Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application He attended local schools and was a 1975 graduate of Nashoba Regional High School MA in 1972 along with his family and owned and operated D & D Farms in Stow until most recently.  Brian Taranto and his wife Brooke of Lancaster MA and twin brother Daniel Taranto of Montana He also leaves his 2 sisters Lori Duffy and Mary Taranto; 5 grandchildren and his other relatives and close friends He was predeceased by his son David Taranto in 2022.  Donald spent most of his life working diligently in the family business He was very devoted to his family and always kept their interests before his own especially on a large area of property in Unity Many of his family and friends benefited from his talent at designing and painting gas tanks and tour packs on their Harley Davidson Motorcycles Building and racing muscle cars was another passion of Donald He always looked forward to racing the quarter mile at the raceway in Epping Donald will forever be remembered as a kind and gentle man with a heart of gold “The Need For Speed” and his fearless approach to life and all it’s journeys.  Relatives and friends are invited to a period of visitation from 12:00pm to 3:00pm on Sunday 2024 at Tighe Hamilton Regional Funeral Home Services and burial will be held privately at the convenience of the family  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Donald's memory to the Stow Firefighters Association (Donate Here) Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors The recent case involving Taylor Taranto and his CZ Scorpion firearm has gained nationwide attention due to conflicting enforcement by the District of Columbia (D.C.) in combination with federal enforcement how it's being handled by the District and DOJ and add some speculation as to what might happen down the road whether that means the DOJ dropping one of the conflicting charges Let's take a look at what’s happened so far getting a concealed carry license is notoriously difficult with classes hovering around $350 in the area and fees costing you an additional $150 or so in addition to the 90-day processing time Meanwhile, the NFA, under Title 26, U.S. Code, Sections 5861(d) and 5845(a)(3) covers federal laws surrounding the registration of SBRs—failure to register one is a violation of federal law and things went south for him very quickly He faced two charges on the same day: The feds say it’s an unregistered SBR because the brace on it might make it fit the SBR definition law says he’s carrying a pistol without a license which doesn’t make sense since it can’t legally be both at once Sometime before March 2025, the first SBR charge was filed, and gun rights groups like Gun Owners of America (GOA) step in, asking the Department of Justice (DOJ) to drop it making the whole thing even messier since the two charges contradict each other Finally, on April 13, 2025, @mrgunsngear posted on X about the whole ordeal pointing out again that the CZ Scorpion can’t be both an SBR and a pistol and asking folks to spread the word to get someone to fix it for the sake of Second Amendment rights and of course The situation highlights the general frustration that gun owners often have with the implementation of both federal and state-level firearms laws and as new laws get added to both the federal and state legislatures the chances of things like this happening only increase If public pressure from gun rights advocates increases the DOJ might drop one of the charges against Taylor Taranto to address the contradiction especially since the dual classification of the CZ Scorpion as both an SBR and a pistol doesn’t hold up legally It’s clear to most people with a basic education that enforcing two conflicting laws in this way doesn’t make sense and is unreasonable Taranto’s defense could argue that the charges undermine each other where a judge could set a precedent by ruling on whether a braced CZ Scorpion should be treated as a pistol or an SBR potentially clarifying the murky rules around stabilizing braces it could embolden the ATF once again to crack down harder on braced firearms it might encourage more challenges to similar regulations strengthening the argument that such laws not only infringe on constitutional rights but also create more rules and procedures for people to follow that ultimately do nothing to increase public safety the outcome could significantly impact how braced firearms are regulated and revive this dead horse that we’ve been beating to death for over a decade now Reloader SCSA Competitor Certified Pilot Currently able to pass himself off as the second cousin twice removed of Joe Flanigan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ballisticaviation/ More by Luke C. I personally love that My Fellow Americans can purchase NFA-adjacent gadgets like this that filter heavily for IQ This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Everest Group and VIG Re Everest Group’s Chairman Taranto to Retire will retire from the role when his term expires in May Taranto has served as chairman of Everest’s board since 1994 and as chief executive officer from 1994 through 2013 current independent board member since 2016 and non-executive vice chairman of Global Atlantic Financial Group has been nominated by the board for election to succeed Taranto as chair at the May 2025 Annual Shareholders Meeting “We are deeply grateful for Joe’s steadfast leadership and commitment to Everest over several decades,” said Jim Williamson Everest has grown into a global P&C market leader with significant value potential we are delighted to nominate John to build on this strong foundation providing experience and insight that supports Everest’s next chapter and our strategy to deliver exceptional service and shareholder returns.” the reinsurance subsidiary of Vienna Insurance Group announced two senior appointments who will help build the company’s international and European footprints: Marc Haushofer and Viktor Faucret Marc Haushofer will join VIG Re as executive director Faucret has been promoted as managing director of VIG Re France and head of Treaty Non-Life With 40-plus years in the re/insurance industry Haushofer was most recently senior vice president Asia Pacific at RenaissanceRe he was executive vice president and CEO Asia Pacific at Validus Re where he established and led the Singapore branch he chaired the Singapore Reinsurers’ Association (SRA) since 2017 till end 2024.Haushofer also served as CEO and principal officer of Munich Re Singapore and a deputy member of executive management at Munich Re Munich VIG Re said Haushofer expertise will be invaluable in strengthening VIG Re’s international footprint Viktor Faucret joined VIG Re in October 2017 as a treaty underwriter and played a key role in the launch of its Paris operations His career has progressed through the roles of senior underwriter and underwriting manager for France and BeNeLux Faucret will be driving further developments in France The company said his appointment underscores its commitment to strengthening its senior management team and to deepen its presence in key markets VIG Re is a European reinsurer with a growing presence in Asia As the reinsurance company of Vienna Insurance Group VIG Re is headquartered in Prague in the Czech Republic VIG Re offers a range of treaty and facultative reinsurance solutions in property/casualty as well as life & health while managing the outward reinsurance programs of the VIG Group the company serviced over 670 insurance companies in 63 countries Please tell us what we can do to improve this article Get the insurance industry's trusted newsletter Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Shirley Marie Taranto Francis died peacefully on Saturday Shirley grew up surrounded by the love of her family and graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1958 She continued her education at Perkinston Community College where she showcased her athletic talents on the basketball court beginning a beautiful love story that led to their marriage on June 8 As an "Air Force wife," Shirley embraced a life of adventure traveling the globe with Michael while raising their family wherever his career took them where Shirley and Michael spent nearly 40 years Riverside became the backdrop for countless family milestones from their daughters' high school graduations and weddings to their grandchildren's baptisms Shirley earned her Realtor's License and embarked on a successful career in real estate and professionalism endeared her to clients making her a top producer at her company each year Shirley's heart always drew her back to Biloxi Her impressive collection of beads was a testament to her deep connection to the festivities and her hometown and she was known for her dedication to keeping everyone she loved safe creating a sense of comfort and security wherever she went with Italy holding a special place in her heart particularly their cherished trip to Ustica where she reconnected with her ancestral roots and met her Italian family Shirley immersed herself in the rich history of her Taranto lineage and Tiblier family roots in Biloxi meticulously preserving her heritage for future generations where they enjoyed precious time together before Michael's passing in 2022 where she received loving care from her eldest daughter Shirley is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 58 years Julius and Wilda Tiblier Taranto; her brother Julius "Scooter" Taranto Jr.; and many cherished cousins and family members Jerry Taranto (Ora Lee) and Micheal Taranto (Kathy) who affectionately carry on her legacy.  