Covent Garden, a West End hub in London, has undergone a transformation, with new restaurants, shops and hotels springing up in the area. Hotels in the neighbourhood now cater to a wide range of visitors with different tastes and budgets, from the luxury Rosewood London to the budget-friendly Hoxton Holborn. The Rosewood London is home to a cocktail bar with Tiffany lamps and a brasserie known for its pies while its 44 luxurious bedrooms are spacious and refined with plush monogrammed pillowcases and chic, marble bathrooms. L’oscar offers a richly-designed experience with oak-panelled walls, wrought-iron fireplaces and a signature scent created by Roja Dove. Amano is The Amano Group’s first hotel in London and offers an affordable luxury option with 141 bedrooms, a rooftop bar and a basement club with a DJ performance roster while the Henrietta Hotel, an independently owned establishment, is known for its avant-garde mixology and Deco-style private bedrooms.
Two poultry workers have tested positive for bird flu on a single poultry farm in England, with health officials stating there are no signs yet of person-to-person transmission of the disease. The cases have been linked to exposure to sick birds on the farm where the workers had recently worked. A very low risk of the disease spreading to the general population has been stated.
Premier intervening in snow crab negotiations, says fishermen's union
CBC
23-05-16 19:35
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey has intervened in negotiations between harvesters and producers in order to resolve the snow crab fishery crisis caused by this season's low prices. The move came after the Fish, Food & Allied Workers and the Association of Seafood Producers participated in ongoing talks, with tensions running high over the $2.20-per-pound catch price for crab. Mayor Marlene Regular said that some members of La Scie, Newfoundland’s Baie Verte Peninsula, are torn between wanting to work and the need to keep boats tied up in protest.
UK businesses could benefit from hiring overseas workers as labour shortages continue to impact industries such as agriculture and hospitality, according to British Chambers of Commerce Director-General Shevaun Haviland. The government should adopt a “shortage occupation list” to secure the necessary labour, she suggested. Social care, fruit picking and meat processing also face labour shortages and the National Farmers' Union has called for a rolling five-year worker scheme to address the absence of seasonal workers on British farms.
The CEO of AI firm OpenAI, Sam Altman, has called for the creation of a licensing body for the world's most powerful AI algorithms. Speaking at a hearing of the US Senate this week, Altman said that, as AI became more advanced, people were understandably anxious about its power and how it could change human lives. He recommended that a new agency should ensure compliance with safety standards for use of AI, including its ability to generate misleading and false statements. The proposed agency could license the most powerful AI systems and withdraw that licence where any risks were identified.
The Candy Man by Jon Enoch won top prize in the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year competition. The photograph of a Mumbai candy seller was taken as part of a personal project, capturing the colourful displays of Indian vendors hoping to attract buyers. Other winners included images of life in Vietnam, chef Adua’s kitchen in Italy and the process of pulling sugar in China. The exhibition of winners can be seen at the Royal Photographic Society in Bristol from 20 May to 11 June.
The Republican-controlled Senate of North Carolina voted to override the Democratic governor's veto of a bill banning most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy with only this veto needing to be overridden to make the policy law. This move comes as lawmakers debate laws to limit or restrict access to abortion in many southern states. Abortion is either banned or severely restricted in many southern states, with nine states throughout the US banning abortions throughout the entire pregnancy. If the recent bills proposed in the Carolinas, Florida and Virginia become law, it is seen as "just devastating for abortion access in the South," said Jamie Lockhart, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia. The limitations would make the Carolinas two of the few states left that still have relatively easy access to abortions that did not undergo significant restrictions.
Ear acupuncture has been found to aid weight loss by a significant amount, according to a study conducted on obese Japanese men. Participants had tiny metal beads attached to six points on their ear, following which they were asked to keep food diaries and halve their total food intake over three months. Average weight and body fat loss over the period was found to be 10.4% and 4%, respectively, while Body Mass Index (BMI) fell by three points. However, the study was criticised by some obesity experts for failing to show that acupuncture was the major reasons for the participants' success.
A case challenging the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) decision to approve a medication used for medical abortions over two decades ago will move to a federal appeals court in New Orleans. The case concerns mifepristone and relates to the FDA's initial approval in 2000, as well as actions to make the drug more accessible. It comes nearly a year after the US Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade ruling establishing abortion rights. It is expected that the case will reach the Supreme Court, with judges nominated by Donald Trump set to play a significant role.
Between now and July, one person is due to die of hunger every 28 seconds warns Oxfam, as parts of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia have suffered from five consecutive failed rainy seasons and South Sudan has experienced a fifth consecutive season of severe flooding. The situation has been compounded by ongoing conflict and high food prices, with over 40 million people in East Africa now facing severe hunger, up by over two-thirds from last year, and 85,000 people in Somalia and South Sudan on the brink of famine. The World Food Programme now estimates that globally, 345 million people are experiencing high levels of food insecurity.
The United States is facing record levels of drug shortages, with the issue forcing the closure of some drug manufacturers, causing hospitals to scour pharmacy shelves on a never-ending quest to access life-saving cancer treatments, and increasingly narrowing the options of doctors. Dr. Amanda Fader from Johns Hopkins said, “This is in my opinion, a public health emergency because of the breadth of the individuals it affects and the number of chemotherapy agents that are in shortage right now.” The Biden administration has been working to find long-term solutions and has set up a team to determine a path forward for the pharmaceutical supply chain, which remains overly reliant on medicine from China and India. Measures that have been discussed include tax incentives for manufacturing in America, greater transparency around generic drug quality, and greater investment in potential alternatives to supply core pharmaceutical ingredients. The problem is leading to pressure from Congress and the White House to try to fix the situation urgently.
