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LAST UPDATE | 20 Jan 2022
THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT today said it would cull more than one million birds in the coming weeks to fight a surging outbreak of avian flu on poultry farms.
All ducks, chickens and turkeys must be culled in some 226 municipalities in France’s southwestern Landes, Gers and Pyrenees Atlantiques departments, totalling up to 1.3 million birds.
“It will take us about three weeks to clear the whole area,” the agriculture ministry said.
By wiping out the populations where the virus is spreading, officials hope to shorten the outbreak and prevent it from reaching other poultry-raising regions.
Over one million birds have already been killed in attempts to smother the avian flu outbreak that began in late November.
Farmers in the region, famous for its lucrative but controversial foie gras liver pate, are compensated for the culled animals.
The ministry plans to requisition abattoirs and pull in large numbers of workers, including vet school students, to speed up the process.
Several European countries are now battling a highly contagious flu strain, H5N1, just a year after a similar virus decimated flocks.
Four bird flu outbreaks have hit France and especially the southwest since 2015, with 3.5 million poultry killed last winter.
Measures like quarantines at times of potential contact with migrating wild birds, and reduced densities at duck farms, “were necessary, but haven’t been enough,” said Herve Dupouy, a duck farmer and a farmers’ union leader in Landes.
“We’re desperate, farmers’ morale is poor. How can we look to the future beyond the situation we’re experiencing, with dead animals on our farms?” he said.
Northern Ireland
Meanwhile, all Avian Influenza Surveillance Zones in Northern Ireland will be lifted this weekend.
But Stormont Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots has warned that the threat of an outbreak remains high due to the continued presence of infected migratory birds.
He announced that the remaining two surveillance zones were to be lifted on Saturday, following the successful completion of all disease control activities and surveillance in and around the infected premises.
“These surveillance zones are the last local movement restrictions to be lifted and while this is very welcome news, the risk of avian influenza has not disappeared and we are certainly not out of the woods yet,” Poots said.
© – AFP, 2022 with reporting from Press Association
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Meh.
A watch that you have to charge daily ?
Just not practical. Why bother when you have your phone with you.
Which, depending on usage, you may have to charge daily.
I’m not convinced by any of these smart watches. What’s wrong with a “Thick as two short planks” watch? Stick a battery in, last couple years, and it tells the time.
That’s why you never but first generation of a new product. I’ll consider the third or fourth version
Better still, buy an automatic mechanical watch and you’ll never have to get a battery for it. And it’s kinda cooler when you think of this little engine running on your wrist.
Or a solar powered version , mine works great and automatically corrects its self each night with wave receptor. I expect it to our live me.
I just don’t get smart watches. I wouldn’t want to charge my watch every day. Not only that, but I prefer a normal watch. It’s more stylish!
I picked up a Samsung Gear fit last year for 100 quid when upgrading my phone. I wasn’t convinced when I got it but I have to say, I really like it now.
I’ve to charge it every 4 days or so overnight, which isn’t a hassle and nowadays, with the notifications that appear on screen I never take my phone from my pocket unless it’s something I need to reply to. Also, I hadn’t worn a watch in years and paying 100 for a watch doesn’t seem foolish.
It’s worth noting most of what I’ve said said above does not apply for the Apple watch…
Brave. Lol. Anti-Apple troll with very weak argument! You just could not resist…
If you say so, but I’m replying from my iPhone 5S while my 2011 MacBook Pro is beside me so your point is invalid, pal.
I can’t see myself buying one of these gadgets.
Is it just me or do all the straps look hideous?
It’s just you. Soz.
I was thinking the opposite, Neal.
I’m not a fan of rubber straps (stoppit!) but I think the colourful ones look good. The cheaper versions look better than the metal ones. It’s not a great looking watch at all though. I think some of the other smart watch offerings from other companies are streets ahead.
That said I still wouldn’t buy one. I’d never remember to charge the f’ing thing!
It looks more Fisher Price than Apple.
I’ll stick with my Breitling thank you very much!
Breitling is probably one watch brand which is even more vulgar that the Apple Watch, truth be told.
I like most of their styles, A few of the over the top ones are tacky.
The best way to have a jab at someone wearing a Breitling watch is to look at them assumingly and say, ‘Oh cool, so do you own your own plane or have a fractional lease?
Very good!
I find them far too blingy. Most of the bracelets are polished which just screams! I kind of like the Superocean though, but only on the “chain-link” type strap. The Navitimer is a bit of an horological masterpiece, but it’s too big for me.
Personally I love mechanical watches, I have several from different companies. I don’t see anything vulgar about them. But each to their own I guess!
I love mechanical watches too David, just not Breitlings. That was my point. I have some great automatics which I love and wouldn’t swap for an Apple Watch in a million years.
I agree about the bracelets on most of their models. I have the Navitimer 01 on black leather strap. I love it. I don’t think I’d ever buy the Apple watch, I prefer the old fashioned mechanical ones.
Probably because they are nothing special . Maybe the apple fanatics are finally copping on. There are much better looking / more functional smart watches out there .
Where can I buy the gold watch for 1200 euro ? I see a killing to be made.
Arrived this morning at 7am.
Don’t know what they’re saying there’s major fanfare everywhere and on all the social media sites here.
Though I do have to laugh… I wanted to try the fitness application because I’m concerned about my weight. Maybe try going to the gym then instead of spending two days outside the Apple Store.
You could also buy a weighing scales and weigh yourself after a brisk walk each day. Worked for people way before apple thought of this genius idea.
1 day battery life on a watch… haha funny that! Apple have said it needs to be re-charged nightly.
iRubbish for iFools.
iShutup
Ok hang on a second. This whole fitness thing. If i buy an Apple Watch and go for a run do i need to bring my iPhone with me? If so then whats the fuppin point father!!
And today’s Father Ted comment comes from…..
Pointless. But then, I had a manager 15 years my senior call me ‘old school’ for wearing a watch recently (instead of using my phone as a clock).
My watch charges itself on the kinetic energy of my moving arm. Why would I want a want a watch that needs to be plugged in every night? To show me the notifications I’m missing on my phone?
I stay in hotels at least once a week on average, 95% of which don’t have a plug near the bed. This would spend more time out of power than in power for me.
Smart phones are really just trying to force a gadget revolution where one isn’t needed. If I’m going to have wearable tech then I expect it to do something a little more, and at least convert my motion into energy.
I do own a GPS watch, but its for running, and doesn’t need to be any ‘smart’er than it is.
The gloss has been taken off Apple Down Under following revelations 2 weeks ago before a Senate Inquiry
the Apple Australasia is a subsidiary of Apple Ireland and that Apple uses the “Double Irish” to aggressively
minimise its Aussie tax. And by the look of it, Ireland’s reputation also took a body blow.
Apple is on the nose in Aus since a Senate Inquiry Down Under 2 weeks ago revealed that Apple may
not be a good corporate citizen-taxpayer due to a complicated supply arrangements via Ireland which
permits it to aggressively minimise its Australian tax. This has stunned many loyal Apple users down here.
They don’t mention that in order for the watch to work – you have to have the expensive iPhone also to connect it too.
Thanks but no thanks. 70%+ of Apples stuff comes from their genuine rival Samsung. Google it of you think this is false.
If I want something expensive in my life, I would (if I had rock in the head) vote for FG and Labour again in 2016 – not buy this over-priced stuff.
People complaining about having to charge it every day seem to be oblivious to the fact that watches and clocks used to have to be wound up every day.
have your say