Latest news with #RZ
Business News Wales
4 days ago
- Health
- Business News Wales
Updated Bluetongue Guidance for Livestock Keepers
The Welsh Government has reinforced its commitment to protecting Welsh livestock from Bluetongue, a serious viral disease, with new disease control measures coming into effect in time for 1 July. To date, Wales has successfully kept Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) from circulating locally and remains BTV-3 free. Recognising the introduction of the England-wide Bluetongue Restricted Zone (RZ) from 1 July, Welsh Government is implementing updated movement controls to safeguard Welsh livestock. Bluetongue is a notifiable viral disease that impacts sheep, cattle, goats, deer, alpacas, and llamas and can have severe consequences for animal health and welfare, and farm incomes, causing illness, deaths, abortions, and birth defects, alongside significant movement restrictions and trade challenges. It is primarily spread by biting midges which are most active in the warmer months between April and November. Disease can also be spread by the movement of infected animals. Vaccines to protect livestock from the worst effects of Bluetongue are available and farmers are encouraged to consult their vet on whether they are appropriate for their herds and flocks. To ensure Welsh farm businesses are well-informed about this disease, Farming Connect will be hosting a webinar on Monday June 30 at 7:30pm. To register, contact the Farming Connect Service Centre, or CLICK HERE.
North Wales Live
13-06-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
Hard border between Wales and England to halt deadly disease could be 'costly and futile'
Livestock farmers in Wales face hard border arrangements with England in what some believe is a futile attempt to halt the advance of a deadly disease. The industry fears being crippled by the need to test and licence vast numbers of sheep and cattle when they cross the border into England. Unlike England, Wales is still free of bluetongue, a viral disease that cause ulcers around the animal's mouth and face. In the Netherlands, tens of thousands of sheep have died and British farmers fear worse could happen in the UK. In an attempt to contain the virus' spread, an England-wide restricted zone (RZ) is to be imposed from July 1. In practice this means existing movement controls will be eased with farmer encouraged to use new bluetongue vaccines instead. The Welsh Government is reluctant to follow suit, fearing a freedom-of-movement regime will hasten bluetongue's spread into the country. Instead, Cardiff wants to keep the virus at bay 'for as long as we can' and so has opted not to apply an RZ in the county. But the Welsh farming sector has warned the implications could be 'catastrophic' for cross-border trade. Some 550 cross-border agri businesses and straddle the Wales-England border and each year tens of thousands of animals are shipped out to livestock markets. It also has major implications for July's Royal Welsh Show, Europe's largest agri showcase and the biggest annual event in Wales. Livestock exhibitors from England and Scotland will now be unable to attend, slashing the cattle entry by 40%. Refunds are being processed. Urging Cardiff to align Wales with England, the industry has branded the looming arrangements as both 'a futile endeavour and wholly impractical'. FUW president Ian Rickman said farmers' first instincts were to keep any disease out of Wales – but in this case the solution could be economically disastrous. Mr Rickman said midges carrying the disease are likely to blow into Wales regardless of England's RZ. He said the insects 'do not respect any such boundaries' and the RZ will hasten the spread of bluetongue to Wales anyway. 'The on-farm practicalities involved with adhering to this policy position brings with it a wealth of barriers and complications,' he said. 'The mechanics of issuing licences in a timely manner, arranging and conducting pre-movement sampling and testing, co-ordinating haulage and the extortionate costs and disruption to cross-border holdings and trade – it is feared that the decision to hold back the tide will be entirely unattainable and impractical.' While Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) poses a serious threat to cattle, sheep, goats deer and alpacas across the UK, it does not affect humans or compromise food safety. Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said he had agonised over the decision. On balance, it was the lesser of two evils, he said, adding: 'I cannot in all conscience invite Bluetongue into Wales on 1st July through aligning with the RZ in England. 'I am unwilling to risk the uncertain impact of the disease in livestock dense areas like the Welsh borders. I am also extremely concerned about the economic and farmer wellbeing impacts of dealing with sick animals, and the livestock productivity and fertility losses associated with severe Bluetongue, as observed in many affected European countries.' By setting up border arrangements, it's hoped this will buy time for Welsh farmers to vaccinate their animals against the disease. If Bluetongue does arrive in Wales anyway, disease controls will be implemented. Being a fast-changing situation, Mr Irranca-Davies pledged to 'adapt to the evolving disease situation'. NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said Welsh farmers were 'extremely worried' about the disease - but also about the containment and testing strategy. He said: 'We have significant concerns about the lack of resources and testing capacity within the laboratories and APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) given the significant amount of stock that move across the border from England to Wales for management, welfare and trading purposes. 'We understand that going forward the costs of testing will be borne by the farmer, which will cause a huge increase to the cost of trading. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox 'We are about to enter an extremely important time of the year in the farming calendar, with many farmers looking to trade breeding stock and store stock ahead of the autumn and winter months. 'For many herds and flocks, the opportunity to trade breeding stock, both those looking to purchase or sell stock, only comes once a year and this trade is critical. Welsh Government must ensure that a sustainable solution is found as soon as possible.'
