South Korea's agriculture ministry confirmed foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) at one pig farm and five cattle farms in Yecheon, issuing the highest Level 4 alert for the region and six adjacent areas. Quarantine measures are being implemented.
Brazil's President Lula secured a beef export deal with China, criticizing US tariffs. Chinese Venezuelans aided earthquake victims in Venezuela. The EU proposed a rare earths partnership to Brazil, aiming to reduce reliance on China.
Brazilian President Lula da Silva expressed defiance towards US trade policies, stating "If you do not want to buy from me, you can keep your things and I will sell to someone else." This comes as China accepted Brazil as free of foot-and-mouth disease, a decision announced during Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira's visit to Beijing.
China has declared all of Brazil free of foot-and-mouth disease, removing a long-standing sanitary barrier. This decision, announced Tuesday, allows for wider access to China's beef market, though a new import quota implemented in January will still limit sales growth.
Iraq has temporarily suspended the transit of live animals from Syria to Gulf countries due to suspected foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in Syria. The decision, a precautionary measure, has sparked controversy, with Syrian officials denying the outbreak and stating that transit through Jordan and Syrian ports remains normal.
Syria's Ports and Land Borders Authority denies reports of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, calling Iraq's temporary ban on livestock transit 'unjustified.' Iraq cited 'accurate information' about the disease's spread in Syrian provinces as the reason for the precautionary measure.
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has alerted trainers to increased equine flu cases, urging vigilance to prevent a racing shutdown. While more counties report cases than in 2019, no racing yards are infected. The BHA emphasizes vaccination and isolation for incoming horses.
