One surrendered Hong Kong hamster tests Covid positive as city lockdown grows
India Today
While a handful of hamsters had already tested positive for the virus, this latest case is the first involving a hamster in the care of a pet-owner that had tested positive.
Hong Kong authorities said on Sunday one hamster surrendered to authorities by pet-owners had tested positive for the Covid-19 virus and that over 2,200 hamsters had been culled as the city grappled to contain an outbreak.
On Tuesday, officials ordered the killing of hamsters from dozens of pet shops after tracing a coronavirus outbreak to a worker at a shop and asked people to surrender any bought on or after Dec. 22.
While a handful of hamsters had already tested positive for the virus, this latest case is the first involving a hamster in the care of a pet-owner that had tested positive.
Despite a public outcry against the hamster crackdown, authorities urged pet-owners to continue to hand over their tiny furry pets given burgeoning health risks.
ALSO READ: Is Covid retreating in the US? Data paints encouraging scenario
"(The government) strongly advises members of the public again to surrender ... as soon as possible their hamsters purchased in local pet shops on or after December 22, 2021 for humane dispatch," the government said in a statement.
Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam earlier told reporters that she understood "pet owners are unhappy" with the killings, but said the biggest priority was to control the outbreak.
Yogesh Yadav, climbed nearly 40 feet up the tower on Tuesday morning and refused to come down for several hours. He was later taken into custody.
Snubs, sarcasm and shifting power play - Iran's choice of JD Vance over Trump's trusted aides reveals a deeper mistrust, raising questions over who really controls the path to ending the war.
The video, originally shared on Rakesh Kumar's Facebook profile, shows him dragging a snake-like object tied to a rope across a platform that triggered fear and confusion among passengers present at the station.
From shutting US bases to controlling a key global oil route, Iran's demands in response to Trump's proposal set a steep stage for talks, but hints of flexibility quietly emerge behind the scenes.
Shantanu Deshpande recorded the moment from inside the workplace, spotlighting Akash Sharma, a supply chain intern, who casually broke into a set of pull-ups in the middle of a regular workday.
Oil and gas refineries and hubs are up in flames not just in the Middle East, but also in Russia and the US. Crude oil prices have surged over $100 a barrel. With the energy infrastructure in the Middle East likely to take years to be rebuilt, the world could be set for the biggest oil disruption in history.
The US has sent a 15-point proposal to Iran aimed at ending the Middle East conflict, including strict restrictions on its nuclear programme, halting support for proxy groups and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump says the war is already "won", but then points to his own defence chief as the man who did not want peace. Behind the victory claim lies a growing split inside Washington's war room.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said the United States was in contact with "the right people" in Iran and suggested that Tehran was eager to reach an agreement to halt hostilities. "We're in negotiations right now," he told reporters, without offering further details on the scope or format of the talks.
Casting doubt on the prospects of any immediate resolution, Jeffrey Sachs dismissed the idea of a near-term endgame.
Iran has issued a blunt warning to the US, threatening to sink US ships and paralyse the country if attacked. A senior official said any strike would trigger a "head for an eye" response, if US strikes on Iranian infrastructure.
The young aviator, Rishi, is seen confidently guiding the aircraft during a practice session at California's Oxnard Airport.