naturalnews--2019-01-23--Recent study demonstrates how a healthy diet can reduce symptoms of depression

(Natural News) Recent research provides further evidence that a healthy diet may improve symptoms of depression. However, the diet featured on the study did not involve some type of new supplement, nor a new dietary approach.  The SMILES trial (Supporting the Modification of Lifestyle in Lowered Emotional States) highlighted a general healthy Mediterranean-inspired diet which focused on increasing the consumption of fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains, while decreasing the consumption of carbohydrates, sweets, and heavily processed foods.  For the study, the participants were allowed to continue the treatments for depression that they were currently doing, which mainly involved psychotherapy, antidepressant medications, or some combination of the two. This ensured that the researchers could determine the added benefit of dietary modification rather than testing the diet as a primary intervention.  The study involved 67 patients suffering from major depressive disorder which ranged from moderate to severe. They also had baseline diets that were not particularly healthy in the first place.  Half of the participants were randomly grouped into a dietary modification group which received seven sessions of personalized nutritional counseling and motivational support called “ModiMedDiet.” It emphasized healthier food choices as described above. The counselors also focused on reducing alcohol consumption – they allowed a maximum of two glasses of wine per day. The rest of the participants went to a control group that had social support, which was basically friendly chats with a research assistant.  The power of the elements: Discover Colloidal Silver Mouthwash with quality, natural ingredients like Sangre de Drago sap, black walnut hulls, menthol crystals and more. Zero artificial sweeteners, colors or alcohol. Learn more at the Health Ranger Store and help support this news site.  Results showed that the participants in the dietary modification group generally improved their eating habits, which in turn improved symptoms of their depression. The main instrument used to track the participants’ depression severity indicated that those in the dietary modification group improved significantly more than the control group – in terms of raw scores, the mean depression score for the dietary modification group dropped from 26 to 15 over a period of 12 weeks, while the control group fell from 25 to only about 20.  This shows a fairly large effect that is comparable to some studies of antidepressant “augmentation” with other medications, such as antipsychotic agents, which are linked to some serious side effects.  By the end of the study, about a third of the participants in the dietary modification group were rated as being “in remission” from their depression symptoms compared to only eight percent in the control group. Anxiety scores also improved with the dietary modification. The improvement in depression symptoms was found to be independent of changes in weight.  The researchers acknowledge that it’s still unclear how a better diet improves depression symptoms, but they note that other research suggests pathways related to decreased inflammation, antioxidant effects, and changes in a person’s gut bacteria can affect brain activity.  As with any health problems, eating the right foods help manage the symptoms and even treat them. For depressive disorders, here are some foods that have been shown to improve its symptoms.  It’s important to consult your healthcare provider before deciding to add a diet plan as part of your depression treatment. DO NOT stop antidepressant medications on your own.  Learn more about depression and the natural ways to improve its symptoms at BeatDepression.news.


naturalnews--2019-01-28--Study confirms that healthy diet and regular exercise are the BEST ways to prevent prostate cancer

(Natural News) Are you worried about prostate cancer? Not only is it easy to detect, but it can also be prevented through simple means that don’t involve expensive drugs or painful treatments. An article in Natural Health 365 asserted that eating the right foods and working out on a regular basis are more than enough to beat the second deadliest cancer that threatens American men.  Every year sees more than 180,000 new cases of prostate cancer and 26,000 deaths related to it. It is considered to be one of the deadliest cancers in the U.S.  However, it is also very easy to detect any signs of the disease. Prostate cancer is closely linked to prostate-specific antigen (PSA), an important enzyme produced by the prostate gland.  Normally, PSA is present in small amounts. Higher levels are considered a warning that the prostate gland is having problems – such as the impending onset of prostate cancer.  A simple blood test can determine the PSA levels of a man. This PSA blood test has been a staple when it comes to detecting the early stages of prostate cancer so that potential patients can take the right measures to prevent it.  While there are conventional treatments for prostate cancer, they are expensive and not guaranteed to work. So the best way to deal with the disease is to avoid it in the first place. And to do this, you have to change your lifestyle. (Related: Italian style coffee found to significantly reduce the likelihood of prostate cancer.)  The University of California-San Francisco (UCSF) studied the effects of healthy lifestyle choices on prostate cancer markers in men in 2005. They found that the participants who adopted healthier lifestyles were able to reduce their PSA levels.  The power of the elements: Discover Colloidal Silver Mouthwash with quality, natural ingredients like Sangre de Drago sap, black walnut hulls, menthol crystals and more. Zero artificial sweeteners, colors or alcohol. Learn more at the Health Ranger Store and help support this news site.  These men chose to exchange their usual fatty food intake for more servings of fruits and vegetables. They also started working out on a regular basis.  UCSF researcher and study author Dean Ornish noted that increasing the amount of healthy food and exercise resulted in a commensurate improvement of prostate cancer markers. He also detailed how his team took blood serum samples from the participants and added them to cultured prostate cancer cells.  In Ornish’s paper, he detailed how the blood serum of healthy individuals slowed the growth of prostate cancer tumors by 70 percent. Meanwhile, the serum from participants with less healthy lifestyles achieved only a nine percent inhibition rate.  The study concluded that a combination of nutritious food and moderate levels of exercise is not just able to help prevent the onset of prostate cancer. It can also slow down the spread of the disease in a man who has been diagnosed with cancer by making his blood much less livable for tumors.  Other research papers corroborated the findings of the UCSF study. For example, a 2014 study by Iran’s National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute reported that there was a connection between a participant’s intake of fruits and vegetables and his resistance to prostate cancer.  The Iranian study identified apples, cabbage, pomegranates, and tomatoes as the foods consumed by its participants. They decreased the risk of cancer by 67 percent.  Another study – this one performed by Italy’s IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri” – warned against eating animal products and starchy foods. These unhealthy foods were considered to increase the chance of cancer by a large margin. Instead, it recommended foods that contained plenty of fiber and vitamins.  Find out how a healthy lifestyle is the best defense against all kinds of cancer at AntiCancer.news.


naturalnews--2019-02-06--Following a plant-based or vegan diet can reduce risk factors of Type 2 diabetes research indicates

Following a plant-based or vegan diet can reduce risk factors of Type 2 diabetes, research indicates

(Natural News) Plant-based and vegan diets are becoming more and more popular due to their many health benefits. A study published in the journal BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care found that these types of diets are especially beneficial for people with Type 2 diabetes. The review also suggests that diabetics who switch to plant-based or vegan diets can enjoy improvements in their physical and psychological well being.  Type 2 diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases in the world. This is very alarming since patients who are not able to manage this condition can suffer from a wide range of complications. This includes heart disease, nerve damage, blindness, sleep apnea, and Alzheimer’s disease. In addition to these, Type 2 diabetes can take a toll on a patient’s psychological health, increasing their risk of depression by up to three times.  This can have a significant effect on how they manage and control their disease, especially since depression has been associated with poor blood sugar control.  Diet is an important factor in both the development and the treatment of diabetes. Previous studies have shown that high meat consumption, especially of red and processed meat, is associated with a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes. This suggests that plant-based diets that are free of most or all animal products may be best for diabetics and those who are at risk of the disease. To determine if this was the case, the researchers, who came from various research institutions in the U.K., conducted a systematic review of 11 articles with a total of 433 participants. On average, the trials that were included in the study lasted for 23 weeks.  100% organic essential oil sets now available for your home and personal care, including Rosemary, Oregano, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Clary Sage and more, all 100% organic and laboratory tested for safety. A multitude of uses, from stress reduction to topical first aid. See the complete listing here, and help support this news site.  From the studies, the researchers observed that plant-based or vegan diets led to significant improvements in physical quality of life and emotional well being, as indicated by improvements in depressive symptoms. They also noted that following these diets improved blood sugar levels and reduced nerve pain, which is a common complication caused by diabetes. Furthermore, following a plant-based diet helped the participants lose weight, having an average loss of 5.23 kg compared to the 2.83kg of those who still ate animal products. This is important for diabetes prevention since being overweight or obese is a major contributor to the development of this disease.  Overall, these results indicate that becoming a vegetarian or vegan can help prevent Type 2 diabetes and its complications by helping maintain healthy blood sugar levels. (Related: Diabetes sufferer switched to vegan diet, blood sugar stabilized after 10 days.)  Plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are rich in fiber, vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals that are great for your health. By increasing your intake of these foods, you can enjoy many health benefits, including:


naturalnews--2019-02-14--Pediatric cancer patients found to benefit from improved diet and exercise boosting treatment succe

Pediatric cancer patients found to benefit from improved diet and exercise, boosting treatment success

