Chinese authorities barred access yesterday to villages outside Beijing where they reportedly have slaughtered thousands of cows to stop an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.
Police at roadblocks stopped outsiders from entering the villages northwest of the Chinese capital and the roads were wet with what appeared to be disinfectant. Foreign reporters who tried to visit the area were temporarily detained.
Health and agriculture officials have refused to confirm a report by Hong Kong's South China Morning Post newspaper that cows have been slaughtered in an attempt to stop an outbreak of foot-and-mouth.
Residents of the area, contacted by phone, confirmed that thousands of animals had been destroyed but said they didn't know why. The residents wouldn't give their names.
This month, China reported outbreaks of foot-and-mouth in the eastern cities of Taian and Wuxi but none near Beijing in the country's north.
The disease affects cows, sheep, goats and other cloven-footed animals, causing blisters on the mouth and feet. It isn't usually fatal, but authorities slaughter animals to stop its spread.
Reports of possible outbreaks are sensitive because they often prompt governments to ban meat imports from the affected country.
China slaughtered a total of 223 cows after the outbreaks in Taian and Wuxi, according to information provided to the World Organization for Animal Health.
The Post said 16 Chinese cattle imported to Hong Kong in March were found to have Asia 1 type foot-and-mouth disease -- the first time that type of the disease was found in Hong Kong.
TRAGEDY STRIKES TAIPEI: The suspect died after falling off a building after he threw smoke grenades into Taipei Main Station and went on a killing spree in Zhongshan A 27-year-old suspect allegedly threw smoke grenades in Taipei Main Station and then proceeded to Zhongshan MRT Station in a random killing spree that resulted in the death of the suspect and two other civilians, and seven injured, including one in critical condition, as of press time last night. The suspect, identified as a man surnamed Chang Wen (張文), allegedly began the attack at Taipei Main Station, the Taipei Fire Department said, adding that it received a report at 5:24pm that smoke grenades had been thrown in the station. One man in his 50s was rushed to hospital after a cardiac arrest
SAFETY FIRST: Double the number of police were deployed at the Taipei Marathon, while other cities released plans to bolster public event safety Authorities across Taiwan have stepped up security measures ahead of Christmas and New Year events, following a knife and smoke bomb attack in Taipei on Friday that left four people dead and 11 injured. In a bid to prevent potential copycat incidents, police deployments have been expanded for large gatherings, transport hubs, and other crowded public spaces, according to official statements from police and city authorities. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said the city has “comprehensively raised security readiness” in crowded areas, increased police deployments with armed officers, and intensified patrols during weekends and nighttime hours. For large-scale events, security checkpoints and explosives
PUBLIC SAFETY: The premier said that security would be tightened in transport hubs, while President Lai commended the public for their bravery The government is to deploy more police, including rapid response units, in crowded public areas to ensure a swift response to any threats, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday after a knife attack killed three people and injured 11 in Taipei the previous day. Lai made the remarks following a briefing by the National Police Agency on the progress of the investigation, saying that the attack underscored the importance of cooperation in public security between the central and local governments. The attack unfolded in the early evening on Friday around Taipei Main Station’s M7 exit and later near the Taipei MRT’s Zhongshan
A car bomb killed a senior Russian general in southern Moscow yesterday morning, the latest high-profile army figure to be blown up in a blast that came just hours after Russian and Ukrainian delegates held separate talks in Miami on a plan to end the war. Kyiv has not commented on the incident, but Russian investigators said they were probing whether the blast was “linked” to “Ukrainian special forces.” The attack was similar to other assassinations of generals and pro-war figures that have either been claimed, or are widely believed to have been orchestrated, by Ukraine. Russian Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, 56, head
RSS