Chinese scientists have discovered a novel therapeutic target for Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative condition with high disability and mortality rates, and have successfully identified a potentially effective small molecule drug. The breakthrough, achieved by a team from Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University in Shanghai, holds promise for early intervention in Parkinson’s disease, offering patients renewed hope for delaying its progression. The research was published in the prestigious academic journal Science on Friday (Beijing time). The battle against Parkinson’s disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s, has been ongoing for years. There are approximately 3 million Parkinson’s patients in China, roughly half of the global total. People diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease may initially experience a reduced sense of smell and sleep disorders, eventually developing more severe movement-related symptoms. As the disease progresses, the effectiveness of medications often declines, leading to a significant deterioration in quality of life. Unfortunately, previous drugs and surgical therapies have only addressed the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, failing to prevent its progression. As a result, further in-depth research into the disease’s pathophysiology and targeted treatments is crucial, according to the scientists. After five years of persistent efforts, the team identified FAM171A2 as a key risk gene for neurodegeneration. Using artificial intelligence, they screened over 7,000 approved compounds and pinpointed bemcentinib, an anti-cancer agent currently in clinical trials, as a promising lead candidate. The small molecule drug has been shown to effectively block the binding between FAM171A2 and the pathogenic protein, according to the research team. Yu Jintai, leader of the team, said that, based on an international patent, they will focus on the pre-clinical research and development of small-molecule drugs, antibodies and gene therapies for Parkinson’s disease in the coming years, with the aim of advancing clinical trials and applications to develop an innovative therapeutic system. People over the age of 60 are more susceptible to Parkinson’s disease. As China’s population continues to age, this new medical breakthrough has sparked hope within both the academic and medical communities, as well as among patients, with the expectation that the research will have practical applications in the near future. “The experimental results have helped us accurately figure out the pathophysiological mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease, creating a real chance of overcoming a battle that has long seemed insurmountable,” said Wang Jian, director of the neurology department at Huashan Hospital, which is also a national medical center for neurological diseases. A referee for Science praised the discovery as a “holy grail” in Parkinson’s research, highlighting its potential to lead to therapies that can block the spread of pathology and, consequently, the disease itself. Neurological diseases, particularly those affecting the brain, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, have become a major global public health and social challenge. Chinese experts have called for greater efforts in brain science research, noting that it will be crucial for developing new treatment methods, enhancing early diagnosis, detection and intervention, and ultimately improving the quality of life for patients.
Fishing will be prohibited in the waters around the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge starting in March to ensure navigation safety and protect the bridge structure in the Pearl River estuary. The ban covers water areas within 5 kilometers on both sides of the bridge’s entire axis in Guangdong, according to the Regulations on Safety Management of Sea Fishing in Zhuhai Special Economic Zone. It also applies to nearby nature reserves, military restricted zones and harbor waters. The regulation, passed by the Zhuhai People’s Congress, takes effect on March 1. It is the first rule in Guangdong province specifically regulating sea fishing safety. Sea fishing activities in the bridge waters could interfere with ship navigation and lead to accidents, said Wen Guangfu, deputy director of the Zhuhai maritime safety administration. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, which spans a busy shipping lane, connects the eastern and western parts of the Pearl River Delta and is a key link in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The 55-km project, which includes a bridge, undersea tunnels and artificial islands, opened in 2018. Ensuring the safety of the bridge and maintaining orderly ship navigation in surrounding waters is critical, Wen said. Zhuhai’s sea fishing industry has grown in recent years, bringing safety concerns, said Liang Xianming, deputy director of the Zhuhai ocean development bureau. The city, which has abundant fishing resources, has hosted multiple national and international sea fishing events. “The city government attaches great importance to the management of sea fishing events,” Liang said. “The new regulation will clarify government and industry responsibilities, strengthen safety oversight, minimize risks, and safeguard lives and property.” The regulation requires fishing vessels to report departure and return times to maritime authorities. Boats must be equipped with automatic identification systems, satellite positioning devices and other safety equipment. Passengers must be provided with life jackets and positioning devices. Unlicensed vessels are banned from participating in sea fishing events. The regulation also prohibits illegal docking, overloading, sailing beyond approved areas, night sailing without permission and captains from operating vessels while under the influence of alcohol.
Source: Australia Government Ministerial Statements
RON WILSON [HOST]: Truck drivers in western Sydney are set to benefit from the city’s first dedicated heavy vehicle rest stop. It’s considered a crucial infrastructure project aimed at improving safety and reducing fatigue for long haul truckies. It’s located at Eastern Creek and the site is strategically placed near key motorway junctions. It comes with a $40 million investment price tag from both the Albanese and Minns Labor governments. The project was part of an election promise by the New South Wales Labor government, and marks a significant step in enhancing road safety and ensuring truck drivers have the facilities they need to rest and recharge during their long journeys.
Catherine King is the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development and Local Government in Australia as well. She’s on the line right now. Catherine, good morning.
CATHERINE KING [MINISTER]: Hi, Ron. It’s great to be with you.
RON WILSON: Tell us about this truck stop. How important is it in the overall scheme of transport?
CATHERINE KING: Well, it’s incredibly important. We know just how much- how busy that freight route is between Melbourne right the way through to Brisbane. Truck drivers are required under our law to actually have rest and rest stops. We can’t have fatigued drivers on the road. But in that area, particularly where there is such a high volume of freight going through, there just really isn’t anywhere for truck drivers to safely rest. And this will be the first dedicated area specifically for trucks ever in western Sydney and at Eastern Creek. We often hear, you know, truck drivers are parking on suburban roads. They’re parking on the side of the road, trying to make sure that they comply with their rest hours. And that is not safe for anybody. It’s certainly not safe for them.
The other thing we know is that we’re seeing increasing numbers of female drivers. They want, as should anyone in their workplace, access to decent toilet facilities, decent shower facilities, safe places to be able to rest and shaded places to be able to rest as well. So this is a really important project. 40 million from the Albanese government, 40 million from the Minns government. They took it to the last state election. We’re saying we’re going to back this in. This is budgeted funding. This is not an election commitment. This is something we want to fund, really as part of the infrastructure program.
It’s been identified by truck drivers as the area- really a missing spot. So this is a really important announcement both for truck drivers but also for road safety. We want drivers who are on our roads that have had- you know, have got decent workplaces that are well rested and have places where they can rest and actually shower and recover from what is a really gruelling and difficult job.
RON WILSON: Boy, a total of over $80 million. It must be some truck stop.
CATHERINE KING: Well, it takes a lot to, you know, build roads to actually get the hard surfacing, but also to get the services out there. You obviously need electricity, you need water, you need sewerage out there as well. Unfortunately, it just does take that amount of money to be able to do that and to build those proper dedicated facilities. Unfortunately, infrastructure is expensive.
RON WILSON: Well, that’s one truck stop. It’s an awful big country. Have you got more of these planned?
CATHERINE KING: Yeah. Well, what we’ve done, I’ve had a $180 million fund. And Senator Glenn Sterle, who might be known to all of you, he’s still driving trucks himself. Every now and again, he gets behind the wheel. He’s from over in the west. I asked him to chair- basically to bring trucking companies together and truck drivers together to identify sites to fund that. And we’ve put the first tranche out of that. There’s smaller stops, often in the regional areas, because we wanted truck drivers to identify, well, where are you stopping? Where are the facilities that are needed? How can we actually fund these? So that’s been part of the government- we took that to the last election, and that’s been steadily rolling its way out, as well as as we build big scale infrastructure. So you’d be aware, you know, there’s big projects up in the Hunter. We look at opportunities there to partner with state and local government to also build those facilities in at the same time. But there’s no doubt that we could have more. And we need to continue to look at opportunities to do that, which is why we’ve got the funding program to try and roll them out. But this will be a single biggest one, and it’s a really big missing area. Like there just isn’t anywhere in that area really. And often you’ll see truck drivers just trying to plough- keep going. But they’ve got to, you know, make sure that they’ve stopped within the hours that [indistinct] drive a certain number of hours.
RON WILSON: [Talks over] Yeah, that’s right.
CATHERINE KING: So it’s really difficult for them to then, you know, get that push through to get to the next stop where they can. And there’s really just nothing in that area for them to stop at.
RON WILSON: Yeah. Minister, this is such good news for all road users, not just the trucking industry. So very pleased that you’re able to come on and have a chat to us about it this morning, I appreciate it.
CATHERINE KING: Really good to be with you.
RON WILSON: The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government in Australia, Catherine King, talking about this new truck stop. It’s located at Eastern Creek. It comes at a cost of over $80 million.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force Search and Rescue Section successfully located and rescued a hiking group in Jabiru on Sunday morning.
Around 7:45am, an emergency position-indicating radio-beacon (EPIRB) was activated in the vicinity of Motor Car Falls, approximately 97 kilometres south of Jabiru.
In response, Jabiru members deployed to the area and Search and Rescue (SRS) deployed a helicopter with two members on board.
Jabiru members located a vehicle parked in Motor Car Falls that was registered to the same individual registered to the EPIRB that was activated.
A short time later, members located three males and two females in the vicinity of where the EPIRB was activated.
One of males who was suffering heatstroke, and a support person were conveyed to Jabiru via helicopter where they were met by St John Ambulance.
Two SRS members remained on-site with the three hikers until they were also collected by the helicopter and transported to Jabiru.
Acting Senior Sergeant Zac Winkworth said, “The hikers activating their registered EPIRB was instrumental in the timely rescue of the hiking group.
“This is a timely reminder for people looking to go hiking or fishing in the Top End to ensure you have a registered EPIRB.
“Always plan your route, check current conditions, and make sure someone is aware of your itinerary before you head out.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Professor Sir Ian Chapman appointed next CEO of UK Research and Innovation with renewed focus on economic growth
Sir Ian will lead the team at UKRI in backing thousands of researchers and innovators in developing solutions which improve people’s lives and help grow the economy
Professor Sir Ian Chapman appointed as new UKRI CEO
Professor Sir Ian Chapman will become the next CEO of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), leading a refreshed mission that puts economic growth at the heart of public investment in R&D, helping to fulfil the potential of science and technology in improving lives, Science Minister Lord Vallance has announced today (Tuesday 25 February).
UKRI is the country’s largest public research funder, with a budget of £9 billion per year, giving it a central role in ensuring public funding is invested in ambitious, pioneering research that will benefit the whole of the UK and provide a clear return on investment for hardworking taxpayers.
Its work in recent years includes backing the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, which has saved countless lives and the construction of the world’s most advanced wind turbine test facility, helping the UK to become a clean energy superpower. It has also been a major contributor to the £1 billion of UK public investment in AI R&D so far so the UK captures the technology’s opportunities to enhance growth and productivity as the third largest AI market in the world.
Sir Ian will lead its team in supporting thousands of bright researchers and innovators in developing solutions from life-saving medicines to protecting our environment – ultimately making a visible, positive difference to people’s lives and supporting the missions at the heart of the Government’s Plan for Change.
His experience will be a major asset in drawing on the UK’s world-leading research talent, facilities, universities and businesses, as drivers of R&D which will kickstart economic growth, make Britain a clean energy superpower and build an NHS fit for the future.
During his time as CEO of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, Sir Ian has led the transition from an organisation rooted in deep R&D excellence, to one that is now also delivering a major infrastructure project to design and build a prototype powerplant; driving inward investment and economic growth; and enabling development of a skilled workforce and supply chain.
Science Minister, Lord Vallance, said:
“Growing the economy is this government’s number one mission and taking full advantage of the innovative ideas, talent and facilities across our country is key to reaching that goal and improving lives across the UK.
“Sir Ian’s leadership experience, scientific expertise and academic achievements make him an exceptionally strong candidate to lead UKRI in pursuing ambitious, curiosity-driven research, as well as innovations that will unlock new benefits for the UK’s people and drive our Plan for Change.
“We also thank Dame Ottoline Leyser ahead of her stepping down this summer, recognising her pivotal work in guiding UKRI through challenging times, notably during the Covid pandemic and through the UK’s return to participation in Horizon Europe.”
Incoming UKRI CEO, Professor Sir Ian Chapman, said:
“I am excited to be joining an excellent team at UKRI focussed on improving the lives and livelihoods of UK citizens.
“Research and innovation must be central to the prosperity of our society and our economy, so UKRI can shape the future of the country.
“I was tremendously fortunate to represent UKAEA, an organisation at the forefront of global research and innovation of fusion energy, and I look forward to building on those experiences to enable the wider UK research and innovation sector.”
Through our world-class universities and institutes, UKRI develops and nurtures future talent who can maintain the UK’s position as a global hub of research, development and deployment in the long term while collaborating with partners around the world so that scientific and technological advances driven in the UK can benefit lives at home and around the world.
UKRI plays a key part in driving up UK participation in the world’s largest research programme, Horizon Europe, helping to build a more efficient and joined-up approach to research funding and unleashing the power of UK research and innovation.
UKRI will also play an increasing role in steering our long-term industrial strategy, removing barriers to growth and building on the UK’s strategic advantage in its fundamental science capability.
UKRI Chairman, Sir Andrew Mackenzie, said:
“The board and I are delighted that Ian will become UKRI’s next CEO in the summer.
“Research and Innovation are fundamental to UK growth. Ian has the skills, experience, leadership and commitment to unlock this opportunity to improve the lives and livelihoods of everyone. We look forward to working with him on the next phase of UKRI’s development and our stewardship of the UK’s innovation culture and systems.
“We thank Ottoline for an outstanding five years as UKRI’s CEO. She has delivered a step-change in operational effectiveness and cross-discipline work through collective and inclusive leadership and secured more social and commercial impacts from our investments.”
Climate Minister Kerry McCarthy said:
“I’d like to thank Sir Ian for his many years of dedicated service at UK Atomic Energy Agency, the last nine as CEO. In that time, he has transformed the organisation into a world leading hub for fusion energy commercialisation and driven the UK and global strategy for fusion development forward.
“I am delighted that the UK will continue to benefit from his drive and expertise in his new role. We will shortly begin recruiting a new UKAEA CEO to lead the UK’s world-class fusion programme into the next decade.”
Notes to editors
Established in 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body that combines the strengths of nine distinct research and innovation funders:
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Innovate UK (IUK)
Medical Research Council (MRC)
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Research England (RE)
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Sir Ian – who currently sits on UKRI’s Board – will take up the post in the summer, bringing strong leadership experience from his role as CEO of the UK Atomic Energy Authority since 2016 and links to academia. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Physics, and a visiting Professor at Durham University.
With a background in fusion and firm grasp of the part that ambitious and targeted R&D can play in improving lives, he has published over 100 journal papers and received several awards for his research.
His appointment follows an open recruitment process launched in August 2024, after Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser announced her intention to stand down as UKRI’s CEO from June 2025.
Having held the post since 2020, Dame Ottoline leaves a strong foundation to build on, from navigating the continued delivery of research through the pandemic to supporting the UK’s return to participation in Horizon Europe – putting UKRI in a strong position to bolster its role as an engine for delivering pioneering research to improve lives and grow our economy.
The UKAEA Board has provisionally agreed that Tim Bestwick (UKAEA deputy CEO) will take over as interim CEO of UKAEA after Sir Ian leaves, whilst a permanent replacement is appointed.
Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
Published: 02.21.2025
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer to discuss her bipartisan Congressional delegation to Ukraine earlier this week and rebuke President Trump’s comments about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that align with Russian propaganda talking points. Shaheen, a top member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, also spoke about how the across-the-board cuts and potential firings at the U.S. Department of Defense weaken the lethality and readiness of America’s military. Click HERE to watch Senator Shaheen’s full CNN interview.