(Natural News) Even as you undergo cancer treatment, simple things like proper diet and exercise can help increase your levels of successful treatment and recovery. This is according to researchers from the University of Texas MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital, who recently performed a study that was published in an online issue of Pediatrics Research.  According to the researchers, diet and exercise still have strong potential to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy as well as reduce the risk of late effects in patients with pediatric cancer. This research opens the door to determining how energy balance, which is a combination of an individual’s diet and exercise, can be implemented effectively alongside treatment for managing or treating obesity.  In total, the researchers looked at 67 studies – including 32 clinical trials in pediatric patients – as well as data from different patients diagnosed with different kinds of cancers. Their research included patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, brain tumors, and rhabdomysarcoma. They also highlighted the cellular mechanisms through which energy balance affects tumor growth.  According to Joya Chandra, Ph.D., an associate professor of Pediatric Research and the lead author on the study, their aim in conducting the research was to find out what works for the pediatric patients as far as both diet and exercise were concerned. “The purpose of the review was to delineate between obesity reduction as a goal for energy balance interventions versus simply changing diet or adding exercise,” she said. “For example, our review confirmed modifying diet or adding moderate exercise can improve chemotherapy efficacy independent of weight loss.”  The power of the elements: Discover Colloidal Silver Mouthwash with quality, natural ingredients like Sangre de Drago sap, black walnut hulls, menthol crystals and more. Zero artificial sweeteners, colors or alcohol. Learn more at the Health Ranger Store and help support this news site.  What is also confirmed from the research that they conducted is that having a poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle negatively affects a patient’s chances for successful treatment recovery. In fact, the researchers confirm that both of these things lead to obesity. However, the link between tumors in different cancers and how proper diet and exercise can affect them still needs to be analyzed, as the researchers still haven’t fully understood it.  According to Keri Shadler, Ph.D., an assistant professor of Pediatric Research and a co-author on the study, there are many different factors that need to be considered when creating a custom-made exercise program for patients. These include the type of tumor present, the patient’s health status, and the frequency and duration of the exercise being performed. “Exercise during treatment is safe and improves physical fitness in patients,” Shadler said. “We have several clinical trials underway including one testing exercise interventions in bone tumor patients.”  This research sheds new light on what’s possible while administering treatment to patients with pediatric cancer. Common knowledge dictates that special diet interventions aren’t usually part of such treatment, despite the fact that healthy eating is encouraged while a patient is being treated. That’s doubly true for physical activity; as a matter of fact, physicians are often cautious about suggesting it in a cancer care setting.  For now, the researchers are going to continue running tests, particularly in administering nutrition interventions as well as looking at weight trajectory in all patients. Other aspects of their research look at other things, such as the impact of diet and exercise intervention on the effectiveness of chemotherapy, the long-term risk of toxicity for leukemia, and osteosarcoma. Although it may all seem counter-intuitive, the data from the research clearly suggests that something good can come from diet and exercise even in the midst of cancer treatment.


naturalnews--2019-08-20--Make dietary changes to manage your underactive thyroid naturally

![Image: Make dietary changes to manage your underactive thyroid naturally ](wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2019/08/Brazil-Nuts-1.jpg)  * * *  ([Natural News](https://www.naturalnews.com)) Hypothyroidism occurs when your body is unable to produce enough thyroid hormones. TheseÂ hormones help control the body’s growth, repair, and metabolism.Â Hypothyroidism is often linked to symptoms such as fatigue and weight gain. If you have this thyroid condition, consider making [dietary changes or take herbal remedies and supplements](https://www.steadyhealth.com/articles/hypothyroidism-and-natural- treatments-could-diet-and-herbs-help-treat-your-underactive-thyroid) to manage your symptoms.  Hypothyroidism affects at least one to two percent of people around the globe, but the condition is ten times more likely to affect women than men.  ## What happens when you have hypothyroidism?  The **thyroid gland** , a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your neck, producesÂ and stores thyroid hormones that [affect almost all of the cells in your body](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/hypothyroidism-diet).  When the thyroid gland receives a signal called **thyroid-stimulating hormone** (TSH), it releases thyroid hormones into your bloodstream. This signal is sentÂ by the pituitary gland, a small gland at the base of your brain, when thyroid hormone levels are low.  Sometimes, the thyroid gland doesnât release thyroid hormones even when you have TSH. This condition is called **primary hypothyroidism** ,Â the most common type of hypothyroidism.  About 90 percent of primary hypothyroidism occurs because of [Hashimotoâs thyroiditis](https://www.naturalpedia.com/hashimotos-thyroiditis-causes-side- effects-and-treatments-at-naturalpedia-com.html), an autoimmune disease wherein the immune system attacks your thyroid gland by mistake.  Primary hypothyroidism can also be caused by a genetic disorder,Â an iodine deficiency, taking certain medications, and surgery that removes part of the thyroid.  If you have **secondary hypothyroidism** , your pituitary gland is unable to work properly. This condition occurs whenÂ the thyroid gland doesn’t receive enough TSH.  [![ebook](https://www.naturalnews.com/Images/Heart-Disease- Ebook-150.png)](https://prevent-and-reverse-heart-disease.naturalnews.com)|  _ **Discover how to prevent and reverse heart disease (and other cardio related events) with this free ebook** : Written by popular Natural News writer Vicki Batt, this book includes [everything you need to know](https://prevent-and- reverse-heart-disease.naturalnews.com) about preventing heart disease, reversing hypertension, and nurturing your cardiac health without medication. [Learn More.](https://prevent-and-reverse-heart-disease.naturalnews.com)_   ---|---      Thyroid hormones are crucial since they control your metabolism, the process by which your body converts food into energy. This process affectsÂ your temperature and how fast you burn calories.  Changes in metabolism are the reasons why those with hypothyroidism usually feel fatigued and cold and gain weight easily.  ## Low-calorie and low-carb diets for hypothyroidism  Certain drugs, such as levothyroxine, can be used to treat hypothyroidism. However, these medications are also [associated with negative side effects](https://www.rxlist.com/consumer_levothyroxine/drugs- condition.htm#what_are_side_effects_of_levothyroxine) such as chest pain, congestive heart failure, infertility, insomnia, and palpitations.  Individuals with hypothyroidism usually have a slower metabolism. According to studies, aerobic exercise can help boost your thyroid hormone levels. Additionally, eating more protein can help boost your metabolism.  While foods alone wonât cure hypothyroidism, combining the right nutrients, herbs, and supplements will help restore thyroid function and address your symptoms.  In a study published in the journalÂ  _Metabolism,_ Â researchers observedÂ participants who were forced to drastically reduce their caloric consumption to 1000 calories per day while enrolling in an exercise program.  Nutritionists designed diets with either high carbohydrate levels or with low carbohydrate levels for the participants to follow. The researchers separated them into two groups, and each group followed one of the two diets to help themÂ build up to 1000 calories.  Once the study concluded, the researchers found thatÂ a low-calorie diet helped reduce the severity of hypothyroidismÂ in both groups, but thyroid function returned to near-normal levels much faster in the volunteers who followed a low-carb diet.  If you haveÂ hypothyroidism, follow a low-calorie and low-carb diet to manage your symptoms and promote weight loss.  ### Herbs, nutrients, and supplements for an underactive thyroid  An extract called **ashwagandha** is often used as an herbal supplement for managing anxiety. Data suggest that, aside from regulating the levels of cortisol which makes you anxious, [ashwagandha](https://www.naturalpedia.com /ashwagandha-sources-health-benefits-nutrients-uses-and-constituents-at- naturalpedia-com.html) also works on the thyroid hormones secreted by the pituitary gland. However,Â ashwagandha has several side effects, one of which is weight gain.Â (Related:Â [Home remedies for hypothyroidism](https://www.naturalnews.com/2018-10-08-home-remedies-for- hypothyroidism.html).)  Patients who haveÂ hypothyroidism may also have conditions like vitamin B12 deficiency and [celiac disease](https://www.naturalpedia.com/celiac-disease- causes-side-effects-and-treatments-at-naturalpedia-com.html). To improve your vitamin B12 levels, make dietary changes and consume more foods that contain the vitamin, likeÂ dairy products,Â dark leafy vegetables, andÂ fortified cereals.  Increasing your intake of certain nutrients can also help improve your condition.    * **Iodine** â [Iodine](https://www.naturalpedia.com/iodine-sources-health-benefits-and-uses.html) is an essential mineral that you need to produce thyroid hormones. Sources include dairy, eggs, fish, and seaweed.   * **SeleniumÂ** âÂ Selenium helps your body activate thyroid hormones so they can be used by the body. The nutrient alsoÂ helps minimize inflammatory reactions and improves thyroid function. Additionally, increased selenium levels are linked to a stronger immune system and improved cognitive function. Sources include [Brazil nuts](https://www.naturalpedia.com/brazil-nuts-sources-health-benefits-nutrients-uses-and-constituents-at-naturalpedia-com.html), eggs, legumes, sardines, and tuna.   * **Zinc** â Zinc also helps your body activate thyroid hormones. Zinc-rich food sources include beef, chicken, oysters, and other shellfish.  Follow a nutritious diet and consume [foods rich in nutrients like iodine](https://healing.news/), selenium, and zinc to manage your hypothyroidism.  **Sources include:**  [SteadyHealth.com](https://www.steadyhealth.com/articles/hypothyroidism-and- natural-treatments-could-diet-and-herbs-help-treat-your-underactive-thyroid)  [Healthline.com](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/hypothyroidism-diet)  [RXList.com](https://www.rxlist.com/consumer_levothyroxine/drugs- condition.htm#what_are_side_effects_of_levothyroxine)


naturalnews--2019-08-23--Live longer and prevent disease by adding mushrooms to your diet

