DAILY NEWS Stream – December 01, 2024

South Korea pledges US$6 million to World Food Programme’s “Grain from Ukraine” initiative for 2025, supporting global food security amid ongoing Black Sea export challenges (HTV - Đài Hà Nội)

US Health Secretary presumptive nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr has pledged to “wage war against industrial agriculture, industrial meat production, factory farming and chemical-based agriculture” in his quest to help President Donald Trump “Make America Healthy Again” (Genetic Literacy Project)

“Everything is expensive!” Bolivia faces severe economic crisis with fuel shortages, plummeting currency reserves, and soaring food prices as public anger mounts (AP)

Australia’s House of Representatives passes bill that would ban under-16s from social media, with a potential US$21 million in fines for platforms failing compliance; the bill’s next step is the Australian Senate (AP)

Germany reports 614 measles cases in 2024, up from 8 in 2021, amid vaccine hesitancy, immigration, and COVID-19 disruptions (DW)

Fresno County [California, US] resident dies from rabies after bat bite, marking rare US case as officials urge caution with wild animals (KTVU)

Lansing [Michigan, US]: Health experts warn of food-borne illness risks during holidays, emphasizing proper hand washing and adequately cleaning vegetables, which can be contaminated in the fields by animal factory waste (WILX)

Alarming rise in liver disease among young women linked to alcohol consumption (The Pinnacle Gazette)

UK study of over 72,000 adults finds irregular sleep timing increases heart attack and stroke risk by 26%, even for those who get a full 7-8 hours of sleep per night (The Guardian)

UK ministers propose junk food tax to tackle obesity, reduce pressure on the National Health Service, and get people back to work and off government benefits (The Sun)

Study warns recycled black plastic kitchen utensils and toys contain toxic chemicals including flame retardants, urging consumers to choose safer alternatives such as wood, silicone or stainless steel (VegNews)

Study reveals men with heart risk factors face brain health declines as early as their mid-50s, ten years earlier than at-risk women, suggesting cardiovascular interventions should begin at least a decade sooner for male patients (UPI)

Research suggests different parts of your body age at different rates, leading scientists to develop “aging clock” diagnostics revealing how fast organs age in individual patients, potentially aiding heart and Alzheimer’s treatment (BGR)

UK doctor reveals beetroot lowers blood pressure and improves athletic performance thanks to dietary nitrates (SurreyLive)

UK study finds natural soundscapes like birdsong reduce stress while traffic noise increases anxiety, indicating benefits of urban green spaces (Daily Mail)

Canadian study shows replacing refined sugar with maple syrup improves blood sugar and reduces blood pressure and abdominal fat while enhancing gut bacteria diversity (SciTechDaily)

Apple cider vinegar shows benefits for blood sugar control, weight loss and cholesterol levels when diluted and used properly, though experts warn of side effects from high concentrations or overuse (CNET)

North Sumatra [Indonesia]: Flash floods and landslides kill 27 and trap vehicles in mud as torrential rains continue through end of year (Sky News)

Study finds fire-related air pollution causes more than 1.5 million deaths annually, mostly in developing countries, with climate change intensifying risks (AFP)

Research reveals over 3.4 billion animals are killed daily for food, including 206 million chickens, with significant environmental and ethical concerns surrounding global meat consumption (Public News Service)

Blackpool [England, UK]: Two elephant calves die at zoo, prompting calls to end elephant captivity as non-profit organization Freedom for Animals cites poor survival rates (Freedom for Animals)

Study reveals lack of US federal animal welfare laws enables abuse of factory-raised animals, with 99% of livestock raised in industrial facilities (Public News Service)

Investigation reveals troubling truths about grocery store chicken: 99.9% are from factories, antibiotic-resistant bacteria is widespread in packaged meat, and nearly 2,000 liters of water are consumed just to make less than 0.5 kilograms of chicken meat (Mashed)

African elephant Madhubala reunites with sisters after 15 years following relocation from zoo to new sanctuary in Pakistan (World Animal News)

Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] finds rodenticides [rodent-killing chemicals] threaten 78 endangered species including California [US] condors, prompting new protective measures and safer alternatives (One Green Planet)

Ukraine: Senior dog named Gaffer tries to find his way home after being abandoned and is rescued after collapsing from exhaustion by Love Furry Friends Animal Rescue (Sunny Skyz)

Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture wins UK architecture and design magazine Dezeen’s 2024 sustainable project award for eco-friendly campus, using rammed earth and local materials (Dezeen)

Perth [Scotland, UK] rewilding project sees remarkable success as bumblebee numbers surge from 35 to over 4,000 in two years through 36-hectare habitat restoration effort (The Scotsman)

Enfield [Maine, US]: Standard Biocarbon launches second biochar factory producing 50 cubic yards [38.2 cubic meters] of the organic substance daily, aiming to reduce PFAS “forever chemicals” in crops through biochar’s favorable effects when mixed in soil (Bangor Daily News)

Retired US Air Force Captain Robert Salas claims UFOs temporarily disabled nuclear missiles in 1967 at a US Air Force base in Montana, suggesting peaceful extraterrestrials are concerned over Earth’s nuclear weapons (Daily Mail)

Chinese astrophotographer Li Shengyu captures photos of mysterious blue flashes during Mount Xian Nairi [Sichuan, China] avalanche, which was potentially an example of triboluminescence, a little-understood phenomenon also seen when sugar crystals are crushed (Explorersweb)

US company FlyTahoe is launching Swedish company Candela’s “gliding” hydrofoil ferry at Lake Tahoe [California and Nevada], offering faster, zero-emission year-round transport to reduce congestion and protect the environment (Good News Network)

Spanish vegan food tech company Heura Foods urges Spanish Congress of Deputies to prioritize climate action following Valencia floods, launching “Don’t turn the page” awareness campaign for effective policies against climate change and in favor of animal and human health (Vegconomist)

New global online Master Class the Animal-Free Safety Assessment [AFSA] trains scientists in animal-free cosmetics and chemicals testing, attracting 1,200 participants from 70 countries since its creation in 2023, with the final module now open for registration – more info at AFSA.TalentLMS.com (Taiwan News)

Manila [Philippines]: Actress and fashion celebrity Heart Evangelista becomes face of local vegan makeup brand GRWM Cosmetics, promoting cruelty-free beauty (GMA)

Did you know: Ancient Greek and Roman philosophers advocated vegetarianism, with Sextius arguing killing animals for food promotes cruelty in humans and Pythagoras Sotion pointing to the transmigration of human souls, including deceased relatives’, into animal beings (The Conversation)

ProVeg International study analyzing 673 products finds vegan meats and milks match or exceed the nutrition of animal products, with plant-based options offering high-quality protein, less saturated fat and more fiber (Plant Based News)

New York [US]: Mother cow Olive escapes dairy industry and finds forever home at Farm Sanctuary after four months in the woods (Farm Sanctuary)

Olathe [Kansas, US]: Pet pig named Odin lights up dementia care home with his cuddly demeanor and love for cereal, accompanying human companion and building maintenance worker Brett Martin (Good News Network)

Brazil’s vegan market saw 38% growth in meat alternatives and 9.5% in plant-based milk sales for 2023 compared to previous year, surpassing industry expectations (Vegconomist)

US vegan company Nature’s Fynd and Hollywood actress Justine Lupe are hosting a sweepstakes for a Los Angeles vegan brunch in February 2025 featuring Nature’s Fynd’s fungi-based dairy-free yogurt, with those who buy the vegan yogurt at their local Whole Foods supermarkets eligible to enter the contest online through the end of 2024 – more info at brunch.naturesfynd.com (VegWorld)

Brooklyn [New York, US]: Vegan company Armored Fresh’s dairy-free grilled cheese shop attracts 70% non-vegan customers, selling over 5,000 sandwiches in its first month (Vegconomist)

Israel approves Imagindairy’s precision- fermented milk proteins for consumer use, following US certification for animal-free dairy alternatives (Vegconomist)

Canada-based vegan company Milk Depot launches home plant milk maker appliance transforming nuts and grains into fresh milk in under one minute, joining growing market of DIY [do-it-yourself] alternatives (Vegconomist)

German vegan company ProteinDistillery breaks ground on Protein Competence Centre in Heilbronn, aiming to produce 200 metric tons of sustainable brewer’s yeast protein annually (Vegconomist)

Elevating quote of the day: “Holiness consists simply in doing God’s Will, and being just what God wants us to be.” – The Venerated Enlightened Saint Thérèse de Lisieux (vegetarian)

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