Secretary-General António Guterres has congratulated UN member countries for finalizing a text to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, calling it a “breakthrough” after nearly two decades of talks.   

“This action is a victory for multilateralism and for global efforts to counter the destructive trends facing ocean health, now and for generations to come,” said the UN chief in a statement issued by his Spokesperson just hours after the deal was struck at UN Headquarters in New York, where tough negotiations on the draft treaty have been under way for the past two weeks. 

The agreement reached by delegates of the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, better known by its acronym BBNJ, is the culmination of UN-facilitated talks that began in 2004.  

Already being referred to as the ‘High Seas Treaty’, the legal framework would place 30 per cent of the world’s oceans into protected areas, put more money into marine conservation, and covers access to and use of marine genetic resources. 

Through his Spokesperson, Mr. Guterres said the treaty is crucial for addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.  

“It is also vital for achieving ocean-related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,” said the statement, referring to the so-called ‘30x30’ pledge to protect a third of the world's biodiversity – on land and sea – by 2030 made by a historic UN conference in Montreal this past December. 

Noting that the BBNJ decision builds on the legacy of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Secretary-General commended all parties for their ambition, flexibility and perseverance, and saluted Ambassador Rena Lee, of Singapore, for her leadership and dedication.  

“Ladies and gentlemen, the ship has reached the shore,” Ms. Lee said last night, announcing the agreement to an extended standing ovation in the meeting room. Delegations will reconvene later to formally adopt the text.   

The statement issued by the UN Spokesperson said the Secretary-General also recognized the critical support of non-governmental organizations, civil society, academic institutions and the scientific community.  “He looks forward to continuing work with all parties to secure a healthier, more resilient, and more productive ocean, benefiting current and future generations,” the statement concluded. 

Reacting on Twitter, Csaba Kőrösi, President of the 77^th session of the UN General Assembly, also congratulated the delegates and Ms. Lee for reaching consensus on a global legal framework for the high seas. “This is a massive success for multilateralism. An example of the transformation our world needs and the people we serve demand,” he added.

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Environmental problems such as climate change, extinction of species, water shortage, plastic pollution, and deforestation are becoming disastrous problems nowadays. Not to mention food scarcity problem is becoming a critical issue due to human population explosion. Therefore, efficient agriculture to harvest more crops is very important for food scarcity problems. 

Plants absorb CO₂ and make oxygen and starch by the process called photosynthesis with the help of solar light irradiation. In fact, plants are utilizing not all of solar light and they prefer mainly blue and red light in the solar light for their photosynthesis and growth. Plants and plant leaves look green because they reflect green light since they do not use green wavelength color in the solar light.  Recently, it is known that tomato likes magenta color, rose like whitish color and chili pepper prefer yellowish color for their growth. 

Quantum dots are super tiny materials (0.5 - 9 nm) with optical properties that follow the rules of quantum chemistry and quantum mechanics. These quantum dots are also called "artificial molecules" because each quantum dot is composed of only several dozen to thousand number of molecules. At this size range, the energy levels of electrons are no longer continuous and are separated due to the physical phenomenon known as the quantum confinement effect.

Green Science Alliance has been synthesizing various types of quantum dots and quantum dot composite materials for years. This time, based on their quantum dot technologies, Mr. Hirohisa Iwabayashi and Dr. Ryohei Mori have developed quantum dot and quantum dot film which can convert ultraviolet (UV) light, blue light with shorter wavelength, into red light. They have mainly applied CIS (CuInS₂) / ZnS quantum dot for red light emitting film. This quantum dot is mainly water base before coating on the film and it is environmentally friendly including manufacturing process. Developed films can be expected to speed up plants and crops growth because this film emit more red light under the sun light.  Since solar light contains some portion of UV light and they are harmful to human, this is an efficient way to utilizer more preferred wavelength light for plant growth, in order to get more agricultural crops efficiently.  

One can expect to place this quantum dot film on window, film sheet for greenhouses, hot houses for plant growth. This can be also placed on LED light for plant factory too. They can also modify emitting light wavelength to not only red light but also other wavelength light for each plant, by selecting and optimizing quantum dot types and synthesizing procedure. 