Shirley was the epitome of a devoted "Maw Maw" to her eight grandchildren: Will (Rylea) and Joe Tasker; Michael and Kelly Capuano; Edmund III This blessing would have undoubtedly filled her heart with immense joy A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Nativity B.V.M with family and friends invited to gather at 10 a.m Shirley and Michael will rest together at the Old Biloxi Cemetery Arrangements are under the care of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home and unwavering love for her family and Biloxi will remain forever in the hearts of all who knew her Shirley will always be our “Mississippi Queen” Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Shirley Marie Taranto Francis CEO Of Influence Awards Idaho Real Estate – Shawn Taranto – Realtor – The TarantoGroup Sign up for your daily digest of Idaho Business Review News The current Boise data center for ValorC3 is located at 10215 W Other locations are[...] The April NFIB Jobs Report showed that job openings were highest in construction manufacturing and [...] a new publication from Idaho Business Review With current mortgage[...] Sweet Zola’s Candy officially launched in January 2019 and since that time they have employed mor[...] the HRSA forecasted that there will be a shortage of about 87,150 full-time primary [...] joined Stark Accelerators Commercial Real Estate company wit[...] Boise’s Leo Geis has been seated on a federal NIST Forensic Sciences Committee on digital imaging Thomas Lloyd has joined law firm Miller Nash LLP’s financial services team based in the firm’s B[...] NeighborWorks® Boise is proud to announce that Inga Hadder has been promoted to Chief Operating Off[...] a global business and technology consulting company Sawyer Price received his MBA from Northwest Nazarene University and in addition KeyBank promoted Juan Sanchez to vice president and relationship manager for Key Private Bank has joined the Colliers management team as Director[...] Idaho Business Review provides 24/7 business news coverage and events honoring top business professionals Get our free e-alerts & breaking news notifications Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions Mandy Taheri is a Newsweek reporter based in Brooklyn You can get in touch with Mandy via email: m.taheri@newsweek.com either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Justice moved to drop a charge against January 6 riot defendant Taylor Taranto following a June Supreme Court ruling regarding the application of the federal obstruction statute In a 6-3 decision on June 28 the Supreme Court narrowed the scope of the federal obstruction statute used to charge over 355 Capitol riot defendants limiting its application in related prosecutions Prosecutors have started to back down from the charge in the wake of the ruling attorney Matthew Graves filed a motion to dismiss Taranto's obstruction charge "in the interest of justice." Newsweek reached out to Graves' office for comment via email on Thursday The riot erupted following claims from Trump that the election had been stolen from him via widespread voter fraud despite there being no evidence to back up his claims The insurrection resulted in one protester being shot dead and dozens of police officers injured Taranto is accused of entering the Capitol on January 6 and getting into a "scuffle" with police who were trying to get him to leave the building He was later forced out of the building but remained on the grounds Taranto was identified in a video at the Capitol recorded that day saying "So we're in the Capitol Building...we just stormed it." According to court records "This is me 'stormin' the capitol' lol I'm only sharing this so someone will report me to the feds and we can get this party rolling!" Had Taranto's run-in with the law ended on January 6 the newly droppedobstruction charge would have left him with just severalmisdemeanor offenses including disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds and knowingly entering a restricted building However, Taranto is also charged with having illegal firearms near former President Barack Obama's Washington D.C Nearly two years after being identified from online videos related to January 6 near Obama's residence after allegedly making threats to commit violence against a federal facility Officers found Taranto was in possession of a machete The 38-year-old is still facing two felony charges of carrying a pistol without a license and possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device ET: This article has been updated to include additional context and information Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all Subscribe now to get full access to our exclusive News Get started with a ch-aviation subscription unrestricted access to all of ch-aviation's news and data for 14 days Upgrade to our Data and News Subscriptions Aviation Intelligence for your everyday use We offer a comprehensive aviation industry database utilised by various entities such as operators Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker 2025 after a long and courageous battle against metastatic kidney cancer with his daughter Christina by his side 1944 in Cortland to Angelo and Esther Carr Taranto Thomas went on to graduate from McGraw High School In 1964 Thomas went to work for Brewer-Titchener Cooper Tools in Cortland and was a loyal employee there for 45 years before retiring in 2009 He especially loved cooking from his garden and we all loved eating from it He loved working on projects and anything to do with fixing things including his beloved chevys over the years.Above all else he loved his family He is survived by his daughter Christina Taranto of Cortland his brothers Angelo Taranto of Hamilton and William (Leah) Cobb of Scott as well as several nieces and nephews and cousins.Thomas was preceded in death by his wife Rosemary of 27 years in 2003 Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday April 8 A Private Family Christian Rite of Committal and Burial will follow in St The family will receive friends from 9-11 a.m.prior to services in the funeral chapel The family would like to extend its deepest gratitude and appreciation to the nurses aides and staff of Misty Glen and Guthrie’s 2C and 2S Contributions in his memory may be made to CNYSNAP Animal Shelter (cnysnap.org) Condolences may also be sent by visiting www.riccardifuneralhome.com Advertise Here! “Alexa, Play X101 Always Classic” Cookie ConsentWe use cookies to improve your experience on our site Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website Statistics cookies collect information anonymously This information helps us understand how visitors use our website Marketing cookies are used to follow visitors to websites The intention is to show ads that are relevant and engaging to the individual user You can find more information about our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy I graduated magna cum laude from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University after attending in a part-time evening program while working full-time as a paralegal and I am currently doing a clerkship at the U.S I want to recognize the Politics and History Departments because I truly think that the research and writing skills I learned in undergrad had a directly correlation with succeeding in law school I am very thankful for the support I’ve received from both departments with double majoring and I tell students in undergrad to definitely major in a humanities or social science subject like history or politics whenever they ask me for advice about law school Democrat Vinnie Taranto Jr. will face Republican Thad Altman to see who will sit in the District 5 Brevard County Commission seat after the November election.Altman who has served both as a state legislator and a county commissioner a community volunteer who sits on multiple boards and runs a media company Altman has served in both the Florida House and Senate he also represented District 5 in the County Commission from 1984 to 1992 Altman currently represents District 32 in the Florida House of Representatives but cannot seek reelection to that seat because of term limits Altman won the Republican primary over former Florida House member Ritch Workman Although not a lawmaker, Taranto himself is highly experienced in Space Coast civic life having served as the chair of the Save Our Indian River Lagoon Citizen Oversight Committee chaired Indialantic’s Sustainable Community and Resilience Committee and worked as a member on the marketing committee for the Economic Development Commission Taranto also worked as part of the team to save the historic Green Gables house in Melbourne and was a LEAD Brevard 4 under 40 recipient for both his career and volunteer work across Brevard County."The first thing people usually notice about me is my physical disability and I like that," Taranto writes in his resume "I was born with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita which limits the range of motion in my joints To accomplish as much as I have in my life I’ve had to learn to never give up and to be as creative as possible to overcome what others may consider daily hurdles My objective is to continue challenging myself and others to be the very best they can be." Taranto added in an interview that his disability has "allowed me to be a great problem-solver and to have patience Steele is finishing out the appointed term and currently is the chair of the County Commission The current salary for Brevard County commissioners is $60,272.98 There also will be elections this year in County Commission Districts 1 and 3 The District 5 seat represents swaths of South Brevard as well as parts of unincorporated South Brevard Altman conveyed his commitment to the challenge of balancing growth with effective infrastructure management and the County Commission is crucial in overseeing growth management development and infrastructure," Altman said "Quality-of-life concerns are vital for both community development and overall well-being It's essential that we guide planning in a systematic and rational manner to align it with infrastructure needs He also highlighted the importance of utilizing tax incentives and other strategies to draw businesses and create jobs on the Space Coast "It's crucial that we promote high-quality industries," Altman noted "We are fortunate to be one of the premier aerospace communities globally and the leading launch center in the world We need to ensure we continue attracting well-paying jobs to our region." Taranto hopes with his run to eschew the polar extremes exhibited by some politicians in both major parties and said his focus is on the county’s needs and that he wants to be a “commissioner for everyone in his district.”  