VISIT BY THE KING AND QUEEN OF THE NETHERLANDS TO MIAMI
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands visited the United States from April 13 to 15, specifically Pennsylvania and Florida. Accompanied by several ministers, they championed Dutch technology and businesses, highlighting the economic and historical ties between the two countries and paving the way for deeper trade relations.
In Miami on Tuesday, April 14, they visited Henry Mack School, where students painted murals with Dutch artists. They then met with Secretary of State Cord Byrd and attended a roundtable with business leaders on climate investment and exploring opportunities for collaboration in logistics and employment.
They also met with students from the Caribbean who are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as well as domino players in Little Havana. They then visited the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science at the University of Miami. One-third of the Netherlands is currently below sea level, and this European country has long developed sophisticated flood-control technologies, which are of interest to Florida lawmakers.
On Wednesday the 15th, the King and Queen attended a presentation by Dutch companies in the maritime construction sector aimed at potential American clients, followed by a visit to the Miami Heart and Vascular Institute, where doctors collaborate with Dutch companies.
Welcomed by Mayor Danielle Levine Cava, the royal couple thus enjoyed a thoughtful mix of cultural visits and opportunities for enhanced commercial collaboration.
ANOTHER UNWELCOME INVASIVE SPECIES: THE ASIAN EEL
Researchers at the University of Florida are asking residents for help in monitoring the presence of a new invasive species: the Asian swamp eel. First observed in 2007 in the Everglades, these eels are responsible for the decline in crayfish and amphibian populations.
They adapt easily to the environment of South Florida: they can breathe air, survive on very little oxygen, and burrow into the mud during dry seasons.
If you spot one of these eels, contact the FWC (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) immediately at 1-888-483-4681 or via www.ivegot1.org.