Green Science Alliance is planning to carry out testing at actual greenhouses, hot houses and agricultural fields.

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Thinking of getting a pet well hopefully not an alligator here are 13 Reasons an Alligator Isn’t a Good Pet

1. Alligators live a long time. Depending on the species that could be 30-50 years. Do you know where you’ll be in 30-50 years?
2. It’s likely not legal in your state to own one. Many states have banned ownership of exotic pets like alligators. Illinois is one of them. Florida allows you to own them but you must be licensed and have a permit to do so.
3. Alligators are very small when they’re born but can grow a foot each year. You better have a lot of space. How much space? Adult males can grow to be 11 ft in length. Not sure how big that is? If the alligator could balance on the tip of his tail, his nose would most likely be poking your ceiling.
4. They eat a lot. A growing gator can eat up to 1/4 of its body weight. To put that into measurable terms, if you weigh a hundred pounds and you ate 1/4 of your body weight at a meal you’d be eating 25 lbs of steak. Are you ready to put that amount of meat on your grocery list?
5. An alligator is just an alligator. You cannot domesticate an alligator. There aren’t fancy sideshow tricks or things you can do like laying a biscuit on its nose and making it wait to eat it until you give the command. Alligators’ behavior is hardwired and if you expect it to adopt the traits of a cat or dog, you’ll be disappointed.
6. Alligators need special vet care when they’re in captivity. It’s unlikely your regular vet is going to be able to take care of your alligator. It’s also unlikely that your alligator will enjoy car rides to the vet, so you’ll have to find someone who makes house calls.
7. Alligators won’t want to share with you. They can be kind of selfish when it comes to food.
8. Alligators don’t like to wear fuzzy coats, even when it’s cold. If you like to dress up your pets, an alligator is probably not the right pet for you.
9. Alligators don’t like to fetch. In fact, they lay around a lot, especially when it’s cold outside and the sun is warm.
10. Alligators have great hearing but they often won’t answer to their names. If you’re trying to get your alligator’s attention, know that they can be more difficult than a cat.
11. Alligators don’t enjoy acting as a pool raft. If you want to lay on an alligator in the open water, you should probably get the inflatable kind
12. Alligators get annoyed when you try to put them in your family Christmas card. While they’re always willing to smile for the camera and they’re pretty good at holding still, they don’t like all the ruckus behind family pictures. It’s best to leave them out.
13. Alligators don’t want to eat their veggies either. If you think you have a hard time getting your kids to eat vegetables, your alligator is likely to be even more stubborn.

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Two guests at the Excaliber Hotel and Casino in Vegas had an unexpected roommate wake them up during the early morning hours on their recent stay. According to Lindsey Sanders, she and her husband heard something in their room around 4 a.m., and when they looked around, they found a cat. The couple took a video of the cat and posted it to TikTok where it has racked up over 1.2 million views.

As reported by 8 News Now, the cat had been hiding in a small space beneath the bathroom vanity and had been reported missing by the former guest who checked out of the room. With some help from security, the cat was secured and removed from the room.

The cat appeared to be in good condition, despite having had no food for nearly a week. Sanders, a veterinarian, thinks that the cat was drinking water from the toilet to stay hydrated.

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Tickets for the 147th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show presented by Purina Pro Plan are on sale now at Ticketmaster. For the very first time, the epic 3-day, 3-night event featuring thousands of dogs from across the world competing in top performance activities and culminating in the coveted Best in Show award will take place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Flushing, NY on Saturday, May 6th, Monday, May 8th, and Tuesday, May 9th, 2023. Among the highlights this year, the Westminster Kennel Club (WKC) will present its inaugural “Canine Celebration Day,” commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the Masters Agility Championship and the 8th Annual Masters Obedience Championship, both presented by Purina Pro Plan, and welcoming an incredible newly eligible breed to America’s Dog Show, the Bracco Italiano.