(Natural News) If healthy food is medicine, then mushrooms are highly medicinal. These edible fungi contain numerous nutrients and produce natural compounds that help protect against diseases. They can even increase the longevity of people who eat them regularly.  Researcher Paul Stamets explains that fungi can convert rotting organic materials into humus soils that help plants flourish. He calls them one of nature’s most vital disassemblers of organic molecules.  By turning decaying matter into usable nutrients, fungi provide nourishment to both plants and animals, including humans. They also biosynthesize some of the most potent substances on Earth for human use.  Penicillin and other antibiotics come from fungi like Penicillium. Other fungi also show considerable potential as medicinal treatments for diseases and other health conditions.  Some mushrooms produce mind-altering effects on humans who ingest them. Ancient cultures and peoples valued these psychotropic fungi, while modern-day researchers believe that these “magic mushrooms” may be the key to human evolution. (Related: Nutrient powerhouse: 5 Health benefits you can gain from medicinal mushrooms.)  Fungi conduct most of their activities in the soil, away from the prying eyes of humans. Stamets wrote that the underground network of mycelia acts as the soil’s nervous system.  Furthermore, he theorized that fungi possess a form of sentience. Mushrooms and other types of fungus display a natural awareness of the requirements of their host. They respond to environmental stimuli by producing enzymes and chemical reactions.  Building on this theory, Stamets proposed that mushrooms have a co-creative consciousness. He also believes in the possibility of interacting with this consciousness.  “Because these externalized neurological nets sense any impression upon them, from footsteps to falling tree branches, they could relay enormous amounts of data regarding the movements of all organisms through the landscape,” Stamets wrote.  As part of his research, Stamets looked at the human digestive system. The gut enables interaction between fungi and their human hosts.  Mushrooms are prebiotic foods. They enhance digestion and overall health by boosting the population of beneficial bacteria that live in the gut.  A 2017 study by researchers from The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) showed that some nutritionally dense mushrooms have high amounts of ergothioneine, glutathione, and other antioxidants. An antioxidant-rich diet can protect cells against oxidative stress and slow down the aging process.  Mushrooms not only increase longevity, they also supply valuable nutrients. For instance, their vitamin D content ensures that the immune system can function properly.  Any edible mushroom brings a lot of antioxidants and nutrients to the dining table. In their study, Penn State researchers identified seven edible mushroom species with the highest antioxidant activity and the greatest concentration of nutrients.  Porcini mushrooms appear in specialty markets for most of the year. They flourish in the undergrowth of chestnut, hemlock, pine, and spruce trees.  In contrast, golden oyster mushrooms are usually cultivated. A simple straw mat with compost is enough to induce the growth of this nutritious fungi.  Pioppino mushrooms have a mild flavor akin to pepper. They are found on rotting logs or at the base of hardwood trees.  One of the most familiar types, oyster mushrooms are easy to cultivate. Their sweet scent is similar to anise’s.  Lion’s mane mushrooms spur the production of nerve growth factor, a protein that helps neurons in the central and peripheral nervous systems regenerate. A staple in traditional Chinese medicine, they enhance memory and mood.  Maitake mushrooms often feature in animal studies. They reduce cholesterol and blood glucose levels in rats.  Asian cultures consider shiitake mushrooms to be a symbol of longevity. They are also considered medicinal.


naturalnews--2019-09-09--Can a keto diet improve cancer symptoms Heres what you need to know

Can a keto diet improve cancer symptoms? Here’s what you need to know

(Natural News) Recently, more people are adhering to the ketogenic diet – a high-fat, moderate-protein, and low-carbohydrate diet. It restricts the intake of carbohydrates coming from bread, crackers, certain fruits, pasta, rice, root vegetables, and sugar. While most commonly known for its ability to aid in weight loss, the keto diet was also found to fight against some types of cancer.  One study published in the journal Cancer & Metabolism reported that 80 percent of human cancer cells have an increased intake of glucose and produce very little energy without the presence of oxygen. This mechanism is completely unusual compared to normal energy metabolism – where a small amount of glucose yields a huge amount of energy in the presence of oxygen. These findings suggested that the metabolism of most cancer cells is altered.  However, by adhering to the keto diet, the metabolism of the tumor can potentially be changed. This can be done by reducing the intake of sugar and other nutrients, such as insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), the tumor feeds on. As a result, the blood flow to the tumor is reduced, making it much less favorable for cancer cells to grow.  This cancer-fighting effect of the keto diet was confirmed in a study published in the Journal of Nutrition. In this study, researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham wanted to determine if the keto diet can help women with cancer lose more body fat and lower their insulin levels.  To do so, they randomly assigned women with ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer to a keto diet or the American Cancer Society diet for 12 weeks. They measured the participants’ body composition, fasting serum insulin, IGF-1, and beta-hydroxybutyrate before and after the treatment. They also measured their urinary ketones throughout the study period.  The results showed that the ovarian and endometrial cancer patients who followed the keto diet experienced significant improvements in their condition. The keto diet helped reduce the fat mass, insulin, and IGF-1 of obese endometrial and ovarian cancer patients. This led to the reduction of their tumor burden.  Another study, which was published in the journal Neuro-Oncology, found that the keto diet sensitizes cancer cells to be killed and saves healthy cells during chemotherapy and radiation. Most studies that have supported the cancer-fighting effects of the keto diet are mainly for brain tumors. (Related: The keto diet: Tips to make sure that the eating plan is working for you.)  While existing evidence on the beneficial effects of the keto diet on cancer is promising, there are several things you need to consider if you are diagnosed with cancer and are currently on treatment. For one, people with non-small-cell lung cancer; esophageal, pancreatic, or gastric cancer; or are undergoing a stem-cell transplant burn calories much faster than those with other cancers and have a metabolism that tends to be more altered. In addition, pancreatic cancer and cancers of the bile duct and gallbladder typically cause fat malabsorption. For these reasons, the keto diet may not work for these people.  Following the keto diet may also cause nutrition-impact side effects that may be difficult to manage, such as nausea and diarrhea. As mentioned earlier, the keto diet can lower glucose levels, which can be dangerous for people who are prone to hypoglycemia and those taking blood sugar-lowering drugs. Overall, if you are diagnosed with cancer, it’s best to consult a nutritionist who can tell if the keto diet is suitable for your condition.


theindependent--2019-02-22--Inside Turkeyaposs largest animal hospital saving thousands of sick animals every year

Inside Turkey's largest animal hospital saving thousands of sick animals every year

A horse with an injured ankle, a stressed cockatoo that plucked out the feathers on its wings and a peacock suffering from an inflamed eye were just some of the patients undergoing treatment at Turkey’s largest animal hospital recently.  The Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Faculty of Veterinary Science Hospital opened in 1987 and treats thousands of sick animals every year.  After visiting the centre two years ago, Erdem Sahin felt compelled to visit once again in order to see how its 60 veterinarians nurse poorly animals back to health.  The first patient he came across was a dog in a basket, who looked to be in pain. It transpired the canine, who was called “Duman”, which is Turkish for “smoke”, was suffering from constipation.  Duman had to undergo five days of treatment before “seeming very happy and relaxed”, according to the photographer.  Another canine, wearing a diaper and confined to a stretcher, was undergoing treatment for cancer.  While that dog had a long and difficult road ahead, the vet treating him was hopeful about the animal’s future.  The hospital is split into five departments specialising in internal diseases, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, artificial insemination and wild animal reproduction.  It also has an emergency room that is staffed 24 hours a day.  Doctor Serhat Ozsoy, the head of the department of animal diseases and ecology, was treating a wild hawk that had been found in another part of the city and brought in with a broken wing.  The bird would be released back into the wild once it had made a recovery.  The hospital treats some 50,000 animals every year, mostly pets, and is funded by vet bills paid by owners.


newyorkpost--2019-03-19--Gaza parrot gets treatment from Israeli animal rights group

EREZ CROSSING, Gaza Strip — An ailing parrot in the blockaded Gaza Strip received treatment Tuesday from an Israeli animal rights group after its Palestinian owner appealed for help via Facebook.  Abdullah Sharaf told The Associated Press that his African grey parrot, Koki, drank bleach that burned a hole in his throat. He said local veterinarians, ill equipped to handle specialized cases, suggested his exotic pet be put down.  Unconvinced, Sharaf appealed via Facebook to an animal rights group in central Israel, which agreed to help. The group sent a mobile surgery clinic to the Israel-Gaza frontier and successfully treated the bird at the crossing.  Tuesday’s rescue was coordinated with COGAT, the Israeli defense body responsible for Palestinian civilian affairs.  Israel and Egypt have imposed a blockade on Gaza since the Islamic militant group Hamas seized power in 2007. Palestinians in Gaza face severe travel restrictions, making it difficult to get specialized medical treatment.


theindependent--2019-01-31--Mass starfish death is biggest disease epidemic ever seen in marine animals scientists say

Mass starfish death is biggest disease epidemic ever seen in marine animals, scientists say

Starfish along the US Pacific coast have been hit by the worst-ever disease outbreak seen in wild marine animals with one key species almost entirely wiped out, scientists say.  Sea star wasting disease has caused a “devastating” decline in the once-common sunflower sea star - Pycnopodia helianthoides - that is deemed important because it eats sea urchins which, left unchecked, can chew through swathes of kelp forests relied on by a host of other creatures.  Researchers identified warming temperatures and increased deaths during their survey of P helianthoides in a 3,000km stretch of coast from California to British Columbia.  Using data from divers and seabed trawls they found declines of up to 100 per cent in some areas, and said they feared the species may not recover.  Its near-total disappearance between 2013 and 2017 has already been linked with an increase in urchin population and reduction in kelp, threatening biodiversity, according to the study published in Science Advances.  In the paper, the scientists add: “Timing of peak declines in near-shore waters coincided with anomalously warm sea surface temperatures.  “Increasingly warm or anomalous temperatures are being shown to influence the prevalence and severity of marine infectious diseases ... [while] experimental and field studies support a role for temperature in sea star wasting disease morbidity.”  Animals affected by the disease, thought to be caused by a densovirus, develop white skin lesions before their arms fall off and they die.  Researchers quantified the collapse of P helianthoides by using data spanning 2004 to 2017.  The stars can reach up to one metre wide and have 24 arms.


thesun--2019-02-08--Deadly zombie deer disease sweeping US makes animals waste away and become super-aggressive with

Deadly ‘zombie deer disease’ sweeping US makes animals waste away and become super-aggressive… with fears it could spread to humans