Taranto has said he wants to look for opportunities to fix “inadequate regulation” and “antiquated” policies that have kept the lagoon’s health from being restored.The chair of the Save Our Indian River Lagoon Citizen Oversight Committee Taranto said he wants to find solutions to fund cleaner septic tanks and stronger storm water management across the county “We must start implementing a plan as well as find funding to support our residents for the upcoming unfunded but necessary mandates,” Taranto said Taranto also advocated for growth and development on the Space Coast while calling for balance to protect the natural environment as well “Without intentional planning our growth has led to strained infrastructure future expense pitfalls and an overall diminished quality of life,” he said Campaign financingAltman: Altman has far outraised his Democratic competitor in a race Altman's campaign haul so far amounts to $49,990.48 Many of Altman's donations come from developers conservative political action committees and others with Tallahassee ties while also receiving donations from groups such as Brevard Firefighters Local 2969 Taranto: Taranto has raised $15,625.50 and spent $14,560.39 Taranto loaned himself more than $10,000 for the campaign spread out across the last year while his other donations come from individual supporters Tyler Vazquez is the North Brevard and Brevard County government watchdog reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Vazquez at 321-480-0854 or tvazquez@floridatoday.com Occupation: Executive director at Astronauts Memorial Foundation Political/government/civic experience: Brevard County commissioner 1984 to 1992; Florida House of Representatives 2003 to 2008; Florida Senate 2008 to 2016; Florida House of Representatives Taranto Management Associates; founder and CEO of Media over Matter Productions Education: Bachelor of Science in telecommunications from University of Florida  Political/government/civic experience: Chair of Save Our Indian River Lagoon Citizen Oversight Committee; chairman of Indialantic's Sustainable Community & Resiliency Committee; council member of Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast Website or Facebook page: https://vin4thewin.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250324988158/en/ Already have an account? Login 3 min readVeteran driver Kyle Larson will look to continue his success at Texas Motor Speedway when he takes part in the 2025 NASCAR Wurth 400 on Sunday including a win at the 2021 Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 and Ryan Blaney and Christopher Bell at +900 in the latest 2025 Wurth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway odds Sunday's race is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m Before making any NASCAR at Darlington Raceway picks you NEED to see what CBS Sports NASCAR writer Steven Taranto has to say who moonlights as a sim racer and has 20 career wins in iRacing is the lead NASCAR writer for CBSSports.com and he chronicles stock car racing with the same thoroughness and passion that he's had since becoming a full-time race fan in 2001 He has an annual NASCAR media credential and also publishes a popular weekly NASCAR predictions column famously calling Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez's breakthrough wins in 2022 Taranto was red-hot for SportsLine in 2024 as he nailed 17 winners including 16-1 longshot William Byron at the Daytona 500 and 14-1 longshot Chase Elliott at Texas Anybody following his NASCAR picks has seen HUGE returns with Carson Hocevar earning his first top-10 finish of the year (+250) "The first top-10 finish of Carson Hocevar's Cup career came in this race one year ago when he earned a 10th-place finish for the first of what would be six top 10s in his Rookie of the Year campaign," Taranto said "Considering that as well as his other past Texas successes – he earned his first career Truck Series win there in 2023 – expect Hocevar to be in this mix for a top 10 this time around as well particularly given that he's coming off a sixth place run at Talladega a week ago." Taranto has also identified three other drivers in his 2025 NASCAR Wurth 400 best bets He's also high on a huge NASCAR longshot who's going off at over 50-1 potentially netting any backer a HUGE payday You ABSOLUTELY NEED to see his picks before locking in any NASCAR picks of your own So who wins the 2025 Wurth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway, and which MASSIVE longshot do you need to target NOW? ...  Join SportsLine right now to see the 2025 NASCAR at Texas Motor Speedway best bets, all from the expert who nailed a colossal 17 race winners last year! picks: Projected NASCAR at Texas leaderboard props: NASCAR at Texas best bets from proven racing experts Texas driver pool from a daily Fantasy pro NASCAR picks: Best bets for the Texas Motor Speedway race from proven racing expert HD Video Download Satire is a powerful force for political and cultural change But is it even possible in a world that outstrips our imagination on a daily—or even hourly—basis Reason's Nick Gillespie talks with them about the widely pronounced post-election vibe shift by which artists feel emboldened once again to slay sacred cows with impunity And they explore whether contemporary markets for books and other forms of creative expression are actually capable of supporting a new era of satire 9:03—Philip Roth declared satire impossible in 1961 12:30—How culture has fractured 15:17—Donald Trump and figures beyond satire 18:31—Class dimensions of satire 22:52—How Stein's feminist activism inspired Self Care 23:58—Tom Wolfe and satirical realism 31:25—Is the world becoming post-literate 34:25—Joe Rogan as the successor to Marcel Proust 35:28—How women dominate the publishing industry 47:43—Stein's cultural criticism and poetry Nick Gillespie is an editor at large at Reason and host of The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie Jenna Sundel is a Newsweek reporter based in New Jersey She has in-depth knowledge of crime and courts She is a graduate of Montclair State University You can get in touch with Jenna by emailing j.sundel@newsweek.com A January 6 defendant facing multiple charges for allegedly showing up to former President Barack Obama's house with guns ammunition and supplies for an explosive device in 2023 is asking for a pardon a lawyer representing defendant Taylor Taranto filed a motion to dismiss all counts in his client's indictment on February 3 Taranto was indicted on 11 charges last year Five of those charges stemmed from his alleged participation in the January 6 while the other six stemmed from his alleged activity on June 29 On January 25, U.S. Attorney for the District of Colombia Edward R. Martin, Jr. filed a motion to dismiss the charges against Taranto related to January 6, 2021. Martin cited an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on January 20 complete and unconditional pardon" to individuals convicted of offenses "related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6 Hernandez argued that Taranto's conduct in June 2023 is "directly related" to the Capitol riot "In every pleading filed by the government in this case they argue – explicitly or implicitly – that the J6 and June 2023 conduct are related," Hernandez wrote the government has interpreted Trump's executive order as applicable to actions that happened "on dates other than January 6 and in locations other than the Capitol." Martin opposed the motion in a court document filed on Tuesday He argued that the pardon granted by Trump is limited by time and location "These counts are wholly unrelated to the events of January 6 Martin also pushed back on the legal precedent cited by Hernandez including two cases where the dismissed charges included failure to appear in connection with the January 6 cases "Those cases are inapposite to the facts here," Martin said Navy veteran who is married with two children Taranto is also facing a wrongful-death lawsuit alleging that he attacked a Capitol Police officer who later died by suicide after suffering from "severe depression" and a "brain injury." after being seen near Obama's home in the Kalorama neighborhood of Washington Prosecutors allege that Taranto was storing weapons in a van parked near the former president's house Over 1,500 people have been charged in relation to the January 6 in the motion to dismiss: "As a pardon ceases all litigation Taranto moves this Court to dismiss his entire case." Attorney for the District of Colombia Edward R in his opposition: "Taranto's actions in June 2023 in Washington has yet to rule on Taranto's motion to dismiss all charges Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering Do you have any questions about this story Newsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter. You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Affirm spinoff Resolve raised $60m from investors including its parent company.. president at MSD Global Health Innovation Fund is one of the 100 leading corporate venturing professionals in our 2024 Powerlist Bill Taranto is president of MSD Global Health Innovation Fund and MSD Global Health Private Equity he is now widely recognised as a corporate venture industry veteran who has steered the investment unit through several management changes at the parent company “The great thing is the way this is structured or if [MSD] has more CEO changes or strategic shifts in the future This fund knows how to interact with the organisation based on what they want to do.” “This fund knows how to interact