Key quotes from Senator Shaheen:
On President Trump’s false comments that Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is a “dictator,” Shaheen said: “Well President Trump is just wrong. He’s factually incorrect. […] We just returned, as you pointed out, from Ukraine where we saw the courage and the resilience of the Ukrainian people. […] Senator Tillis and I just went to the floor of the Senate to talk about what we saw in Bucha, a suburb of Kyiv, where the Russians came in, they held siege in that town for 33 days. They indiscriminately shot civilians, in fact, that was the target of what they were trying to do. […] That’s the person that Donald Trump wants to give away the store to. You never start a negotiation by giving away all your leverage at the beginning and that’s what Donald Trump is doing.”
On Speaker Johnson’s comments that there is “no appetite” for another Ukraine aid bill in Congress, Shaheen said: “Well, I was at the Munich Security Conference with a bipartisan delegation. […] We met with President Zelenskyy. We talked to him about how the war is going. […] We talked about how we are supporting Ukraine. We want to continue to equip the country. We want to ensure that they have leverage as they’re going into any negotiation with Russia and we want to make sure that Ukraine is at the table for any negotiations.”
On U.S. Secretary of Defense Hegseth making broad cuts and potentially firing high-ranking generals, Shaheen said: “You know, he talked a lot about wanting to restore lethality to our military. Well, what he’s doing now doesn’t improve the lethality, it doesn’t improve the readiness, it just creates political divisions at a time when our military’s strength has been that it is not political. Secretary Hegseth is introducing politics into the military in ways that are not good for our national security.”
On mass firings of federal workers, Shaheen said: “It’s unfortunate that this has been an indiscriminate effort led by Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, who has multiple conflicts of interest as he’s looking at what he wants to do with government programs and people. And the firings have been not based on expertise or experience or what we need, it’s just been an across the board.”
Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, expressing deep concerns about the recent firings of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel and the troubling involvement of unaccountable entities, including SpaceX, in critical aviation safety decisions. The letter urges Duffy to prioritize the safety of America’s air travel system and to reverse recent cuts to essential FAA safety roles.
“We write to express our deep concerns with the recent firings of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel and the involvement of a cadre, unaccountable to the American people, in critical aviation safety decision making. The past week has seen mass firings of Federal workers, done without regard to personal performance, the impact on mission effectiveness, and the effect on the country’s ability to deliver services at home or compete abroad. We urge you to stand up for the safety of our national air space and reverse these devastating cuts in key safety roles,” wrote the senators.
The letter raises alarms about a series of concerning aviation incidents over the past month, including multiple crashes and close calls that highlight the need for highly trained, impartial professionals at the FAA. The lawmakers stressed the need for a commitment to safety, calling out the dangers of prioritizing political agendas over the well-being of American air travelers.
“We need experienced, qualified, and impartial professionals to investigate these unfortunate incidents, develop plans to prevent these types of accidents from occurring in the future, and implement those plans with the safety of the public as the sole and guiding objective,” wrote the senators.
In the letter, the senators also raised significant concerns regarding the role of SpaceX in the future of air traffic control, following public statements by Duffy that employees of Elon Musk’s company are involved in “deliver[ing] a new, world-class air traffic control system” and that his so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is “plug[ged] in” to the country’s aviation system.
The lawmakers noted that the involvement of Musk’s employees in the FAA “is troubling given that SpaceX has been investigated and fined by the FAA for multiple incidences of safety violations, and is at this time actively under investigation by the FAA for additional safety violations.”
The letter calls for a series of detailed answers from Duffy regarding the role of SpaceX, the processes used to evaluate and select external contractors, and the impact of recent personnel terminations on the safety and effectiveness of FAA operations. The letter also demands a full public accounting of the decision-making process that led to these significant changes, with a commitment to ongoing transparency.
Text of the letter is available here.
Headline: Funding for regional groups for stocking native fish in local waters now available
Published: 25 February 2025
Released by: Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional NSW
The Minns Labor Government has announced that funding for fishing clubs and native fish stocking groups is now available for restocking regional rivers and dams with iconic native fish such as Australian Bass, Golden Perch and Murray Cod.
These fish are also appreciated as highly sought after angling fish that support recreational fishing and local tourism.
The NSW Government is committed to delivering for recreational fishers and the NSW regional environment to preserve the many locations and lifestyles that are special for families and locals.
Two dollars in funding is provided from for every dollar raised by the community to purchase Australian Bass, Golden Perch and Murray Cod from accredited commercial fish hatcheries for stocking into public waterways.
This program is part of the Government’s commitment to recreational fishers and helps boost native fish stocks to deliver enhanced fishing opportunities into regional waterways where factors such as carp and drought may have hindered native fish stock levels.
The program also supports the regional aquaculture ventures which produce the high-quality fish stock that are released release into public waters to benefit recreational fishers. These ventures provide local jobs in the regions at hatcheries and breeding sites.
Last year 70 grants were approved under the program and delivered fish stocks for local fishing clubs to restock waterways in places like Lake Cargelligo, Leeton, Walgett, Bermagui, Nowra, Goulburn, Tumut and Yass.
Australian bass live in coastal rivers along the east coast and downstream for breeding from may to August. Golden Perch occur throughout the Murray-darling river system and are migratory species following increases in water flow up stream during spring and summer.
Murray Cod encompass most of the Murray Darling Rivers and mature adults will travel long distances to spawn during spring and summer.
Fish stocking in NSW is carefully managed under a fish stocking fishery management strategy to ensure sustainability to ensure the activity is conducted with appropriate environmental controls and generates quality recreational fishing outcomes.
Groups interested in applying for the grants, can apply online before the closing dates for the Community Native Fish Stocking (CNFS) 2025/26 grants program. Fish stocking is expected to take place between November 2025 and April 2026.
A minimum of $2,000 and a maximum of $6,000 per application per group is required. Only one application per group may be submitted.
Applications to stock Australian Bass close on 28 March 2025.
Applications to stock Golden Perch or Murray Cod close on 9 May 2025.
Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:
“Our Government is focused on delivering great recreational fishing and environmental outcomes. This program delivers in every way for fishers by populating highly popular native sportfish in regional waterways.
“These fish stocking events will help diversify and enhance our valuable native fishery, increase fishing amenity and support local businesses.
“Millions of fish are produced and stocked by government and private sector hatcheries each year into rivers, streams and dams across the State to improve recreational fishing opportunities in NSW that create jobs for regional people.
“Native fish stocking provides many economic and social benefits, as well as positive environmental outcomes due to the importance of native fish in the landscape.
“This is another great example of your fishing licence fees at work. More information on fish stocking can be found online.”
Source: Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB)
The Panama Canal is a busy maritime route, with 14,000 ships passing through it every year. But this canal is also a potential pathway for the spread of non- native fishes from one ocean to another.
Researchers at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Freie Universität Berlin, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama and Harvard University have now compared the fish communities of Lake Gatun in the Panama Canal aquatic corridor before and after the canal’s expansion in 2016.
Since the extensive structural changes to the canal’s lock system, significantly more marine fish species have entered the freshwater lake; they now make up 76 percent of the total biomass of the fish population and are primarily large predatory fishes.
As a result, the lake’s food web is changing and local fisheries are heavily impacted. There is also an increased risk that some species will pass through the canal and colonize the opposite ocean – with important ecological and evolutionary consequences.
Maritime shipping is one of the most important introduction pathways for invasive species. Historically, species introductions through the Panama Canal have been relatively low, largely due to the existence of a soft barrier – the freshwater artificial Lake Gatun – inside the Canal. However, the 2016 expansion of the Panama Canal involved major structural changes to the canal’s lock system, which may have increased the likelihood that more marine fish species and greater numbers of them enter the lake and eventually cross the canal. This is because the new locks for the passage of mega-ships (called Neopanamax) are substantially larger than the old ones. So for every ship transit through the new locks, more freshwater flows into the sea, but also more seawater enters Lake Gatun – and therefore potentially more marine fishes.
The research team compared the fish populations before (2013-2016) and after (2019-2023) the expansion of the canal. They used a unique long-term series of scientific standardized catch data on the number, biomass and spatial distribution of the fish community. “The Panama Canal has the potential to connect the marine biota of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, which have been separated for three million years. Before the canal’s expansion, this potential was relatively low. Now it looks that the permeability of the canal to interoceanic invasions is increasing after its expansion”, said Gustavo A. Castellanos-Galindo. He is one of the two lead authors of the study and a researcher at IGB, FU Berlin and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
After the canal expansion: the proportion of marine fish species in total mass increased from 26 to 76 percent
Since 2016, the composition of the fish community in Lake Gatun has significantly shifted from freshwater to marine fish species. Before the canal’s expansion, marine fishes made up only 26 percent of the total fish biomass; now they account for 76 percent. Of these species, 18 are originally from the Atlantic and five from the Pacific. Prior to 2016, around 57 percent of the biomass of the lake’s fish community consisted of non-native freshwater fishes, particularly the Peacock Bass (Cichla ocellaris var. monoculus) and the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), while native freshwater fishes made up 17 percent. After the expansion, native and non-native freshwater fish species make up only 11 and 13 percent of the total fish biomass, respectively.
Large predatory fishes from the ocean change the food web and thus the fish stocks for local fisheries
The researchers also looked at functional groups. These are groups of fish species that use environmental resources in a similar way. With this approach, the impact of the altered fish community on the ecosystem can be better assessed. The team found 15 new functional groups in the fish community of Lake Gatun following the canal’s expansion. The most representative group (by weight) are large pelagic predators, such as the Atlantic Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus). Conversely, eight groups from the pre-enlargement period are missing: they correspond mainly to native freshwater fish species, mostly small in size, that feed on detritus or are omnivores, for example Brycon petrosus. “The food web in Lake Gatun is being severely altered by the novel marine fish species. This has also important impacts on local fisheries”, said Prof. Jonathan Jeschke, co-author of the study and researcher at IGB and FU Berlin.
Risk of interoceanic invasions
The researchers also investigated the risk that these changes pose for possible interoceanic migrations. “The increase in marine organisms in this water corridor could represent a potential invasion in progress, increasing the likelihood that some species will pass through the canal and colonize the opposite ocean. Since most of these marine fish are apex predators with a broad niche range, their colonization of the Atlantic and Pacific is likely to alter ecological interactions and possibly lead to ecosystem-level changes”, said Gustavo A. Castellanos-Galindo.
Publication:
Gustavo A. Castellanos-Galindo, Diana M.T. Sharpe, D. Ross Robertson, Victor Bravo, Jonathan M. Jeschke, Mark E. Torchin, New fish migrations into the Panama Canal increase likelihood of interoceanic invasions in the Americas, Current Biology, 2025, ISSN 0960-9822, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2025.01.049
About the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB):
IGB is Germany’s largest and one of the leading international centres for freshwater research. It is also one of the oldest institutions in this field. The roots of the predecessor institutions can be traced back to the end of the 19th century. Today, science at IGB covers a wide range of disciplines – from hydrology, physics, geography, ecology and evolution to socio-ecology, from molecular biology to the study of entire ecosystems and catchments, and from microbial ecology to fish behaviour.
Our findings and methods provide an excellent basis to train young scientists and to promote an open knowledge exchange with society. Thus, we contribute to coping with ecological and societal challenges, such as the adaptation to global change, the conservation of aquatic biodiversity and the sustainable use and management of inland waters. https://www.igb-berlin.de/en/
“Chinese war ships engaging in live fire in the Tasman Sea ought to be a wake-up call for our investment priorities,” says ACT Defence spokesperson Mark Cameron.
“We have been taking the so-called benign strategic environment for granted, but the rule of history is that big fish eat the little fish. New Zealand needs to wake up, get together with its mates, and up our defensive capability – fast.
“Lifting investment in Defence is a matter of security, but also of prosperity. Our fisheries, sea mining, trade routes, and Exclusive Economic Zone hold untold economic value, and any serious strategy to grow the economy will rely on our continued control of these assets.
“Prior to the election, ACT campaigned on increasing defence spending to 1.5% of GDP, or $4.35 billion over four years, with a long-term target of reaching 2% by 2030.
“Australia’s defence spending has already surged above 2%, heading to 2.4% by the end of the decade. We need to do our part and work with our friends to effectively direct our investment, so that we can be taken seriously as an ally worth defending.
“Crucially, ACT is open to debate around tough trade-offs in spending and investment to make a Defence boost possible.
“This morning, the New Zealand Initiativereleased a reportvaluing the government’s existing assets at $571 billion. It raises some interesting questions. Does it make more sense for the government to own a television station, or a P8 Poseidon? Should we keep a 51% share in a power company, or get our hands on some more frigates?
“ACT would argue it’s time to pull money out of the nice-to-haves, and invest in the men and women who protect our livelihoods.”
Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper
Protect the West Act would invest $60 billion to reduce wildfire risks, restore watersheds, and protect communities
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Michael Bennet, Ron Wyden, Ruben Gallego, and Jacky Rosen reintroduced the Protect the West Act, which invests $60 billion in forests across the West to reduce wildfire risk, restore watersheds, protect communities, and decrease the cost of fighting wildfires.
“Colorado’s forests, grasslands, and waterways are the bedrock of our outdoor economy,” said Hickenlooper. “Every effort we make to prevent wildfires and mitigate the impact of climate change is an investment in Colorado’s future.”
“In the West, our forests, grasslands, and watersheds are essential to our economy and way of life. But they are under threat from the worsening effects of climate change and consistent underinvestment from the federal government,” said Bennet. “As we face a 1,200-year megadrought and wildfire season that never seems to end, we need to break from the status quo and invest in the restoration of our forests and public lands to meet this challenge. We have no time to waste.”
“Climate change is threatening our way of life in Colorado. We must act,” said Crow. “The Protect the West Act would help combat intensifying wildfires and help better protect Colorado communities.”
“With summers getting dryer and hotter, the West and Oregon’s treasured lands are a tinderbox waiting to light ablaze,” said Wyden. “In my town halls, I’ve heard countless Oregonians fearing for their health and safety while struggling to maintain their economic livelihood as severe drought and wildfires wreak more havoc on their communities every year. More investments are needed to protect our forests and watersheds so local communities across the West are healthy and can have the opportunity to explore its beautiful natural treasures for generations.”
“In Arizona and across the West, we face a rapidly growing backlog of projects for wildfire mitigation, drought resilience, and land restoration,” said Gallego. “I’m proud to help introduce the Protect the West Act which will finally give states and tribes the tools they need to take on these projects, all while creating good-paying jobs and boosting rural economies.”
“Nevada’s forests and public lands are increasingly susceptible to wildfires, drought, and other extreme weather events. We need to do everything we can to protect our communities from the damage caused by these disasters and bolster our ability to recover,” said Rosen. “This critical legislation will support Nevada’s wildfire mitigation and restoration efforts, helping to keep Nevadans safe. I’ll always work to ensure Nevada has the resources it needs to fight wildfires and other weather-related events.”
In the West, our strong outdoor rec industry and our agricultural communities depend on healthy lands, forests, and waterways. Increasingly frequent wildfires threaten those communities and our economy.
Currently, the federal government spends approximately $2.9 billion to fight wildfires every year, with costs expected to increase by a billion by 2050. Already, the U.S. spent nearly $48 billion fighting wildfires over the last five years.
Preventing wildfires before they even start is thirty times more cost-effective. Investing in fire mitigation and making our communities more resilient will save taxpayers money by reducing response and recovery costs.
Specifically, the Protect the West Act would:
Establish an Outdoor Restoration & Watershed Fund to better support local efforts to restore forests and watersheds, reduce wildfire risk, clean up public lands, enhance wildlife habitat, remove invasive species, and expand outdoor access
Establish an advisory council of local, industry, conservation, Tribal, and national experts to advise funding priorities, coordinate with existing regional efforts, and provide oversight
Empower local leaders by making $20 billion directly available to state and local governments, Tribes, special districts, and nonprofits to support restoration, drought resilience, and fire mitigation projects
Partner with states and Tribes to invest $40 billion to tackle the backlog of restoration, fire mitigation, and resilience projects
Create or sustain over two million good-paying jobs, primarily in rural areas, to support existing industries like forest product, agriculture, and outdoor recreation
Save landowners and local governments money by investing in wildfire prevention and natural hazard mitigation.