A DEADLY infection that turns deer into zombie beasts is spreading across North America, a new report warns.  And it's feared the so-called "zombie deer disease" could be transmitted to humans.  Also known as chronic wasting disease (CWD), it attacks the brain, spinal cord and other tissues in deer, elk and moose.  Animals affected become aggressive and rapidly lose weight and coordination before the illness kills them.  Concern is now growing amid reports the horror disease has spread to 24 US states and two Canadian provinces.  The US Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) highlighted the issue in its 2019 report after it discovered the virus had spread to two more states since last year.  But while there are fears zombie deer disease could become a new mad-cow epidemic, there is no evidence as yet to suggest humans could be harmed.  However, a recent study found for the first time that macaques could get the virus after eating infected meat, sparking fears that a variant hitting humans could soon emerge.  A separate study found that laboratory mice with some human genes could become infected, according to the CDC.  The CDC report warns that the disease is spreading.  It says: "In several locations where the disease is established, infection rates may exceed ten percent (one in ten), and localised infection rates of more than 25 percent (1 in 4) have been reported.  "The infection rates among some captive deer can be much higher, with a rate of 70 per cent (nearly four in five) reported from at least one captive herd."  The disease was first spotted in the wild 40 years ago, but has been seen in captive deer since the '60s.  "Since 2000, the area known to be affected by CWD in free-ranging animals has increased to at least 24 states, including states in the Midwest, Southwest, and limited areas on the East Coast," the CDC says.  "It is possible that CWD may also occur in other states without strong animal surveillance systems, but that cases haven’t been detected yet.  "Once CWD is established in an area, the risk can remain for a long time in the environment. The affected areas are likely to continue to expand."  The infection can be found in both free-ranging and farmed animals - but it can be years before an animal shows symptoms.  We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.


thevaccinereaction--2019-11-02--New Foot and Mouth Disease Animal Vaccine on Fast Track

Zoetis, Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of drugs and vaccines for pets and livestock has signed an agreement with Texas A&M University’s Health Science Center for Innovation and Advanced Development and Manufacturing (CIADM) to develop a new animal vaccine for foot and mouth disease (FMD). The contract will establish a facility at Texas A&M for accelerating the development of vaccines for trans-boundary and emerging diseases, and creating a new vaccine to prevent foot and mouth disease (FMD) in livestock will be the initial focus.1  The National Pork Producers Council, the National Milk Producers Federation, the National Corn Growers Association and Iowa State University have been urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to quickly establish a FMD vaccine bank to prepare for a potential outbreak of FMD in U.S. livestock, even though the last outbreak was in 1929.2 Iowa State University and the Swine Health Information Center have played a central part in FMD research in livestock.3 The groups acknowledge that the USDA has taken some measures to create a vaccine bank; however, they are calling for the USDA to use funding included in the 2018 Farm Bill to purchase a large volume of vaccines to effectively contain an FMD outbreak if it occurs.  Zoetis and Texas A&M to Build Biocontainment Lab  Part of the agreement includes Zoetis setting up a 12,800-square-foot secure, biocontainment lab off-campus using modular cleanroom technology. The Trans-boundary and Emerging Disease Vaccine Development Facility is expected to open mid-2020 pending approval from USDA.  Scientists creating an FMD vaccine will receive FMD strains for the Zoetis FMD vaccine design that are believed to be non-infectious to cattle and other livestock. According to Dr. John Hardham, Research Director in Global Biologics Research and Director of the Zoetis Center for Trans-boundary and Emerging Diseases:  Typically vaccines are administered prior to an outbreak in order to “prevent” the disease from manifesting in the host; however, according to experts, pre-vaccinating livestock for FMD is not a viable option. Dr. James Roth, MD, a professor in the department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventative Medicine at Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine explains that if a country declares itself free internationally of FMD but have vaccinated for it, then, as outlined in international animal health rules, there would still be many safety and health regulations to go through in order to export the product.4 He says that:  In addition, Dr. Roth has stated that it is not pragmatic to pre-vaccinate livestock for FMD because, “There’s 23 different strains. We’d have to use 23 different vaccines to cover all possible strains in the world.”3 He maintains that it is logical to argue against pre-vaccinating for a virus that has multiple strains, given that it is difficult to predict the virus strain that may cause the potential outbreak.  Over the past few years, the failure of influenza vaccine for humans to prevent infection and transmission of type A and B influenza viruses has demonstrated the difficulty of predicting which influenza virus strains will cause disease in a given flu season.5 Public health officials admit that influenza vaccines fail to prevent influenza more than half the time.6 In most years, flu shots do not prevent the influenza because they do not contain the most prevalent influenza strains that are making people sick.3  New Test to Distinguish Vaccinated from Unvaccinated  In the midst of the recent dialogue on FMD in livestock, Iowa State University, on behalf of the Swine Health Information Center, has developed a lab test to differentiate between FMD vaccine antibodies and antibodies that come from exposure to wild type virus in pigs.7 The test still needs to be approved by the USDA for use but experts are saying this represents a big step forward in being prepared for future FMD outbreaks.4  According to the executive director of the Swine Health Information Center Dr. Paul Sundberg: “There are FMD vaccines that are available and should we get FMD in North America, those vaccines will be probably be deployed to help control and prevent the spread of the virus.”5 He adds that:  Dr. Sundberg explains that this lab test can differentiate between vaccine strain FMD virus antibodies and antibodies produced by the wild-type FMD virus. He states, “Thus we would be able to differentiate those animals and we’d know which animals are at higher risk of being further sources of virus to other animals, a real important distinction that we’ll need to have should we need to respond to an outbreak.”4  Although there are several questions that remain unanswered regarding wild type FMD virus, vaccine strain FMD virus and immunity to wild type FMD virus, this type of specific lab testing would help differentiate between the types of FMD infections in vaccinated and unvaccinated pigs during periods of FMD outbreaks.  There have been many outbreaks of disease in highly vaccinated human populations. Although the blame is always placed on unvaccinated individuals, there is a lot of evidence that vaccinated persons show few or no symptoms but can still transmit infections to other people,8 9 and that vaccine strain live virus infections in those recently vaccinated can be mistaken for wild-type virus infections. An article published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology in 2017 revealed that PCR testing was used to check measles case samples taken during the 2015 California measles outbreak.10 Researchers found that about 40 percent of measles case specimens were identified as vaccine strain measles virus infections in recently vaccinated people, not wild-type measles, and stated:


yna--2019-12-06--S. Korea to boost animal disease-related R&D amid spread of ASF

South Korea has culled around 400,000 pigs in the northern part of the country this year, after experiencing its first-ever ASF outbreak in September. No outbreaks have been reported from pig farms so far since early October, but South Korea has been remaining vigilant in checking for further spread by wild boars.


naturalnews--2019-03-18--Threat of deadly African swine fever virus triggers biggest seizure of US agricultural products in

Threat of deadly African swine fever virus triggers biggest seizure of U.S. agricultural products in history

(Natural News) U.S. federal agents seized at least a million pounds of pork that was being smuggled from China into the country in more than 50 shipping containers via the ports of New York and New Jersey – meat that could be contaminated with a hemmorhagic virus that wipes out entire pig populations in Asia. African swine fever virus has ravaged the world’s largest hog industry in China and sent pork prices skyrocketing.  Now the Chinese are considering greatly decreasing their imports of U.S. genetically modified soy that’s used as pig feed. The deadly pig virus spreads quite easily and is very resilient. And yes, the meat products and even the animal’s feed can carry the virus. When will an outbreak in the U.S. occur? It’s just a matter of time.  The deadly pig virus has already spread to Russia and Eastern Europe. It seems just a matter of time before U.S. pigs catch it, spread it, out get wiped out in genocidal form, like in Asia now. U.S. border protections are loose and need a good ratcheting to prevent this catastrophe. All high-risk pork products should be banned by bio-security experts immediately. We need quarantine stations and increased cargo inspections, especially for imports coming from Russia and China.  If the virus hits U.S. pigs, it could cost our economy tens of billions of dollars a year in losses. So far, scientists claim the pig virus is not transmittable to humans, but the virus could mutate into a form that is, and that dredges up another related horrific concern.  100% organic essential oil sets now available for your home and personal care, including Rosemary, Oregano, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Clary Sage and more, all 100% organic and laboratory tested for safety. A multitude of uses, from stress reduction to topical first aid. See the complete listing here, and help support this news site.  Natural News has covered, repeatedly, how one insidious U.S. vaccine manufacturer (and pediatrician ironically) designed a childhood vaccine for Rotavirus using two strains of another deadly Asian pig virus called Circovirus.  With no rhyme or reason, freak doctor Paul Offit mixed the deadly pig virus into his highly controversial “Rotateq” vaccine. The adverse events and side effects listed on that vaccine insert include intussusception – where the injected child’s intestines become entangled and the infant can die.  Will the CDC and freak doctor Paul Offit design a new “mandatory” and “safe and effective” childhood vaccine that contains the African swine fever virus? Offit made millions off Rotateq, thanks to the CDC, while children across America are maimed and dying of “unknown” causes.  Inspections aren’t enough, though. The U.S. needs radical changes made to not only the meat import industry, but the soy import industry, since the virus can transmit through animal feed. Plus, because most meat in America, including cow, chicken, turkey, and swine, is raised in corrupt, contaminated confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), parasites, pathogens, and viruses are already of epic concern.  If the American “Big Food” industry, including meat and dairy, continue with business as usual, it’s almost unavoidable that some genocidal virus will break out everywhere. The African swine fever virus is easily spread through contact or contaminated meat products and can survive in processed meat, like hot dogs, deli meat, and sausages, for months on end.  There is currently no cure for African swine fever virus, and once it’s discovered to have infected a herd, the farmers must wipe out every pig in the vicinity. In China, where half the world’s pigs live, well over half a million have been executed from threat of the virus spreading. The U.S. imports massive amounts of food from China, so the virus threat is of high concern. The virus can live outside the host in all kinds of conditions, even in dirt.  Tune into Vaccines.news for more updates on imported deadly pig viruses that are used in U.S. vaccines to maim children.