Always the greatest dog show in the world, the Westminster Kennel Club is thrilled to welcome spectators back with a host of new family-friendly events taking place on the sprawling grounds of the National Tennis Center. The first-ever WKC “Canine Celebration Day” will take place on Saturday, May 6th, featuring a variety of showstopping activities, including Dock Diving and a Demo Ring, both presented by Cosequin Joint Health Supplement. Spectators will enjoy seeing demonstrations of Herding, Freestyle Obedience, and Scent Work. There will also be a Breed Showcase, where guests can meet and learn about an abundance of incredible dog breeds and observe a Dog Show 101 demonstration to learn more about what is happening in the show ring.

Tickets are available online now at Ticketmaster. For group sales over 17 seats, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Schedule of Events

WKC’s Canine Celebration Day // Saturday, May 6th

• 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

• 10th Anniversary Masters Agility Championship Preliminaries 
• 8th Annual Masters Obedience Championship 
• Special Attraction - Dock Diving at Westminster
• Breed Showcase
• Demonstrations: Herding, Scent Work, Freestyle Obedience, Dog Show 101

• 7:00 – 9:30 PM

10th Anniversary Masters Agility Championship Finals 

 WKC Dog Show Day 1 // Monday, May 8th

• 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

• Breed Judging (Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting & Herding Groups)
• Junior Showmanship Preliminaries

• 7:30 – 11:30 PM

Group Judging (Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting & Herding Groups)

WKC Dog Show Day 2 // Tuesday, May 9th

• 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

• Breed Judging (Sporting, Working & Terrier Groups) 
• Junior Showmanship Preliminaries

• 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM

• Junior Showmanship Finals
• Group Judging (Sporting, Working & Terrier Groups)
• Best in Show
•  For more information, please visit westminsterkennelclub.org.

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Staff at the Denver Zoo is mourning the loss of an elderly reticulated giraffe named Kipele. The 29-year-old giraffe, born at the zoo on August 16, 1993, was humanely euthanized after an “acute decline in her health.”

The zoo made the announcement via social media on Wednesday, writing:

Due to Kipele’s advanced age and mobility issues we were managing, our animal care and veterinary medicine teams have been closely monitoring her quality of life. When her health suddenly declined, our teams made the very difficult decision to humanely euthanize Kipele so her quality of life and welfare did not suffer. She passed peacefully on March 7, surrounded by those who loved and cared for her.

Thanking the staff who was by Kipele’s side throughout her life:

Our dedicated staff members were there when she was born and took her first steps. They were there as she grew into a sweet and friendly giraffe who brought so much joy and inspiration to countless guests over the years. Her keepers watched as she became our herd’s matriarch and expertly cared for eight offspring, most recently—and surprisingly—Dobby. They witnessed her transition into old age and they were there to provide comfort as she peacefully passed.

The staff will closely monitor the other giraffes who might be impacted by Kipele’s death.

Rest in peace Kipele.

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A senior dog is embarking on her new life after a Virginia-based animal rescue agency saved her from an area shelter. According to Sanctuary Rescue, the 12-year-old beagle, Abby, was surrendered to a nearby animal shelter with her belongings…right down to her sweaters and a framed portrait. The agency said:

Today we rescued a sweet, 12-year-old gal that was dropped off at the shelter with her bed, her toys, 12 years of vet records, two bags of her sweaters, and her framed portrait. We’re thinking of hanging the dog’s portrait in our office to remind us to be humble, to give grace, to spend energy on loving instead of judging, and to always help where and when we can because you just never know what the future holds and what curveballs life might throw at you.

According to Sanctuary Rescue, the shelter said that Abby’s former family had to surrender their companion because of some “major life changes” that prevented them from keeping their pets.

Abby has been taken in by one of the shelter’s foster families, and she is making herself right at home. On March 5, the organization posted images of Abby, writing:

Foster mom assured us that Abby, the senior beagle, has made herself right at home. She busied herself yesterday by trying out every single dog bed in the home. She thinks she’s Goldilocks.

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A woman in Brown County, Wisconsin, is accused of killing her own dogs, by hanging them in trees, after they growled at each other earlier this month. The woman accused of hanging, and then strangling her dogs with her hands, is identified as 56-year-old Pamela McNeill.

After being arrested, McNeill admitted to the killings – her statement says:

“Both of my dogs started snapping at each other and growling while they were in the passenger seat of my car. I tried to pet them and they growled at me, but never snapped at me. I told them I was not going to live with that and I told them I loved them and that I hoped to see them someday.

