In The News

Concern on North Korea Brings US Pressure

David Sanger February 9, 2005
Suspicions about North Korea's possible nuclear materials sales to other nations have prompted diplomatic actions aimed at amplifying Chinese pressure on Kim Jong Il. A US envoy traveled to Beijing, urging the government to join in the effort to force North Korea to abandon its weapons program. China has agreed to cooperate, swayed by the caliber of damning new scientific evidence, but has...

Local Tricks to Tackle Climate Shifts

Mustak Hossain February 4, 2005
Though the recent Indian Ocean tsunami had little do with climate change, it highlighted the vulnerability of the coastal areas of the region. As scientists anticipate rising sea levels in the coming decades, new strategies are needed to protect low-lying countries and small island states across the world. At the "Community Level Adaptation to Climate Change" in the Bangladeshi capital...

Driven by Costs, Fertility Clients Head Overseas

Felicia R. Lee January 25, 2005
Most Americans seeking fertility treatment stay close to home. Yet for many, the procedure is unaffordable in the United States. A single in vitro treatment can cost over US$10,000, and insurance rarely covers the procedure. Despite concerns about quality and safety, middle-class couples are increasingly heading overseas. "For the price of one I.V.F. cycle in the U.S.A. the patient can come...

G8 "Must Lead Climate Control"

Matthew Tempest January 25, 2005
With much of Europe angered by President Bush's withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, Prime Minister Tony Blair will go over the president's head this week to appeal directly to US business leaders. The chief executives of most of the biggest corporations in the world - some of them notorious polluters - will be meeting this week at the World Economic Forum in...

Japan's Nuclear Nightmare

Eric Johnston January 19, 2005
A recent fatal accident in a nuclear power plant in Mihama highlighted many often neglected aspects of nuclear plant safety and power regulation in Japan. Plants are now older and inspections less thorough, as utility companies seek to maximize operations and minimize costs in an age of deregulation. Scandals and accidents throughout Japan's nuclear history have been serious problems that...

Chinese Cell Phone Breaches North Korean Hermit Kingdom

Rebecca MacKinnon January 17, 2005
International interest in Northeast Asian affairs has focused primarily on the stalemate between Pyongyang and Washington. Across North Korea's northern and southern borders, however, business and technology - particularly in the telecommunications industry - are booming. With Chinese telecom companies setting up relay stations near the border, an increasing number of North Koreans may now...

Rethinking Science Aid

Keith Bezanson January 10, 2005
As the UN prepares to revisit its Millennium Development Goals in September, the topic of international development is on the minds of many. According to this SciDev.Net opinion piece, science and technology aid can play a crucial role in economic development - if used wisely. The authors push for an approach that encourages public-private partnerships that foster innovation, tailoring aid...