US has reclosed its southern border after a flesh-eating parasite is seen further north in Mexico

US has reclosed its southern border after a flesh-eating parasite is seen further north in Mexico
Mexico’s president was critical Thursday. (Reuters)
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Updated 11 July 2025
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US has reclosed its southern border after a flesh-eating parasite is seen further north in Mexico

US has reclosed its southern border after a flesh-eating parasite is seen further north in Mexico

The US has closed its southern border again to livestock imports, saying a flesh-eating parasite has moved further north in Mexico than previously reported.

Mexico’s president was critical Thursday, suggesting that the US is exaggerating the threat to its beef industry from the parasite, the New World screwworm fly. The female flies lay eggs in wounds on warm-blooded animals, hatching larvae that are unusual among flies for feeding on live flesh and fluids instead of dead material.

American officials worry that if the fly reaches Texas, its flesh-eating maggots could cause large economic losses, something that happened decades ago. The US largely eradicated the pest in the 1970s by breeding and releasing sterile male flies to breed with wild females, and the fly had been contained in Panama for years until it was discovered in southern Mexico late last year.

The US closed its southern border in May to imports of live cattle, horses and bison but announced June 30 that it would allow three ports of entry to reopen this month and another two by Sept. 15. However, since then, an infestation from the fly has been reported 185 miles  northeast of Mexico City, about 160 miles  further north than previously reported cases. That was about 370 miles  from the Texas border.

“The United States has promised to be vigilant,” US Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a statement Wednesday announcing the border closing. “Thanks to the aggressive monitoring by USDA staff in the US and in Mexico, we have been able to take quick and decisive action to respond to the spread of this deadly pest.”

In Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum said authorities there were following all established protocols to deal with the northernmost case. Mexican authorities said the country has 392 infected animals, down nearly 19 percent since June 24.

“From our point of view, they took a totally exaggerated decision to closing the border again,” Sheinbaum said. “Everything that scientifically should be done is being done.”

Three weeks ago, Rollins announced plans for combating the parasite that include spending nearly $30 million on new sites for breeding and dispersing sterile male flies. Once released in the wild, those males would mate with females, causing them to lay eggs that won’t hatch so that the fly population would die out.

The USDA hopes a new fly factory will be operating in southern Mexico by July 2026 to supplement fly breeding at an existing complex in Panama. The agency also plans to open a site in southern Texas for holding sterile flies imported from Panama, so they can be released along the border if necessary.

Also Thursday, US Reps. Tony Gonzalez, of Texas, and Kat McCammack, of Florida, urged the Trump administration to quickly approve the use of existing anti-parasite treatments for New World screwworm fly infestations in livestock. They said labeling requirements currently prevent it.


Trump immigration raids threaten US food security, farmers warn

Trump immigration raids threaten US food security, farmers warn
Updated 6 sec ago
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Trump immigration raids threaten US food security, farmers warn

Trump immigration raids threaten US food security, farmers warn
  • The number of government certified positions for temporary agricultural workers practically tripled between 2014 and 2024, underlining just how much American agriculture depends on foreign workers

VENTURA, California: Lisa Tate, whose family has been farming in Ventura County since 1876, cannot recall a threat to crops like the one emanating from Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant onslaught.

Tate fears that the crackdown on illegal workers, far from addressing the problems of this vital agricultural region north of Los Angeles, could “dismantle the whole economy” and put the country’s food security at risk.

“I began to get really concerned when we saw a group of border control agents come up to the Central Valley and just start going onto farms and just kind of trying to chase people down, evading the property owner,” the 46-year-old farmer, who grows avocados, citrus and coffee, told AFP in an interview.

“That’s not something we’re used to happening in agriculture,” she added.

The impact goes beyond harvesters, she said. “There’s a whole food chain involved,” from field workers to truck drivers to people working in packing houses and in sales.

“It’s just, everybody’s scared,” she said — even a multi-generational American like her.

“I’m nervous and I’m scared, because we’re feeling like we’re being attacked.”

Other farmers contacted by AFP declined to speak to the media, saying they feared potential reprisals from the Trump administration.

Perennial labor shortage

The agricultural sector has for years been trying to find permanent solutions for its perennial labor shortages, beyond issuing temporary permits for migrant workers.

“Some of the work we have is seasonal. But really, around here, we need workers that are year-round,” Tate says.