with the organisation based on what they want to do” causing the CVC unit to also shift its focus investing in startups relevant to biopharma needs such as patient data intelligence platform Culmination Bio and Baseimmune which is using AI to design mutation-proof vaccines MSD Global Health Innovation Fund is a $500m evergreen fund focused on identifying opportunities that are adjacent to MSD’s core business of pharmaceuticals and vaccines It has invested more than $1bn into its portfolio companies including a recent deal to back Unnatural Products a California-based startup which is using AI to discover new drugs Taranto has more than three decades of experience in the healthcare industry He was at US-based pharmaceutical conglomerate Johnson & Johnson for 18 years holding various positions including vice president of healthcare strategy and venture where he was responsible for creating new healthcare business models through M&A and venture capital He also worked in the investment banking sector for eight years The Global Corporate Venturing Powerlist represents the 100individuals spearheading the future of the corporate venturing industry These individuals excel in terms of their venturing approach and structure number and quality of portfolio companies and in their contributions to the corporate venturing profession See the full 2024 Powerlist here. Which corporates are backing which startups Find details about global CVC units in the CVC Directory Comprehensive data on the current trends in corporate investment GCV provides the global corporate venturing community and their ecosystem partners with the information insights and access needed to drive impactful open innovation Across our three services - News & Analysis and the GCV Institute - we create a network-rich environment for global innovation and capital to meet and thrive At the heart of our community sits the GCV Leadership Society providing privileged access to all our services and resources Metrics details The burden of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is increasing worldwide with genetic and environmental factors being possibly responsible for the observed epidemiological figures represents an interesting case study as it hosts well inside the city one of the biggest steel plants in Europe This is a cross-sectional ecological study carried out in the year 2020 in the province of Taranto designed to estimate the burden of ASD in the municipalities of Taranto and Statte classified as high environmental risk areas (Contaminated Site of National Interest—SIN) compared to the other 27 municipalities of the same province Differences have been evaluated using the Chi Square Test Children aged 6–11 years identified in SIN municipalities had a statistically significant higher prevalence of ASD than children of other municipalities (9.58 vs No statistically significant difference was observed for the 12–18 years group (3.41 vs The findings observed in this study are suggestive of the association between urban residential proximity to industrial facilities emitting air pollutants and higher ASD prevalence The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of ASD in the Province of Taranto comparing the findings of the two highly polluted municipalities of Taranto and Statte with the other less polluted nonindustrial 27 municipalities of the same Province This cross-sectional ecological study was carried out in the year 2020 in the province of Taranto, which has a total population of 576,000 inhabitants (Fig. 1) distributed in 29 municipalities (189,000 in Taranto city, 13,000 in Statte and 374,000 in the other towns). The province and the city of Taranto—share of total population (%) In Italy each child diagnosed with ASD receives specific school support by a dedicated teacher All the diagnostic and supportive costs are fully covered by the National Health System and by the Ministry of Education the ASD diagnoses were based on official data referring to the number of students individually supported by a dedicated teacher due to diagnosis of ASD and confirmed by the local health authority established in each province This methodological approach has been chosen because local health authorities do not have a centralized database of ASD diagnoses performed by their neuropsychiatric services while the school office in each province is able to provide this kind of data for all the municipalities belonging to the same province children with any type of disability or emotional and behavioural difficulties must regularly attend ordinary classes at all levels of compulsory education from primary to the second year of high school (at least until 15 years old with the possibility to continue up to the age of 18) To receive individual teacher support for their schoolchildren with ASD parents must obtain a specific certification issued by the school office after the diagnosis of ASD performed by neuropsychiatric services of the local health authority instead of referring to the data scattered in the different local neuropsychiatric services which are very complex to get and group together we have referred to the school office database in a completely anonymous way as a surveillance system The prevalence of ASD was calculated as the ratio between the number of children 6–18 years individually supported by a dedicated teacher due to diagnosis of ASD and the total population 6–18 years residing in the area Data are presented for the whole population for two different age groups (6–11 years and 12–18 years) and by sex The 95% Confidence Interval of prevalence data was calculated using the SAS software To evaluate the possible impact of living in highly polluted vs less polluted setting on ASD diagnosis two areas were compared: the municipalities of Taranto and Statte classified by the Italian Ministry of Environment as SIN vs all the other municipalities belonging to the Province of Taranto The same statistical methodology was used to compare data collected in a previous study carried out in the province of Lecce with data above-described areas Figure 1 was created by Stefano Cervellera with the use of the software Tableau Desktop 2023 Rules and protocols on data collection and processing of Internal review board of the Institute for Maternal and Child Health—IRCCS Burlo Garofolo were strictly followed With the support of the school office of the province of Taranto using only total numerical data by municipality or by school these data could in no way be traced back to individual identifiers All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations 344 children and adolescents aged 6–18 years with ASD were identified in the Province of Taranto in a total residing population of 70,325 children of the same age range Table 1 shows the absolute number and the prevalence of ASD per 1000 children by age groups (6–11; 12–18 years old) in the Province of Taranto The overall prevalence of ASD was 4.89 per 1000 children with higher values in the 6–11 year group and a significant decrease in the 12–18 year group A total of 291 children were male (prevalence 8.09 per 1000) and 53 were female (prevalence 1.54 per 1000) with a male:female ratio of 5:1. The male:female ratio was higher in the 12–18 year group (6:1) (Table 2) Children aged 6–11 years identified in SIN municipalities (Taranto and Statte) had a statistically significant higher prevalence of ASD than children of other municipalities (9.58 vs. 6.33 per 1000 respectively, p = 0.002). No statistically significant difference was observed for the 12–18 year group (3.41 vs. 2.54 per 1000, p = 0.12) (Table 3) The overall (6–18 years) RR for ASD diagnosis in the SIN municipalities vs other municipalities was 1.45 (95% CI 1.18–1.80) and 1.51 (95% CI 1.17–1.96) for children 6–11 years of age Comparison of the prevalence of ASD between the SIN municipalities other municipalities of the province of Taranto and the province of Lecce This study shows that in a highly polluted area the prevalence of ASD was higher than in the other non-polluted municipalities of the same province, especially for 6–11 year old children (Fig. 2) this is the first study comparing the prevalence of ASD in a highly polluted setting versus other less polluted non-industrial municipalities of the same limited geographical area the prevalence of ASD in the polluted area of the SIN is confirmed to be higher from those recorded in these studies this could be attributed to the fact that some children with ASD may not attend high schools (the school dropout rate in Taranto among 14–18 year-old is 17.6%) and that high schools are not uniformly distributed in urban areas as primary schools are The study area (municipalities of Taranto and Statte) is characterized by the presence of a large industrial area hosting the biggest single-site integrated steel plant in Europe with the capacity of creating new steel straight from raw materials this study takes place in an area recognized as heavily polluted and investigated over the years by several studies that document both the high degree of pollution and the health risk beyond the link between specific pollutants and ASD the amount and the quality of evidence about the environmental contamination makes the SIN area a unique setting These findings are similar to those observed in our study While the strength of our study is its setting in an area recognized as heavily polluted and investigated over the years it should be also highlighted that the entire population under consideration inhabits a small territory of only 2467.35 km2 This group is ethnically and genetically homogeneous and all reside within the same natural environment the school dataset contains at least 95% of all diagnoses made by neuropsychiatric services due to the methodology used for data collection it is impossible to know the exact place and length of residence of each child with a lack of data about population mobility the province of Taranto is composed of urban agglomerations that are distant