I killed the white one first by hanging her from a tree. I swung her leash around a branch, pulled her up off the ground by her collar and tied the leash to a branch. She really started struggling so I grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and squeezed her neck with my bare hands as hard as I could until she died. I left her hanging in the tree and went and got the brown dog.

I walked the brown dog to another tree in the area and killed the brown dog in the same exact way. I left both dogs hanging in the trees and went to Kwik Trip I think. I then went back to the park and ride and parked facing the opposite way so I didn’t have to see them.”

McNeill’s dogs were found hanging from trees at a park and ride at 2700 CTH RK in the Village of Howard.

The authorities described the dogs as looking like Pomeranians.

McNeill was arrested and taken to the Brown County Jail where she is being held on two counts of Mistreatment of Animals/Cause Death and two counts of Bail Jumping-Felony. Each count for the mistreatment of animals has up to a $10,000 fine or not more than three and a half years in prison.

The depravity of Pamela McNeill’s actions is beyond comprehension. These dogs were killed by the person who should have protected them from harm.

Please stand with AnimalVictory.org as we fight for justice. In addition to jail time, we want to ensure that this woman has a full mental evaluation and treatment if warranted by professionals. We also want to see her prohibited from owning animals moving forward.

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The U.S. Transportation Security Administration is offering travelers some rather obvious advice: Don’t put your pet through the airport X-ray machine.

Apparently, it really happened at Norfolk International Airport in Virginia. Lisa Farbstein, spokesperson for TSA, tweeted the warning on March 3, along with an X-ray image of a cat.

“Just when you thought it was safe to bring your pet cat on a trip …,” she wrote. “A traveler left their pet cat in its travel carrying case at a
@TSA checkpoint this morning at @NorfolkAirport.”

She called the incident a “cat-astrophic mistake!”

“Attention pet owners: Please do not send your pet through the X-ray unit,” she cautioned.

In comments on Twitter, Farbstein confirmed that the cat was OK.

“The traveler and cat had to go through screening the proper way once the TSA officers saw the X-ray image,” she wrote. “The proper way being to remove the cat from the travel bag.”

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It was tiny when it left the zoo and nearly 8 feet long when it returned: A Texas woman says she got an alligator from a zoo some 20 years ago, and has been raising it in her backyard ever since.

The woman, who lives in Caldwell County in central Texas, told Texas Parks and Wildlife officials that she treated the alligator as a pet, naming it Tewa. Authorities did not release the woman's name.

It's not clear whether the large reptile came when it was called. But, Texas Game Warden Joann Garza-Mayberry told NPR, "The gator was compliant with her as she had raised it since a hatchling."

It was Garza-Mayberry who first spotted the unlikely pet last month. Videos from the scene show the gator was living in a fenced-in area with an artificial pond — the type of water feature often found in a landscaped garden.

"I observed the alligator when I visited the house unannounced during an unrelated law enforcement hunting investigation," she said.

Texas Game Wardens — the agency that handles law enforcement for the state's Parks and Wildlife Department — released videos showing the gator being carried to a truck. From there, it was taken to the Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo in New Braunfels, near San Antonio.

The woman who raised the alligator used to volunteer at that same zoo. She apparently took the gator home with her at least 20 years ago, when it was either an egg or a hatchling, the zoo said in a video on its Facebook page.

Texas law forbids anyone from possessing live alligators without also having an alligator farmer permit — a hurdle that comes with a number of requirements. After determining that the woman wouldn't be able to get the needed permits to have an alligator on her property, the state agency reached out to the zoo, which sent staff members to help transport the reptile to its new home, where it now lives among other gators.

The wildlife agency says the alligator was apparently well taken care of, according to TV station KHOU. But its erstwhile owner is now facing two tickets for illegal possession of the alligator, each with a maximum fine of $500, Garza-Mayberry said.

"Alligators naturally shy away from humans," the wildlife agency notes in its guidelines on the animals. "Problems arise when alligators are fed by people. The alligator loses its fear of humans and begins to associate people with food."

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