The number of government certified positions for temporary agricultural workers practically tripled between 2014 and 2024, Department of Labor statistics show, underlining just how much American agriculture depends on foreign workers.

On top of that, some 42 percent of farm workers are not authorized to work in the United States, according to a 2022 study by the Department of Agriculture.

Those numbers line up with the struggles many farmers go through to find labor.

They say US citizens are not interested in the physically demanding work, with its long days under extreme temperatures, rain and sun.

Against that backdrop, Tate warns that removing people who are actually doing the work will cause immeasurable damage.

Not only will it harm farms and ranches, which could take years to recover, it will also send food prices soaring, and even endanger US food security, possibly requiring the country to start importing provisions that may previously have been grown at home, she says.

“What we really need is some legislation that has the type of program that we need, and that works for both the workers, that ensures their safety, it ensures a fair playing field when it comes to international trade, as well as as domestic needs,” Tate said.

‘Between a rock and a hard place'

Some farmworkers agreed to speak to AFP on condition of not being fully identified, for fear of being arrested.

“All we do is work,” a worker named Silvia told AFP. She saw several friends arrested in a raid in in Oxnard, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) west of Ventura.

The 32-year-old Mexican lives in constant fear that she will be the next one picked up and, in the end, separated from her two US-born daughters.

“We’re between a rock and a hard place. If we don’t work, how will we pay our bills? And if we go out, we run the risk of running into them,” she said, referring to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

“The way the goverment is working right now, everybody loses,” said Miguel, who has been working in the fields of southern California for three decades.

The 54-year-old said that workers are losing jobs, farm owners are losing their labor, and as a result, the United States is losing its food.

Miguel has worked in various different agriculture sector jobs, including during the Covid-19 pandemic. All of them were “very hard jobs,” he said.

Now he feels like he has a target on his back.

“They should do a little research so they understand. The food they eat comes from the fields, right?” he said.

“So it would be good if they were more aware, and gave us an opportunity to contribute positively, and not send us into hiding.”


Taiwan voters reject bid to oust China-friendly lawmakers in closely watched poll

Taiwan voters reject bid to oust China-friendly lawmakers in closely watched poll
Updated 28 min 25 sec ago
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Taiwan voters reject bid to oust China-friendly lawmakers in closely watched poll

Taiwan voters reject bid to oust China-friendly lawmakers in closely watched poll
  • The independence-leaning ruling Democratic Progressive Party won last year’s presidential election
  • However, the China-friendly KMT and the smaller Taiwan People’s Party have enough seats to form a majority bloc

TAIPEI, Taiwan: Taiwanese voters rejected a bid to oust about one-fifth of their lawmakers, all from the opposition Nationalist Party, in a recall election Saturday, dampening hopes for the ruling party to flip the balance of power in the self-ruled island’s legislature.

The independence-leaning ruling Democratic Progressive Party won last year’s presidential election, but the China-friendly Nationalists, also known as the KMT, and the smaller Taiwan People’s Party have enough seats to form a majority bloc.

Official preliminary results showed that the recall efforts failed to remove any of the two dozen KMT lawmakers. The scale of the recall elections is unprecedented, with another seven KMT lawmakers facing a similar vote on Aug. 23.

The KMT currently holds 52 seats, while the ruling DPP holds 51 seats. For the DPP to secure a legislative majority, at least six KMT lawmakers would need to be ousted, and the ruling party would need to win the by-elections, which must be held within three months of the announcement of results.

For the recall to pass, more than a quarter of eligible voters in the electoral district must vote in favor of it, and the total number of supporters must exceed those voting against.

If next month’s poll results are also unfavorable to the DPP, it would mean that the government of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te could continue to face strong resistance from within the legislature before elections expected to take place in 2028.

‘An uphill battle’

Facing the setback, Lai said in a Facebook post that recall attempts and efforts to oppose them are both people’s legitimate rights under its constitutional system. He thanked the civic power, saying the efforts were not in vain. They further established the national direction of resisting communists and protecting Taiwan, he said.

“Today’s result is neither a victory for one side nor a defeat for another,” he said, adding that he hoped all parties would continue to safeguard Taiwan’s democratic system.

KMT chairman Eric Chu told reporters that voters had used their ballots to prove Taiwan’s democracy is mature and great, calling for an apology from Lai.