“The Protect the West Act is a significant investment in Colorado’s natural resources and Colorado is proud to support its reintroduction in the US Senate,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado State Department of Natural Resources. “As Colorado experiences drought and continued threats from devastating wildfires, now is the time to invest in Colorado’s forests, watersheds, and landscapes that drive economic activity across the west, employ thousands of Americans, and provide environmental and ecological benefits to our communities and wildlife.”
“One of the greatest threats to our Tribal lands are the devastating wildfires caused by the extreme drought conditions in the western United States,”said the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. “Sen. Bennet’s Protect the West Act will provide much needed investment in conservation, restoration and wildfire mitigation. A key component of this legislation is Sen. Bennet’s recognition of the importance that Tribes have in land use and regulation, assuring that funds will be made available directly to Tribes for maintenance of our forests, watersheds and rangeland. Moreover, he assures that Tribes will have a seat at the table in determining the distribution of funds, ensuring that there will be a tribal representative working alongside our state and federal partners on the Restoration Fund Advisory Council. We thank Sen. Bennet for introduction of this important legislation and look forward to its swift passage in Congress.”
“Healthy watersheds face numerous challenges, including increasing drought, longer and hotter fire seasons, disconnected watersheds and degraded streams that no longer support healthy fisheries. The most effective way to tackle this challenge is through partnerships and collaborative conservation at the landscape scale,” said Chris Wood, President and CEO of Trout Unlimited. “The Protect the West Act would foster collaboration and provide resources for public-private partnerships to restore lands and waters across multiple jurisdictions, creating jobs and better fishing along the way. We thank Senator Bennet for his leadership and vision to restore our lands and waters at the scope and scale that will make a difference for future generations.”
“The Colorado River District’s highest priority is to protect the water security of Western Colorado. Water security starts with our forests,” said Andy Mueller, General Manager, Colorado River District. “Our largest source of water is the snowpack that develops in our forests above 9,000 feet in elevation, mostly on federal lands. Sen. Michael Bennet’s $60 billion Protect the West Act proposal is a direct water security initiative through the funding of proactive watershed protection actions. These actions would help prevent catastrophic fires and start restoration work where warming temperatures and fires have already done harm. It’s noteworthy that $20 billion will be available to fund projects generated at the state and local levels. We applaud Senator Bennet for advocating for important western priorities in the Senate.”
“I support the Senator’s Protect the West Act. This is a great first step in recognizing and acknowledging the problem that was created over 30 years ago,” said Merrit Linke, Grand County Commissioner. “The lack of proactive management and the ‘hands-off’ approach is now clearly having devastating effects on our communities, forest health and sustainable watersheds. This bill addresses this problem, provides much needed funding, and hopefully is the beginning of a new era in resource management. Now it is time to get to work.”
“As Western communities continue to face the threats and the impacts of the climate crisis, now is the time to pursue initiatives that will help us become more resilient,” said Jon Goldin-Dubois, President of Western Resource Advocates. “The Protect the West Act will provide critical resources to help Western states mitigate wildfire, restore forests, improve air and water quality, and advance equity, all while pumping billions of dollars into local economies and supporting millions of good-paying jobs; it’s a true win-win. We applaud Senator Bennet for his leadership and look forward to supporting this legislation to build a more resilient West.”
“Healthy forests support fish and wildlife habitat and outdoor access important to hunters, anglers, and recreationists in Colorado and across the nation,” said Joel Pedersen, CEO, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “However, decades of inadequate funding for forest management have placed a strain on the National Forest System that will require active management and sustained funding to increase workforce capacity. Further, these investments will help to ensure we’re better prepared to address the growing risks associated with wildfire. The TRCP applauds the proactive investments in our forests and watersheds and the additional resources for growing the forest management workforce provided through the Protect the West Act.”
The bill is supported by: The National Wildlife Federation, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, National Association of State Foresters, The Freshwater Trust, American Forests, National Wild Turkey Federation, National Audubon Society, Family Farm Alliance, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Western Landowners Alliance, Western Resource Advocates, Trout Unlimited, and Conservation Legacy.
U.S. Representative Jason Crow introduced companion legislation in the House.
The full text of the bill is available HERE.
Integral to this is mainstreaming the histories of Black, Indigenous and other racialized and equity-deserving communities. This can be done through history studies and also through citizenship and cultural education.
It is important to go beyond Black History Month in order to embrace the importance of Black history for Black students and all students — ignored for too long in history textbooks and teaching.
To this urgent issue we bring our combined research and educational expertise. Nanre Nafziger, the first author of this story, has researched how Black/African peoples can reclaim their histories and cultures, and Sabrina Jafralie, who has a PhD in teacher education, has researched Québec curricula and also brings experience as a Québec-born-and-raised teacher at a Montréal high school.
Essential to combat anti-Black racism
Teaching Black history is essential to fighting against anti-Black racism reinforced through negative depictions of African and Black histories.
History education is important for raising critical and actively involved citizens and increasing acceptance and understanding. Educators speak of developing a “historical consciousness” — which includes learning to examine causes and consequences, and to revisit and interpret sources. This is a critical building block for fighting racism and negative depictions of racialized groups.
History education is important for raising actively involved citizens and increasing understanding. Students at Dawson College in Montréal in 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Black/African history education is largely absent in Québec’s history curricula, reinforcing the erasure of the contributions of Black people to the development of Québec but also to world history. For example, history and citizenship secondary education (Cycle 1) refers to Black/Afro-Canadian history only in naming enslavement and oppression.
This creates a narrow and damaging history that fails to recognize the diverse range of achievements by Black people. It neglects the rich cultural heritage of Afro-Canadians and reinforces systemic inequities in how knowledge is produced and disseminated.
Sabrina writes: I was fortunate that my Afro Nova Scotian mother taught me our history across Canada. However, it was not present in my education until I created it in high school.
Historical fight for Black history
Researchers have raised concerns that Québec’s “interculturalism” — a longstanding province-specific take on how to address and integrate cultural differences — fails to take into account the complexities of identities and omits important histories.
Despite systemic omissions, Black and African communities in Québec have a rich tradition of upholding and preserving their histories through the meticulous work of community archivists and memory keepers.
This includes the creation of Black libraries, books, articles and curriculum materials, oral storytelling and walking tours. Black community organizations offer cultural and community programming that focuses on diverse cultures and histories of Black people. Renowned historian, educator and long-time advocate for Black history Dorothy Williams, created a curriculum toolkit called the ABCs of Black History in French and English for teachers and educators to use in schools.
Recommended revisions
In its brief to the education minister, the Advisory Board on English Education recommended rewrites to “the K-11 history curriculum to broaden its perspective beyond Québec based content and Eurocentricity,” and allowing latitude for schools to incorporate history curriculum relevant to students’ backgrounds.
While it is helpful when school boardsmark Black History Month and share resources for teachers, the integration of Black history requires a holistic and comprehensive curricular focus.
The new Culture and Civics Curriculum (CCQ), a mandatory subject in primary and secondary schools, offers opportunities to address systemic racism with a focus on citizenship, culture and identity. Yet, there is no assurance students will gain competencies to address racism, or teachers will be well-equipped to lead such learning, given the curricular approach. For example:
The elementary program of the CCQ prepares students to understand “cultural realities” and contains a module on Indigenous perspectives. However, the approach is rooted in Euro-centered sociology.
Secondary 5 (students aged 16-17) names the compulsory concept of social inequalities (along with sexism and other inequalities related to gender and sexuality; racism and colonialism; socio-economic inequalities; environmental inequalities). However, the teacher decides how to teach these grouped concepts and what emphasis to give these areas.
This means there is a possibility that the CCQ curriculum could address anti-Black racism, but there are too many variables to guarantee it. By contrast, sexuality education and civic education are deemed mandatory and special topics.
Black history now
Including Black history in the curriculum will have a profound, direct impact on students by strengthening their identity, citizenship, and “sense of pride and belonging to Québec society.”
Healthy learning can take place when students and people see their place in history and curriculum, as this creates a sense of belonging. The current curriculum creates exclusion and allows educators to hide in their bias if they desire.
Diverse curricula create space and acknowledge hidden histories and foster a shared humanity and a vision for a shared, socially just, future.
Rather, integrating Black history can serve as a portal for inspiring and encouraging critical discourses on histories of communities that are under-represented in dominant stories of Québec.
At a moment when exclusion, vitriol against difference and increasing intolerance dominates social discourse and interactions, Québec can choose another path. Only through critically assessing our past can we look forward to any form of a unified future: nous nous souvenons, we must all remember and be remembered.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
A seasoned facilities operations professional with extensive experience at UConn and in the private sector has been selected as the University’s new vice president of facility services and University planning.
Eric Kruger, currently UConn Health’s vice president for facilities development and operations, will oversee the comprehensive planning and management of all facilities operations and the physical infrastructure of all UConn campuses.
He starts in his new role on March 21, leading a team that provides a wide range of essential services that touch the daily lives of all who work, learn, and visit UConn.
They include the design and operations of campus buildings, infrastructure maintenance, space planning, sustainability and energy management, landscape design and grounds maintenance, logistics management, parking and transportation operations, custodial services, and skilled trades services.
“Eric’s extensive knowledge of the University and its myriad operations will enable him to quickly and smoothly transition into his new role, which will greatly benefit our campus communities,” says Jeffrey Geoghegan, UConn’s executive vice president for finance and chief financial officer.
“We are fortunate to have someone in this position with Eric’s expertise, vision, and proven track record of dedication to UConn,” he says.
Eric Kruger, UConn Health vice president of facilities, development, and operations speaks about the innovative pilot project to be deployed on the Farmington campus to bolster the state’s efforts for delivering energy cost savings on August 28, 2024. (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health Photo)
Kruger came to UConn in 2014 as executive director of facilities and operations and was promoted in 2022 to his current role at UConn Health. He previously was as an operations and engineering manager at Eversource and had a 20-year career with the U.S. Naval Submarine Force, from which he retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer / Submarine Senior Chief Electrician’s Mate.
His wide range of experience gives him insight into all aspects of UConn’s operations, including the financial management and strategic vision required for his new position and the synergistic operations of the teams in facilities management and university planning.
“I am thrilled to be selected to lead the Facilities Services and University Planning team,” Kruger says. “This exciting opportunity to combine the experience and knowledge shared by the dedicated staff on these two teams will improve our ability to provide consistent, customer-focused support to the UConn community.”
He also has demonstrated his commitment to responsiveness, transparency, and communications in his roles at UConn since he joined the University, and has established strong and trusting relationships with fellow employees, administrators, and other stakeholders.
Kruger holds an MBA from UConn with a management concentration; a master’s degree in history from Southern New Hampshire University; a B.S.A.S.T in nuclear engineering technology from Thomas Edison State University; and an associate’s degree in general studies from Columbia College.
He also holds a transmission system operator certification from the North American Electrical Reliability Corp. (NERC), a credential signifying an advanced skill set in running power systems connected to the national electrical grid.
Those skills were key to his previous roles that included overseeing the safe and reliable operation of UConn’s on-campus power generation at Storrs, which distributes electrical service and additional utilities such as steam, chilled water, domestic water, fire main, storm water, and sewage throughout campus.
He also oversaw facilities operations at the regional campuses in Hartford, Avery Point, Stamford, Waterbury, and the School of Law, giving him a holistic view of the full scope of services at each location and establishing connections with those campus and community leaders.
“I look forward to identifying opportunities to control costs and leveraging shared services to improve efficiency while still providing high quality services to our world-class faculty, staff, and students,” Kruger says.
Your dog or cat is sick, and you head to the animal hospital. The veterinarian prescribes medications that you hope will make your pet better. But with pets, as with people, medication errors can happen.
Just as the Food and Drug Administration monitors medication errors that affect people, the agency watches out for mistakes that may harm animals. According to Linda Kim-Jung, PharmD, a safety reviewer in the Center for Veterinary Medicine’s Division of Veterinary Product Safety, “A number of the medication errors that occur in the treatment of people are the same as those we are seeing in the treatment of animals.” For this reason, CVM collaborates with the human drug center at the FDA, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Division of Medication Errors Prevention and Analysis to share, learn and disseminate outreach work on medication error prevention.
Errors Easily Made
Prescriptions for pets are sometimes filled in the same pharmacies that serve human patients. Errors can start with something as simple as an abbreviation. “Unclear medical abbreviations are a common cause of the medication errors we review at CVM,” Kim-Jung says.
Commonly used in human and veterinary medicine, abbreviations are most often used when a veterinarian is writing drug orders or documenting information in the medical record. Medical abbreviations are not universal; nor are the variations. As a result, ambiguous abbreviations and symbols can cause transcription errors. For example, a pharmacist in a human pharmacy may not be familiar with certain veterinary abbreviations for different dosage amounts. CVM has found that the abbreviation “SID” (once daily), sometimes used in veterinary prescriptions, was misinterpreted as “BID” (twice daily) and “QID” (four times daily), resulting in drug overdoses.
“If the vet has prescribed a drug where there’s a strong correlation between the dose and the severity of side effects, an overdose can have serious consequences,” Kim-Jung says. “Poor penmanship can add to the problem, too.”
Problematic abbreviations such as “u” (units) or the Greek letter μ (mu) could be mistaken for the letter “o” or a number zero “0”. Also, the “mcg” abbreviation for microgram could be mistaken as “mg” (milligram). Additionally, when prescriptions are written without a leading zero or with a trailing zero, it can potentially lead to a dangerous overdose error. “So, a 5 mg dose written as 5.0 mg can be misread as 50 mg, potentially resulting in a 10-times overdose if the order is not clearly written,” Kim-Jung explains.
In addition, drug selection errors can occur because of labels or packaging that look alike. Similarly, the pharmacy may dispense a wrong drug if the drug names look alike when written on a prescription, or if the drug names sound alike during verbal orders.
For example, one veterinarian called in a verbal order for Zeniquin (marbofloxacin) an antibiotic for a dog and asked if it was available in generic form. The pharmacist misinterpreted the order as “Sinequan” and dispensed doxepin, a generic formulation of Sinequan. Sinequan (doxepin) is used to treat depression and anxiety in humans. The dog owner called the vet 24 hours later stating that the dog was ill. Fortunately, the dog was treated and recovered.
There are numerous opportunities throughout the treatment process (from writing a prescription to administering a drug) for different people to misinterpret or misread what is written or even typed on the medication’s label. “Mistakes can happen at the veterinary clinic, but also in the pharmacy which fills the prescription, and at home, when the pet owner gives the animal the meds,” Kim-Jung says.
Sometimes, a pet owner is uncertain how to use a syringe or measuring device, or it doesn’t work the way it’s expected to. CVM considers human factors like this when evaluating patient safety and works on system design strategies that can prevent use errors to mitigate patient harm.
Ask Questions
There are a number of things you can do before you leave the veterinarian’s office. Start by asking good questions, such as:
What is the name of the drug? What is it supposed to do?
If the drug comes with a device or packaged with a measuring device, ask your vet to show you how to use it properly.
How much of the medication should I give each time?
How many times a day should I give it?
Should I give it before, during or after meals?
How should I store it?
What should I do if I forget to give a dose to my pet?
Should I finish giving all the medication, even if my pet seems better?
Are there reactions I should look for and call you about right away?
Help Your Veterinarian to Help You
Sharing information is a two-way street, Kim-Jung says, especially if you are getting a new prescription or seeing a new veterinarian. Be sure to:
Keep a list of drugs that your animal is taking—including over-the-counter products, supplements and prescription drugs—and bring it with you to the veterinary office.
Discuss any medications that your animal is allergic to or that have caused problems in the past.
Discuss any serious or chronic health conditions that your animal may have.