various kilometers from each other with no school bus service for schools outside the catchment area at the time of enrollment in primary school priority is given to children within the catchment area and children enrolled in primary schools outside their municipality of residence do not enjoy certain benefits All of this makes it rare for a child to attend school outside their municipality of residence and therefore it is unlikely to be a confounding factor for our study it may be speculated that family pediatricians and teachers caring for children in the SIN may have been aware of the environmental risks While this bias cannot be completely ruled out it seems unlikely since the difference between the two populations did not change over the last ten years starting from a period in which the awareness of the problem was much less we believe that even in the presence of greater sensitivity in the SIN area this is unlikely to explain the statistically significant differences highlighted between the two different areas It is unlikely that the children's cognitive problems escape the teachers On the contrary there could be an underestimation in the SIN area in case of denial of the problem by parents after the teacher's report particularly in the areas of lower socio-economic level present in the SIN Causal conclusions cannot be drawn without caution as autism and subclinical autistic behavior are of complex multifactorial origin and likely not attributable to a single cause the 95% confidence intervals of prevalence data calculated for the 3 areas under study overlap and this may indicate that the statistically significant differences observed may only have been achieved due to the large sample size given the largely consistent results across the many studies that have explored aspects of air pollution and ASD we can consider the role of pollutants present in the study area as responsible for the greater incidence of ASD to be plausible while questions remain about which specific component of air pollution is the most relevant this study reinforces the hypothesis of an association between air pollution exposure and ASD These data add to the body of knowledge that heavy industrial pollution represents a challenge for children representing an important and clear near-term public health priority The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study availabre from the corresponding author on reasonable request Epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders: A review of worldwide prevalence estimates since 2014 Sex differences in autism spectrum disorders Environmental toxicants and autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review Grandjean, P. & Landrigan, P. J. Neurobehavioural effects of developmental toxicity. Lancet Neurol. 13(3), 330–338. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(13)70278-3 (2014) Gorini, F., Muratori, F. & Morales, M. The role of heavy metal pollution in neurobehavioral disorders: A focus on autism. Rev. J. Autism Dev. Disord. 1, 354–372. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-014-0028-3 (2014) Dickerson, A. S. et al. Autism spectrum disorder prevalence and associations with air concentrations of lead, mercury, and arsenic. Environ. Monit. Assess. 188(7), 407. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5405-1 (2016) Liew, Z. & Guo, P. Human health effects of chemical mixtures. Science 375(6582), 720–721. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abn9080 (2022) Association of genetic and environmental factors with autism in a 5-country cohort Role of epigenetic transgenerational inheritance in generational toxicology Association of autism with toxic metals: A systematic review of case-control studies Ding, M., Shi, S., Qie, S., Li, J. & Xi, X. Association between heavy metals exposure (cadmium, lead, arsenic, mercury) and child autistic disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front. Pediatr. 11, 1169733. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2023.1169733 (2023) Stojsavljević, A., Lakićević, N. & Pavlović, S. Does lead have a connection to autism? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Toxics 11(9), 753. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11090753 (2023) Biosca-Brull, J. et al. Relationship between autism spectrum disorder and pesticides: A systematic review of human and preclinical models. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 18(10), 5190. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105190 (2021) Early-life exposure to environmental air pollution and autism spectrum disorder: A review of available evidence https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/it/attivita/suolo-e-territorio/siti-contaminati/siti-di-interesse-nazionale-sin A feasible methodological approach to estimate the burden of autism spectrum disorder: Results from the EPI-ASD study in the Province of Lecce (Southern Italy) The Italian Data Protection Authority. https://www.garanteprivacy.it/home/docweb/-/docweb-display/docweb/9042718 101/2018 - General Authorisation to Process Personal Data for Scientific Research Purposes Autism spectrum disorder prevalence and proximity to industrial facilities releasing arsenic PCDD/F and dioxin-like PCB in human blood and milk from German mothers Influence of low-level prenatal exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs on empathizing systemizing and autistic traits: Results from the Duisburg birth cohort study 2.3.7.8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in breast milk increases autistic traits of 3-year-old children in Vietnam Association of urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites with symptoms among autistic children: A case-control study in Tianjin Global prevalence of autism: A systematic review update Global prevalence of developmental disabilities in children and adolescents: A systematic umbrella review What is the male-to-female ratio in autism spectrum disorder As the wind blows: The effects of long-term exposure to air pollution on mortality PCDD/F wind-selective sampling in Taranto area Use of official municipal demographics for the estimation of mortality in cities suffering from heavy environmental pollution: Results of the first study on all the neighborhoods of Taranto from 2011 to 2020 Environment and health in contaminated sites: The case of Taranto Industrial air pollution and mortality in the Taranto area Southern Italy: A difference-in-differences approach Verbale conferenza dei servizi 8 Giugno 2010 Aree sottoprogetto 4 Quartiere Tamburi (Ta) Topsoil and urban dust pollution and toxicity in Taranto (southern Italy) industrial area and in a residential district Report misure di polveri e metalli effettuate il 16/02/2018 presso l’Istituto scolastico “Gabelli” nel Q.re Tamburi di Taranto a seguito di un evento di Wind Day Arpa Puglia Report analisi polveri filtri scuola Gabelli Tamburix.pdf Amodio, M., de Gennaro, G., Gilio, A. & Tutino, M. Monitoring of the deposition of PAHs and metals produced by a steel plant in Taranto (Italy). Adv. Meteorol. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/598301 (2014) A geo-chemo-mechanical study of a highly polluted marine system (Taranto Italy) for the enhancement of the conceptual site model Dioxins from industrial emissions to the environment Monitoring of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs and seasonal variations in mussels from the Mar Grande and the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea Metals and PCB levels in some edible marine organisms from the Ionian Sea: Dietary intake evaluation and risk for consumers Dioxin levels in livestock and grassland near a large industrial area in Taranto (Italy) Contratto di ricerca tra Istituto Superiore di Sanità e ILVA S.p.a “Studio di monitoraggio di policlorodibenzodiossine (PCDD) e policlorobifenili (PCB) nel latte materno di donne di Taranto e Provincia “ (31/7/2015–13/7/2018 Relazione scientifica conclusiva a cura di Elena De Felip Dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in human breast milk collected in the area of Taranto (Southern Italy): First case study Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorobiphenyls in women of reproductive age in Italy: A human biomonitoring study The effects of chronic lifelong activation of the AHR pathway by industrial chemical pollutants on female human reproduction Non-occupational exposure to heavy metals of the residents of an industrial area and biomonitoring Assessment of environmental and occupational exposure to heavy metals in Taranto and other provinces of Southern Italy by means of scalp hair analysis Studio esplorativo di biomonitoraggio tra gli allevatori delle masserie della Provincia di Taranto [Exploratory biomonitoring study among workers of livestock farms of the Taranto Province] Blood lead levels in children and pregnant women living near a lead-reclamation plant Rapporto di Valutazione del Danno Sanitario nell’area di Taranto Stabilimenti ILVA—ENI—CISA—APPIA ENERGY ai sensi della LR 21/2012 Scenario emissivo 2016 A systematic literature review on the association between exposures to toxic elements and an autism spectrum disorder Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): Risk factors for autism spectrum disorder? Neurocognitive impact of metal exposure and social stressors among schoolchildren in Taranto The effects of the exposure to neurotoxic elements on Italian schoolchildren behavior Download references Authors are grateful to the school office of Taranto province to the head teachers Antonietta Iossa and Scalera Elisabetta to the teacher Paola Casella and to the director of ARPA Puglia Vittorio Esposito Authors thank Susan Silbermann for the English revision of the manuscript This work was supported by the Italian Ministry of Health through the contribution given to the Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS Burlo Garofolo–Trieste Medical Professional Association of Taranto Cosimo Nume & Alessia