“All Taiwanese people chose stability, chose that the government should focus on getting things done, rather than engaging in bitter political fighting,” he said.

Despite their huge effort, those backing the recall were facing an “uphill battle” in trying to unseat lawmakers in well organized, strongly KMT districts, said Lev Nachman, a professor of political science at National Taiwan University.

The result is going to make it even harder for Lai to push his agenda forward, especially ahead of local elections next year, said Nachman, who is an expert on Taiwan’s elections.

“At the moment, there is very little Lai can do other than try to think of other creative ways to appeal to the public,” he told The Associated Press.

Fu Kun-chi, one of the most powerful and controversial lawmakers targeted, said the result left Lai with no option other than to meet with the opposition and “find a way for Taiwan to proceed in a more stable way in this chaotic world.”

DPP Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang said they humbly accepted the results, saying the recall should not be reduced to a victory or defeat for political parties. He said his party has the responsibility to reflect on public sentiment more cautiously and adjust its approach to meet people’s expectations.

Political retaliation claim

Those who support removing the 24 lawmakers have criticized the KMT and its allies for blocking key legislation, especially the defense budget, and passing controversial changes that are seen as diminishing the power of the executive and favoring China, which considers the island its own territory.

The opposition parties’ actions sparked concerns among some Taiwanese about the island’s democratic integrity and its ability to deter Chinese military threats, leading to the recall campaigns.

But the KMT has accused the ruling party of resorting to political retaliation after it lost the legislative majority, saying the recalls were undermining and challenging Taiwan’s democratic system.

Tensions flared over the poll

The elections have intensified tensions between those backing the status quo and those favoring improved ties with Beijing.

Critics accuse China-friendly politicians of compromising Taiwan and take issue with their meetings with mainland Chinese politicians. But these Taiwanese politicians claim their connections are vital for dialogue given Beijing’s refusal to interact with the DPP.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua said the election results showed that the DPP’s “political manipulation” runs against the will of the people, accusing the party of having the ambition to attain “one-party dominance,” Chinese state media Xinhua reported. Chen said the DPP’s acts showed it was “fake democracy, real authoritarianism.” The office is a branch of China’s ruling Communist Party government, which itself maintains strict one-party rule.

Taiwan’s mainland affairs council said Wednesday that the Chinese authorities and state media had tried to blatantly interfere with the vote.

 


Two-state solution ‘the only answer,’ Pakistan’s deputy prime minister says ahead of landmark conference in New York

Two-state solution ‘the only answer,’ Pakistan’s deputy prime minister says ahead of landmark conference in New York
Updated 27 July 2025
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Two-state solution ‘the only answer,’ Pakistan’s deputy prime minister says ahead of landmark conference in New York

Two-state solution ‘the only answer,’ Pakistan’s deputy prime minister says ahead of landmark conference in New York

NEW YORK: As the world watches in horror at the unfolding tragedy in Gaza, international efforts to revive the long-stalled two-state solution for Palestine and Israel are intensifying.

From July 28-30, a high-profile conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia will take place in New York City, aiming to chart a path toward peace and the realization of a sovereign Palestinian state. Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke to Arab News about Pakistan’s unwavering support for the initiative and the urgent need to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The upcoming conference seeks to reinvigorate the stalled peace process by focusing on concrete steps toward establishing two independent states, Israel and Palestine. 

Delegates from key nations and international bodies will converge in New York City at the UN headquarters to discuss ceasefire arrangements, humanitarian access, reconstruction efforts and political recognition of Palestine.

Dar highlighted Pakistan’s longstanding position on the Palestinian issue.

“You see, this issue has become already too late in handling,” he said. “The attempt by France and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is very appreciable. These two countries have taken this initiative. Pakistan has a clear foreign policy for decades, that the two-state solution is the only answer to the Palestine problem.”

Dar laid out Pakistan’s hopes for the summit: “I hope that serious efforts are made during this event; first, to secure an immediate ceasefire; and second, to ensure the unhindered flow of food, humanitarian aid and medical assistance — alongside progress toward the recognition of Palestine as an independent state.”

The event comes amid escalating violence and mounting international concern over Gaza, with many legal experts and humanitarian organizations increasingly describing the situation in the enclave as a a genocide.