Finally, there are some simple steps you can take at home to avoid medication errors:
Keep animal drugs stored away from human drug products to prevent mix-ups. Accidental exposures to some human topical drugs and other type of human drugs can be dangerous and can cause fatalities in animals.
Keep your animal’s medications in their original labeled containers.
Do not share the medication for one animal with another animal unless directed by the veterinarian.
Do not give human medications to your animal unless directed by the vet.
For more information on veterinary medication errors, see this page.
Your Report Matters!
The good news is you can play a role in helping to prevent medication errors by reporting medication issues directly to CVM/FDA.
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida invites media to attend a prescribed fire campaign event hosted by the NASA FireSense Project, the Department of Defense (DOD), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Campaign activities will occur from Monday, April 7, to Monday, April 21. The FireSense campaign activities will test cutting-edge models and demonstrate new technologies to measure fire behavior and smoke dynamics. The Fish and Wildlife Service will conduct the prescribed fire as part of their land management responsibilities on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with NASA Kennedy. The event also will demonstrate how NASA, DOD, and the Fish and Wildlife Service work with interagency and private sector partners to reduce the risk from wildland fires and benefit ecosystem health, ultimately preventing catastrophic impacts on critical national infrastructure, the economy, and local communities, while increasing the safety of wildland fire response operations. Credentialing is open to U.S. and international media. International media must apply by 11:59 EDT p.m. Sunday, March 16, and U.S. media must apply by 11:59 p.m. EDT Sunday, March 23. More details on the specific date of the prescribed fire, weather permitting, will be provided in the coming weeks. Media wishing to take part in person must apply for credentials at: https://media.ksc.nasa.gov Credentialed media will receive a confirmation email upon approval. NASA’s media accreditation policy is available online. For questions about accreditation or to request special logistical support, please email by Friday, March 28 to: ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov. For other questions, please contact NASA Kennedy’s newsroom at: 321-867-2468. Para obtener información sobre cobertura en español en el Centro Espacial Kennedy o si desea solicitar entrevistas en español, comuníquese con Messod Bendayan, messod.c.bendayan@nasa.gov. NASA coordinates field and airborne sampling with academic and agency partners, including the DOD Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program and DOD Environmental Security Technology Certification Program. The Fish and Wildlife Service oversees all prescribed burn activities on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. NASA Kennedy is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the United States, counting over 1,000 species of plants, 117 kinds of fish, 68 types of amphibians and reptiles, 330 kinds of birds, and 31 different mammals within its more than 144,000 acres. For more information about NASA’s FireSense Project, please visit: https://cce.nasa.gov/firesense -end- Milan LoiaconoAmes Research Center, California650-450-7575milan.p.loiacono@nasa.gov Harrison RaineAmes Research Center, California310-924-0030harrison.s.raine@nasa.gov Messod BendayanKennedy Space Center, Florida256-930-1371messod.c.bendayan@nasa.gov
Cultivating the Future Innovative Biotech Solutions for Farming, Livestock, and Aquaculture
Posted On: 24 FEB 2025 5:51PM by PIB Delhi
Biotechnology has emerged as a transformative force in agriculture, aquaculture, and animal sciences, driving innovation in crop improvement, disease management, and sustainable farming practices. Recent advancements in genome editing, molecular breeding, and biocontrol solutions are enhancing productivity and resilience in these sectors positioning India as a global force!
Agricultural biotechnology is breaking new ground with advanced research in genomics, proteomics, transgenics, and gene editing. The Department of Biotechnology’s Agriculture Biotechnology programme supports innovative biotechnological research for achieving sustainable agriculture by leveraging the latest advances in technologies. The main achievements include:
Climate-Smart Crops: A New Superior Climate Smart Drought Tolerant High-Yielding Chickpea Variety “SAATVIK (NC 9)” with enhanced yield under drought stress is notified recently. SAATVIK (NC9) is now approved by the Central Sub-committee on Crop Standards.
Genome-Edited Crops: Genome editing was employed to generate loss of function mutations in several rice genes that negatively regulate crop productivity. These lines have been developed in the genetic background of the popular Indian rice variety, MTU-1010, and exhibit higher yield (in greenhouse conditions) over the parent line. In particular, similarly, the DEP1 (DENSE ERECT PANICLE; a G protein subunit) genome-edited rice lines produced larger spikes with increased grain numbers and yield.
Genotyping Arrays: The first-ever 90K Pan-genome SNP genotyping array IndRA developed for rice has been commercialized for public use. Similarly, the first-ever 90K Pan-genome SNP genotyping array IndCA for chickpea has been developed. The arrays will help DNA fingerprinting, variety identification, testing genetic purity of rice and chickpea varieties.
Amaranth Genetic Resources: The department of biotechnology has developed an Amaranth Genomic Resource Database, Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) techniques for screening nutritional qualities of amaranth grain, and a 64K SNP chip. Amaranth accessions screened using the above resources have been shown to counteract high fat diet induced obesity. This is a significant enabler for rapid screening of amaranth accessions for cultivation as well as varietal development.
Fungal Biocontrol: A stable fungal enzyme nano-formulation from Myrothecium verrucaria has been developed for eco-friendly biocontrol of powdery mildew in tomato and grape.
Kisan-Kavach: An anti-pesticide suit designed to combat the pervasive threat of pesticide-induced toxicity in agricultural settings. Developed with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by farmers, Kisan Kavach stands as a beacon of safety and innovation in the field.
India is the largest animal husbandry sector in the world with largest livestock population to supports the livelihoods of more than two-thirds of the rural population, mainly small and marginal farmers. Innovations in animal biotechnology are driving breakthroughs in veterinary medicine and livestock management like:
The Aquaculture and Marine Biotechnology program has been implemented with the goal of enhancing both aquaculture production and productivity, while also harnessing marine resources for valuable products and processes. This program plays a vital role in the agricultural economy by ensuring food production for nutritional security. The Department has undertaken various initiatives to benefit the aquatic and marine sectors like.
Shrimp Diet: Fish meal is the important ingredient in shrimp feeds. Due to its high cost and sustainability issues, replacement of fish meal is an important area of research in aquaculture nutrition. Scientists working in this area at ICAR-Central Institute of Brackish water Aquaculture, Chennai have shown in their studies that yeast fermentation of soybean meal significantly improves inclusion level in shrimp diet by increasing the nutrient digestibility and growth. The growth trial results indicated that soybean meal can be included up to 35% in the grow-out feed of P. vannamei and fermentation improved the growth by approx. 8.5%
CIFA-Brood-Vac: A novel vaccine has been developed to prevent mortality in fish spawn, securing aquaculture stock health. A user-friendly software, Interactive Fish Feed Designer (IFFD) version 2, has been developed for the formulation of cost-effective fish feed with non-conventional ingredients.
The integration of biotechnology into agriculture, aquaculture, and animal sciences is fostering sustainable food production, disease resistance, and enhanced productivity. These innovations, backed by research and commercialization efforts, are paving the way for a resilient and efficient agricultural ecosystem. As biotechnology continues to evolve, its role in ensuring food security and environmental sustainability will only strengthen in the years to come.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, releases 19th instalment of PM KISAN, launches development projects from Bhagalpur, Bihar Today I had the privilege of releasing the 19th installment of PM-KISAN , I am very satisfied that this scheme is proving very useful for our small farmers across the country: PM
Our move to form Makhana Vikas Board is going to be extremely beneficial for the farmers of Bihar engaged in its cultivation, This is going to help a lot in the production, processing, value addition and marketing of Makhana: PM
Had there been no NDA government, farmers across the country, including Bihar, would not have received the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, In the last 6 years, every single penny of this has reached directly into the accounts of our Annadatas: PM
Be it superfood Makhana or Bhagalpur’s silk, our focus is on taking such special products of Bihar to the markets across the world: PM
PM Dhan-Dhanya Yojana will not only boost crop production in agriculturally backward areas but will also empower our farmers: PM
Today, the land of Bihar has witnessed the formation of the 10,000th FPO, On this occasion, many congratulations to all the members of the Farmer Producer Association across the country!: PM
Posted On: 24 FEB 2025 5:49PM by PIB Delhi
In line with his commitment towards ensuring Farmers welfare, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today released the 19th instalment of PM KISAN from Bhagalpur, Bihar. He also launched many development projects during the occasion. Shri Modi welcomed all the dignitaries and the people who had joined the event virtually. He said it was a great fortune to step in the land of Mandarachal during the holy period of Maha Kumbh. He added that this place had spirituality, heritage as well as the potential for Viksit Bharat as well. Shri Modi remarked that it was the land of martyr Tilka Manjhi as well as renowned as Silk city. He added that there were preparations for the upcoming Maha Shivaratri too in the holy land of Baba Ajgaibinath. He said that he was fortunate to release the 19th instalment of PM KISAN during such a pious moment and around ₹22,000 crore was credited directly into the bank accounts of farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer.
The Prime Minister noted that there were around 75 lakh farmer families from Bihar who were beneficiaries of the PM KISAN scheme, whose 19th instalment was released today. He added that around ₹1,600 crore was credited directly into the bank accounts of Bihar farmers today. He extended his warm greetings to all the farmer families from Bihar and other parts of the country.
Reiterating the words from his speech at Red fort, Shri Modi said, “there are four main pillars of Viksit Bharat: poor, farmers, youth and women”. He added that whether it is the Central or the State Government, the welfare of farmers remains a priority. “We worked with full force to solve every problem of the farmers in the last decade”, said Shri Modi. He noted that farmers need good seeds, sufficient and affordable fertilizers, irrigation facilities, protection for their livestock from diseases, and safety from losses during disasters. Previously, farmers were plagued by these issues. The Prime Minister stated that their Government has changed this situation, highlighting that in recent years, hundreds of modern seed varieties have been provided to farmers. Earlier, farmers had to struggle for urea and face black marketing, while today, farmers receive sufficient fertilizers, he added. Shri Modi highlighted that even during the major crisis of the pandemic, the Government ensured no shortage of fertilizers for farmers. Remarking that if their Government had not been elected, then the farmers would still be struggling for fertilizers. He emphasized that the Barauni fertilizer plant would still be closed, and fertilizers that are available to Indian farmers for less than ₹300 per bag are being sold for ₹3,000 per bag in many countries. The Prime Minister highlighted that their Government has ensured that urea bags, which would have cost ₹3,000, are available at an affordable price today. He stated that the Government is committed to the welfare of farmers and works for their benefit. The cost of urea and DAP, which farmers would have had to bear, is being covered by the central government, he added. Shri Modi said that over the past 10 years, the central government had provided approximately ₹12 lakh crore, which would have otherwise come from the pockets of the farmers. This has saved a significant amount of money for crores of farmers across the country, he added.
Asserting that farmers would not have received the benefits of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, if their Government was not elected, the Prime Minister highlighted that in the six years since the scheme’s inception, approximately ₹3.7 lakh crore has been directly transferred to farmers’ accounts. Shri Modi emphasized that small farmers, who previously did not receive the full benefits of Government schemes, are now getting their due. He stated that intermediaries used to exploit the rights of small farmers, but he assured under his leadership and that of Shri Nitish Kumar, this will not be allowed to happen. The Prime Minister contrasted this with the previous governments, highlighting that the amount his Government has directly transferred to farmers’ bank accounts far exceeds the agricultural budget allocated by the previous Governments. He emphasized that such efforts can only be undertaken by a Government dedicated to the welfare of farmers and not by corrupt entities.
Shri Modi said that the previous dispensations did not care about the hardships faced by farmers. He noted that in the past, when floods, droughts, or hailstorms occurred, farmers were left to fend for themselves. He highlighted that after their Government received the people’s blessings in 2014, he declared that this approach would not continue. Their Government introduced the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, under which farmers have received claims worth ₹1.75 lakh crore during disasters, he added.
The Prime Minister said that their Government was promoting animal husbandry to increase the income of landless and small farmers. He highlighted that animal husbandry is helping to create “Lakhpati Didis” in villages and so far, around 1.25 crore Lakhpati Didis were created across the country, including thousands of Jeevika Didis in Bihar. “India’s milk production has increased from 14 crore tons to 24 crore tons over the past decade, strengthening India’s position as the world’s number one milk producer”, said Shri Modi lauding Bihar’s significant role in this achievement. He highlighted that cooperative milk unions in Bihar purchase 30 lakh liters of milk per day, resulting in over ₹3,000 crore annually being transferred to the accounts of livestock farmers, mothers, and sisters in Bihar.
Expressing his satisfaction that the efforts to promote the dairy sector are being skillfully advanced by Shri Rajiv Ranjan, the Prime Minister highlighted that two projects in Bihar are progressing rapidly due to their efforts. He mentioned that the Center of Excellence in Motihari will aid in the development of superior indigenous cattle breeds. Additionally, the milk plant in Barauni will benefit three lakh farmers in the region and provide employment opportunities for the youth, he added.
Criticising the previous governments for not helping the fishermen and boatmen, Shri Modi highlighted that, for the first time, their Government had provided Fishermen with Kisan Credit Cards. He emphasized that due to such efforts, Bihar has made remarkable progress in fish production. Ten years ago, Bihar was among the top 10 fish-producing states in the country, but today, Bihar has become one of the top five fish-producing states in India, he said. The Prime Minister noted that the focus on the fisheries sector has significantly benefited small farmers and fishermen. He mentioned that Bhagalpur is also known for the Ganga dolphins, which is a significant success of the Namami Gange campaign.
“Our Government’s efforts in recent years have significantly increased India’s agricultural exports”, said the Prime Minister. As a result, he added that the farmers are now receiving higher prices for their produce. Several agricultural products, which were never exported before, are now reaching international markets, he said. Shri Modi highlighted that it is now time for Bihar’s Makhana to enter the global market. He noted that Makhana has become a popular part of breakfast in Indian cities and is considered a superfood. He said the formation of a Makhana Board for Makhana farmers announced in this year’s budget will assist farmers in every aspect, including Makhana production, processing, value addition, and marketing.
Mentioning another significant initiative for the farmers and youth of Bihar in the budget, Shri Modi highlighted that Bihar is set to become a major center for the food processing industry in Eastern India. He announced the establishment of the National Institute of Food Technology and Entrepreneurship in Bihar. Additionally, three new Centers of Excellence in agriculture will be established in the state. One of these centers will be set up in Bhagalpur, focusing on the Jardalu variety of mangoes, the other two centers will be established in Munger and Buxar, providing assistance to tomato, onion, and potato farmers, he added. Shri Modi emphasized that the Government was leaving no stone unturned in making decisions that benefit farmers.
“India is becoming a major exporter of textiles”, said Shri Modi and highlighted that numerous steps are being taken to strengthen the textile industry in the country. He noted that in Bhagalpur, it is often said that even the trees produce gold. Bhagalpuri silk and tussar silk are renowned throughout India, and the demand for tussar silk is continuously increasing in other countries as well, he added. The Prime Minister emphasized that the Central government is focusing on infrastructure development for the silk industry, including fabric and yarn dyeing units, fabric printing units, and fabric processing units. These initiatives will provide modern facilities to the weavers of Bhagalpur, enabling their products to reach every corner of the world, he said.
Shri Modi remarked that the Government was addressing one of Bihar’s major issues by constructing numerous bridges over rivers to resolve transportation difficulties. He highlighted that insufficient bridges have caused many problems for the state. He emphasized that rapid progress is being made in building a four-lane bridge over the Ganga River, with more than ₹1,100 crore being spent on this project.
Remarking that Bihar faces significant losses due to floods, the Prime Minister highlighted that the Government had approved projects worth thousands of crores to address this issue. He mentioned that in this year’s budget the support for the Western Kosi Canal ERM Project, which will bring 50,000 hectares of land in the Mithilanchal region under irrigation, will benefit lakhs of farming families.
