measure its nose
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Amanda Schupak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Is your dog a small male with a long nose? If so, your furry companion is more likely to be at your side for a long time, according to new research. Small and medium dogs with pronounced schnozes lived over 12 years on average, while flat-faced dogs of all sizes fell short of that mark. The study includes millions of data points, but it doesn’t necessarily represent the full spectrum of companion dog life, McMillan said. “The ethical and welfare concerns surrounding dog breeding have become one of the most important issues — if not the most important issue — within canine welfare,” McMillan said.

Persons: ”, Kirsten McMillan, ” McMillan, expectancies, Shiba Inus, schnozes, Dan O’Neill, ” Esme Wheeler, “, Wheeler, Silvan, ” Urfer, “ I’m, McMillan Organizations: CNN, Dogs Trust, bulldogs, French bulldogs, Italian greyhounds, Royal Veterinary College, Royal Society for, “, University of Washington, Dogs Locations: United Kingdom, Italian, Lhasa, Frenchies, London, United States

☆ Scientists figured out which dog breeds live the longest
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Ellyn Lapointe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Scientists in the UK investigated how a dog's breed, size, sex, and face shape affect lifespan. Flat-faced dogs, large dogs, and male dogs typically live shorter lives, the scientists discovered. Shown here are dog breeds that fall under the lowest 25% for longevity. AdvertisementAs a result, it may explain why the data suggested crossbreeds live shorter lives, McMillan said. Artificial breeding has shortened dogs' livesHuman-led dog breeding has led to new breeds that live shorter lives.

Persons: Shiba Inus, —, poochies, Bernards, Anita Kot, Presa, Cane Corsos, Cane Corso, Bernard, Kseniya Starkova, Kirsten McMillan, Kirsten McMillian, McMillan Organizations: Lancashire, Service, Dog's Trust, Lakeland, French bulldogs, pugs, Dogs Trust, America Kennel, Westend61 Locations: St

Walnut, a white-naped crane and internet celebrity, has passed away at age 42. That preference continued when she came to the institute; she showed no interest in breeding and even attacked male crane suitors. Photos You Should See View All 45 ImagesBut white-naped cranes are considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. And as the offspring of two wild-caught cranes, Walnut’s genes were not represented in U.S. zoos. Once Crowe had gained her trust, he was able to artificially inseminate her using sperm from a male crane.

Persons: Chris Crowe, Walnut, ” Crowe, “ I’ll, Chris, Crowe Organizations: WASHINGTON, Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoo, International Crane Foundation, International Union for Conservation of Nature . Locations: Front Royal , Virginia, U.S, Mongolia, Siberia, Korea, Japan, China, Wisconsin

☆ The Dogs That Live Longest, by a Nose
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Emily Anthes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

There are exceptions to those broad trends, and the findings might not apply to dogs outside Britain, where breeding practices — and gene pools — may be different, the researchers noted. More research will be needed to determine why some breeds have shorter life spans than others. Some breeds are genetically predisposed to serious health problems, but breed-related differences in behavior, lifestyle, diet, environment or other factors could also play a role in shortening some dogs’ lives, experts said. “Now that we have identified these populations that are at risk of early death, we can start looking into why that is,” said Kirsten McMillan, an author of the new study and the data manager at Dogs Trust, a dog welfare charity in Britain that led the research. “This provides an opportunity for us to improve the lives of our dogs.”

Persons: ’, ”, Kirsten McMillan Organizations: Dogs Trust Locations: Britain

☆ The ‘Mean Girls’ Movie Is Nicer. Teens Are Not. - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Jessica Bennett | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

For a certain breed of millennial like me, Tina Fey’s “Mean Girls” was gospel — a movie turned cultural phenomenon that put names and labels to the kind of bullying that any woman who’d been to middle or high school would recognize. For a long time, researchers just thought girls didn’t bully as much as boys. Then in the early aughts, a handful of books brought the concept of girls’ “relational aggression” into the mainstream. But much has changed in the 20 years since the original “Mean Girls" movie came out. So when Ms. Fey returned last month with her musical movie “Mean Girls” — her latest twist on the original, starring Reneé Rapp — it was inevitable there would be some changes.

Persons: Tina Fey’s, who’d, Fey, Reneé Rapp, Carr, Jon Hamm, Janis Ian, “, Ms, Queen Bee, Regina George Organizations: Bees, North Shore, Plastics Locations: Regina

☆ The first anti-aging pill for dogs is entering trials — and an 11-year-old whippet named Boo is the first to try it
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Hilary Brueck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

If they work, they'll make aging dogs feel and act healthier, younger, and more vibrant. Boo, an 11-year-old whippet dog from Pennsylvania, is the very first participant in this clinical trial, from the veterinary medicine startup Loyal. The new STAY study is one of the largest, most diverse dog aging studies of its kind — with plans to enroll more than 1,000 aging dogs across 50 different US sites. Advertisement"A clinical trial doesn't mean the drug works — it means we're going to test whether it works," aging expert Daniel Promislow, who directs the Dog Aging Project , another large study of aging dogs, told Business Insider. (Promislow is not involved with Loyal's drug development.)

Persons: —, LOY, Daniel Promislow, Ellen Ratcliff, Celine Halioua, Ratcliff, it's Organizations: Service, Business, FDA Locations: Pennsylvania, mealtimes, LOY

☆ More people need transplants than there are organ donors. Pigs might offer a solution
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jen Christensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +23 min

The need for more transplant organs is immense and growing. Researchers have transplanted genetically modified pig kidneys and hearts into people who were brain-dead to test whether they work in humans. Although Larry Faucette was too sick for a human heart transplant, University of Maryland doctors said he seemed physically strong enough for a genetically modified pig heart. It was more than a decade after the first heart transplant but long before such procedures became relatively routine. “We learned that the pig heart is an adequate substitute for a human heart.