Auto Blog
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
2026 Lexus RZ Updates Revealed, Everything You Need to Know
The RZ gets a welcome upgrade Three years after introducing its first electric vehicle, Lexus has upgraded the RZ for the 2026 model year, making this sleek SUV a more worthy competitor. It will now come as the 221-horsepower RZ 350e with front-wheel drive, the 308-horsepower RZ 450e with all-wheel drive, and the new, range-topping 402-horsepower RZ 550e F Sport also with all-wheel drive. The three models reportedly have 0-60 mph times of 7.2 seconds, 4.9 seconds, and 4.2 seconds, respectively. 2026 Lexus RZ 350e — Source: Lexus Range has also increased, with Lexus quoting 300 miles for the RZ 350e FWD, 260 miles for the RZ 450e AWD with 18-inch tires, and 225 miles on the new RZ 550e F SPORT AWD with 20-inch tires. The RZ now sports a North American Charging System charging port on the passenger side for charging at Tesla Superchargers. Filling the battery pack from 10% to 80% requires about 30 minutes using a DC fast charger. More performance on tap 2026 Lexus RZ 550e — Source: Lexus If more power is at the top of your checklist, the RZ 550e F Sport is for you, albeit at the expense of range. Interestingly, Lexus has fitted its trim-topping model with M Mode, a virtual gearbox that simulates manual gear shifting via paddle shifters. If this sounds familiar, that's because Ferrari and Hyundai already have it. The RZ 550e F Sport also wears the appropriate go-fast attire, with a black emblem, rear spoiler, front and rear bumper moldings, front grille, and 20-inch wheels. Its cabin proves equally sweet, lined in black Ultrasuede with blue stitching and with a panoramic glass roof, aluminum pedals and footrests, and an F Sport steering wheel. Final thoughts While the new Lexus RZ's upgrades help keep it competitive, the automaker's plan to build it in Japan means that it won't be eligible for a federal tax credit, should that survive the onslaught by Congress. Then again, Lexus hasn't released pricing yet, promising to do so closer to the 2026 Lexus RZ's on-sale date. Currently, the 2025 RZ starts at $43,795 and tops out at $58,605 with lower range figures, but given the specter of tariffs, those prices will likely increase. So far, at least, it seems like the 2026 Lexus RZ's longer range and higher performance should be well worth the wait, along with what is likely to be a higher price. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. About the Author Larry Printz View Profile
Miami Herald
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
2026 Lexus RZ Updates Revealed, Everything You Need to Know
Three years after introducing its first electric vehicle, Lexus has upgraded the RZ for the 2026 model year, making this sleek SUV a more worthy competitor. It will now come as the 221-horsepower RZ 350e with front-wheel drive, the 308-horsepower RZ 450e with all-wheel drive, and the new, range-topping 402-horsepower RZ 550e F Sport also with all-wheel drive. The three models reportedly have 0-60 mph times of 7.2 seconds, 4.9 seconds, and 4.2 seconds, respectively. Range has also increased, with Lexus quoting 300 miles for the RZ 350e FWD, 260 miles for the RZ 450e AWD with 18-inch tires, and 225 miles on the new RZ 550e F SPORT AWD with 20-inch tires. The RZ now sports a North American Charging System charging port on the passenger side for charging at Tesla Superchargers. Filling the battery pack from 10% to 80% requires about 30 minutes using a DC fast charger. If more power is at the top of your checklist, the RZ 550e F Sport is for you, albeit at the expense of range. Interestingly, Lexus has fitted its trim-topping model with M Mode, a virtual gearbox that simulates manual gear shifting via paddle shifters. If this sounds