“Our government is working on multiple levels to increase farmers’ income”, said the Prime Minister highlighting the efforts to boost production, achieve self-reliance in pulses and oilseeds, establish more food processing industries, and ensure that Indian farmers’ produce reaches global markets. He shared his vision that every kitchen in the world should have at least one product grown by Indian farmers. He noted that this year’s budget supports this vision through the announcement of the PM Dhan Dhanya Yojana. Under this scheme, 100 districts with the lowest crop production will be identified, and special campaigns will be launched to promote agriculture in these areas, he added. He also emphasized that mission-mode work will be carried out to achieve self-reliance in pulses, with incentives for farmers to grow more pulses and increased MSP procurement.
Remarking that today is a very special day, the Prime Minister highlighted that the Government had set a target to establish 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in the country, and it has now achieved this goal. He shared his happiness that Bihar is witnessing the establishment of the 10,000th FPO. This FPO, registered in Khagaria district, focuses on maize, banana, and paddy, he added. He emphasized that FPOs are not just organizations but an unprecedented force to increase farmers’ income. Shri Modi noted that FPOs provide small farmers with direct access to significant market benefits. Opportunities that were previously unavailable are now accessible to our farmer brothers and sisters through FPOs. The Prime Minister mentioned that approximately 30 lakh farmers in the country are connected to FPOs, with around 40 percent of them being women. These FPOs are now conducting business worth thousands of crores in the agricultural sector, he said. He extended his congratulations to all the members of the 10,000 FPOs.
Touching upon the Government’s focus on the industrial development of Bihar, Shri Modi highlighted that the Bihar government is setting up a large power plant in Bhagalpur, which will receive ample coal supply. He emphasized that the central government has approved coal linkage for this purpose. He expressed confidence that the electricity generated here will provide new energy for Bihar’s development and create new employment opportunities for the youth of Bihar.
“The rise of a Viksit Bharat will begin with Purvodaya”, said Shri Modi, emphasizing that Bihar is the most important pillar of Eastern India and a symbol of India’s cultural heritage. He criticized the long misrule of the previous dispensation, which he claimed had ruined and defamed Bihar. He expressed confidence that in a developed India, Bihar will regain its position akin to ancient prosperous Pataliputra. The Prime Minister highlighted the continuous efforts being made towards this goal. He noted that their Government is committed to modern connectivity, road networks, and public welfare schemes in Bihar. He announced that a new highway from Munger to Bhagalpur to Mirza Chauki, costing approximately ₹5,000 crore, is being constructed. Additionally, the widening of the four-lane road from Bhagalpur to Anshdihwa is set to begin, he added. He also mentioned that the Indian government has also approved a new rail line and rail bridge from Vikramshila to Kataria.
Prime Minister remarked that Bhagalpur has been culturally and historically significant, highlighting that during the era of Vikramshila University, it was a global center of knowledge. He noted that the Government had initiated efforts to link the ancient glory of Nalanda University with modern India. Following Nalanda, a central university is being established at Vikramshila and the central government will soon commence work on this project, he added. He extended congratulations to Shri Nitish Kumar and the entire Bihar government team for their swift efforts to meet the needs of this project.
“Our Government is working together to preserve India’s glorious heritage and build a prosperous future”, said Shri Modi. He highlighted that the Maha Kumbh is currently taking place in Prayagraj, which is the largest festival of India’s faith, unity, and harmony. He noted that more people have bathed in the Maha Kumbh of Unity than the entire population of Europe. The Prime Minister emphasized that devotees from villages across Bihar are attending the Maha Kumbh. He criticized those parties who were insulting and making derogatory remarks about the Maha Kumbh. He noted that the same people who opposed the Ram Temple are now criticizing the Maha Kumbh. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that Bihar will never forgive those who insult the Maha Kumbh. He concluded by expressing that the Government will continue to work tirelessly to lead Bihar onto a new path of prosperity. He extended heartfelt congratulations to the farmers of the country and the residents of Bihar.
The Governor of Bihar, Shri Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Nitish Kumar, Union Ministers Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Shri Jitan Ram Manji, Shri Giriraj Singh, Shri Lalan Singh, Shri Chirag Paswan, Union Minister of State, Shri Ram Nath Thakur were present among other dignitaries at the event.
Background
Prime Minister has been committed towards ensuring farmer welfare. In line with this, several key initiatives will be undertaken by him at Bhagalpur. Over 9.7 crore farmers across the country will receive direct financial benefits amounting to more than Rs 21,500 crore.
A significant focus of the Prime Minister has been on ensuring that farmers are able to get better remuneration for their produce. With this in mind, on 29th February, 2020, he launched the Central Sector Scheme for Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO), which help farmers collectively market and produce their agricultural products. Within five years, this commitment of Prime Minister to the farmers has been fulfilled, with him marking the milestone of the formation of the 10,000th FPO in the country during the programme.
Prime Minister also inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Breeds in Motihari, built under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission. Its major objectives include introduction of cutting edge IVF technology, production of elite animals of indigenous breeds for further propagation, and training of farmers and professionals in modern reproductive technology. He will also inaugurate the Milk Product Plant in Barauni that aims to create an organized market for 3 lakh milk producers.
In line with his commitment to boost connectivity and infrastructure, Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation the doubling of Warisaliganj – Nawada – Tilaiya rail section worth over Rs 526 crore and Ismailpur – Rafiganj Road Over Bridge.
बिहार की पावन धरती से अन्नदाता बहनों-भाइयों के खातों में पीएम-किसान की 19वीं किस्त ट्रांसफर करने के साथ विभिन्न विकास परियोजनाओं का उद्घाटन कर अत्यंत गौरवान्वित महसूस कर रहा हूं। https://t.co/ScyieLvMYS
आज बिहार की भूमि 10 हजारवें FPO के निर्माण की साक्षी बन रही है। मक्का, केला और धान पर काम करने वाला ये FPO जिला खगड़िया में रजिस्टर हुआ है: PM @narendramodipic.twitter.com/HfaW9eYdKY
NDA सरकार ना होती, तो बिहार सहित देशभर के मेरे किसान भाई-बहनों को पीएम किसान सम्मान निधि ना मिलती। बीते 6 साल में इसका एक-एक पैसा सीधे हमारे अन्नदाताओं के खाते में पहुंचा है। pic.twitter.com/kkKbB7gEmz
सुपरफूड मखाना हो या फिर भागलपुर का सिल्क, हमारा फोकस बिहार के ऐसे स्पेशल प्रोडक्ट्स को दुनियाभर के बाजारों तक पहुंचाने पर है। pic.twitter.com/a7estH6oVD
पीएम धन-धान्य योजना से ना केवल कृषि में पिछड़े क्षेत्रों में फसलों के उत्पादन को बढ़ावा मिलेगा, बल्कि हमारे अन्नदाता भी और सशक्त होंगे। pic.twitter.com/Innxl6oZTt
बिहार की भूमि आज 10 हजारवें FPO के निर्माण की साक्षी बनी है। इस अवसर पर देशभर के सभी किसान उत्पादक संघ के सदस्यों को बहुत-बहुत बधाई! pic.twitter.com/O0sXfEzDjX
बिहार में जंगलराज लाने वाले लोग आज पवित्र महाकुंभ को भी कोसने का कोई मौका नहीं छोड़ रहे। ऐसे लोगों को यहां की जनता-जनार्दन कभी माफ नहीं करेगी। pic.twitter.com/oim6dAaTTK
NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced a $16.75 million settlement with delivery platform DoorDash for misleading both consumers and delivery workers (known as “Dashers”) by using tips intended for Dashers to subsidize their guaranteed pay. Between May 2017 and September 2019, DoorDash used a guaranteed pay model that let Dashers see how much they would be paid before accepting a delivery. An Office of the Attorney General (OAG) investigation found that under this model, DoorDash used customer tips to offset the base pay it had already guaranteed to workers, instead of giving workers the full tips they rightfully earned. DoorDash will pay $16.75 million in restitution for Dashers and up to $1 million in settlement administrator costs to help issue the payments.
“Delivery workers are integral to our communities, working tirelessly to bring food and other essentials directly to our doorsteps in all conditions,” said Attorney General James. “DoorDash misled customers who generously tipped and deceived Dashers who deserved to be paid in full. This settlement returns millions to the pockets of hardworking Dashers and ensures transparency in DoorDash’s payment practices going forward. My office will continue to protect New York workers from deceptive business practices and ensure they receive all of the money they’ve earned.”
The OAG investigation found that under DoorDash’s deceptive pay model, workers were only able to see their tips if they were greater than the amount DoorDash had already guaranteed to pay them for the order. DoorDash would always pay a minimum of $1 to the Dasher and would use the tips paid by the customer to offset the rest of the amount guaranteed to the delivery worker.
For example, for orders with a guaranteed amount of $10:
If a customer tipped $0, DoorDash would pay $10 ($1 + $9 remainder). The Dasher received $10.
If a customer tipped $3, DoorDash would pay $7 ($1 + $6 remainder). The Dasher still only received $10.
If a customer tipped $6, DoorDash would pay $4 ($1 + $3 remainder). The Dasher still only received $10.
If a customer tipped $9, DoorDash would pay $1 ($1 + $0 remainder). The Dasher still only received $10.
If the customer tipped $11, DoorDash would pay $1 ($1 + $0 remainder).The Dasher only received $12.
Customers were misled into believing their tips would directly benefit Dashers. Instead, DoorDash would keep the tips meant for Dashers and take it out of their guaranteed pay. DoorDash would guarantee pay to a delivery worker, and then only actually pay them whatever the tip did not cover.
DoorDash also failed to clearly disclose these practices to customers and Dashers. At checkout, customers were encouraged to tip with a message reading “Dashers will always receive 100 percent of the tip.” Disclosures about the use of tips were buried in online documents and inaccessible during critical moments in the ordering process. Customers had no way of knowing that DoorDash was using tips to reduce its own costs.
Attorney General James has secured $16.75 million in restitution from DoorDash, which a settlement administrator engaged by OAG will distribute directly to Dashers affected by the deceptive pay model, providing them the compensation they were denied. Any worker who delivered for DoorDash between May 2017 and September 2019 in New York state may be eligible to file a claim for this settlement. During that period, New Yorkers placed more than 11 million delivery orders with DoorDash and approximately 63,000 New York delivery workers stand to benefit from this settlement. Payments are expected to begin in early 2025. Eligible drivers will be contacted by the settlement administrator via mail, email, and/or text with notices of the settlement and information on how to file a claim.
In addition to the restitution fund, DoorDash must:
Revise Payment Practices: DoorDash is required to maintain a pay model that ensures consumer tips are paid to Dashers in their entirety, without impacting DoorDash’s contribution to guaranteed pay.
Enhance Transparency: The company must clearly disclose pay policy details to both Dashers and consumers, and share a breakdown of base pay, promotional bonuses, and tips with Dashers for every delivery.
Improve Dash History Access: Dashers, including those deactivated, will have access to their delivery history for at least four years.
“This settlement shows the scale at which DoorDash steals from its workers and the scale at which it lies,” said Ligia Guallpa, Executive Director of Worker’s Justice Project and Co-founder of Los Deliveristas Unidos. “And when you steal and lie at this scale, it’s systemic, it’s baked into your business model. And a business model that requires you to steal from workers and customers is a failure. Today, New York City sees what we’re up against and how much more work there is to do to fight back against the predatory labor practices that this industry is built on. But this also shows the collective power of workers and what we can accomplish when we’re united in solidarity with each other and with allies who are willing to hold exploiters accountable. Thank you Attorney General James for being a true friend to workers. And shame on you, DoorDash! While they lie and steal at scale, we are organizing at scale and building collective worker power. We are grateful to have the New York State Attorney General in this fight as we expand our efforts to hold these app companies accountable. We won’t stop fighting to ensure the dignity and respect these workers deserve.”
“Today, delivery workers in New York City can celebrate another victory in our fight for justice,” said Gustavo Ajche, Co-Founder of Los Deliveristas Unidos. “Since 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, when delivery workers began risking their lives to provide what New Yorkers needed, we also began organizing against the unjust working conditions imposed on us by delivery apps. Every right we have today we have had to fight for. We are grateful to have allies like the New York State Attorney General in this struggle for justice. The recovery of such a large sum of money represents not only the scale of exploitation that we face as workers but also the commitment of Attorney General James in seeing justice served for the working people of New York.”
“Today represents an important victory in our struggle to be treated with dignity by app companies that continue to exploit and abuse workers,” said Alejo G., an organizing leader with Worker’s Justice Project and Los Deliveristas Unidos. “Delivery workers perform one of the most dangerous jobs in New York City, providing essential goods to New Yorkers. On top of all the risks we face on the street and all the costs we incur, we shouldn’t have to worry about multi-billion-dollar companies stealing our wages and tips. As we continue to uncover the extent to which these companies prey on vulnerable workers, we are grateful to Attorney General James for supporting our rights and for putting DoorDash on notice that labor exploitation will not be tolerated in New York.”
“Greed – that’s what this case is all about,” said William Medina, a delivery worker and organizer with Worker’s Justice Project and Los Deliveristas Unidos. “A company built on greed that has to steal tips from workers – and customers – to make its revenue and keep its investors happy, that is unjust. It’s unjust to the workers that put their lives on the line every day doing this work. And it’s unjust to the customers who meant to provide a tip to a hard-working deliverista instead of lining the pockets of executives at a billion-dollar company. Since 2020, Los Deliveristas Unidos has been organizing for our rights and to keep the app companies honest and transparent, because we continue to see an unfortunate pattern of such practices, including at DoorDash. Whether it’s stealing tips or making it harder for customers to tip after the minimum pay law went into effect, keeping workers in the dark about how they’re paid or why they’ve been suddenly deactivated – this is a company that operates on secrecy and a total lack of respect for workers and customers. We are grateful to Attorney General James for joining us in the fight and we once again call on DoorDash to do better by those who order food and those who deliver it.”
“I have been delivering for DoorDash since they started, but I do not work for them as much anymore because the system was not clear and they were taking our tips,” said Lee Vaughn, a Dasher with DoorDash since 2016. “DoorDash never told us accurate distances and the payment amount they would promise was not always true. They would show us an amount plus tips, but they were not telling us the truth. We worked hard and we deserve to be paid. I am thankful to Attorney General Letitia James and her office for getting us our money back.”
This is the latest of Attorney General James’ efforts to combat wage theft and deceptive business practices. In December 2024, Attorney General James recovered $4 million in withheld tips for former Drizly alcohol delivery workers. In September 2024, Attorney General James returned $750,000 in stolen wages to employees of cell phone company Best Wireless. In April 2024, Attorney General James secured nearly $230,000 for building employees cheated out of fair pay. In November 2023, Attorney General James recovered $328 million for Uber and Lyft drivers whose earnings were shortchanged for years. In August 2023, Attorney General James recovered $300,000 in unpaid wages for New York City nail salon workers. In March 2023, Attorney General James recovered $24,000 in stolen wages for former employees of a worker cooperative. In October 2022, Attorney General James secured $90,000 in stolen and unpaid wages for more than a dozen former employees of a commercial dry cleaner in Queens.
This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Lawrence Reina with assistance from Assistant Attorney Generals Jessica Agarwal and Kristen Ferguson under the supervision of Civil Enforcement Section Chief Fiona Kaye and Bureau Chief Karen Cacace, all of the Labor Bureau. Former Data Scientists Chansoo Song and Jasmine McAllister also assisted in this matter, under the supervision of Director Victoria Khan, Deputy Director Gautam Sisodia, and Former Director Jonathan Werberg, all of the Research and Analytics Department. The Labor Bureau is a part of the Division for Social Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.
MCALLEN, Texas — A illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced for trafficking cocaine following an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Rio Grande Valley Office.
Jorge Alberto Galindo-Vargas, 44, illegally residing in Mission, Texas, was sentenced Feb. 20 by Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane to serve 210 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. During the hearing, Galindo-Vargas spoke to the court noting that he had previously received a large sentence for drug trafficking at the age of 17. In handing down the sentence, in response to Galindo-Vargas statements, Judge Crane stated “Unfortunately, you’re in the cocaine business again, and that’s going to cost you another chunk of your life.” Galindo-Vargas pleaded guilty June 28, 2024.