Persons: Lawrence Faucette, Ann, he’d, ” Ann, Larry Faucette, Ann Faucette Ann, Larry, didn’t, ”, Robert Montgomery, “, Shelby Lum, ” Montgomery, Xenotransplantation, Art Caplan, Caplan, Babe ”, ” Caplan, They’re, eGenesis, people’s, Dr, Mike Curtis, Sanjay Gupta, ” Curtis, hasn’t, Julie O’Hara, Jim Parsons, Jayme Locke, couldn’t, Locke, Parsons, NYU —, Montgomery —, O’Hara, ” Locke, David Bennett Sr, Mary, David Jr, Bartley Griffith, Bennett, they’ve, Muhammad M, Mohiuddin, Larry Faucette’s, David Bennett’s, ” Griffith, xenotransplantation Ann Faucette, Wilbur, White’s, Ann Faucette, NYU ethicist Caplan, they’re, NYU’s Montgomery, UAB’s Locke, Steve Wood, ’ Curtis, “ I’m, it’s, ” O’Hara, Bennett’s, Larry Faucette —, ” Bennett’s, Faucette, who’d, Griffith, would’ve, Kate, Lucy, Nadia Kounang Organizations: CNN, Food and Drug Administration, University of Maryland, FDA, National Institute of Allergy, NYU Langone Transplant Institute, NYU Langone's Transplant, NYU Grossman School, Medicine’s Department of Population Health, “ Disney, University of Alabama, Transplant Institute, Parsons Family, Birmingham, NYU, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Doctors, University of Maryland Medical Center, Uno, UAB, CNN Health, NFL Locations: Frederick , Maryland, United States, Montgomery, “, Midwest, Yucatan, Maryland

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The number of western monarch butterflies overwintering in California dropped by 30% last year, likely due to how wet it was, researchers said Tuesday. Volunteers who visited sites in California and Arizona around Thanksgiving tallied more than 230,000 butterflies, compared to 330,000 in 2022, according to the Xerces Society, an environmental nonprofit that focuses on the conservation of invertebrates. Scientists say the butterflies are at critically low levels in western states because of destruction to their milkweed habitat along their migratory route due to housing construction and the increased use of pesticides and herbicides. On the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, another monarch population travels from southern Canada and the northeastern United States to central Mexico. Scientists estimate that the monarch population in the eastern U.S. has fallen by about 80% since the mid-1990s, but the drop-off in the western U.S. has been even steeper.

Persons: Emma Pelton Organizations: FRANCISCO, Volunteers, Xerces Society Locations: California, Arizona, Pacific Northwest, Rocky, Canada, United States, Mexico, U.S

☆ Sydney Harbour shark attack puts Australian swimmers on edge
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Monday night’s attack was the first in Sydney Harbour since 2009, when a bull shark tore off the arm of an Australian Navy diver near Green Island. “Sydney residents do love swimming in Sydney Harbour. Dan Himbrechts/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockWarmer waters mean more sharksAustralia is second only to the United States when it comes to “unprovoked” shark attacks, according to the International Shark Attack File. January and February are peak months for bull sharks in Sydney Harbour, which go there to feed and breed during the warmer months. Despite the frequency of visits by bull sharks to Sydney Harbour, there’s no separate system to monitor them.

Persons: Lauren O’Neill, Elizabeth Bay, Linda Scott, ”, “, Gerard Soury, Michael Porter, ” Porter, Fiona Crago, ” Crago, Dan Himbrechts, Amy Smoothey, Smoothey, ” Smoothey, Scott Organizations: Australia CNN, Sydney Harbour, Opera, Sydney, Australian Navy, CNN, Bank, Sky News, Local, Tweed Heads, NSW Department of Primary Industries, East Australian Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Sydney, Elizabeth, Sydney Harbour, Green Island, Potts Point, Elizabeth Bay, United States, New South Wales, Bega, Tweed, Queensland, there’s, NSW, ”

☆ First Bird Flu Deaths Reported in Antarctic Penguins
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Emily Anthes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Three Antarctic penguin species — emperor penguins, southern rockhopper penguins and macaroni penguins — are listed as vulnerable or near threatened. Before H5N1 arrived in the Antarctic region last fall, highly pathogenic bird flu viruses had never been documented in the area before. And because they breed in large, crowded colonies, once one penguin is infected, the virus could spread rapidly, causing mass mortalities. (As the virus spread through South America last year, Chile reported the deaths of thousands of Humboldt penguins.) The extent of the virus’s spread in Antarctic penguin populations remains unclear, and the king penguin cases have not yet been confirmed.

Persons: Laura Willis, ” Organizations: Penguins, South America Locations: South, Chile, Humboldt, South Georgia, Sandwich

The latest craze in Japan: The pig café. Very relaxing and enjoyable,” said Brad Loomis, a software engineer from Pullman, Washington, after visiting Tokyo’s Mipig Café with his 21-year-old daughter, Paige. Customers pay 2,200 yen ($15) for the first 30 minutes in the company of the pigs. The Mipig Café in fashionable Harajuku is among 10 such pig cafes the operator has opened around Japan. The animals, known as “micro pigs,” don’t get bigger than a corgi dog, even as adults.

Persons: cafés, lattes, ”, Brad Loomis, Tokyo’s Mipig, Paige, Shiho Kitagawa, Ben Russell, Sophie Mo’unga, Sachiko Azuma, Azuma, Bruce Kornreich, I’m, Kornreich, ” Paige Loomis, ___ Yuri Kageyama Organizations: TOKYO, —, corgi, Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell Feline Health Center Locations: Japan, Pullman , Washington, Tokyo, Mipig, Kyoto, New Zealand, Ithaca, N.Y

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