The humanitarian situation there continues to worsen. Gaza has for almost two years now suffered relentless airstrikes and ground incursions, resulting in thousands of civilian casualties, widespread destruction of infrastructure and critical shortages of food, water and medical supplies, with international organizations now warning of a looming full-scale famine. 

Acknowledging the devastating conditions in Gaza, Dar described the conference’s potential success: “If we are able to achieve all these objectives, it will be a great success and a highly commendable contribution by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and France.” 


At least 11 people were stabbed at a Walmart in Michigan, and a suspect is in custody

At least 11 people were stabbed at a Walmart in Michigan, and a suspect is in custody
Updated 27 July 2025
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At least 11 people were stabbed at a Walmart in Michigan, and a suspect is in custody

At least 11 people were stabbed at a Walmart in Michigan, and a suspect is in custody
  • Michigan State Police said the attack happened in Traverse City, a popular vacation spot on the coast of Lake Michigan

TRAVERSE CITY, Michigan: At least 11 people were stabbed at a Walmart in Traverse City on Saturday — with six in critical condition — in what the sheriff said appeared to be a random act. A suspect was in custody, authorities said.

“Eleven is 11 too many, but thank God it wasn’t more,” Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea told reporters.

Emergency vehicles and uniformed first responders were seen outside the store following the incident.

Tiffany DeFell, 36, who lives in Honor, about 25 miles from Traverse City, said she was in the parking lot when she saw chaos erupt around her.

“It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out,” she said. “This is something you see out of the movies. It’s not what you expect to see where you’re living.”

Munson Healthcare said via social media that 11 people were being treated at the region’s largest hospital in northern Michigan. Spokesperson Megan Brown said all were stabbing victims. Six were critical and five were in serious condition late Saturday, she said.

Shea said the weapon involved appeared to be a folding-style knife. Earlier in the day, the Michigan State Police said the suspect had been taken into custody. Shea said the suspect is believed to be a Michigan resident but declined to share further details.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said: “Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence.”

Walmart said in a statement that it would continue to work closely with law enforcement in the investigation.

“Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and we’re thankful for the swift action of first responders,” the statement said.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a social media post that bureau officials were responding to “provide any necessary support.”

Traverse City is a popular vacation spot on the coast of Lake Michigan. It is known for its cherry festival, wineries and lighthouses and is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

 


Wildfire burns through northern suburb of Greece’s capital Athens and residents are told to evacuate

Wildfire burns through northern suburb of Greece’s capital Athens and residents are told to evacuate
Updated 26 July 2025
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Wildfire burns through northern suburb of Greece’s capital Athens and residents are told to evacuate

Wildfire burns through northern suburb of Greece’s capital Athens and residents are told to evacuate
  • Greece has asked for six firefighting planes from the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism
  • Four ambulances are treating at least five residents, most of them elderly with respiratory problems

ATHENS: A wildfire burned through a northern suburb of the Greek capital of Athens on Saturday and some residents were ordered to evacuate, the country’s Fire Service reported.

Residents of the town of Kryoneri, 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) northeast of Athens received 3 SMS messages to evacuate to safe areas, Fire Service spokesman Vassilis Vathrakoyannis told reporters.

Greek media have shown houses on fire. The spokesman said “there have been reports of damages. We will take stock when the fires have been put out.”

“The real difficulties are ahead of us,” Vathrakoyannis said, adding that Greece has asked for six firefighting planes from the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism.

On site, 145 firefighters and 44 fire engines, 10 firefighting planes and seven helicopters are attempting to put out the fire, whose origin is unknown. Four ambulances are treating at least five residents, most of them elderly with respiratory problems.

Temperatures reaching, or exceeding, 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit), dry conditions and high winds are fanning the flames.

Under such conditions wildfires “expand very quickly and become dangerous. These conditions are expected to prevail over the coming days,” Vathrakoyannis said.

The fire service is also dealing with three other major fires in the southwest on Greece’s two largest islands — Crete in the south and Evia north of Athens — and also on the island of Kythera, northwest of Crete. At least 335 firefighters, 19 planes and 13 helicopters are involved, but can only operate in daylight. In total, 52 wildfires broke out across the country over the past 24 hours, the spokesman said.

Wildfires, many of them destructive, have become a common occurrence in Greece in recent years. Several have broken out in the past month.