Latest news with #North Macedonia
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
‘Deliveroo dogs' bringing diseases to Britain
Imported rescue dogs being sold to British owners 'like Deliveroo' are bringing diseases to Britain, the RSPCA has warned. Thousands of the animals are brought into the UK each year from countries such as Romania, Ukraine and North Macedonia, before being sold to the British public by dog rescue organisations. Many dogs are sold via websites and social media posts without significant checks or matching processes, which has been linked to the spread of infectious diseases and aggressive behaviour. David Bowles, a spokesman for the RSPCA, likened the industry to Deliveroo, the food delivery app, which sees customers order from restaurants on their phones. He told the BBC: 'The RSPCA 's major concern is these dogs are essentially ticking time bombs, coming over, not being health tested. 'Diseases are now coming in through these dogs. They're affecting not just the dogs that are being imported, they could also affect the dogs already in this country and their owners. They've almost set up a Deliveroo for dogs, and that is a real problem.' The RSPCA has called for all dog rescue organisations to be licenced, with rescue organisations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland currently not needing a licence to operate. A BBC investigation found multiple rescues operating through social media only carried out basic checks on owners, including a short phone call, completion of an application form and a video check of a property, before providing a dog. It claimed to have analysed 150 adverts for rescue dogs and found the majority were offering animals from Eastern European countries. The UK Government has linked a rapid increase in the disease Brucella canis to dogs imported into the UK from Eastern Europe. The rare disease, which is transmitted through a dog's reproductive fluids and can be passed to humans, was only diagnosed in three dogs before 2020, according to the UK Health Security Agency. This had risen to 97 diagnoses in 2023. The BBC said testing had increased and that 333 cases were being investigated last year. Trudy Cain, from Alfreton, Derbyshire, adopted a rescue dog, Nola, from Romania that was later diagnosed with Brucella canis. She has refused a vet's offer to put down Nola but is worried about the health of the dog and her family. 'My brain does not compute having a dog that looks healthy put to sleep,' she told the BBC. 'It just breaks my heart. It's been so hard. I wanted to do a good thing and now I feel like I've done a bad thing.' Government figures show 32,391 dogs entered the UK in 2024 as commercial imports, which includes many rescue dogs. A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs said animal rescue organisations 'must meet statutory welfare requirements'. The spokesman said the public could check if a rescue was a member of the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes, which had 'set clear standards', adding: 'The Government is developing an overarching approach to animal welfare.'
France 24
22-07-2025
- Climate
- France 24
Heat forces new Acropolis closure amid fiery temperatures
Temperatures were predicted to rise above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) along the Turkish coast and in North Macedonia, where authorities urged people to stay at home as much as possible. Greek weather experts said the heatwave would intensify until Sunday with temperatures surpassing 43C in Greece. The thermometer hit 42.9C in the town of Sparta on Tuesday, according to the national observatory. The Acropolis, one of the world's most popular museums with up to 23,000 visitors a day, would close on Tuesday and Wednesday during the hottest hours between midday and 5.00 pm (1400 GMT), the culture ministry said. The decision was taken "for the safety of employees and visitors", the ministry said. The Acropolis, sitting on a rocky hill overlooking Athens and which has a priceless collection of artifacts, was also partly closed on July 8-9 and has seen similar measures in the past two summers because of the heat. Too hot About a dozen mostly foreign tourists were gathered around the closed gates of the landmark as the heat intensified. "It's too hot to be in Athens. The heat is slowing me down very much. And it's just very uncomfortable," said Chris, a 48-year-old American tourist, who explained that he had missed a flight to one of the Greek islands and would be stuck in the Greek capital until Thursday. "I don't want to be in Athens," he declared. Christina, a 49-year-old Italian visiting Athens with her mother and 10-year-old daughter, said her family was used to the searing heat because of conditions in her home country. "Now I think we will have lunch. We will find a restaurant with AC," she said. The Athens region could see temperatures reach 43C on Saturday, according to the weather site which warned of "the risk of negative effects on health". The labour ministry suspended outdoor work between midday and 5.00 pm in several regions as part of emergency measures to help workers cope with the heatwave. Some cities opened up air-conditioned public rooms. With scientists warning that rising temperatures would cause more frequent and more extreme heatwaves and other freak weather conditions, Greece and other Mediterranean countries have been through a growing number of ultra-hot summers. Authorities said that 2024 was the hottest summer ever recorded in Greece. In neighbouring Turkey, temperatures that are above the seasonal average are expected to last until the end of July, according to the MGM national meteorological service. Temperatures have been about 35C in Istanbul and Ankara since the weekend and in the western resort of Izmir was predicted to reach 42C on Wednesday, according to the MGM. In North Macedonia, which has been battling a number of forest fires, authorities said temperatures would only reach a peak at the end of the week. High temperatures have also been predicted for Albania, where a number of forest fires raged on Monday, and in northern Bosnia as much of the Balkans sweltered in intense heat.
Zawya
21-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Morocco, North Macedonia Reaffirm Shared Willingness to Strengthen Bilateral Partnership
Morocco and North Macedonia's Foreign Affairs Ministers Mr. Nasser Bourita and Mr. Timčo Mucunski reaffirmed their shared willingness to strengthen bilateral partnership in a Joint Statement signed following their meeting on Monday in Skopje. The two ministers highlighted the outstanding relations uniting Morocco and North Macedonia and expressed their determination to further deepen them, based on friendship, mutual respect, and shared interests. They also emphasized their commitment to enhancing economic, trade, and cultural cooperation between the two countries by identifying high-potential strategic sectors, particularly tourism. Driven by the common goals of Rabat and Skopje, Mr. Bourita and Mucunski agreed to strengthen political consultations and coordination within international bodies. As part of this visit, Mr. Bourita was received in audience by the President of the Republic of North Macedonia, H.E. Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, and also held talks with the President of the Assembly MAfrim Gashi. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.