thedailybeast--2019-01-29--Denmarks Grand Plan Contain African Swine Flu With a Fence

Denmark's Grand Plan: Contain African Swine Flu With a Fence

The United States isn’t the only country dealing with border wall controversy: Denmark is spending $12 million to erect a fence along its border with Germany in an attempt to keep foreign wild boar from coming in  and spreading African swine fever.  Critics, though, told the Daily Beast the wall would be ineffective.  “[It’s] likely not ... a practical way to keep the African swine fever; beyond the fact that wild boar are extremely powerful animals and likely they can make their way through or under it,” Viorel D. Popescu, an assistant professor of conservation biology at Ohio University who studies Eastern European forest ecology, told the Daily Beast via email.  Denmark’s proposed fence, which will be completed by this fall, will stand 5 feet tall and will extend underground as well to prevent the boar digging under it. It will have regular gates and steps for humans to be able to cross over. The wall is the central effort to keep the disease from spreading to Danish pig farms, although the Danish government is also stripping back restrictions on hunting wild boar, calling for “wild boar hunts around the clock, as well as intensified efforts to hunt wild boar on state-owned and private land,” said a statement from the Danish Ministry of Environment and Food.  Critics of the fence and mass culling of wild boar, including conservationists and hunters, point to several issues with the plans. The fence will have gaps for roads and waterways that boar can simply walk or swim through, making the $12 million project only partially effective.  It also may prevent or hinder the free movement of other wildlife, specifically, wolves. Wolves had been extinct in Denmark for more than 200 years until a nascent pack recently crossed over the border, and they prey on wild boar.  Wild boar are also useful to forest ecology: The rooting and digging they do on the forest floor helps germinate seeds and spread useful bacteria in the soil.  “A barrier like that can potentially slow down invasion, but won’t stop it,” said Sara Kross, a  conservation biologist and director of Columbia University’s School of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology. “Any time you put up a fence it’s going to affect wildlife, hopefully wouldn’t affect other animals of conservation concern getting through.”  Why the drastic measures? Wild boar can carry African swine fever, and Danish officials fear that these boar can wreak major destruction. Though the disease doesn’t affect humans, it is lethal to pigs within days, spreads quickly, and there is no cure or vaccine. African swine fever can spread rapidly through large herds, kills at almost a 100 percent rate, and can last in pigs that do survive it for up to two months.  There’s a lot at stake for Danes. The pork industry, worth about $4.6 billion according to the country’s statistics department, is gigantic: The Danish Agriculture and Food Council reports that it takes about 5,000 farms to produce 28 million pigs annually (Denmark’s human population is about six million people). Pork accounts for more than 5 percent of Denmark’s total exports. If an African swine fever outbreak were to occur, "exports to non-EU countries would have to shut down," the Danish government said in a statement. It could cost the country $1.7bn (£1.3bn) billion in pork exports, according to the BBC.  African swine fever hasn’t yet been spotted in Denmark or Germany, but there were a few outbreaks in Belgium (which also borders Germany) last fall. The disease has affected Lithuania and other Eurasian countries since 2014, where they are still attempting to fight it off. In Poland, another leading pork exporter, the government called for the mass slaughtering of the country’s entire population of wild boars—about 200,000 animals—and prompted protests online and in city streets in response.  “It’s a political problem. Biosecurity is the only answer but it’s hard and costly,” Mikołaj Golachowski, a biologist and conservationist, told the Guardian. Research has shown that African swine flu spreads most effectively through discarded food and contaminated equipment, meaning that pig owners should be the first line of defense in preventing the disease. Golachowski also said that wild boar eat rodents and insect larvae, and killing them off could lead to a population boom in both types of pests.  “Overall, such extreme measures have rarely (if ever) proven their worth, and conservation should be evidence-based, not politics-based,” Popescu said.  Others, like Max A. E. Rossberg, chairman of the European Wilderness Society, said that blocking boars from moving won’t stop the disease from entering Denmark. “The African swine fever virus is found in uncooked or undercooked processed pork meat,” he told the Daily Beast via email. “The most common spreading of the virus is via garbage. People buy a salami sandwich and its remains end up in the food trays of pigs or wild boars rummage through the garbage and eat the salami.  “As long as humans cross into Denmark, so will the virus make its way into Denmark.”


globalresearch--2019-11-30--China’s African Swine Fever (ASF) “Spreading Globally”?

The worst outbreak of fatal African Swine Fever disease ever has devastated the world’s largest pig population, that of China, over the past months. Now it is spreading to neighboring states and even threatens the United States pig herds. The political and human impact could be far worse than imagined as a de facto pandemic disease situation spreads. Globalization of agribusiness is not helping matters.  On August 3, 2018 a case of African Swine Fever (ASF) was confirmed in China’s Liaoning Province. Since then despite various measures to contain the deadly disease it has spread across China where as of November, 2019 in little more than a year, nearly half of China’s huge pig population has either died or been eliminated in a desperate effort to contain the disease. ASF is not deadly to humans but is 100% fatal to any pig that is infected. There is no known treatment to cure it. It can be spread by direct contact with an infected pig, body fluids, contact with equipment or clothing and via certain tick species.  The China Agriculture Ministry issued a report in August that the size of China’s live pig herd had declined by a very precise 38.7% from August 2018. Industry sources suspect underreporting and put the actual number at more like 50%. In any event it is huge, and has impacted the politically sensitive measure of China food price inflation over the past year. Pork is a mainstay of the Chinese diet for meat protein and considered a national security issue. Most pigs in China are raised by small-scale farmers who face ruin now. According to reports inside China this has led many desperate small farmers to try to hide the presence of ASF in their herds, to slaughter and sell, to avoid financial ruin.  The disease is especially dangerous. According to experts it’s hard to kill. One report notes, “It lives in feces for 11 days and blood for 15 weeks. It lives in salted meat for 182 days, dried meat for almost a year, and frozen meat for three years. The Chinese love to take meat snacks with them when they travel. Rules can be bent in Asia.”  Even more alarming are reports that disposal of infected China pig carcasses is not safe. Rather than treating the infected dead pigs as biohazard and burying them far from the farm site the proper way burning them and treat the site as hazardous waste for a year or more, covering the site with lime, it has been documented that often small farmers bury the pigs next to the barn with no burning. That risks renewed outbreak of the disease.  China had the world’s largest pig population at the beginning of 2018 with a population that was 440 million strong, out of a global population estimated at 769 million pigs. Now it could be down half of that, a major shock to world meat protein supplies.  The speed of the spread of the disease across all China has clearly overtaxed the system there. However despite assurances, the spread has not been contained inside China.  The ASF disease is spreading outside China as well. The Wall Street Journal noted, “In recent months, customs officials in Japan, Taiwan and Australia have found infected meat in other food products carried by tourists. And the disease has since been confirmed in herds in Vietnam, Mongolia and Cambodia.” The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that all provinces in Vietnam have reported ASF outbreaks and that more than 5,880,000 pigs have been culled since the first case was discovered in February.  According to the FAO, as of November 21 significant African Swine Fever cases among pig populations in The Philippines, Laos and Timor Leste have also been documented. And wild boars carrying the disease have been detected at the border region in Russia with Mongolia. In several instances ASF virus gene was detected in pork products confiscated at Incheon Airport in Seoul South Korea brought by passengers from Shenyang City, China, an indication of how difficult containment is.  Isolated cases have also been detected in EU countries including Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary which are acting swiftly to contain spread. It has also been documented in Moldavia, Belarus and Ukraine. Most recently, cases of the ASF have been detected in Poland not far from the German border. In early November African Swine Fever was found in 20 wild boar in Poland’s western Lubusz province near the Oder River, some 80 kilometers east of Germany, the European Union’s biggest hog producer.  An alarming case was discovered over several weeks in March of a Chinese ship container at a port in Newark, New Jersey where Federal agents seized 1 million pounds of pork smuggled from China, the largest-ever U.S. seizure of agricultural products. The pork was hidden in containers of ramen noodles and laundry detergent. Authorities took it to determine if it was contaminated with ASF.  There are many unanswered questions at this point about African Swine Fever pandemic spread. What is clear is that this is far more dangerous than we have so far been led to believe. In October, according to a new report by Henry Kamens, seven dead wild boar washed ashore in Denmark, a major pig producer country, and were disposed of without even being tested for ASF.  F. William Engdahl is strategic risk consultant and lecturer, he holds a degree in politics from Princeton University and is a best-selling author on oil and geopolitics, exclusively for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook.” He is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG)


sputnik--2019-11-08--Melting Arctic Sea Ice Induced by Climate Change Linked to Deadly Virus in Marine Animals