Giuseppina Servidio Clinical Epidemiology and Public Health Research Unit Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS Burlo Garofolo Luca Ronfani & Alessia Giuseppina Servidio City Hall Bureau of Demographic Statistics Stefano Cervellera & Alessia Giuseppina Servidio Medical Professional Association of Forlì-Cesena Maria Pia Ruffilli & Alessia Giuseppina Servidio Egidio Barbi & Alessia Giuseppina Servidio assisted with the interpretation of the results developed the statistical methods and critically revised the manuscript critically reviewed and revised the manuscript All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work The authors declare no competing interests Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-67980-0 Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science By continuing to browse this website, or closing this message, you agree to our use of cookies Valentino Valentini (second from the right), Italy’s Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy at the inauguration of the Vestas production line in Taranto. © Vestas Europe’s wind turbine manufacturing capacity is ramping up to meet the EU climate and energy security targets This week Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas inaugurated a new production line for offshore wind blades in Taranto The factory expansion will produce state of the art 15 MW offshore wind blades It will create 1,300 additional direct jobs plus many more indirect jobs from suppliers and related services in the region This a prime example of how EU money can help unlock investments in cutting edge clean tech manufacturing in Europe – and of the economic benefits generated by wind in Europe This week WindEurope took part in the inauguration of a new production line for offshore wind blades in Taranto Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas has been manufacturing onshore wind turbines in Taranto since 1998 With the latest expansion Vestas is now starting to manufacture state of the art 115m long blades for its V236-15 MW offshore wind turbine in Taranto as well This a prime example of how EU money can support investments in cutting edge clean tech manufacturing in Europe The EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility has played an important role in Vestas decision to scale up its manufacturing footprint in Italy The project has benefitted from Italy’s Recovery and Resilience Plan channeled by Invitalia Italy’s National Agency for Investment Attraction and Enterprise Development Vestas also named the availability of skilled local workforce in Southern Italy and the 26-years of manufacturing experience in the factory as a key factor in choosing to invest in Taranto The project also illustrates the economic benefits generated by wind energy in Europe The new production line has already given a significant boost to local employment in the Apulia region the workforce at the factory increased from around 700 to over 1,600 employees the company expects to reach 2,000 employees at the factory over the coming months “The inauguration is an important step in the ramp up of Europe’s wind energy supply chain The new production line will boost Europe’s manufacturing capacity for powerful modern offshore wind turbines and help strengthen Europe’s wider energy security It’s a blueprint for what the EU’s industrial strategy and its Clean Industrial Deal need to aim for: boosting clean tech manufacturing to deliver clean and competitive energy at scale” says WindEurope Chief Policy Officer Pierre Tardieu the same dolphin population has thrived for millennia Residents are fighting to keep it that way Where the heel meets the boot of the Italian peninsula The city was founded by the Spartans in 706 B.C. “The dolphin becomes a kind of totemic animal of the city Not just symbolic but really protector of the city linked to the foundation myth,” says Giovanni Pietro Marinò Dolphins are as plentiful in the city’s history as they are in its waters it wasn’t until the early 2000s when marine biologist Roberto Carlucci from the University of Bari started to ask questions about how many exist and how they survived in a city historically dominated by a polluting industries The city remains visibly marked by its recent industrial past—its gargantuan structures looming over the skyline residents wouldn't leave their homes on windy days to avoid air pollution blown into the city “It’s like a puzzle that gets richer and richer as the pieces increase,” says Carlucci Dolphins often appear in Greek and Roman mythology as benevolent sea creatures Taranto was wealthy and powerful enough to mint its own coins to identify the currency as coming from Taranto one can still see dolphins from old Taranto’s seaside promenade coming very close to the city out of curiosity or chasing food that the striped dolphins of the gulf have unique genetic features not found in other parts of the Mediterranean This suggests that the dolphins seen today might be descendants of the ones the Ancient Greeks saw “These dolphins have Taranto written in their DNA,'' says Cristiana De Leonardis a marine biologist with the Jonian Dolphin Conservation After more than a decade of surveying parts of the Gulf of Taranto researchers at the conservation organization identified six cetacean species: spinners—which are also the largest population estimated at around 20,000 individuals—bottlenose and common dolphins Sperm whales use the area as a nursery ground and researchers have also occasionally spotted fin whales (Five ways orcas are surprising scientists.) the dolphin population has remained stable and the key to their survival might lie hidden thousands of feet below the sea’s surface a submarine canyon called the Taranto Valley reaches 6,500 feet at its lowest point The canyon is an active habitat for cephalopods Its steep slopes also vertically mix warm waters near the surface with deeper cold waters rich in nutrients boosting the production of phytoplankton at the base of the food chain making the gulf of this industrial city a surprising marine haven The coastal Italian city wants to ensure its waters remain a sanctuary for its long residing dolphins dolphins contend with several growing threats: boating The Italian navy has its largest base there and the city’s commercial harbor is expanding The first Italian offshore wind plant was inaugurated in 2022 energy company Eni has a large oil refinery plant Underwater noise pollution from these activities poses a risk to marine mammals like dolphins, studies show Dolphins use sound to communicate with each other and the underwater noise generated by marine traffic and industry disrupts these essential behaviors Less clear is how air pollution from Europe’s largest steel plant a public-private enterprise referred to as ILVA Carlucci believes “it’s almost impossible that the pollution generated along the coast doesn’t have an impact” on the marine environment and its creatures But determining a direct correlation between factories pollution and specific impacts requires more research Taranto's steel production peaked in the 1970s and industrial byproducts have allegedly been linked to a number of health concerns city officials want to install a marine protected area to create a healthy environment for both people and dolphins.Photograph by Donato Fasano Getty ImagesThis steel plant marked the city’s environmental landscape for decades production peaked at the turn of the 1970s and 1980s when it employed more than 40,000 people roughly 16 percent of Taranto’s population at the time and produced more than 17 million tons of steel annually The plant now produces around three million tons a year a reduction partially driven by lawsuits alleging a link between hazardous emissions and deadly health conditions like cancer Taranto seeks a greener future for both humans and dolphins “This city suffered the mistakes that many parts of Italy did We cut our connections with the sea to build industries,” says Rinaldo Melucci He wants to rebuild those connections and transition the city from its industrial past to a more sustainable future local politicians are now working with scientists to establish a marine protected area (MPA) in part of the gulf and set rules aimed at limiting noise pollution and ship traffic (Inside the ambitious push to protect a third of the world's ocean.) The MPA is still pending approval from Italy’s Ministry of Environment, with no clear deadline. Nevertheless, Melucci, the city’s mayor, is pushing ahead and says the city will start setting up the local offices that might one day monitor the MPA. Notably, Italy is among the European countries with the lowest number of MPA, according to the European Environmental Agency, despite being one with the most miles of coastline.  Marine biologist Carlucci worries that an increasingly active harbor will harm the ancient Taranto population before marine protections are established: “My biggest fear is that we are going to be too late when we finally establish one.” Transitioning from Taranto, the city of ILVA, to restoring the city’s environment has been a slow, challenging process. The old town, which was off limits until a few decades ago, is being restored and reopened. Cruise ships now dock at Taranto harbor, and the city is attracting international sea sports events. Says De Leonardis, "I want Taranto to be the city of dolphins, once again”. is pushing ahead and says the city will start setting up the local offices that might one day monitor the MPA Italy is among the European countries with the lowest number of MPA according to the European Environmental Agency despite being one with the most miles of coastline. "},"type":"p","style":{}},{"id":"html28","cntnt":{"mrkup":"Marine biologist Carlucci worries that an increasingly active harbor will harm the ancient Taranto population before marine protections are established: “My biggest fear is that we are going to be too late when we finally establish one.”"