
The Best Unlocked Smartphone Deals for June 2023
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2023-06-08 06:16

How to protect pets from wildfire smoke amid air quality alert
New York City and much of the tri-state area has been blanketed by smoke caused by raging wildfires in Canada. The poor air conditions have continued to spread throughout the northeastern United States. On Wednesday (7 June), New York City was ranked number one for the worst air quality in the world, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 342 and air pollution levels described as “hazardous”. Many officials have since advised people to limit their time outdoors and wear masks to protect themselves from the smoke. Public schools have also cancelled outdoor activities, including recess and gym classes. Follow for live air quality alert updates. Experts estimate that each hour of exposure to wildfire smoke is equivalent to smoking cigarettes continuously for the same amount of time, but that’s just for humans. Imagine how wildfire smoke affects our beloved pets? In fact, poor air quality may pose an even greater risk to animals because of their much smaller size. Here’s how to protect your pets from wildfire smoke as air quality alerts continue throughout New York. The biggest danger to pets comes from the fine particles found in air pollutants, which can get into the lungs and cause a variety of health issues – like eye irritation or respiratory problems. Some of the most vulnerable pets are older animals suffering from heart or lung disease. Certain breeds, such as pugs and bulldogs, may be especially at risk of inhaling too much smoke, according to the American Kennel Club. There are several signs that indicate a pet may be having problems from poor air quality. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), some of the symptoms include coughing or gagging (particularly in cats), red or watery eyes, inflammation of the throat or mouth, trouble breathing, fatigue or weakness, and reduced appetite or thirst. The first thing pet owners should do at the sign of wildfire smoke exposure is to call their veterinarian. In the meantime, saturating a cotton ball with lukewarm water and squeezing it over an animal’s eyes can help with irritation and flush them out. In order to protect pets from wildfire smoke, try to reduce their exposure as much as possible. For outdoor pets like horses or livestock, bring these animals into a room with good ventilation, such as a utility room or garage. The EPA also states that smoke is especially tough on pet birds because of the construction of their respiratory systems. Birds that are exposed to too much smoke may act lethargic or struggle to breathe, and may sit in the bottom of their cages. Keeping the indoor air clean can also help protect animals against wildfire smoke. Pet owners should keep their windows closed and their pets in a room with an air purifier. Activities such as frying foods, burning candles, or using a fireplace can also be bad for pets because it adds air pollutants to your home. If necessary, pet owners take short potty breaks with their dog or cat before returning inside. It’s probably not best to go on a long run with an animal when air quality alerts are in effect, either. Read More Air quality – live: New York hits record pollution as Canada wildfire smoke shuts airports and risks millions From masks to AC units: All the dos and don’ts to keep safe from wildfire smoke New York air pollution spikes to hazardous ratings as wildfire smoke plagues East Coast From masks to AC units: All the dos and don’ts to keep safe from wildfire smoke ‘Fearful’ Shannen Doherty reveals her cancer has spread to her brain Fitness fanatic, 26, diagnosed with stage 4 cancer after feeling dizzy
2023-06-08 05:56

Sunak announces first AI summit, pitching UK role from US
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday announced a world-first summit on artificial intelligence, seeking a leading role for the UK in limiting potential doomsday...
2023-06-08 05:52

Rent the Runway Sees Rising Workwear Demand, Trims Discounts
Rent the Runway Inc. said demand for workwear has been surging as more subscribers are going to the
2023-06-08 04:50

Mystery Bet Before SEC Crypto Crackdown May Mint Trader Millions
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2023-06-08 04:29

If You Could Only Use One Makeup Brand, Which Would You Choose?
Is anyone loyal anymore? If we consult our makeup bags, we’d have to say absolutely not. Most of us use a lengthening mascara from one brand and a concealer from another, and never think twice about it. You probably bought them at different times, one while shopping for something else at Sephora and the other from LTK.
2023-06-08 04:21

The Best Graphics Cards for Compact PCs in 2023
A hulking, full-tower PC is always your best option if you want room for the
2023-06-08 03:54

The Best Cheap 3D Printers for 2023
While we'd hesitate to call 3D printing a mature technology, you might say it has
2023-06-08 03:54

Spotify Shifts Podcast Strategy to Make Exclusives Available on Other Platforms
Spotify Technology SA is in talks to make the popular podcasts Armchair Expert and Anything Goes available on
2023-06-08 03:46

Flights to LaGuardia Airport Grounded as Smoke Blankets NYC
A growing number of flights were delayed at major airports in the New York City area as smoke
2023-06-08 03:28