Scientists were baffled when sea otters in Alaska were initially diagnosed with PDV in 2004, since the disease had only been previously detected in Europe and on the East Coast of North America, the National Geographic reported. The disease was first detected in 1988 in northern Europe when it caused the death of around 18,000 seals. Symptoms of the disease - which is pathogenic for animals, particularly seals and other pinnipeds - include fever, labored breathing, discharge from the nose and eyes and eventually death.  Using 15 years of Arctic sea ice measurements and data on the migration patterns of animals, the researchers concluded that melting of Arctic sea ice due to climate change opened new migration routes for marine mammals, allowing the virus to spread to previously unscathed areas. The researchers also used blood and nasal swab samples from animals like seals and otters in areas ranging from Southeast Asia to Russia to determine which populations had been exposed to PDV.  “The loss of sea ice is leading marine wildlife to seek and forage in new habitats and removing that physical barrier, allowing for new pathways for them to move," Goldstein, who is also the associate director of the One Health Institute at the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, is quoted as saying by Science Daily. "As animals move and come in contact with other species, they carry opportunities to introduce and transmit new infectious disease, with potentially devastating impacts.”  "As sea ice continues its melting trend, the opportunities for this virus and other pathogens to cross between North Atlantic and North Pacific marine mammals may become more common," researcher Elizabeth VanWormer concluded, Science Daily reported. "This study highlights the need to understand PDV transmission and the potential for outbreaks in sensitive species within this rapidly changing environment."  PDV is not the only illness-causing microbe that may be spreading rapidly due to climate change. Warming ocean temperatures can also lead to the proliferation of dangerous algal blooms along the US West Coast, which can be deadly to animals, according to Shawn Johnson, the director of veterinary science at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California, NBC News reported.  “We’re seeing more and more of these toxic blooms affecting our animals,” Johnson said. “This is not unique. It’s just another important piece of evidence showing that climate change is impacting the marine mammals all up and down the West Coast.”


theguardianuk--2019-11-13--It’s not a conspiracy. Boris Johnson is just bad at laying wreaths and mopping floors | Joel Golby

Proud and elated to announce this week that I have managed to fill in two of my election bingo card squares: I got “Nigel Farage is up to something” and “conspiracy row involving the BBC” one day after another. I just need “man on the street yells directly in the face of standing MP”, “viral Sarah Vine column in which she coyly alludes to Michael Gove being horny” and “Jacob Rees-Mogg looms in the background, terribly” and I win a tenner off Chuka Umunna.  Anyway, Armistice Day this week, which is either a sombre occasion for reflection on the unfathomably heroic sacrifice hundreds of thousands of soldiers made for our country (good) or a sort of competitive respect event in which there isn’t a single poppy big enough to show our thanks (bad). This year’s Cenotaph-adjacent vein-busters were basically the same as the previous years: “Fury as Jeremy Corbyn fails to shave his head and paint ‘LEST WE FORGET’ across his skull in poppy-red face paint” – and I, for one, am calling for fresh story lines. Nearby, Boris Johnson looked, frankly, as if he’d left my house at 10am in an Uber with a can of Dark Fruit for the road “to perk one up”. He looked like I’d been begging him to get two hours sleep – mate, please, you can use my bed, honestly – but he insists on playing The xx remixes off YouTube instead. Keeps asking me how the PlayStation controller works and whether it is possible to close any more curtains. His phone’s on 1% because he keeps Googling what time the shops open. That sort of thing.  Only… oh? The footage of the wreath-laying on BBC Breakfast on Monday morning showed a markedly fresher-faced Johnson, laying a different coloured wreath, the right way up this time, and looking, well, as if he didn’t have an entry-stamp to The Dolphin on his inner wrist and £60 in notes in his wallet just in case. Eagle-eyed viewers immediately noticed the discrepancy, and the BBC issued a short mea culpa: the line they stuck to was that footage of the 2016 wreath-laying, prepared for a preview of the 2019 wreath laying, was accidentally used instead of footage of the 2019 ceremony. And because it’s 2019 we all accepted the apology and moved on. Ah, sorry, my mistake, no: because it’s 2019 we’re still talking about it days later and will continue to for many days and possibly years to come.  Are there lessons from what history will refer to as #Wreathgate? On the one hand, it does seem like a particularly lazy conspiracy to make Boris Johnson look good: is anyone more likely to vote for the man because he combed his hair once three years ago, rather than looking like he finished all my cans at 3am and, in desperation, moved on to that Lucozade bottle full of amaretto I took to Leeds Fest this summer instead? Very hard to tell.  On the other hand: if you’ve ever seen a nerd in a dark room editing video you would realise how particularly difficult it would be to reach three years back into the archives and accidentally splice one shot in among the fresh stuff – it is simply too many mouse-clicks to fathom. On a third hand, which is a thing: Rob Burley, the editor for BBC live political programmes and unlikely star of this election so far, came out and tweeted a Big And Bruising denial (“wave upon wave of insulting, self-righteous and hysterical tweets keep on coming because people really want it to be true”), which perversely makes me believe the conspiracy more. I don’t know what to do.  What I do know is this: if you’re going to do a conspiracy in big, big 2019, do it a bit better than that. Do you know how many eyes are watching? Do you know how many high-functioning online entire subreddits dedicated to this there are? Do you know how on edge we all are after the whole Epstein thing? In 2016, American conspiracy heads got carried away and fired a rifle in a pizza parlour because it didn’t have a big enough basement. We’re not in the mood for this any more. You can’t go round splicing respectful footage into other respectful footage and thinking you can get away with it. Do better, BBC. Do better.  Other things to hate or enjoy – delete as appropriate  Sorry to double-down on Boris Johnson but the footage of him going to flooded Derbyshire and tepidly mopping up a Specsavers is very fascinating to me. There’s always something intriguing about watching politicians trying to act like people under the laser-hot glare of the media – we all remember how spectacularly Ed Miliband messed up eating a sandwich just because someone was watching him – but the man cleans like he’s only been introduced to the sheer concept of mopping in a short brief on the car ride over (“It’s a series of strings on the end of a stick, Boris, commonly used on the wetter end of domestic messes”). Would be very up for a series of videos of him just doing things over the next five weeks. Scratching his head over the recycling schedule. Logging into Netflix using only a TV remote. Changing the timer on his oven after the clocks go back. Sky News, hit me up for more.  Two key policies from the Lib Dems this week: the first, a proposed lifelong-learning “skills wallet” grant of £10,000 for every adult in the UK – or about one year of tuition fees, if you’re counting. The skills wallet is a sort of manifesto equivalent of stepping on a rake you last left outside nine entire years ago – and has already been picked over by more cerebral columnists, so it falls to me to announce the second: a later breakfast policy at McDonald’s, suggested as a joke by Lib Dem HQ, which would be a disaster for this country. The strict 10.30am cut-off that currently exists works on two levels: it gets hungover people out of bed with some sort of deadline to work to, and it means cooks don’t have to keep a fried egg warm all day in an over-capacity kitchen. If you want an Egg McMuffin, wake up and get it. Anything beyond that is anti-worker, frankly. This should be a far bigger furore than it is. • Joel Golby is the author of Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant. He is writing a regular column during the election campaign


theguardianuk--2019-11-21--German SPD backs down after row over crude typo on memorial wreath

Germany’s Social Democratic party has backed down after becoming locked in a blame game with a florist and a printer over who was responsible for misspelling “fascism” on a war memorial wreath so that it resembled the word “fuckup”.  The error was only spotted once the wreath had been laid on Memorial Sunday, 17 November, when Germany traditionally commemorates the victims of war and fascism.  Instead of the word “Faschismus” (fascism) the word “Verschissmuss” had been used.  Although the word doesn’t exist, it closely resembles the word “verschissen” – a vulgar term for seriously messing up, close to “fucking up” in English.  The SPD initially said it suspected an act of sabotage, either by the florist who took the order or by the printer who printed the slogan on a red ribbon in gold letters, and started legal action to find the culprit.  The fact that the “mus” ends in double S, or “SS”, the acronym of the Schutzstaffel, the Nazi’s paramilitary unit, deepened the party’s suspicions that someone with either far-right or far-left sympathies was involved.  But the party later backed down in a Facebook post headed: “Mistakes happen and are only human.”  “It has now emerged that the error on the ribbon of our wreath was not a sabotage attempt but down to human error,” the local party wrote. “There was an unfortunate chain of unlucky events where, despite several people handling it, nobody noticed the mistake …  “We deeply regret that the employee ... has handed in her notice ... we encourage her to go back to her job ... and would love to invite her for coffee and a chat.”  Jacobs, the florists in the Ruhr valley town of Mülheim-Dümpten, which took the wreath order, called it an unfortunate transcribing error. Heinz Hartmann, the manager, said his colleague had received the order by telephone from the local SPD office, “as they have done for years”. She then sent her handwritten note to the printers via fax.  Heinz-Jürgen Jahnke, who specialises in ribbon printing, told the newspaper Bild: “We received the order by fax on 12 November. Everything was clearly written and perfectly legible. I print whatever the customer wants,” he said. As to why he didn’t notice the odd spelling and alert the customer, he said: “We sometimes print Arabic, Italian and Polish texts. How can I check if they are correct?” The only reason for calling back a customer, he said, would be “if something is illegible”.  Neither, apparently, did the florist notice anything when she picked up the wreath and delivered it, as requested by the SPD, to the memorial site. SPD members only noticed the highly embarrassing faux pas once the ceremony was under way.  Hartmann said his florist had been so distressed about the error, news of which spread quickly on social media across the German-speaking world, that she had resigned. He was trying to persuade her to return, he said.  Both Hartmann and Jahnke – who said he will take legal action to protect his reputation – have denied having any extreme political allegiances.  Jahnke said he thinks the SPD should take more responsibility for what went wrong. “They should have simply faxed the text through to the poor florist, and then this wouldn’t have got so out of hand,” he told Bild.  When the error was spotted, SPD member André Kasberger quickly stepped forward with a pair of nail scissors and cut off the offending word. The wreath ribbon was later replaced.  Next year, the SPD said, it would be ordering and picking up its wreath in person.


thesun--2019-12-19--Apprentice star Luisa Zissman branded ‘Inspector Clueless’ for accusing handyman of stealing her fes

Apprentice star Luisa Zissman branded ‘Inspector Clueless’ for accusing handyman of stealing her festive wreath