},"type":"p","style":{}},{"id":"html29","cntnt":{"mrkup":"Transitioning from Taranto to restoring the city’s environment has been a slow which was off limits until a few decades ago and the city is attracting international sea sports events."},"type":"p","style":{}},{"id":"html30","cntnt":{"mrkup":"Says De Leonardis \"I want Taranto to be the city 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the dolphins seen today might be descendants of the ones the Ancient Greeks saw."," "," "," "," "]},{"type":"p","content":["“These dolphins have Taranto written in their DNA,'' says Cristiana De Leonardis a marine biologist with the Jonian Dolphin Conservation."," "," "," "," "]},{"type":"p","content":["After more than a decade of surveying parts of the Gulf of Taranto Sperm whales use the area as a nursery ground and researchers have also occasionally spotted fin whales."]},{"type":"p","content":["(",{"type":"a","content":[{"type":"i","content":["Five ways orcas are surprising scientists."]}],"attrs":{"href":"","target":"_blank"}},")"]},{"type":"p","content":["Since monitoring started 15 years ago "," "," "," "," "," "," "," "," "," "]},{"type":"p","content":["In a well-balanced ecosystem ",{"type":"a","content":["phytoplankton"],"attrs":{"href":"https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/marine-food-pyramid-1/"}}," sustain a wide range of sea creatures like shrimps which feeds the fish that dolphins rely on for food Because scientists only began monitoring Taranto’s dolphin population recently it’s unclear how humans have challenged their survival over the centuries the two species have lived side-by-side making the gulf of this industrial city a surprising marine haven."]},{"type":"h2","content":[{"type":"b","content":["Taranto turns to its past "]}," "," "," "," "," "]},{"type":"p","content":["The coastal Italian city wants to ensure its waters remain a sanctuary for its long residing dolphins."]},{"type":"p","content":["Off the city’s coast ",{"type":"a","content":["studies show"],"attrs":{"href":"https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2019.00606/full"}}," and the underwater noise generated by marine traffic and industry disrupts these essential behaviors."]},{"type":"p","content":["Less clear is how air pollution from Europe’s largest steel plant But determining a direct correlation between factories pollution and specific impacts requires 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future."]}],{"type":"inline","content":{"name":"Ad","props":{"ad":{"type":"fitt-article-inline-box","className":"fitt-article-inline-box"},"className":"natgeo-ad","placeholders":{"compact":{"size":[300,250]},"regular":{"size":[300,250]}},"initSelf":true},"context":{},"config":{"gridDisplayMode":"none"}}},[{"type":"p","content":["To preserve this unique population and set rules aimed at limiting noise pollution and ship traffic."]},{"type":"p","content":["(",{"type":"a","content":[{"type":"i","content":["Inside the ambitious push to protect a third of the world's ocean."]}],"attrs":{"href":"https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/how-preserving-pristine-seas-can-help-save-fish-and-the-climate-feature","target":"_blank"}},")"]},{"type":"p","content":["The MPA is still pending approval from Italy’s Ministry of Environment with no clear deadline."," ","Nevertheless despite being one with the most miles of coastline."," "]},{"type":"p","content":["Marine biologist Carlucci worries that an increasingly active harbor will harm the ancient Taranto population before marine protections are established:"," ","“My biggest fear is that we are going to be too late when we finally establish one.”"]},{"type":"p","content":["Transitioning from Taranto and the city is attracting international sea sports events."]}],{"type":"inline","content":{"name":"Ad","props":{"ad":{"type":"fitt-article-inline-box","className":"fitt-article-inline-box"},"className":"natgeo-ad","placeholders":{"compact":{"size":[300,250]},"regular":{"size":[300,250]}},"initSelf":true},"context":{},"config":{"gridDisplayMode":"none"}}},[{"type":"p","content":["Says De Leonardis once again”."]},{"type":"inline","content":{"name":"EditorsNote","props":{"body":"Correction: A previous version of this article stated Taranto was older than Rome 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Channel."},"rchTtl":{"markup":""}},"sections":[{"name":"Animals","id":"fa010584-7bbf-3e92-90f9-586bb27fce94","type":"sources","uri":"https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals"}],"headline":"Social media loves to villainize dolphins Here's why it's wrong.","link":"https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/bottlenose-dolphins-cruel-evil-behavior"},{"description":"Deep-diving toothed whales wash up dead with stomachs full of plastic and prey alike Nat Geo Image Collection","dsc":"Two adult sperm whales swim side by side Caribbean Sea.","rchDsc":{"markup":"Two adult sperm whales swim side by side Caribbean Sea."},"rchTtl":{"markup":""}},"sections":[{"name":"Animals","id":"fa010584-7bbf-3e92-90f9-586bb27fce94","type":"sources","uri":"https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals"}],"headline":"Why are whales eating plastic bags from the Chinese novel Journey to the West Japan.","rchDsc":{"markup":"The Monkey King Songokū "},"rchTtl":{"markup":""}},"sections":[{"name":"History & Culture","id":"b0c8dd52-23a8-34c0-a940-f46792bc9e70","type":"sources","uri":"https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history"}],"headline":"The real history behind the legend of China's Monkey King","link":"https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/who-is-sun-wukong-monkey-king"},{"description":"From western toad tadpoles to glowing wetlands Wildlife Photographer of the Year","dsc":"Dolphins of the Forest by Thomas Peschak Photojournalist Story Award ‘Among the Trees’ The Amazon river dolphin is one of two freshwater dolphin species living in the Amazon and Orinoco basins Only this species has evolved to explore the seasonally flooded forest habitat Portfolio Story: Thomas Peschak documents the relationship between endangered Amazon river dolphins also known as botos or pink river dolphins and the people with whom they share their watery home The Amazon river dolphin’s relationship with humans is complex Traditional Amazonian beliefs hold that the dolphins can take on human form Others see them as thieves who steal fish from nets and should be killed Thomas took these images in areas where local communities are creating opportunities for tourists to encounter the dolphins This brings another set of problems: when they’re fed by humans the dolphins become unhealthy and younger individuals don’t learn to hunt for themselves Location: Brazil and Colombia","rchDsc":{"markup":"Dolphins of the Forest by Thomas Peschak The Amazon river dolphin is one of two freshwater dolphin species living in the Amazon and Orinoco basins Thomas Peschak documents the relationship between endangered Amazon river dolphins and the people with whom they share their watery home.  Others see them as thieves who steal fish from nets and should be killed.  A screen-test image of actress Margaret Hamilton as The Wizard of Oz's Wicked Witch of the West The image is colorized to nod to the cinematic villain's iconic green skin By 2024-11-19T07:41:00+00:00 granted wind turbine OEM Vestas a nine-year licence to use the Taranto port platform The facility will be used to support production of wind turbine blade for Vestas’ V236 president of the Port Network Authority of the Ionian Sea by expanding its production capacity and presence in domestic and foreign markets will consolidate the role of the port of Taranto as a hub for the logistics and export of wind turbine parts plants.” Jakob Wegge-Larsen will become chief financial officer at Vestas during the second quarter of 2025 New offshore wind capacity additions in Europe are poised to hit a record high this year topping 4 GW for the first time and more than doubling additions seen in 2021 Italy has been held back by the absence of a comprehensive investment programme and an unstable political landscape that prevented the domestic project cargo market from reaching its potential Now it seems the shackles have been removed with government spending on the up under the stewardship of a level- headed leader Portugal’s Laso Transportes and Tagar Group have formed a strategic partnership aimed at expanding and consolidating their presence in the lifting and transport sector Robin Watson will succeed Forth Ports’ chair Lord Smith of Kelvin as he retires after 10 years in the role UK-headquartered winch specialist Rotrex Winches has rebranded as LGH Winches across the UK Site powered by Webvision Cloud A story of family and love for the land is the one that has burned like a living fire for more than 100 years at the Varvaglione winery in Leporano on the eastern Ionian coast south of Taranto among paradisiacal coves of white sand and crystal clear sea the Varvaglione Family works on its very own personal beta generation of wine led by Cosimo and Maria Teresa Varvaglione looks to a sustainable and social future through collaborations with prestigious universities to monitor the vineyards and respect the environment The winemaking practices are authentic as are the ideas that drive the constant search for ethical modernity A common feeling that embraces the entire family and that Cosimo Varvaglione has passed on to his children Marzia All of them with the same irrepressible passion that translates into constant study and work to make their story greater and greater a story that is grafted onto Puglia's native grape varieties "Without positive finance there is no sustainability Here in the vineyard we apply new agronomic techniques and technologies to counter climate change is touched even more closely since it is strong and changes from year to year This is to give the best quality of product who goes on to quote a phrase his father Cosimo Varvaglione repeats like a mantra ”Good grapes can be ruined in the cellar but bad grapes cannot be improved in the winery with the support of the tech company Xfarm real drones capable of collecting (in the feeding phase) reflected light from leaves and This is precisely where they can intervene fuel and water but rather by precisely centering the area in need of support Vineyards are thus sprinkled with lots of sensors that capture data such as air humidity leaf wetness (real input for disease development) A decidedly winning system that also attracted the attention of the University of Bari accompanied the University of Georgia to show a virtuous example of biotechnology in the field which has caused Puglia to post dramatic figures of up to -40 percent Among the latest innovations is "lombricomposting" or the use of earthworms to decompose organic matter producing a high-quality compost that enriches the soil with nutrients improving its structure and water retention capacity This consequently results in less chemical fertilizers and more environmentally friendly viticulture the eastern coast have literally been enveloped by the mass tourism that has affected Puglia Yet if of Valle D'Itria and Salento we have fully explored traditions and lands of this side of Apulia perhaps everything has not yet been said: the rock churches of Mottola the paradisiacal beaches of Leporano Marina and Marina di Pulsano the beauty of Taranto with the majestic Aragonese Castle and the ancient noble palaces of the center as well as the old city born on a real island Not to mention the Mar Grande and Mar Piccolo that meet here between dolphins and centuries-old mythiculture that gives the symbol of the local cuisine the Taranto mussel also known as “gnore.” The Varvaglione family in this sense is a promoter of slow tourism made up of the discovery of the most ancient traditions Owned by the family is Masseria Pizzariello a very old 17th-century fortified estate: here today you can take walks among the vineyards but also picnic in the vineyard drive vintage cars along the crystal clear sea iron-rich soil is ideal for growing vines in the more than 150 hectares of property From these grapes come wines that have achieved great success and recognition in Italy and around the world: suffice it to say that 80 percent of the wines produced are destined for foreign countries with a total of 5 million bottles produced annually There is the Papale Collection created for the winery's 90th anniversary the 12eMezzo Collection that blends past and future with low-alcohol wines the Family Collection that pays homage to each of the members of the Varvaglione family with red and white wines from indigenous grape varieties Terra Collection to pay homage to Puglia with distinct characteristics of the local terroir and then bubbles with a white of Falanghina and a rosé blend of Primitivo All with one common denominator: innovative quality also recognized by numerous prestigious certifications is an important recognition that attests to our commitment to 360-degree sustainability but also economic and social sustainability of wineries ensuring a holistic and integrated approach The Varvaglione 1921 winery has always been deeply connected to the land and the values of environmental sustainability and over the past year we have undertaken a series of initiatives aimed at reducing our environmental impact and promoting more sustainable practices.” In fact Varvaglione participates in the RafCycle program for reel recovery an initiative to recycle waste materials from their labels This promotes a circular economy within the supply chain Their active participation in sustainability and a more environmentally friendly future also translates into initiatives to protect the oceans This is done through the use of Nomacorc Ocean an innovative line of wine stoppers made from recycled materials from ocean plastic waste to combat marine pollution thus ensuring that the wood used to produce them comes from responsibly managed forests This certification ensures the traceability and environmental responsibility of the materials we use Another significant innovation has been the introduction of the glass stopper within our product range This type of stopper not only preserves the organoleptic characteristics of the wine helping to reduce the use of plastic and other unsustainable materials." LEPORANO (TA) - Italy | phone +39 099 5315370 www.varvaglione.com - info@varvaglione.com Do you want to discover the latest news and recipes of the most renowned chefs and restaurants in the world La nostra società utilizza inoltre cookie funzionali per registrare informazioni sulle scelte dell’utente e per consentire una personalizzazione del Sito; ad esempio Questi cookie possono essere installati dalla nostra società o da Terze parti In caso di disabilitazione di questi cookie la qualità e l’esperienza di navigazione potrebbe non essere soddisfacente Questi cookie sono installati da social media per consentire la condivisione dei contenuti del presente Sito Essi sono in grado di monitorare la navigazione compiuta anche in altri siti e creano un profilo dell’utente sulla base dei suoi interessi Ciò potrebbe avere un impatto sul contenuto e messaggi visualizzati sugli altri siti visitati non sarà possibile utilizzare o visualizzare questi strumenti di condivisione per l’installazione e l’uso di tali cookie occorre il consenso dell’utente Per maggiori informazioni consulta la pagna cookies policy Words by Natalie Vakulin Mental illness is an experience that varies drastically from person to person — but the importance of receiving and accepting help is true for perhaps everyone UBC creative writing alum Léa Taranto’s debut novel showing how the right help at the right time Taranto also explores the alternative — how harm can also come disguised as help criticizing aspects of Canadian health care which make mental health services inaccessible or ineffective Mira Durand has obsessive compulsive disorder anorexia and other simultaneously existing disorders an aspiring writer and one of the teens who affectionately call the Residency Adolescent Treatment Centre simply The latest in a string of psychiatric wards Mira is equipped for her move to the most secure ward of the Residence with a journal full of stories and an only slightly shorter string of swears for the staff Her story contains many aspects of every teenager’s life — crushes Throughout all of it is her OCD that at times seems to control her life self-harm and rituals permeate into everything that Mira does bonding with staff over a shared love of fantasy These interactions are what bring out the authenticity and undeniable realness of the almost memoir-like novel a nerdy optimist for a therapist and a first love are just some of the significant people that cause Mira to shift toward healing Her large family includes a seemingly perfect cousin and her frail grandparents that a raw genuinity winds between the lines Mira and her mother both overflow with love toward one another but their relationship is also riddled with guilt This relationship is where the tender heartbreak of the book unfolds and where the nuance of mental illness and its far-reaching effects are explored she makes the decision to try to get better for the people who care about her Mira sets upon a path of resisting some of her compulsions taking back small liberties from the clutches of her disorders I considered briefly whether I was supposed to dislike the main character at times so full of teenage angst it made me cringe But suddenly I found myself two-thirds of the way through finally seeing the humanity and the achingly familiar melodrama of being 16 The book characterized Mira for what she is — a still-fledgling writer with a story to tell and a struggling teenager trying to navigate a world of pain and love I can see how impactful A Drop in the Ocean will be for teenagers especially those who have had similar experiences to Mira or her “fellow inmates” at the Residence poignant passages and heartbreaking rendering of loss and self-hatred make it an important book for young people who are struggling The message we are left with is to seek help when we need it and to criticize institutions that are supposed to help us but don’t The end leaves a bitterly realistic yet hopeful aftertaste Though mental illness is rarely something that is cured — instead a constant journey of relapses and recovery — there is help to be had Pay attention to Taranto’s content warning the text deals with heavy topics and includes horrific descriptions And like Taranto urges in her content warning A Drop in the Ocean will be released on May 20 Have feedback? Email feedback@ubyssey.ca Everest Group board chair Joseph Taranto is to step down in May He has served as chairman at the carrier since 1994 You have reached the limit for gifting for this month Insurance Insider US is the premier intelligence solution for the P&C insurance market Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy Insurance Day is part of Maritime Intelligence This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Maritime Insights & Intelligence Limited registered in England and Wales with company number 13831625 and address c/o Hackwood Secretaries Limited Lloyd’s List Intelligence is a trading name of Maritime Insights & Intelligence Limited Lloyd’s is the registered trademark of the Society Incorporated by the Lloyd’s Act 1871 by the name of Lloyd’s For high-quality copies or electronic reprints for distribution to colleagues or customers please call UK support +44 (0)20 3377 3996 / APAC support at +65 6508 2430 Global Atlantic Financial Group vice-chair Your username does not meet the requirements Sorry - public email accounts are not allowed An account with that username already exists Unfortunately we've not been able to process your registration Your question has been successfully sent to the email address below and we will get back as soon as possible This article has been sent to my@email.address