familiar, that's because Ferrari and Hyundai already have it. The RZ 550e F Sport also wears the appropriate go-fast attire, with a black emblem, rear spoiler, front and rear bumper moldings, front grille, and 20-inch wheels. Its cabin proves equally sweet, lined in black Ultrasuede with blue stitching and with a panoramic glass roof, aluminum pedals and footrests, and an F Sport steering wheel. While the new Lexus RZ's upgrades help keep it competitive, the automaker's plan to build it in Japan means that it won't be eligible for a federal tax credit, should that survive the onslaught by Congress. Then again, Lexus hasn't released pricing yet, promising to do so closer to the 2026 Lexus RZ's on-sale date. Currently, the 2025 RZ starts at $43,795 and tops out at $58,605 with lower range figures, but given the specter of tariffs, those prices will likely increase. So far, at least, it seems like the 2026 Lexus RZ's longer range and higher performance should be well worth the wait, along with what is likely to be a higher price. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Time Business News
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Rasool Rezvani (RZ) Named Among the Most Influential Crypto Figures of 2025
UAE – June 2025 – Rasool Rezvani, widely known in the blockchain industry as RZ, has officially been recognized as one of the Top Crypto Entrepreneurs of 2025, according to a recent feature by International Business Times ( This high-profile accolade highlights RZ's exceptional contributions to the evolution of blockchain technology and his growing global influence in the world of decentralized finance (DeFi), tokenization, and Web3 innovation. Born in Iran and currently based in the UAE, RZ has quickly risen to become a driving force in the crypto and blockchain arena. His pioneering work centers around the RZ Ecosystem—a comprehensive blockchain infrastructure that seamlessly blends gamification, tokenomics, decentralized applications, and advanced Web 3.0 tools. What distinguishes RZ from others in the space is his successful track record of tokenizing over 20 businesses across a variety of sectors, including: Luxury Goods Global Equities Online Gaming Fashion Insurance Energy Financial Services By integrating blockchain technology into these traditionally centralized industries, RZ has demonstrated a rare ability to deliver scalable, secure, and future-ready decentralized systems. Among his standout ventures is Coin Factory, a Swiss-based entity that serves as a global launchpad for tokenization projects. Under RZ's leadership, Coin Factory has become a hotbed for high-value digital asset initiatives and cutting-edge economic frameworks adopted by internationally recognized brands. RZ's approach is deeply rooted in strategic foresight and technical excellence. His projects are widely praised for combining: Gamified User Engagement Fair Profit-Sharing Models Real-World Utility Decentralized Governance This rare blend of vision and execution continues to attract attention from both retail users and institutional investors, earning him a place among the most forward-thinking leaders in the blockchain sector. As blockchain adoption accelerates across the globe, RZ remains focused on building inclusive, borderless digital ecosystems. His platforms not only empower users economically but also push the boundaries of what decentralized technology can achieve. With a relentless entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for innovation, Rasool Rezvani is not just influencing the present state of crypto—he's helping shape its future. Instagram: @rz_rasoul MetaGamesCoin: Ranking Platform: RZCoin: RZUSD: Insurance Platform: …and many more innovative ventures soon to come. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