FORMER Apprentice star Luisa Zissman wrongly accused a handyman of stealing her festive wreath in a video on Instagram.  The entrepreneur, 31, was branded “Inspector Clueless” after outing innocent James Gibbs, 32, as a suspect.  She posted a video of his red Land Rover to her 539,000 followers, saying she’d been tipped off it was seen at the time of the £250 Christmas door decoration theft.  After driving around her village near Potters Bar, Herts, she said she’d seen a the car and a few doors up was a wreath that “looks like mine”.  She added: “It’s had a few bits added to it on someone’s front door. I s**t you not.”  James was made aware of the video by a pal — and it sparked a vicious war of words between him and the businesswoman.  The dad of three said: “I watched the video and thought, ‘Hang on, I have had nothing to do with this’.  “Anyone could see her video. They could then target me or my car by driving into the side of me or anything. I am a bit frightened.  “It’s disgusting being accused of something that you haven’t done. She’s wrecking my reputation.  “I haven’t got the money to take her to court. I’m just a normal bloke. I feel like I have been victimised. She can’t go around falsely accusing people of things.  “I think she fancies herself as a bit of a DIY detective, but she’s failing badly.”  The star, who previously managed to track down her stolen laptop, said she had later told her followers that the wreath she spotted turned out not to be her one.  Tearing into James, she added: “I saw a car that matches the description and that was that. He’s a little bit fame hungry.  “Nobody knows who he is. I didn’t put his house on Instagram. The person’s house and the video was the one with the wreath. Tell James get a f***ing life.”  Posting on Instagram again she added: “I don’t know who you f***ing are you knob.  “I didn’t show your house. I didn’t show your car numberplate. I have no idea who you are. Your existence is completely insignificant to me. You complete joke. This guy is the lowest of the low trying to sell a story on me about how I’ve ruined his f***ing life. Get a grip you absolute scumbag.”  Hertfordshire Police confirmed a report was made to them, but said they told the caller it was not a police matter and they should contact Instagram.  Luisa said the incident had helped her raise more than £4,000 for charity after she raffled off another wreath. • GOT a story? RING The Sun 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk


sputnik--2019-02-26--Kim Jong-uns Hanoi Welcome Ceremony Nearly RUINED by Sloppy Attendant VIDEO

Kim Jong-un's Hanoi Welcome Ceremony Nearly RUINED by Sloppy Attendant (VIDEO)

Seconds after the DPRK chairman stepped off his train and walked down the red carpet to shake hands with a Vietnamese official, a man who was apparently tasked with accompanying Kim flows out of the train in the nick of time to stand right next to him.  The three-day journey by train saw Kim Jong-un trundle all the way down from Pyongyang to Hanoi, where he is expected to meet with Donald Trump on Wednesday and Thursday.  This will be their second summit after the landmark meeting in Singapore last June. Back then, the two leaders agreed to work toward the "complete de-nuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula — however, without a detailed plan or roadmap.


theconservativetreehouse--2019-05-27--Formal Imperial Palace Welcome Ceremony Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako Welcome US President

Formal Imperial Palace Welcome Ceremony – Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako Welcome U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump…

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump become the first guests of Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at the Imperial Palace.  Following custom there are three components to the state visit: (1) The guest arrival and formal greeting by the Emperor and Empress. (2) The ceremonial anthems of both nations and the presentation of the imperial guard.  (3) A “state call” or discussion of diplomatic matters between the Emperor, Empress and their honored guests.  During the official state call component there is an exchange of gifts. First, the arrival:  The ‘inside palace’ greeting and introduction was not covered by international media. However, due to the significance of the visit (first of imperial era of Reiwa) it was broadcast on local Japanese media as below:  For insight to the warmth of introduction by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako this broadcast video is interesting:  Another Video of the International Feed:  After the welcome ceremony, the president and first lady made a ‘state call‘ on the emperor and empress.  The state call is held in an Imperial Palace room with no media presence (there was a singular, brief, video). The emperor and empress both speak fluent English (attended Oxford) and during the welcome ceremony they engaged with President Trump and First Lady Melania in English to enhance comfort. They are guests.  However, during the official ‘state call‘ the Emperor and Empress are representing the imperial nation-state of Japan. As such, formality dictates conversation in Japanese and the use of translators. After the brief segment where cameras are permitted, the host and guest exchange gifts from each nation.  [POOL] The President presented the Emperor an American-made viola in a custom case and a signed photo of American composer Aaron Copland. This vintage 1938 viola was handmade in Charleston, West Virginia. The President also presented the Emperor with a signed and framed photo of the President. The First Lady presented the Empress with a custom White House desk set featuring a pen made of Harvard tree wood. The Empress herself studied Economics at Harvard. This fountain pen was handcrafted from a red oak tree that still stands in Old Harvard Yard. The First Lady also presented the Empress with a signed and framed photo of the First Lady. The Emperor presented the President with a traditional Japanese pottery and porcelain bowl as well as a signed and framed photo of His Majesty the Emperor. The Empress presented the First Lady with an ornamental Japanese lacquer box with traditional design as well as a framed and signed photo of Her Majesty the Empress. [Note: It is long-standing custom of the Imperial Palace that their Majesties the Emperor and Empress exchange signed, framed photographs with their guests on the occasion of a State Visit.]  At the conclusion of the Imperial Palace visit, President Trump and First Lady Melania travel to Akasaka Palace for bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Abe.  At Akasaka Palace Melania Trump and Akie Abe will again meet, and likely go do something else, while their spouses talk business of state between the U.S. and Japan.  Later today the President and First Lady will return to the Imperial Palace for a very formal state banquet hosted by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.  The U.S. delegation will meet the top-tier of Japanese diplomacy and commerce over a formal dinner celebration.


theconservativetreehouse--2019-07-25--President Trump Participates in Honors Welcome Ceremony at the Pentagon

