JERUSALEM, Aug. 3 -- The American Jewish Committee issued the following news release: AJC is co-hosting with Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs a historic visit of African Christian and Muslim religious leaders. The visit to Israel focuses on ways religion can contribute to and inspire development. "This is the first time leaders from the two faiths, some from countries with serious Christian-Muslim tensions, are visiting Israel jointly," said Rabbi David Rosen, AJC's International Direc  more

WAYNE, N.J., Aug. 2 -- William Paterson University of New Jersey issued the following news release: Kathleen Waldron, Ph.D., the former president of Baruch College and a former senior executive at Citigroup, has assumed the presidency of William Paterson University in Wayne effective August 2, 2010. She is the institution's seventh president. Waldron served as president of Baruch College of the City University of New York (CUNY), one of the most selective public colleges in the northeast,   more

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 3 -- Rep. Howard L. Berman, D-Calif. (28th CD), issued the following news release: One month after his Iran Sanctions legislation became law, Rep. Berman noted with interest several reports outlining the effectiveness of the new sanctions. "Nearly a month after President Obama signed into law HR 2194, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act, more investment has been curbed in Iran than at any time since Congress first enacted sanctions again  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 -- The U.S. Agency for International Development issued the following news release: Today, Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), joined President Obama at the White House for the President's Town Hall with young African leaders to discuss their vision for Africa for the next 50 years. The115 young men and women are in Washington for the President's Forum with Young African Leaders. These young leaders, representing civil  more

ATLANTA, Aug. 2 -- The American Veterinary Medical Association issued the following news release: Sixteen extraordinary individuals were honored for the difference they have made in the veterinary medical profession during the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) President's Installation Luncheon during at the 147th AVMA Annual Convention. The individuals were honored not only for the difference their commitment to excellence, passion, dedication and hard work made in veterinary med  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's U.S. Geological Survey issued the following news release: The 2010 Ecological Society of America conference is in Pittsburg, Penn., from Aug. 1 to Aug. 6. This year's theme is Global Warming: The Legacy of Our Past, the Challenge for Our Future. Drowning marshes: How High Can the Seas Rise Before Wetlands Go Under? Habitat for many commercially important fish and shellfish populations, recreational fishing, and unique ways of liv  more

ROME, Aug. 4 -- The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization issued the following news release: Around one million people in Siyang County, China, are now benefiting from the capacity of poplar forests to restore marginal flood plains and stabilize the banks of the Yellow, Huai and Yangtze rivers. Large swaths of planted poplar trees now protect fields once ravaged by floods, wind, sandstorms and soil erosion, giving boost to agricultural activities. "Poplars are very fast-growing  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 -- Refugees International issued the following news release: Refugees International (RI), the leading advocacy organization on refugee crises worldwide, today announced the appointment of Michel Gabaudan as its new president. Mr. Gabaudan brings to RI a dedicated history of service to refugees, most recently as Regional Representative for the United States and the Caribbean for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). "In my twenty-five year career with  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 -- The White House issued the following news release: This afternoon, after his Town Hall with young African leaders, the President met with high-level officials from thirty-two African countries, the African Union, and other regional organizations as part of the ninth annual African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum. The Forum brings together high-level officials and business leaders to advance trade and economic ties between the Unite  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 -- The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of African Affairs issued the following remarks by President: THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you, everybody, please have a seat. Have a seat. Well, good afternoon, everybody. AUDIENCE: Good afternoon. THE PRESIDENT: Welcome to the White House, and welcome to the United States of America. And that includes even our friends from Ghana, who beat us in the World Cup. (Laughter.) Where are you? Over there?  more

BERKELEY, Calif., Aug. 3 -- The University of California at Berkeley issued the following news release: Using a combination of scientific methodology and old-fashioned legwork, human rights researchers based at the University of California, Berkeley, have systematically canvassed nearly 2,000 households in the Central African Republic, carefully documenting the devastating human impact of violence in the country, as well as detailing the opinions of how the country should move forward. The  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 -- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce issued the following news release: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will bring together American business and government officials with young African business and civic leaders tonight to discuss youth empowerment, good governance, and economic opportunities across Africa. The night's event comes on the heels of the young leaders' participation in today's presidential forum at the White House. "The American business community understands Afric  more

GRAND FORKS, N.D., Aug. 3 -- University of North Dakota issued the following news release: When people go on vacation, they want to concentrate on enjoying themselves and having fun, not on the potential illnesses, accidents and injuries that could ruin their good time. Travis Heggie, Ph.D., assistant professor in the University of North Dakota Department of Recreation and Tourism Studies, is one of the few people in the world who does research in travel medicine, a subject most tourists a  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 -- The African Development Foundation issued the following news release: The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) announced its intention to provide funding for a five year food security and economic development program to aid the Turkana region in the Republic of Kenya. The announcement came during the AGOA Ministerial Forum in Washington, D.C. In a signing ceremony for the Turkana Food Security Program, USADF Chairman Jack Leslie noted that USADF is eag  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 -- The U.S. Agency for International Development issued the following news release: As part of President Obama's commitment to partner with and strengthen African institutions, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the African Union signed their first long-term assistance agreement to advance prosperity, peace, and stability in Africa. The agreement extends through 2013 and covers programs worth approximately $5.8 million through FY 2011. The  more

MEDITERRANEAN SEA, Aug. 3 -- The U.S. Navy issued the following news release: USS Taylor (FFG 50) rendered assistance to three stranded Spanish boaters southeast of Gibraltar Aug 2. The boaters had experienced a mechanical failure while at sea testing their new rigid hull inflatable boat and had been adrift for approximately 24 hours. Taylor's bridge team responded quickly, lowering a small boat. Once on scene, Taylor's boat crew found the boaters were fully exposed to the elements with  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- The office of Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., has issued the following news release: Senator Webb called on the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a U.S. government development organization funded by American tax dollars, to immediately cease action on multi-million dollar development projects awarded to non-U.S. companies in Africa. Highlighting a recent spate of contracts to the Chinese state-owned Sinohydro Corporation, in a letter to David Yohannes, MCC's CEO, Webb warned  more

CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, Aug. 3 -- The United Nations Environmental Programme issued the following news release: Mount Kenya, the second-highest peak in Africa has been renowned for its wide tableau of animal and plant life, from the bamboo zone with its dense stands of bamboo to the upland forest, laden with orchids, ferns, wildflowers and trees. But according to a new United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) database, animal and plant species living on the 5,199 meter peak are glob  more