Saudi oil minister says new research university will diversify nation's economySeptember 23rd, 2009 Saudi oil minister: New university to help economyRIYADH, Saudi Arabia — The opening of Saudi Arabia's new multibillion dollar, first-ever fully integrated coed university on Wednesday is a pivotal step forward in the oil-rich kingdom's quest to strengthen its economic base, said the Oil Minister Ali Naimi. "With all the natural resources that God has endowed us, the kingdom is keen to diversify its sources of income for the future," Naimi said at the institution's inauguration outside the coastal city of Jeddah in remarks carried by the state press.
Saudi Arabia inaugurates first coed university, lauded as 'beacon of tolerance' by kingSeptember 23rd, 2009 Saudi Arabia inaugurates its first coed universityRIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia inaugurated on Wednesday its first-ever fully integrated coed university, and its ruler declared the institution will be a "beacon of tolerance" in a world attacked by extremists. The multibillion dollar King Abdullah Science and Technology University, or KAUST, boasts state-of-the-art labs, the world's 14th fastest supercomputer and one of the biggest endowments worldwide.
World's fisheries can recover under appropriate managementJuly 31st, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new study, an international team of scientists has determined that efforts to rebuild many of the world's fisheries are worthwhile and starting to pay off in many places around the world, thanks to appropriate management. Their study puts into perspective recent reports predicting a total collapse of global fisheries within 40 years.
Fish dinners not so endangered: Collapse of fisheries less likely, but fight's not over yetJuly 30th, 2009 Fish for dinner: Overfishing easing in some areasWASHINGTON — Crabcakes and fish sticks won't be disappearing after all. Two years after a study warned that overfishing could cause a collapse in the world's seafood stocks by 2048, an update says the tide is turning, at least in some areas.
Corals recover faster when they have clean water and plentiful sea lifeJuly 22nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has shown that bleached corals bounce back to normal growth rates more quickly when they have clean water and plentiful sea life at their side. The new research study, led by scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, suggests that by improving overall ocean health, corals are better able to recover from bleaching events, which occur when rising sea temperatures force corals to expel their symbiotic algae, known as zooxanthellae.
Fish fear divers and snorkelers who try to count them for censusJuly 21st, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new research by scientists from the University of Victoria has shown that fish avoid the divers and snorkelers who try to count them, and that is why using snorkelers and SCUBA divers may misrepresent the number of fish. Not all types of fish are equally frightened by the divers, and Faculty of 1000 member Helen Yap, who recommended the study, explains that therefore "such methods may not provide an accurate picture of the actual diversity and abundance of fish communities."
Counting coral reef fish informs researchers about local ecological changes.
30 percent of world's sharks threatened with extinctionJune 25th, 2009 LONDON - In a new assessment by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it has been estimated that over 30 percent of the world's sharks are threatened with extinction. According to a report by BBC News, the Red list gives the status of 64 types of shark and ray, over 30 percent of which face the danger of extinction.
Clinton vows 'dramatic expansion' of India-US tiesJune 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has vowed to usher in a new era of relations with India with a "dramatic expansion" in ties in fields ranging from trade to global security to science and technology. Calling India one of the few nations the new Obama administration saw as a global partner, Clinton confirmed she would go to India next month to build what she called the "US-India 3.0" relationship representing the next stage in their evolving ties.
Global IT industry grows 8 percent in 2008, India strugglesJune 9th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The IT industry worldwide grew by an estimated 8.2 percent in 2008 because of a good six to eight months of business as usual despite the meltdown, though Indian exporters took a beating, leading IT market researcher and consultancy Gartner said Tuesday. The industry recorded a revenue of $806 billion in 2008 against a turnover of $745 billion in 2007.
White House tightens some curbs on lobbying for economic stimulus projects, loosens othersMay 30th, 2009 White House rewrites curbs on lobbying stimulusWASHINGTON — The White House issued new rules Friday broadening some of its restrictions on lobbying for projects in the economic stimulus package, but retreating on others. All people will now be forbidden to have oral conversations with administration officials about some of the projects they are seeking from the $787 billion package.
Most polluted ecosystems recoverable within a lifetimeMay 28th, 2009 WASHINGTON - An analysis of 240 independent studies by researchers at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies has revealed that most polluted or damaged ecosystems worldwide can recover within a lifetime if societies commit to their cleanup or restoration. The Yale researchers found that forest ecosystems recovered in 42 years on average, while ocean bottoms recovered in less than 10 years.
Jackie Chan defends his 'China comments'April 22nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - After a controversy started following his comments about democracy in China, actor Jackie Chan has insisted that his remarks were taken out of context. Chan, 55, a Hong Kong native and one of the Communist nation's leading stars, had reportedly made the comment at a business forum in the country's Hainan province on April 18.
Drug for alcoholism also curbs compulsive thieving instinctsApril 1st, 2009 WASHINGTON - A medication for treating alcohol and drug addiction also curbs compulsive thieving instincts, according to a new research. University of Minnesota (U-M) Medical School's psychiatry department conducted an eight-week, double-blind study of 25 men and women aged 17-75, who spent an average of at least one hour a week stealing.
Obama signs new spending bill, eases sanctions on CubaMarch 12th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama has signed into law a $410-billion spending bill that will also ease some of Washington's economic sanctions on Cuba. Obama, who signed the bill Wednesday, however said it was 'imperfect' as the Congressmen had added pet projects to the $410 billion package, which is aimed at funding government spending until September 2010.
Obama signs new spending bill to ease sanctions on CubaMarch 12th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama has signed into law a $410-billion spending bill that will ease some of Washington's economic sanctions on Cuba. Obama, who signed the bill Wednesday, however said it was 'imperfect' as the Congressmen had added pet projects to the $410 billion package, which is aimed at funding government spending until September 2010.
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