Progress | Common News Update

Apr272020 by adminNo Comments

Global warming is undoing decades of progress made protecting marine reserves

April 24 (UPI) -- For decades, conservationists have relied on marine reserves, protections that limit human activities like fishing across portions of the ocean, to increase biodiversity and fish biomass. In addition to protecting vulnerable ecosystems, marine reserves have helped scientists study the best strategies for conserving marine species and their habitats. But new research suggests marine preserves and their protective abilities are wilting under the pressure of rising global temperatures and repeated coral bleaching events, erasing decades of progress. "Climate change is so fundamentally changing the structure and composition of coral reef ecosystems, that the way the ecosystem functions and responds to common management and conservation approaches needs to be carefully re-ev...

Dec172019 by adminNo Comments

Jamie Dimon says he’s ‘disgusted by racism’ and progress is needed at JP Morgan after report

Finance

J.P. Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon told employees that he's "disgusted by racism and hate in any form" after a New York Times report detailed instances of discrimination at the bank's branches."We must make sure that the culture we aspire to reaches every corner of our company," Dimon said in a memo sent late Friday to employees and obtained by CNBC. "We have done some great work on diversity and inclusion, but it's not enough. We must be absolutely relentless on doing more."Earlier this week, the New York Times reported that a black J.P. Morgan employee and customer experienced racial discrimination by managers at branches in the Phoenix, Arizona area, and had made audio recordings as evidence. In one case, the customer had difficulty attaining private client status despite moving a hundre...

Dec112019 by adminNo Comments

Climate change: Major emitters accused of blocking progress at UN talks

Science

Delegates from developing countries have reacted angrily to what they see as attempts to block progress at the COP25 meeting in Madrid. One negotiator told the BBC that the talks had failed to find agreement on a range of issues because of the blocking actions of some large emitters. Carlos Fuller from Belize said that Brazil, Saudi Arabia, India and China were "part of the problem".Other observers said there was a serious risk of failure at the talks.Ministers from all over the world have arrived in Madrid for the high-end negotiations that will determine the final outcome of this conference. Despite a huge climate demonstration on the streets of the Spanish capital last Friday, hopes of an ambitious declaration at COP25 have sm...

Sep202019 by adminNo Comments

Euclid space telescope to study ‘dark Universe’ makes progress

Science

Europe's space mission to uncover the secrets of the "dark Universe" has reached a key milestone.The test model of the Euclid telescope has just emerged from a chamber where it was subjected to the kind of conditions experienced in orbit.It was a critical moment for engineers because the successful trial confirms the observatory's design is on track.Euclid, due for launch in 2022, will map the cosmos for clues to the nature of dark matter and dark energy.These phenomena appear to control the shape and expansion of the Universe but virtually nothing is known about them.The €800m venture, led by the European Space Agency (Esa), will be one of a group of new experiments to come online in the next f

Jun272019 by adminNo Comments

Tory hopefuls told not to squander UK science progress

Science

The Conservative leadership candidates have been urged to make a pledge to put scientific research at the heart of their economic policy. Scientific bodies have called on Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson to set out their long-term plans for research.They want them to commit to ensuring that the UK remains a world leader in research and innovation.There is also alarm that the political uncertainty is stalling efforts to develop a strategy for UK science.The president of the UK's Royal Society, Prof Sir Venki Ramakrishnan, told BBC News that the uncertainty "could threaten the research and innovation that are vital for the long-term health of our economy". More stories like this:Science has been relatively well-funded under Theresa Ma...