“The sentencing of this individual underscores our unwavering commitment to combatting drug trafficking and securing our borders,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Rio Grande Valley Deputy Special Agent in Charge, Mark Lippa. “This case is a testament to the tireless efforts of our dedicated agents and law enforcement partners who work diligently to ensure that those who engage in illegal activities are brought to justice. We remain steadfast in our mission to protect our communities from the dangers posed by drug trafficking and to uphold the rule of law.”
According to court documents, on Nov. 1, 2023, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop. Upon inspection, authorities discovered 12 kilograms of cocaine inside an ice chest inside the vehicle.
Galindo-Vargas remains in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roberto Lopez Jr., Lance Watt and Brittany Jensen from the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
Members of the public can report crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
Learn more about ICE HSI’s mission to increase public safety in Central and South Texas communities on X: @HSI_SanAntonio.
Cairo (Agenzia Fides) – This year the parish of Sakakini in Cairo has reason to celebrate: it is celebrating the centenary of its foundation (until the 1980s the parish was entrusted to the Society of African Missions) and the 25th anniversary of the foundation of the Arbaa wNus Center, dedicated to Saint Bakhita.On the occasion of the feast of the South Sudanese Saint on February 7, the Apostolic Vicar of Alexandria, Bishop Claudio Lurati, presided over a Mass at the Arbaa wNus Center in the Nasr City district (Cairo), attended by many Sudanese and South Sudanese from the Sacred Heart Parish in Sakakini and from other parishes.In Sudan, devotion to Saint Bakhita and the closeness of the Comboni missionaries to the Sudanese people are deeply rooted, who in recent weeks have witnessed the advance of the forces of the regular army in Khartoum, with news and videos showing several members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leaving the capital (see Fides, 6/2/2025). “With the arrival of the army in Bahri (North Khartoum),” the Comboni missionaries report, “we have news of the provincial house for the first time in more than 18 months, which fortunately seems to be in good condition. On the other hand, the clashes in the center (Souq Arabi, where the Comboni College is located) and in the south (Azhari and Soba) of Khartoum continue to be very fierce”.The missionaries add that in Kosti, south of Khartoum, the destruction of the nearby electricity plant has caused a power outage for two weeks, making life difficult in the town where the lack of running water has led to a rise in cholera cases. At the moment, both parties to the conflict seem unwilling to consider negotiations to end hostilities. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 24/2/2025)
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Donald Trump recently surprised the world again by signing an action to end what he describes as the “forced use” of paper straws. Although there is some merit in the argument the White House presents that paper straws simply aren’t fit for purpose, what the paper straw revolution represents is the power of individual change in enacting progressive policy.
Much like recent EU legislation which required all plastic bottles to have caps attached by a tether, the removal of items that tend to be easily littered is a way to help people be more environmentally cautious without any extra effort. Unfortunately, the paper straw appears to have failed in this endeavour.
We should not stop this trajectory because of one fail, however. Even if paper straws are not a viable option, we mustn’t let their fate undermine all initiatives to reduce the impacts of single use plastics.
The story behind the move away from plastic straws began in 2015, when a disturbing video of a turtle having a plastic straw removed from its nose went viral. Unfortunately this appears to be a common occurrence, with a video of a turtle with a plastic fork in its nose posted only a few months later. This shows plastic straws themselves are not the issue and that there is a wider problem that everyone should be aware of: plastic which ends up in the ocean is often mistaken for food and eaten by wildlife.
Paper problems
Admittedly, anyone who has used a paper straw will agree that they are not a viable alternative to plastic. The obvious complaint is that they get soggy too quickly. But there are several unseen components that show the switch to paper may not be as great as we once thought.
Paper, but plastic-coated? Sia Footage / shutterstock
To begin with, in an effort to keep them water-resistant, paper straws themselves are coated in plastic. This means they cannot be recycled. As they are an organic material, they release greenhouse gas when they decompose in landfill – they can however safely be incinerated, something that is not widely recommended for their plastic counterparts.
As the demand for paper straws skyrocketed, this created a deficit in production, leading to the development of new manufacturing facilities, construction that in itself has a significant environmental impact. Meanwhile, the heavier weight of paper straws can lead to an increase in freighting fuel consumption and associated emissions.
Flimsy plastics are more likely to be littered
Anything, however, is better than plastic. A somewhat misleading statistic that plastic straws account for a mere 0.025% of ocean plastics has been circulating in the argument to bring them back. Although this is true by volume, it is not a correct representation of the sheer number of individual straws recorded in the environment which is suspected to be as many as 8.3 billion, about one per person on earth.
The fact straws are so small and lightweight is a big part of the problem, since smaller and more easily fragmented items are far harder to collect. As litter, they punch above their weight.
A child’s plastic beach toy may weigh as much as a few hundred plastic straws, but if littered the straws would do more harm to the environment and wildlife, and would look worse. As straws are made of polypropylene, a flimsier more brittle type of plastic, it doesn’t take much effort for them to break apart into bite sized pieces. Because of this, straws turn into microplastics much quicker than the toy, which has a higher chance of eventually being picked up.
To this day, straws continue to to be on the top ten types of plastics found on beaches, and we have yet to see any videos of larger pollutants like those beach toys being pulled from the nose of any animal.
Although we could argue indefinitely as to which straw materials are worse (reuseable metal or glass straws require water and a cleaning agent, another potential contaminant) the overarching sentiment is the most alarming component of Trump’s announcement.
Paper straw pressue came from below
The move towards paper straws was a refreshing direction in environmental preservation, in that it was initiated locally and by producers, not through legislation. In the summer of 2018 Seattle became the first US city to enforce a ban on plastic utensils, straws and cocktail sticks. Soon thereafter, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Alaska Airlines and many others announced they would stop the sale of plastic straws.
It was not until July of 2024 that the then US president, Joe Biden announced his plan to phase out single-use plastics (although the fact sheet and official press release has now been removed from the White House website). This was several years after the global movement got underway – accompanied by the first complaints from Trump on the topic in 2019.
It is important to note that both the EU and UK bans on plastic straws included stirrers and cotton bud sticks. However their removal from the market caused little to no controversy, mostly because there are adequate alternatives.
Litter producers can drive change
What the movement towards paper straws represents is the power of producers to drive change, in a bottom-up approach. A similarly encouraging scenario can be seen in attitudes towards polystyrene.
Back in 2019 Dunkin’ Donuts announced it would stop using foam cups in certain US markets, and delivered a full removal of the cups in the US by early 2020, while in January 2025 California introduced a state wide polystyrene ban. Meanwhile, negotiations on a global plastics agreement remain indecisive.
In the wake of a pattern of stalemate and regressive policy, it is on the consumers and producers to take action. We must continue to support producers who invest in innovation to address these issues in a way that makes our lives easier and cleaner.
Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?
Randa Lindsey Kachef does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Dakar: 21-02-2025/The Supreme Court of Sierra Leone has delivered a landmark ruling in favor of the Save Black Johnson Beach campaign, marking a significant victory for environmental conservation. Launched in 2022 by a group of dedicated civilians, the campaign sought to prevent the construction of fishmeal factories and harbour that would threaten the beach’s delicate ecosystems and overshadow the small-scale fishing on which communities rely.
Greenpeace Africa celebrates this historic decision, which not only safeguards Black Johnson Beach but also serves as an inspiring precedent for communities worldwide fighting against environmental injustice.
Dr. Aliou Ba, Ocean Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa said:
“This ruling is a historic victory for the people of Black Johnson and for coastal communities across West Africa. It proves that governments cannot hand over our oceans and lands to destructive industries without consequences. The Supreme Court has spoken, private land and critical marine ecosystems are not for sale. We call on other communities facing environmental destruction to stand up, resist, and demand justice.”
The fishmeal industry is driving ocean destruction across West Africa, threatening food security and livelihoods.
“This Supreme Court decision is a turning point, it shows that communities have the power to resist and win. Black Johnson Beach is now a symbol of resilience and environmental justice. We urge all communities facing similar threats to take action and fight for their rights.We celebrate this victory, but the fight is far from over. Across the region, the fishmeal industry continues to plunder our seas for profit. Greenpeace Africa stands in solidarity with all communities resisting this destruction. We call on those on the frontlines of environmental struggles to stay strong, organize, and push back, because together, we can protect our oceans, our fisheries, and our future.” Added Dr. Aliou.
Black Johnson Beach is home to five distinct ecosystems, including pristine beaches and coastal habitats, critical mangrove forests that protect against erosion, marine ecosystems with vital fish breeding grounds, diverse rainforests supporting wildlife, and freshwater rivers and wetlands essential for biodiversity.
Contacts for interview:
Luchelle Feukeng, Communication and Storytelling Manager, [email protected], +237 656 46 35 45
The Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 has today received Royal Assent, boosting the powers of water sector regulators to tackle pollution.
Major legislation to crack down on water bosses polluting Britain’s rivers, lakes and seas has today been signed into law in the most significant increase to enforcement powers in a decade.
The Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 will give regulators new powers to take tougher and faster action to crack down on water companies damaging the environment and failing their customers.
The Act delivers on the manifesto pledges to clean up the water sector, including increasing the ability of the Environment Agency to bring forward criminal charges against water executives who break the law. It will create new tougher penalties, including possible imprisonment, for water executives who obstruct investigations.
The new legislation will provide powers for Ofwat to ban the payment of bonuses to water bosses if they fail to meet high standards to protect the environment, their consumers, and their company’s finances.
Other measures in the Act include automatic penalties to allow regulators to issue penalties more quickly, without having to direct resources to lengthy investigations. It will also introduce independent monitoring of every sewage outlet, with water companies required to publish real-time data for all emergency overflows. Discharges will have to be reported within an hour of the initial spill.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed said:
“We promised to put water companies under tough special measures to clean up our waterways. Today, the Government has delivered on that promise as we continue to deliver on our Plan for Change.
“Polluting water bosses will no longer be paid undeserved bonuses. And if they break the law over water pollution, they could end up in the dock and face prison time.
“This is just the beginning. The Independent Water Commission will report back later this year to shape new laws that will transform our water system so we can clean up our rivers, lakes, and seas for good.”
The Act introduces bold new measures to clean up the industry, including:
Enhanced enforcement powers: The Environment Agency will have increased ability to bring criminal charges against water bosses who break the law, who could face tougher penalties such as imprisonment of executives when companies fail to cooperate or obstruct investigations. The cost recovery powers of regulators will be expanded to ensure that water companies bear the cost of enforcement action taken in response to their failings.
Ban on bonuses: Ofwat will have the power to set rules prohibiting the payment of executive bonuses if companies fail to meet high standards in protecting the environment, their consumers, and financial resilience.
Automatic penalties: Automatic penalties will be introduced for a range of offences, allowing regulators to issue penalties more quickly without redirecting resources to lengthy investigations.
Independent monitoring: Every emergency sewage outlet will be monitored, with data independently scrutinised and made publicly available within an hour of sewage spills occurring. This will ensure transparency and direct further investment to improving sewage infrastructure.
Pollution Incident Reduction Plans (PIRPs): Water companies in England will be required to publish annual Pollution Incident Reduction Plans and report regularly on their progress, enabling the public and regulators to hold companies accountable for reducing pollution incidents.
The Act marks a major milestone in the government’s long-term approach to tackling the systemic issues in the water sector – helping to meet the challenges of the future, such as climate change, and driving economic growth.
Further legislation aimed at fundamentally transforming how our entire water system operates will be guided by the findings of the Independent Water Commission, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, which is currently conducting the largest review of the industry since privatisation.
Action taken so far
Immediate steps:
In his first week, the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed announced a series of initial steps towards ending the crisis in the water sector:
After writing to Ofwat, the Secretary of State secured agreement that funding for vital infrastructure investment is ringfenced and can only be spent on upgrades benefiting customers and the environment not diverted for bonuses, dividends or salary increases.
Water companies will place customers and the environment at the heart of their objectives. Companies have agreed to change their ‘Articles of Association’ – the rules governing each company – to make the interests of customers and the environment a primary objective.
Consumers will gain new powers to hold water company bosses to account through powerful new customer panels. For the first time in history, customers will have the power to summon board members and hold water executives to account.
Strengthen protection and compensation for households and businesses when their basic water services are affected. We have now doubled the compensation customers are legally entitled to when key standards are not met. The payments will also be triggered by a wider set of circumstances including Boil Water Notices.
Independent Commission:
We have launched an Independent Commission into the water sector and its regulation, in what is expected to form the largest review of the industry since privatisation.
Former Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, Jon Cunliffe, has been appointed as the chair of the Commission. With several decades of economic and regulatory experience, his appointment demonstrates the Government’s serious ambitions. The Commission will draw upon a panel of experts from across the regulatory, environment, health, engineering, customer, investor, and economic sectors.
A set of recommendations will be delivered to the Defra Secretary of State, and Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs.
These recommendations will form the basis of further legislation to attract long-term investment and clean up our waters for good – injecting billions of pounds into the economy, speeding up delivery on infrastructure to support house building and addressing water scarcity, given the country needs to source an additional 5 billion litres of water a day by 2050.
Further information:
Please see further details on the Water (Special Measures) Act here.
Stakeholder quotes:
Alan Lovell, Chair of the Environment Agency, said:
“The passing into law of the Water (Special Measures) Act is a crucial step in making sure water companies take full responsibility for their impact on the environment.
“The increased regulatory powers introduced by this legislation will allow us to close the justice gap, deliver swifter enforcement action and ultimately deter illegal activity.
“Alongside these reforms, we are undertaking the biggest ever transformation to the way we regulate. By investing in additional resources, training and updated digital assets, we are ensuring the water system better meets the needs of both people and the environment, now and in the future.”
Huw Irranca-Davies, Wales’s Deputy First Minister for Wales with responsibility for Climate Change, said:
“Restoring our rivers and improving water quality is a key priority for us.
“We’ve been working in partnership with the UK Government to tackle pollution in our rivers, lakes, and seas, and to make sure the water industry is properly regulated.
“Today’s Royal Assent of the Special Measures Bill is another step forward and shows what we can achieve working together.”
Helen Campbell, Ofwat’s Senior Director for Sector Performance, said:
‘’We welcome today’s Royal Assent of the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025, which provides a clear signal to create a water sector that delivers for all customers and the environment.
“The Act gives Ofwat new powers to set requirements for companies on remuneration and governance, including prohibiting performance-related executive pay. These rules are an important step towards rebuilding public trust within the water sector, while also prompting water companies to focus on delivering a change in their culture that better meets the expectations of their customers.
“We are working at pace to implement these new rules and intend to launch consultations on the final proposals later this year.”
Mike Keil, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), said:
“Repairing people’s fractured trust in the water sector requires not only a vast improvement in environmental performance, but also a sea change in water company culture so customers’ priorities are put before profit.
“It will take time to transform the water sector, but these new legal powers mark an important step in tackling two issues which make people’s blood boil – water company executives being rewarded for failure and pollution in our rivers, lakes, and seas.
“Water companies will be placing much bigger demands on billpayers’ finances over the next five years, so people have a right to expect far more for their money.”
Mark Lloyd, Rivers Trust CEO, said:
“The Water Special Measures Bill is a welcome first step from the government towards building a water system which restores nature, builds resilience to drought and flooding, and tackles the widespread issues of pollution.
“We welcome the improvements made to the bill in its passage through the Lords and the Government’s acceptance of amendments strengthening the environment duty of Ofwat and a greater emphasis on Nature Based Solutions.
“We are engaging closely with the current Independent Water Commission which we see as a once in a generation opportunity to take several more, and bolder steps towards a more integrated and catchment-based approach to managing water.”
Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said:
“We welcome Royal Assent of the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025, an important step toward cleaning up the freshwater environment. Regulators must make decisive use of new enforcement powers wherever companies continue to pollute, and Ofwat should make the most of new financial disclosure rules to ensure that funds that ought to be spent cleaning up rivers are never again siphoned off for profit.
“As the Government has recognised, the Act is just a first step. It must be followed promptly by further legislation and action to clamp down on pollution and ramp up environmental investment across whole catchments and across all the sectors responsible for polluting our rivers.”
Ali Morse, Water Policy Manager at the Wildlife Trusts, said:
“It’s encouraging to see The Water (Special Measures) Act bringing welcome powers and resourcing for regulators, as well as protections for the environment, with additional sewage spill monitoring and a focus on reducing pollution. These are topics that customers really care about. It lays important groundwork for the future legislative changes which are vital to ensure that the water sector can achieve what it needs to in the interests of its customers, and the rivers, lakes, and seas which people cherish.
“The work of the Independent Water Commission offers a once in a generation opportunity to reshape the way that we secure the improvements our waters desperately need, across catchment and sectors, and we’ll continue to work with the Commission and Government to ensure that these vital changes are driven forward.”
Jamie Cook, Angling Trust CEO, said:
“We welcome the government’s early action on water pollution with this bill. The behaviour of water companies is a national scandal, and illegal sewage pollution must result in prosecutions.
“The Angling Trust’s network of water-testing volunteers regularly exposes horrendous pollution in waterways and damage done to fisheries. The Environment Agency must use its powers to prosecute any law-breaking water bosses and address any illegal sewage spills uncovered in its long-standing investigation into potential permit breaches.
“This bill is a first step toward cleaning up waterways and fixing the regulatory system. The Independent Water Commission must now drive systemic reform, leading to a stronger water bill later in this Parliament—one that transforms water management and safeguards rivers, lakes, seas, and the fish that depend on them.”
Ben Seal, Head of Access and Environment at Paddle UK, said:
“Paddle UK and The Clean Water Sports Alliance welcomes the Water (Special Measures) Act receiving Royal Assent today. This legislation is a shot across the bows of polluting companies. Banning bonuses for failures and issuing tougher penalties is a very welcome first step by the Government – a down payment on the promised future reform that our broken system so desperately needs”
“Enjoying time in, on, or alongside water is vitally important in supporting the health and wellbeing of millions of people. Our community has campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of the impact pollution is having on both people and nature. We will be watching closely to ensure that these new powers are used to their fullest, to hold polluters to account and begin to restore our precious blue spaces”.
MOLINE, Ill., Feb. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — QCR Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: QCRH) (“QCR Holdings” or the “Company”), today announced that, effective immediately following the annual stockholders meeting on May 22, 2025, Larry J. Helling will retire from his role as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and of Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust Company, one of the Company’s wholly-owned bank subsidiaries. Additionally, Mr. Helling will also retire at that time from the boards of directors of the Company and Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust Company. Upon Mr. Helling’s retirement, Todd A. Gipple, the Company’s current President and Chief Financial Officer, will become President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Additionally, Nick W. Anderson, the Company’s current Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, will become the Company’s Chief Financial Officer upon Mr. Gipple’s move to Chief Executive Officer.
“We were extremely fortunate to have Larry’s leadership as CEO over the past 6 years. Larry joined the organization in 2001 with the formation of Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust Company and became CEO of the Company in 2019. Larry has left an indelible mark on the entire organization,” remarked Marie Ziegler, Chair of QCR Holdings. “Larry’s focus on our clients, shareholders and employees through his emphasis on local control of our banking subsidiaries has been critical in guiding us through the past several years, which included the pandemic and the unique inflationary economic environment. We appreciate Larry’s dedication to the organization and working with the board to implement a seamless succession. We congratulate Larry on his impressive career and look forward to his continued friendship during his well-earned retirement.”
“It’s been an honor to serve at QCR Holdings and its banking subsidiaries for more than two decades. I have been fortunate to see the positive impacts that our company has had on the communities we serve. We are a relationship-driven organization, and that is reflected in our talented employees, who work diligently to make a positive difference for our clients,” commented Mr. Helling. “Our growth and success in recent years have been possible because of Todd’s leadership and exceptional ability to work with others. I leave knowing that the organization will continue to be guided by a strong leader who embraces our culture.”
Mr. Gipple has served as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer since 2000, when he transitioned from a successful public accounting career. Through his years in the organization, Mr. Gipple has served in other capacities, including Chief Operating Officer, President and, since 2009, as a director of the Company, in addition to serving on the boards of the Company’s various banking subsidiaries. Mr. Gipple also is an active community leader in the Quad Cities and has served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committees of several local organizations during his 40 years in the community. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of The John Deere Classic and is Past-Chair and a current member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for the YMCA of the Iowa Mississippi Valley. “I’m honored to take on the CEO role of our company following our annual meeting in May,” said Mr. Gipple. “I have been fortunate to work with Larry since he joined QCR Holdings in 2001 when he founded Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust Company, and I have enjoyed working closely with him the past six years as he has led our company as CEO. It has been very rewarding to be a part of the company’s success the past 25 years. I look forward to continuing that success by retaining our local community banking model that keeps us focused on exceeding the expectations of our clients, creating stronger communities, and sustaining our top-tier financial performance. This focus has served us well throughout the history of our company and has created long-term value for our shareholders.”
Mr. Anderson, an Illinois native and graduate of Western Illinois University, is a Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Anderson began his banking career as a teller while working his way through college. Since late 2019, he has served as Chief Accounting Officer of the Company, overseeing all of the Company’s internal and external financial reporting. He also is actively involved in his community and currently serves as the Vice President of Project Renewal of Davenport, Inc., which provides educational, recreational, and social activities for children during the school year and summer. “I have had the pleasure of working closely with Nick for over 20 years and I am fully confident that his transition into the Chief Financial Officer role will be seamless,” said Mr. Gipple. “He has the trust of the board and the executive management team and will do an excellent job overseeing the financial responsibilities at the Company while continuing to be an important part of communicating our successful story with shareholders and other constituencies.”
Mr. Helling’s retirement and Messrs. Gipple’s and Anderson’s appointments will be effective immediately following the Company’s annual stockholder meeting, scheduled to be held on May 22, 2025.
About Us
QCR Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Moline, Illinois, is a relationship-driven, multi-bank holding company serving the Quad Cities, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Valley, Des Moines/Ankeny, and Springfield communities through its wholly owned subsidiary banks. The banks provide full-service commercial and consumer banking and trust and wealth management services. Quad City Bank & Trust Company, based in Bettendorf, Iowa, commenced operations in 1994; Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust Company, based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, commenced operations in 2001; Community State Bank, based in Ankeny, Iowa, was acquired by the Company in 2016; Springfield First Community Bank, based in Springfield, Missouri, was acquired by the Company in 2018, and Guaranty Bank, also based in Springfield, Missouri, was acquired by the Company and merged with Springfield First Community Bank in 2022, with the combined entity operating under the Guaranty Bank name. Additionally, the Company serves the Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Iowa community through Community Bank & Trust, a division of Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust Company. Quad City Bank & Trust Company offers equipment loans and leases to businesses through its wholly owned subsidiary, m2 Equipment Finance, LLC, based in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and provides correspondent banking services. The Company has 36 locations in Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Illinois. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $9.0 billion in assets, $6.7 billion in loans, and $7.1 billion in deposits. For additional information, please visit the Company’s website at www.qcrh.com.
Are there any animals with mental disabilities? – Adria G.
Max was a fun-loving Labrador retriever who enjoyed going for car rides and greeting clients at his owner’s office. But around age 16, Max suddenly started having accidents in the house and stopped sleeping well at night. He became irritable and seemed not to understand the words and commands he had long known.
Max was showing symptoms of a disorder called cognitive dysfunction syndrome, which can affect cats and dogs as they age. In dogs, it looks very similar to Alzheimer’s disease, which causes memory loss and dementia in humans, usually as they grow older.
I study how humans and other animals learn, and my research involves working with many different species, from bees to pigeons and crawfish. Part of my work involves paying attention to conditions that can affect mental health in animals.
Sometimes genetic or developmental changes affect how the brain is built, which can lead to mental disabilities or learning differences. In other cases, animals may be exposed to scary or stressful situations that can cause mental health problems. Here are some examples:
Many dogs become stressed during thunderstorms. Creating a comfortable, enclosed “safe” space without windows inside your house can help.
Understanding animal genes
Down syndrome is a common genetic condition that can slow down learning and thinking in humans. People born with Down syndrome may have a harder time learning new things, remembering information and making complicated decisions.
Down syndrome is caused by changes to a chromosome – the strands in our cells that store our genes. Normally, people have 23 pairs of chromosomes; when someone is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21, it produces the effects of Down syndrome.
Most animals can’t have Down syndrome, because their genes are organized into chromosomes differently than human genes. However, our closest relatives, including chimpanzees and orangutans, do have a similar organization of genes. Conditions very much like Down syndrome have been observed in these species.
One example, Kanako, was a female chimpanzee born in a research facility in Japan. She had vision and heart problems caused by an extra chromosome. Scientists don’t know whether Kanako had trouble with learning, because her vision problems made that difficult to test. However, Kanako enjoyed socializing with other chimpanzees and lived a long life in a wildlife sanctuary.
Wild chimpanzees are probably also sometimes born with genetic conditions like Down syndrome, but the effects make it difficult to survive in the wild, just like being born with a heart or a foot that doesn’t develop normally. Kanako was able to live a healthy life thanks to the help of her human caretakers and good veterinary care.
Science historian Laurel Braitman explains how she worked to understand her dog’s mental health disorders, and how studying these problems in animals can offer insights for treating similar problems in humans.
Coping with trauma and stress
Animals that are born healthy can also develop mental health problems in response to conditions around them.
For example, just as soldiers may develop post-traumatic stress disorder after experiencing a life-threatening situation, working military and police dogs can develop a similar condition. Dogs with canine PTSD may cling to their owners, startle at everyday noises, or frequently act panicky or fearful.
Veterinarians can prescribe anti-anxiety medication to help these dogs stay calm during scary events, like fireworks or thunderstorms. Owners also can use behavioral treatments to reward the dogs for staying calm and relaxed around things that seem frightening.
Most traumatic events, like earthquakes or car accidents, can’t be predicted in advance. However, in some cases, such as capturing and restraining a wild animal to relocate it, workers use tranquilizers or sedatives to make the animal sleepy, or cover its eyes and ears to reduce fear and prevent long-lasting problems.
Another common cause of mental health problems in animals is daily stress. Animals held in captivity at zoos, farms or research labs may experience stress from sources such as traffic noises, uncomfortable temperatures or not being able to engage in certain natural behaviors.
To keep this from happening, zookeepers and animal caretakers provide environmental enrichment – objects, structures and activities that stimulate the animals’ minds and help keep them from getting bored.
An African penguin at the Maryland Zoo snatches at a knotted fire hose. Giving penguins novel objects to explore is one way to enriching their lives in captivity. Pacific Southwest Forest Service, USDA, CC BY
Supporting your pet
Sometimes it’s easy to see when animals are stressed or anxious. They may pace back and forth, spend their days in hiding or be unusually aggressive. Getting sick frequently or losing weight can also be a sign of poor mental health. Certain hormones, called corticosteroids, can be measured from a poop sample to provide clues about whether an animal is under too much stress.
Even pets in loving homes can experience mental health problems. Some dogs struggle with separation anxiety – extreme fear of being left alone by their owner. Lack of mental or physical activity can also produce anxiety symptoms.
Whether it means taking your dog to the dog park to run and socialize, or building puzzles that hide treats for your parakeet to find, keeping animals busy is good for them. In more serious cases, veterinarians can prescribe medication or behavioral treatments to help your pet feel better.
Humans can use science to understand the many conditions that affect mental health in animals and find treatments to help them. We also can show compassion and care for others – whether human or animal – who experience mental problems.
Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live.
And since curiosity has no age limit – adults, let us know what you’re wondering, too. We won’t be able to answer every question, but we will do our best.
Rachel Blaser does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Speech
OSCE Reinforced Permanent Council, February 2025: UK statement
UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, addresses a Reinforced meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion and underlines continued UK support for Ukraine.
Three years ago, when Putin unleashed his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in a clear breach of the UN charter, he expected a swift victory. What he got instead was a catastrophic failure.
Putin’s imperial ambitions have killed and injured close to a million in his own forces and driven its economy into the ground. The rouble is plummeting, inflation is soaring, and the deficit at record levels. All for a war that he thought would be over in three days.
The extent of death, destruction, and suffering caused by one man’s selfish ambition is staggering. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians have been killed and millions more injured, displaced, and in need of urgent help as civilians are relentlessly attacked.
Repeated findings of the Moscow Mechanism and other independent reports document Russian atrocities. There are increasing reports of Russian forces deporting children and using rape, torture and execution as weapons of war. The OSCE is playing a crucial role in securing justice for survivors and victims.
Yet, in the face of this brutality, Ukrainians continue to defend their homeland with extraordinary courage and ingenuity. This proves that, with the right support, they can defy Putin’s barbarism.
The UK has been at the forefront of this effort from day one. Our military support worth £3 billion a year is putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position. And our new 100 Year Partnership cements our unwavering commitment for generations to come.
Make no mistake, Putin’s invasion violates laws and principles which underpin Euro-Atlantic security – including the Helsinki Final Act.
Laws which Russia itself signed up to, and we cannot allow such aggression to succeed.
The days ahead will determine the future security of our continent. This is the moment for all of us to step up. Because it is the right thing to do for the values we hold dear and because it is fundamental to European security.
That’s why the UK will stand with Ukraine—today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Hanane Benadi, Research Officer, Religion and Global Society, London School of Economics and Political Science
“There is no time for imagination, religious or otherwise. We need to act now!” an irritated scientist told me during a workshop on climate change and religion in 2024. Contrary to the tone of his comment, this scientist was not dismissing religion as being marginal to tackling climate change, but his underlying assumption rang clear: religion, while undoubtedly a necessary part of the solution, is only useful if it works alongside rational science.
Research by me and my colleagues suggests that framing religion and science as totally separate entities is unhelpful in advancing a global response to climate change.
In 2022 and 2023, I spent four months conducting fieldwork in Egypt, living and interacting with Muslim and Christian communities in Cairo and Alexandria. As a salient reminder of the ongoing climate crisis, my research took place over the summer, when temperatures reached more than 45°C.
These heatwaves were a part of everyday discussions, but I didn’t hear only scientific jargon used to refer to these phenomena. Often, religion was the language used to make sense of the heat.
As an Anglican priest in Alexandria told me, members of his congregation understood these heatwaves as manifestations of climate change, but at the same time asked him: “What is God is trying to tell us? Is this a sign of his anger? What should we do?” In other words, while scientific knowledge was used to explain the extreme heat, religion gave it meaning.
Building a global response to the climate crisis requires us to learn about the many ways people make sense of climate change and learn to live with its consequences. And for most of the world’s population, a purely scientific framing is unhelpful.
Science v religion?
The long-perceived tension between religion and science seems to be reappearing today as we confront climate change. The scientist’s reaction to my work is one example of this, which left me wondering: what role is religion playing in tackling climate change globally? And how often is it framed as a field outside of science?
Unfortunately, the approach adopted on the global climate stage seems to perpetuate a hierarchy of knowledge that implies that science trumps social and cultural influences such as religion and ethics. It is telling that the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the preeminent global body on climate policy, still relies heavily on hard science in presenting its findings, despite efforts in its latest reports to highlight the role of social sciences and humanities, including religion, can play.
With my team from the LSE Religion and Global Society research unit, I ran a climate change and religion workshop in Cairo with Muslim and Christian female and male faith leaders. Many of the 30 participants explained they felt frustrated that the climate science lens dominates.