Private traders will fund 76% of Zimbabwe's 2023 wheat crop, indicating growing private sector involvement in agriculture as the government seeks to improve food security, according to commodity contractors' body the Food Crop Contractors Association. Graeme Murdoch, the FCCA's chairman, said the government was aiming to "crowd in the private sector", and banks, including CBZ Holdings and the state-owned AFC Commercial Bank, would provide funding. Zimbabwe has previously struggled to feed its population since 2000, when the seizure of white-owned farms led to plummeting production levels.
Regulator Ofwat has increased demands for water companies in England and Wales to invest more into sewage infrastructure, following public pressure to reduce pollution levels in rivers, lakes, and seas. Despite paying out £1.4bn in dividends last year, water providers have been slow behind on spending targets with only three-fifths of the £2.2bn allocated to wastewater infrastructure for 2025 having actually been spent. The increased demand comes just as construction, finance, energy and labour costs are rising, which threatens the delivery of desired investment. Last month, Ofwat made the proposal to reapportion £1.6bn of expenditure planned for 2025 to 2030 to the next two financial years. More than £1bn of this is aimed at reducing the number of annual average spills from storm overflows, which was 301,091 recorded in 2022. The UK’s investment in water infrastructure is also reported to be lagging behind Europe.
The Lake District in the UK offers a range of dog-friendly activities for travellers, from kayaking and swimming in lakes to walking and hiking in the fells. A number of towns and villages in the area provide dog-friendly pubs and restaurants, along with indoor attractions to visit on rainy days. The area has hotels available for every budget, with many offering dog-friendly accommodation, including the Another Place hotel, which features an indoor pool, kayaks for hire and a scenic lakeside view. The Coniston Inn is a cost-effective option, featuring stylish single and family rooms; dogs can join their owners for meals in the pub restaurant. The Inn on the Lake provides dogs with a map of local walks and towel services for those returning from a wet swim or walk. The Ambleside Inn is good for walks and hikes, with the Loughrigg Fell area nearby.
Republican lawmakers in North Carolina have overruled a veto by Governor Roy Cooper to pass legislation banning most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy in the state. Members of the party claimed the limits were a middle ground as the state already bans nearly all abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy without rape or incest caveats. The votes were part of a wider shift on the issue across the US, with lawmakers in South Carolina and Nebraska also considering new abortion limits. The North Carolina law will include rape or incest exceptions through 20 weeks of pregnancy and exceptions for "life-limiting" fetal anomalies during the first 24 weeks. The bans are possible as in 2020 the US Supreme Court struck down landmark 1973 ruling Roe v. Wade which had established a nationwide right to abortion.
Travel Weekly has produced a list of the best romantic hotels in London. The choices include The Rookery, a hotel whose buildings date back to 1764 that offers Rococo cherubs, antique furniture and open fires. All 33 rooms are named after historical figures who lived or worked in the area. Shangri-La The Shard is a hotel offering spectacular views on the 52nd floor, while The Standard is a brutalist building with a 1970s homage and complimentary trainer cleaning, and Hotel 41 offers stargazing and an “old London” experience.
Pickles are growing in popularity as a snack, demonstrated by American brand Van Holten's, which sells individually wrapped "snacking pickles" for around £2.50 ($3.43) each, according to Victoria Stewart in The Guardian. Pickles have moved beyond the garnish on the side of a meal or in a burger, Stewart said, and are now often part of the main offering in restaurants. As well as being tasty, pickles can help digestion and gut health, she noted.
A new study by campaign group Action on Salt has found that 50% of restaurant, takeaway and supermarket pizzas contain a whole day’s recommended salt intake in one serving. As the average Briton consumes 8.4 grams of salt per day, which is 40% more than the recommended daily intake, some pizzas can contain up to three times the average daily salt allowance. Excess salt consumption leads to high blood pressure, which in turn can cause heart disease responsible for one in four deaths in the UK. In order to ideally tackle salt consumption, Action on Salt is calling for the reduction of recommended intake to just 3g per day, half of the current level. The group also advises use of fresh herbs, spices, black pepper, chilli, and lemon to replace common salt. The study found that takeaway pizzas were the worst culprits, with a Papa John’s Double Pepperoni stuffed-crust pizza containing the equivalent of 14.31g of salt.
A crucial deal aimed at averting a global food crisis has been extended. Here’s everything you need to know
CNN
23-05-17 16:38
Russia, Ukraine and Turkey have agreed to extend the UN-brokered Black Sea grain deal which has allowed the safe passage of ships from Ukraine and prevented global food insecurity occuring while Russia blockade vital grain exports. Ukraine is key exporter of grain with it accounting for 10% of the world wheat market, 15% of the corn market, 13% of the barley market, and a key global player in the sunflower oil sector. The agreement has been renewed for a third time for two months as there were fears that it would not be renewed after Russia called for it to be scrapped, citing concerns that a separate agreement with the UN to facilitate shipments of its own foodstuffs and fertilisers had not yielded results and dissatisfaction with the sanctions imposed by G7 nations. The EU had previously lifted all duties on Ukrainian grain via land to facilitate exports, causing a glut of cheap Ukrainian grain to flow into central and eastern Europe and affecting the sales of local producers.
An anonymous lawyer has filed a lawsuit against the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent it revealing their identity in a public report regarding the lawyer's company's regulatory compliance when inspected by the agency. The complaint argues that the lawyer would suffer "reputational harm that could impede" their ability to continue practising. The case was filed anonymously in Washington DC, and seeks to bar the FDA from releasing public information. The FDA allegedly intends to release an inspection report on the unidentified company, including information about the anonymous attorney.