Ukraine’s fields could become deserts and spark global food crisis in wake of dam destruction, officials warn
The destruction of the Nova Khakhovka dam will likely turn Ukraine’s southern fields “into deserts” within the year – sparking a global food security crisis, top Ukrainian officials have warned. Ukraine’s emerency services are carrying out rescue operations across dozens towns and villages in the wake of the dam – which is under Russian occupation – unleashing the waters of one of Europe’s largest reservoirs across the war-torn south. The deluge has destroyed homes, drowned animals, severed clean water supplies and forced thousands of people to evacuate. The sudden emptying of the reservoir has crippled key irrigation systems in three surrounding regions. That has stopped the water supply to nearly 600,000 hectares of agricultural land, and endangered the production of 4 million tonnes of grain and oil crops, Ukraine's agricultural ministry wrote in a statement. “The fields in the south of Ukraine may turn into deserts as early as next year,” the ministry said, adding that the surrounding countryside and water supplies have also been destroyed and fish stock killed. “In total, according to preliminary calculations, the losses from the death of all biological resources will amount to [$285 million dollars],” it concluded. Mykhailo Podolyak, a chief advisor to President Zelenksy, warned this “global ecological disaster” could impact worldwide food supplies, as Ukraine, nicknamed the bread basket of the world, is a major producer of grains and oils. “The instantaneous death of a large number of fish and animals, the waterlogging of drained lands and the change in the climatic regime of the region will later be reflected in the food security of the world,” he told The Independent. Ukraine holds the western bank of the Dnipro River near the dam - where some 16,000 people were affected by the flood. Russia controls the eastern side, which is lower and more vulnerable to flooding and where some 22,000 people are impacted. About 3,000 people have already been evacuated from flooded areas on both sides of the river, officials said. The Ukrainian military has blamed Moscow for the attack, saying Russia wants to prevent an advance by Ukrainian forces. The Kremlin denies the accusations saying Kyiv is seeking to distract from a “failing” counteroffensive, that is ongoing. The Kakhovka hydroelectric dam and reservoir are essential for drinking water and irrigation for a huge area of southern Ukraine and the Crimean Peninsula, which has been occupied by Russia since 2014. It lies in a part of the Kherson region that has been controlled by Moscow's forces for the past year since President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion. On Wednesday the authorities and charities rushed to get drinking water and food supplies to the flooded areas and to help save those who are stranded. In the city, people used boats and rafts to try to find missing inhabitants, while others waded through knee-deep water clutching their belongings. “There were people standing on the street just in their underwear because the water had come in too fast and submerged their homes and belongings,” said Yuliya Konovalova, an aid worker who works for Ukrainian animal charity Hachiko. She had spent the day bringing hot meals and water to the inhabitants of Kherson, and rescuing and feeding stranded pets. "The water was rising so fast we hope those people manage to escape,” she added. She said in the centre of the city trains were leaving every two hours despite the flooding and the shelling to ferry people to the nearby city of Mykolaiv “It is a disaster, it is a catastrophe, it is difficult to understand how it is possible.” “It was a really painful day, on the way back I was crying,” she added breaking down in tears. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russian soldiers were shooting from a distance while rescue attempts were in progress. "As soon as our helpers try to save them, they are shot at," he told German newspapers Bild and Die Welt and also Politico. The country’s deputy prime minister, Oleksandr Kubrakov, also warned of drifting landmines unearthed by the flooding. "Water is disturbing mines that were laid earlier, causing them to explode," Mr Kubrakov said. “As a result of the flooding, infectious diseases and chemicals were getting into the water,” he added. Mr Zelensky said later said on Telegram he had spoken to French President Emmanuel Macron about the environmental and humanitarian situation in the Kherson region. "I laid out Ukraine's general needs in dealing with the disaster. And we discussed the possibility of involving international mechanisms to investigate its causes," the president said. Meanwhile, in his first public comments on the disaster, President Putin repeated Moscow's line that Ukraine is to blame for destroying the Kakhovka dam. In a call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Mr Putin alleged that Kyiv authorities had escalated "war crimes, openly using terrorist methods and staging acts of sabotage on the Russian territory," the Kremlin said in its account of the call. Read More Ukraine-Russia war news – live: Exploding mines float through floodwater after Kherson dam attack ‘Hard to control emotions’ amid Kherson flooding, says Ukrainian aid worker A dam bursts, but this barbaric attack will not halt Kyiv’s ‘big push’ Ukraine’s long-term future to be on agenda at Sunak and Biden meeting The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary
2023-06-08 03:25

Ukrainian dam breach: What's happening and what's at stake
The fallout from the breach of a dam along a front line of Russia’s war in Ukraine is wreaking havoc on lives, livelihoods and the environment
2023-06-08 03:18