One member of a faith-based organisation told me during an interview after the workshop that: “We are often approached by western organisations and research institutions to collaborate. However, when we ask about the nature of these collaborations, it is often reduced to our logo and a couple of statements that tell people that they should care about climate change.”
Rather than taking religion seriously on its own terms, climate science often shapes what kind of role religion should play in communicating climate change. This is a problem.
Science meets religion
Our current work with female scientists in Egypt is teaching us that in many non-western countries, such as Egypt, the religious and the scientific cannot be as easily untangled as some might like to think.
I asked an Egyptian scientist who has been working on water management for the last 30 years how she sees the future of water in her country. She began her response with a verse from the Quran before turning to a scientific explanation of what that entails.
While much of her work is informed by scientific models of reason that underpin the Egyptian state’s nationalist development projects, she can hold together scientific and religious ethical modes of reasoning. Bringing an understanding of this overlap to international climate policy is critical for creating global solidarity around this issue.
Fortunately, things are changing. Through initiatives such as the UN Environment Programme’s Faith for Earth Coalition and the faith pavilion at recent UN climate summits, religious groups are becoming more prevalent and active on the global climate stage.
But efforts to seek collaborations between scientists and faith communities are not good enough. We need to resist the urge to see religion as a mere vehicle for convincing most of the global population for whom religion gives meaning to life. The only way we can do that is for scientists and faith leaders to start laying the groundwork for new ways of thinking together.
As Russian author Leo Tolstoy once wrote, “Science is meaningless because it has no answer to the only questions that matter to us: ‘What should we do and how shall we live?‘” The climate crisis demands new ways of thinking, new ways of perceiving reality, and religion is fundamental to achieving that.
Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?
You may recognize graphite as the “lead” in a pencil, but besides helping you take notes or fill in countless bubbles on exam answer sheets, it is helping scientists grapple with the secrets of superconductivity.
Superconductivity happens when an electric current is transmitted through wires without the loss of any energy in the form of heat or resistance. Superconducting materials have the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our daily lives, from improving the electrical grid to making more powerful computers. However, superconductivity generally requires very low temperatures, so low they may become impractical, and the exact mechanisms of superconductivity are not well understood for many superconducting materials.
In their recent Nature publication, a collaboration of researchers, including UConn Department of Physics Professor Pavel Volkov, detail surprising findings about superconductivity in twisted trilayer graphene.
In 2018, attention focused on the rich physics of superconductivity in multilayer graphene, which is a single layer of carbon atoms forms graphite. As a single layer, graphene is not superconducting; however, this changes when two layers are stacked and slightly twisted to form twisted bilayer graphene (TBG). Stacking three layers to make twisted trilayer graphene (TTG) together makes the system more stable and robust and was the subject for much of this study.
The twist leads to unique and unconventional superconducting properties in the twisted trilayer graphene. Volkov says that at a so-called ‘magic’ twist angle, quantum interference effects lead to the motion of elections slowing down enormously as they move through the layers of graphene, allowing them to interact much more strongly with one another, which is likely the driving force of superconductivity.
“A number of observations on twisted trilayer graphene are quite similar to another system of immense interest where interactions are strong — the cuprate high transition temperature superconductors. We’re interested in it fundamentally because we don’t quite understand how this works,” Volkov says.
Indeed, the famous theory of Bardeen, Cooper and Schrieffer, published in 1957, is known to fit well many known superconductors, Volkov explains. Their theory attributes superconductivity to the electrons forming “Cooper pairs” due to interaction with lattice vibrations. However, it does not match the observations for cuprates and several other material classes, which has since earned the name of “unconventional” superconductors. Some of them, like cuprates, become superconducting at relatively high temperatures – which in this case is -200°F – while others, including TTG, superconduct only at extremely low temperatures below -450°F. Yet, the presence of strong interactions between the electrons unites these rather different materials.
Scientists hope that studying how superconductivity happens in TTG may help gain understanding the origin of unconventional superconductivity and in raising the extremely low temperatures required.
Getting a conclusive answer
Volkov says the graphene system is great for studying superconductivity because it is clean, and fairly easy to control.
“After adding the twist, suddenly it starts to show all the physics that we don’t understand,” he says. “The hope is that if we start with a system which is perhaps a little bit more in the theoretical control than the messy chemistry of the cuprates, maybe we can understand the general principles behind unconventional, non-BCS superconductors.”
Many previous studies in graphene, though they contribute important information, are limited in describing superconductivity, says Volkov, because those experiments focus on the properties of single electrons rather than electron pairs.
“What matters is that electrons form pairs, and somehow you want to probe the properties of those pairs to be able to study superconductivity. That is what this experiment achieves.”
Volkov offers an analogy: if an electric field is applied to a superconductor, it will result in an increase in the velocity and acceleration of the electron pairs and a current increasing in time. This phenomenon is known as inductance.
“At an engineering level, a superconductor is just an inductor, the problem is they are typically bad inductors. The better a superconductor is, the worse it is as an inductor.”
Volkov says that co-authors Abhishek Bannerjee, Zeyu Hao and Mary Kreidel from the groups of Philip Kim, from Harvard’s Department of Physics, and K.C. Fong from Raytheon BBN Technologies, developed electrical circuits that allow the researchers to perform experiments to study the inductance of the superconducting graphene. Then, they were able to directly measure the inertia and density of the Cooper pairs that lead to superconductivity.
Volkov says the question they wanted to answer concerns the structure of the electron pairs. When particles form a pair, their relative motion does not stop, but different kinds of motion can occur. While in the BCS theory relative motion of electrons in a pair is uniform, or isotropic, Volkov says there is evidence that the electrons in unconventional superconductors pair in a non-uniform, or anisotropic way.
“Up to this work, I don’t think we had a conclusive answer on whether that pairing is isotropic or anisotropic in twisted graphene,” he says. “It’s important because the conventional mechanisms of superconductivity, such as what is proposed in BCS theory, typically advocate for uniform isotropic pairing. This experiment demonstrates that pairing in TTG is strongly anisotropic, and it reinforces the connection between twisted tri-layer graphene and high transition temperature cuprates, which is remarkable. As scientists, we want to see things that are that are complex but universal, because there’s trivial complexity. Every sample is different. Here we find two very different materials, showing quite similar properties, including superconductivity. Given the excellent tunability of TTG, the hope is that maybe we can get our hands on the universal principles of unconventional superconductivity, which are still missing.”
‘Beautiful experiments’
Volkov says the discovery has been made by studying how temperature and current breaks the electron pairs apart. For strongly anisotropic pairs, there are always directions along which the pair is easy to break. Thus, even a tiny temperature change can lead to anisotropic pairs breaking apart. Volkov says they experimented with other parameters to disrupt the Cooper pairs, such as altering the current, and the results further confirm that the Cooper pairs in TTG are highly anisotropic.
To understand more about the underlying electronic state, Volkov developed a theoretical model for the behavior of the TTG inductance as a function of temperature and current, in collaboration with co-authors Patrick Ledwith and Ashvin Vishwanath from Harvard’s Department of Physics.
“By measuring the properties of superconducting pairs of electrons, we also get information on the underlying electronic structure and underlying properties of single electrons in that highly anisotropic state,” Volkov says. “That information is something we had to do theoretical modeling for, because it was not conforming to some simple expectations, where the more electrons you put in, the more superconducting pairs you get. That’s not how it works here. These beautiful experiments also gave us insights on the behavior of single electrons in TTG.”
The take-home message of the paper is the electrons in twisted multilayer graphene behave unlike those described by BCS theory; but remarkably, they share properties with high-temperature cuprates, which may have practical uses. As Volkov says, they need to go back to the drawing board to develop a new theory of the superconducting state that accounts for these extraordinary materials because they may pave the way for a new generation of superconductors for real-world applications.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE: BRO) (the “Company”) has announced the appointment of Stephen P. Hearn, an insurance industry veteran who joined the Company’s board of directors in August 2024, as executive vice president and chief operating officer. In connection with this appointment, Hearn has resigned from the Company’s board of directors and will join the Company’s operating committee.
As chief operating officer, Hearn will apply the extensive knowledge he has acquired during his impressive 35-year career to help inform and guide Brown & Brown’s continued growth strategy. Hearn will help shape the Company’s continued focus on scaling operations, fostering innovation, and growing and developing a talented team.
Powell Brown, Brown & Brown’s president and chief executive officer, shared, “Steve has been a good friend of the firm, and of mine, for more than 20 years. We have worked and traded together, and we are so pleased to welcome him to the team. He has made great contributions to Brown & Brown during his time on the board. As we work towards our next interim revenue goal of $8 billion, we believe the timing is right to have Steve join the organization to help drive operational excellence and scale, while we continue to further our position as a leading global provider of insurance solutions. We are at an exciting stage of our growth journey, and leveraging Steve’s deep relationships and global experience further enables us to identify like-minded organizations to join Brown & Brown and to attract, recruit, develop and retain the best and brightest insurance professionals.”
“Brown & Brown is an incredible, dynamic organization, and I feel very fortunate that the skills and experience I have acquired during my career are viewed as force multipliers for the work already being done within the company. Our shared focus and a commitment to relationships and people—customers, teammates, carrier partners, shareholders and those in our communities—make this opportunity all the more exciting,” said Hearn.
Hearn began his insurance career in 1989, most recently holding roles with The Ardonagh Group. During his time with The Ardonagh Group, he served as chief executive officer of Ardonagh Specialty Holdings Limited (November 2021 – September 2022); as chief executive officer of Ardonagh Capital Solutions Holdings, The Ardonagh Group’s holding company for its reinsurance broking, captives and MGA businesses (February 2023 – July 2024); and as chief executive officer of Inver Re, The Ardonagh Group’s dedicated reinsurance broking unit (November 2021 – July 2024). He also served as a director of Ardonagh International from May 2023 to July 2024. Previously, he served as chief executive officer of Corant Global, a subsidiary of BGC Partners, Inc. (“BGC”) (February 2019 until the November 2021 sale of BGC’s insurance brokerage division to The Ardonagh Group) and as the chief executive officer of Ed Broking Group Limited (2015 until its February 2019 acquisition by BGC). Hearn held roles with Willis Group Holdings plc and its businesses from 2008 until 2015, including president and deputy chief executive officer of Willis Group Holdings plc, chief executive officer of Willis Re, chairman and chief executive officer of Willis Global and chief executive officer of Willis Limited. Prior to that, he held senior leadership positions with Hilb, Rogal & Hobbs; Glencairn Limited; Marsh Affinity Europe & Middle East; Marsh Affinity UK and Sedgwick Affinity Group Services.
About Brown & Brown Inc.
Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE: BRO) is a leading insurance brokerage firm providing enhanced customer-centric risk management solutions since 1939. With a global presence spanning 500+ locations and a team of more than 17,000 professionals, we are dedicated to delivering scalable, innovative strategies for our customers at every step of their growth journey. Learn more at bbinsurance.com.
This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements relating to future results. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only Brown & Brown’s current belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Brown & Brown’s control. It is possible that Brown & Brown’s actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in these forward-looking statements. Further information concerning Brown & Brown and its business, including factors that potentially could materially affect Brown & Brown’s financial results and condition, as well as its other achievements, is contained in Brown & Brown’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements made herein are made only as of the date of this release, and Brown & Brown does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or correct any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur or of which Brown & Brown hereafter becomes aware.
For more information:
R. Andrew Watts Chief Financial Officer (386) 239-5770
This story contains descriptions of attacks during armed conflict, including descriptions of the people who were killed. We published these details to bear witness to this family’s experience.
On 24 February 2022, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. For millions of families across the country, this moment marked the beginning of anongoingnightmare.
To mark the three-year anniversary,Olga Padeyrecountsthe tragic loss of her niece Anastasia, a passionate gymnast,and nephewMaksym, a young karate champion. They were both killed, along with their mother,when their home was hit by a Russian missile in Kyiv, far from the front lines.
Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have been killed or injured since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Amnesty International has been documenting stories of dozens of families who have lost their loved ones due to Russian aggression.
My brother, Vasya, lost his entire family: his wife and two children, my niece and nephew. On 8 July 2024, a Russian missile struck their residential building near downtown Kyiv. My brother was on a work trip, so he survived. However, my brother’s life ended as well. He visits the cemetery where his children and wife are buried every day – morning and evening. Now, the house where they lived has been rebuilt, but he would never return there. He lives in the countryside.
I asked him – should I talk about what happened? Is it important for people to hear this? We understand it won’t bring our loved ones back. But he said, “Yes.” Let there be a memory. Let it be a drop in the sea. A thread to the shirt. A memory, a memory… A memory of them.
Maksym was just 10 when he was killed Russian missile that destroyed his home. His sister, Anastasia, was eight. This drawing is taken from a memorial calendar produced by Amnesty International Ukraine. The artist is Beata Kurkul.
My nephew Maksym was 10 years old. He was a long-awaited and loved child. My husband was his godfather. Maksym loved karate – he was a champion. He went fishing with his father a lot, he was his father’s son. Our little Anastasia, Nastya, was eight. She was always cuddling up to her mom, loved rhythmic gymnastics and dreamed of becoming a blogger. “I’ll show you all,” she would promise. Zoryana, my brother’s wife, was tranquil and neat. At their home, everything was always cleaned, cooked, done; I was always amazed at how she managed to do it all. There was never a moment when she just sat and did nothing; she always found something to do.
The basement wouldn’t have saved them
I have many photos and videos where they are laughing, talking, running. Those are happy memories of a happy family. But no matter how hard I try to remember only the good, I find myself remembering – every day – the destroyed building. That image. Maybe one day I will forget?
The basement wouldn’t have saved them, because it collapsed. It was completely destroyed
Olga Padey
Zoryana, my brother’s wife, was afraid of rockets. She was scared. I know they usually went down to the basement during air raids. This time, they didn’t. But the basement wouldn’t have saved them, because it collapsed. It was completely destroyed. It would have taken a long time to search for them if they had gone down there. Instead, they hid in the bathroom, following the two walls rule. They lived on the second floor, where the rocket hit and exploded.
It was an ordinary day. I spoke to my brother in the morning; he said he had left home for work. We talked for about 10 minutes. Later that day, the sirens started, there were explosions as Russians struck a children’s hospital. Then my brother phoned me once more. I thought, “Damn, we just talked this morning, and now he’s calling again.”
He said, “Part of the building collapsed, Zoryana and the kids were home, they were at home, probably at home.” I told my husband, we quickly woke up our child, and went there. When we arrived, the State Emergency Service was searching for people in the rubble. Then the sirens went off again, and the work was paused.
The bodies were found the same day
We stayed by the building all the time. No one answered their phone. I tried to find out whether they had been taken to the hospital, if they were already found, I called different hospitals.
What’s left of Anastasia and Maksym’s home, after it was hit by a Russian missile in Kyiv. The two children died, along with their mother.
The bodies were found that same day. The first responders carried out a girl. I thought she was a bit older than my niece, and she had a strand of purple hair. I said, “This is not Nastya.” Nastya is somewhere alive, everything’s fine! But that was Nastya. The day before, they had gone to the hairdresser. Maksym had a haircut, and Nastya made a strand of purple hair. We didn’t know that. When they asked me to identity Maksym, I didn’t recognize him. He had a new haircut, and he had no face.
At that time, my brother was returning to Kyiv from another city. When he arrived, Zoryana had been found. She had no head.
There is no safe place
I found out I was going to have a child during the first year of the full-scale war. I had been waiting to be a mother for so long. I wanted it so much. And it is only thanks to my child that I am holding on. Every day I think about Zoryana, about Maksym and Nastya, about my brother. I think about families, like the family where the father lost his wife and three daughters in Lviv. Or the family in Kharkiv, where the mother and three children were killed.
In Ukraine, there is no safe place right now. So many people are dying. But for me, it’s such a shock every time… I have hope that justice will be served. That there will be responsibility for all those who give the orders. And for those who directly carry those orders out. When will that happen? I hope it’s soon.