President Trump Participates in Honors Welcome Ceremony at the Pentagon…

Beautiful weather today in Virginia as President Trump and Vice President Pence participate in a military honors welcoming ceremony at the Pentagon to celebrate America’s new Secretary of Defense, Mark T. Esper.  [Video and Transcript Below]  [Transcript] – THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much to our great Vice President, and thank you to all of the extraordinary patriots here at the United States Department of Defense, the world’s largest building. I’ve heard for many years, the world’s largest building. And it’s under great leadership.  Your devotion, strength, and courage keep America safe, strong, and free. It’s because of you that the United States military is the most powerful fighting force on the face of the Earth.  I want to express our gratitude to the Old Guard and to all of the service members in today’s review for their extraordinary commitment to excellence and their unwavering loyalty to our nation. It is the greatest honor of my life to serve as your Commander-in-Chief.  Let me also recognize the incredible U.S. Navy Sea Chanters and the band for that beautiful rendition of our National Anthem. It was really beautiful, and thank you very much. Fantastic job. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you.  We’re gathered here today to celebrate the swearing-in of America’s new Secretary of Defense, Mark T. Esper. Secretary Esper, your lifetime of noble service has prepared you for this immense responsibility. And that’s what it is: immense responsibility.  On behalf of our entire country, thank you and congratulations. Congratulations. (Applause.)  I have no doubt — I know you well — that you will thrive in the performance of your duties and make all Americans — everybody in this great country — all Americans very, very proud. They’re right now very proud, but they’re going to be even more so as time goes by. People love our country more than ever, and our country is respected again. Remember that.  I’m delighted that many members of your family could be here for this special occasion, including your wonderful wife Leah, your mother Polly, and your children Luke and Katherine. Thank you. Thank you very much. Congratulations to a great family. Thank you very much. (Applause.) Great family.  Also joining us are Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan, Acting Administrator Chris Pilkerton, Director Dan Coats, representatives Kay Granger, John Rice Carter, and many members of the diplomatic corps.  With us, as well, are many distinguished military leaders: Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Paul Selva. Where is Paul? Paul? Paul.  Acting Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy. Ryan? Hi, Ryan. Stand up, Ryan. You’re doing a great job. (Applause.) You’re filling big shoes, Ryan.  Acting Secretary of the Air Force Matthew Donovan. Thank you very much. Thank you, Secretary. (Applause.)  Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly. Thank you, Thomas. Great. (Applause.)  Army Chief of Staff, General Mark Milley. Mark? Thank you, Mark. (Applause.) Congratulations to Mark.  Marine Corps Commandant, General David Berger. General, thank you very much. (Applause.) Air Force Chief of Staff, General David Goldfein. General, thank you very much. (Applause.)  And Chief of Naval Operations Admiral, John Richardson. Thank you all. Thank you, Admiral. (Applause.)  Over many decades, in times of war and peace, Mark Esper has answered the call of duty. He’s never failed. He hails from Uniontown, Pennsylvania — the hometown of his personal hero, the legendary former Secretary of Defense and a great one, George Marshall.  Mark attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. Graduated in 1986, receiving a commission in the infantry.  Soon, he earned his tab — Ranger Tab — and fought with the famed 101st Airborne Division in the Gulf War. He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantryman Badge for his service. Brave guy. They all told me he was a brave guy. I knew that anyway.  In total, Mark served in our nation’s military for 21 years. He completed his final active-duty assignment right here at the Pentagon on the Army staff and then returned six years later as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Negotiations Policy.  Over his career, Mark has advanced our national security in a variety of other government and private sector roles. He has worked in both houses of Congress, advising lawmakers. I can see he had some talent because he won — was it 98 to what? No, you got 90, right? Can you believe this? I don’t believe it. I heard a “Ninety.” Ninety to eight, right? (Applause.) I don’t know. I haven’t heard that sound in a long time, Mark. (Laughter.) Now I’m worried. Ninety to eight. Wow.  He served as Vice President of Raytheon. Along the way, Mark earned a master’s degree at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and a PhD at George Washington University.  In 2017, Mark was sworn in as Secretary of the United States Army, a position in which he earned universal admiration and respect. Tremendous respect.  At the Department of Defense, Secretary Esper will work with more than 2 million service members and hundreds of thousands of civilian employees all dedicated to one critical mission: the defense of the nation and of this great nation’s people.  I have absolute confidence that Mark will ensure that our incredible military is fully prepared to deter conflict and to defeat any foe. No enemy can match the awesome might of the American Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and the United States Marines.  We had a budget approved when I first came in. Billions and billions of dollars more than it was previously, in the previous administration: $700 billion. Then I went to $716 billion. And I won’t even tell you what this one is. I can only tell you it’s even more. Because we have rebuilt things that nobody ever even thought of rebuilding. We’ve added the greatest planes in the world, the greatest missiles in the world. We’ve upgraded our nuclear very, very powerfully, including new. We never want to have to use it. Pray to God that we never have to use it. But we have the best in the world in every aspect of military.  The sight of American warriors brings solace into the hearts of our friends and strikes fear into the hearts of our enemies. Our military today is more powerful, by far, than ever before. And three years ago, we could not have said that, could we, Mark?  We’re giving our warfighters the tools they need to fight and win with overwhelming force. After years and years of budget cuts and all of the things that they’ve been doing to set us back with our military, we have more than made up for all of it.  We’re building new tanks and ships and submarines and planes and missile systems to ensure that our warriors operate with unrivaled capability in conflict. Any battlefield will be a battlefield on which we win.  We have given our service members their largest pay raise in nearly a decade. And under this administration, we have faced the challenge of our time with clear eyes, fresh thinking, and bold determination.  Our first priority is always the safety and sovereignty of our nation and our citizens. Here at home, we have deployed military forces to confront the grave national security crisis on our southern border. And I want to thank all of the great military leaders for the help you’ve given us on our southern border.  And, as you know, Mexico has now deployed 21,000 troops, which is something they’ve never done before. And they’ve been a tremendous help. Tremendous difference in the numbers — very rapidly. And we want to thank the country of Mexico and the President.  No nation can be safe or secure that fails to control its borders. In Syria and Iraq, thanks to the bravery of our warriors and their allies, the ISIS territorial caliphate has been 100 percent and just absolutely destroyed. And we did it in a very quick moment of time. As soon as I said, “I want to do it and I want to do it fast,” our military kicked in and it happened very, very quickly.  Today, we stand not far from where terrorists attacked the Pentagon on 9/11, claiming 184 precious lives. We will never forget the immortal sacrifice of those American patriots. We vow to do whatever it takes to protect our homeland, to safeguard our people from the threat of radical Islamic terrorism, and to preserve American freedom.  Around the world, America faces new threats and strategic rivals, it seems like all the time. We have met this competition with unmatched confidence, purpose, and resolve. We talk to all of them and they talk to us with great, great respect. They respect our country so much more than they have for many, many decades. Right now, they respect us more than they have in many, many years. And it’s only going to get more so.  We are ensuring American dominance across every warfighting domain — land, air, sea, cyber, and now space. That is why, under Secretary Esper’s leadership, we will — as Mike and Mark have already said, but it’s so exciting to say. And whenever I make a speech, people start going wild. They stand up and they clap, and I can’t sit them down. And I have to wait because I say, “We’re launching the United States Space Force.” They go absolutely wild. They understand that’s where it’s going to be at. And we’re going to be there, and we’re going to be there in every way that you can.  As we aim ever higher, I know the men and women of this department will never let up and never rest easy. Together, we will fulfill our sacred mission to protect the greatest nation in the history of the world: the United States of America. With unyielding strength, we will defend our country, we will defend our people, and we will proudly defend our great American flag.  Secretary Esper, congratulations again to you and your family. This is an incredible day in the life and fabled history of the United States.  Secretary of Defense, do you ever see that, looking into — do you ever see that one? As I watch all of these great men and women — you’re going to do a great job, I have no doubt. Absolutely no doubt. (Applause.) No doubt.  We cannot wait to see all that you will achieve for our nation as the new Secretary of Defense. I want to thank everybody for being here. Very special people. God bless you. God bless our military. And God bless America.  Thank you very much everybody. (Applause.) Thank you.


aljazeera--2019-01-10--Peru Paraguay recall diplomats over Maduro inauguration

Peru, Paraguay recall diplomats over Maduro inauguration

Peru and Paraguay recalled their diplomats from Venezuela on Thursday, shortly after President Nicolas Maduro began his second term after winning a controversial election last year.  Peru said it recalled its charge d'affaires from its embassy in Venezuela to protest what it called the "illegitimate" new term of Maduro, according to the Peruvian Foreign Ministry.  In a statement on Thursday, the ministry said Maduro and 100 others linked to him or his government would be banned from entry to Peru.  Maduro was sworn in for a controversial second six-year term following an election in 2018, which was largely boycotted by the opposition and criticised by the United States, European Union and others as a "sham".  Peru's move came not long after Paraguay cut diplomatic ties with Venezuela just minutes after Maduro took his office in the Venezuela capital, Caracas.  Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benitez made the announcement on national television, saying he would immediately withdraw his country's diplomats from Caracas.  "There are no bad consequences when defending just causes," Benitez said. "The cause of liberty and democracy is a just cause."  Earlier on Thursday, the Organization of American States voted not to recognise the legitimacy of Maduro's second six-year term, approving a resolution presented by several member states.  The vote was 19 in favour, eight abstentions and six against.  Samuel Moncada, Venezuela's ambassador to the bloc, slammed the decision, calling it "a hostile act ... against our nation".  The US also added its condemnation, with National Security Adviser John Bolton tweeting that the US would not recognise "the Maduro dictatorship's illegitimate inauguration".  "We will continue to increase pressure on the corrupt regime, support the democratic National Assembly, and call for democracy and freedom in Venezuela," he said.  Shortly after, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned what he called Maduro's "usurpation of power".  Days earlier, the Lima Group - made up of 14 Latin American countries and Canada - urged Maduro to cede power to the National Assembly until new elections can be held.  Mexico, which has shifted to the left under President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, was the only Lima Group member not to condemn Maduro's administration.  Maduro hit back at global criticism of his new mandate, which will keep him at the helm of the oil-rich, cash-strapped country until at least 2025.  During his inauguration, he said that the US and the Lima Group have turned his swearing-in ceremony into a war.  Al Jazeera's Teresa Bo, reporting from Caracas, said that while China, Russia and other allies sent representatives to the ceremony, many more countries were noticeably absent.  "There is no presence from the European Union or the United States, this is an example of how isolated Venezuela has become, not only internationally but also in the region. In spite of this, the president says that Venezuela has the allies it needs, including Russia and China," she said.  Since 2015, Venezuela has been embroiled in a worsening economic crisis with hyperinflation soaring and millions of people fleeing food and medicine shortages.


bbc--2019-05-20--High-fives on the way to the inauguration

Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at his own presidential inauguration in high spirits, greeting the crowd with kisses, high-fives, selfies, and a photo-friendly muscle flex while ascending the steps to power.


cbsnews--2019-01-08--Colorado takes step to left with governors inauguration

Colorado takes step to left with governor's inauguration

Colorado took a formal step to the left Tuesday with the inauguration of Democrat Jared Polis, the nation's first openly gay governor whose overwhelming election victory and party's consolidation of legislative control promise ambitious changes for energy and environmental regulation, health care and state-funded early childhood education.  Several thousand people gathered on the state Capitol's west slope on a crisp morning to watch the ceremony under sunny skies.  Current lawmakers and former governors attended the inauguration under tight security that included closed streets.  Polis is a wealthy tech and education entrepreneur and former five-term congressman from Boulder. He succeeds Gov. John Hickenlooper, a centrist Democrat, former Denver mayor, petroleum geologist and beer pub entrepreneur who served the maximum two terms. Hickenlooper is considering a 2020 presidential run.  Polis trounced then-state treasurer Walker Stapleton in November. Health care and Donald Trump's presidency were the top issues in the campaign.  The planned festivities include an evening "Blue Sneaker Ball," named after the footwear Polis sported during his campaign. Pop singer and LGBTQ activist Cyndi Lauper and the R&B combo Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats were scheduled to perform.  Former state Rep. Diane Primavera, a health care advocate, was being sworn in as lieutenant governor. Primavera is a cancer survivor and most recently led Colorado's Susan G. Komen Foundation chapter in its battle against breast cancer.  Polis has promised action on oil and gas drilling and on marijuana policy.  Hickenlooper brokered a tentative compromise on fracking between Colorado's expanding $32 billion oil and gas industry and environmentalists opposed to drilling.  He also oversaw the creation of Colorado's first-in-the-nation recreational marijuana market, which opened in 2014.  Polis once supported fracking limits but has abandoned the stance, saying there's a place for Colorado oil and gas exports even as he pursues a 100 percent renewable energy goal by 2040. Democratic lawmakers are working this session to strengthen air and water quality rules for the fossil fuels industry.  Polis, who was a member of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, says he'd pursue more industry financing opportunities and add autism to the qualifying conditions for medical marijuana.  Polis has called for universal health care, suggesting Colorado could partner with neighboring states to create a regional market. Lawmakers are studying a state-run insurance market for Colorado.  Polis and Democrats also will pursue funding for full-day kindergarten — and, if Polis gets his way, universal preschool, modeled after an Oklahoma program.  Polis earned his wealth by starting an internet company in college and revolutionizing the online greeting cards and floral retail industries. He served on the state board of education before going to Congress.