Technology

KAUST Professor Carlos Duarte Wins Prestigious Japan Prize for Pioneering Marine Science Research

Published

1 year ago

April 16, 2025

Second time a KAUST scientist receives Japan Prize, making it the only university in MENA region to be honoured with global accolade

THUWAL, Saudi Arabia, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is proud to announce that Professor Carlos M. Duarte, Ibn Sina Distinguished Professor of Marine Science, has been awarded the internationally acclaimed Japan Prize for his groundbreaking contributions to marine ecology and his pioneering research on the crucial role of blue carbon ecosystems as a nature-based climate solution. Professor Duarte’s work has transformed the world’s understanding of ocean-based climate solutions and their potential to address global environmental challenges.

The Japan Prize, often referred to as the “Japanese Nobel Prize” and regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious awards in science and technology ––honours exceptional achievements that contribute to global peace and prosperity.

Professor Duarte’s award acknowledges his decades of research on blue carbon ecosystems, including seagrasses, mangroves, and salt marshes. Despite covering only 0.2% of the ocean floor, these ecosystems store approximately 50% of all carbon buried annually in marine sediments. His findings have played a critical role in shaping international strategies for leveraging these ecosystems to combat climate change and restore biodiversity.

Professor Duarte will receive the award in a formal ceremony in Tokyo on April 16th this year, presided over by His Majesty Emperor Naruhito.

“Receiving the Japan Prize is a deeply humbling moment,” said Professor Carlos Duarte. “This honour recognises the extraordinary potential of our oceans in restoring planetary health. I hope this spotlight on blue carbon inspires a new wave of ambition, particularly among younger generations of scientists and leaders, to embrace nature-based solutions and work collaboratively to address the climate crisis”.

“Professor Duarte’s recognition is a testament to KAUST’s commitment to cutting-edge research and to Saudi Arabia’s growing impact in sustainability and environmental science globally,” said Professor Sir Edward Byrne, President of KAUST. “His work exemplifies KAUST’s role in advancing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative, driving innovation in marine conservation, climate innovation, and scientific leadership, both regionally and internationally.”

Beyond his research, Professor Duarte has been instrumental in advising Saudi Arabia on its national marine conservation efforts and national sustainability strategies, ocean stewardship. He has also played a pivotal role in shaping global ocean policy, serving as the Executive Director of the G20 Backed Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP), which aims to fast-track innovation in coral reef restoration around the world. His expertise continues to influence climate negotiations and marine conservation frameworks worldwide.

Duarte is the second person from KAUST to win the prize. In 2013, a former Vice President of Research, Jean M. J. Fréchet, won for outstanding achievement in the development of chemically amplified resist polymer materials for innovative semiconductor manufacturing process.

About KAUST
Established in 2009, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is a graduate research university devoted to finding solutions for some of the most pressing scientific and technological challenges in the world as well as Saudi Arabia in the areas of food and health, water, energy, environment and the digital domain. KAUST is a curiosity-driven, interdisciplinary

KAUST brings together the best minds from around the world to advance research. More than 120 different nationalities live, work and study on campus. KAUST is also a catalyst for innovation, economic development and social prosperity, with research resulting in novel patents and products, enterprising startups, regional and global initiatives, and collaboration with other academic institutions, industries and Saudi agencies.

About CORDAP
The Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP) is a G20 initiative dedicated to accelerating research and development to safeguard coral reefs globally. CORDAP serves as a global hub, fostering collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and the private sector to develop and deploy innovative solutions for coral reef conservation, restoration, and adaptation to climate change.

KAUST is a key funder and strategic partner of CORDAP, demonstrating its commitment to coral reef conservation. KAUST’s financial support enables CORDAP to drive critical research and develop innovative solutions for protecting these vital ecosystems.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/kaust-professor-carlos-duarte-wins-prestigious-japan-prize-for-pioneering-marine-science-research-302429142.html

Technology

CupidFeel Insights Show How Shared Interests Affect Initial Connection Outcomes

Published

45 minutes ago

May 3, 2026

New behavioral insights from CupidFeel offer a carefully considered look at how shared interests influence whether an initial connection on a dating platform is sustained or abandoned in those first critical exchanges.

GIBRALTAR, May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The findings by CupidFeel are not dramatic, but they are telling. People who referenced a shared interest — whether a genre of music, a type of cuisine, a sport, a creative practice, or even a shared discomfort with small talk — within the first few exchanges of a new conversation were found to be measurably more likely to continue that conversation beyond the initial contact window. The effect was not uniform across all interest categories; certain types of shared interest appeared to carry more relational weight than others.

It was also observed by CupidFeel that the timing of when shared interests entered a conversation mattered. Connections where common ground was discovered organically — through the natural flow of exchange rather than prompted by a profile field or a direct question — showed stronger indicators of sustained interest. The discovery, in other words, carried more meaning when it felt like something found rather than something declared.

Among the most quietly striking findings in the CupidFeel data was the role of specificity. Broad shared categories — “we both like travel,” “we both enjoy cooking” — were associated with polite, often brief exchanges that rarely extended past pleasantries. But when specificity entered the picture — when one person mentioned a particular documentary that had stayed with them, or a city they had visited and could not stop thinking about — the conversational energy shifted. Something opened up.

In a CupidFeel review of trends in profile engagements, those whose profiles reflected specific, idiosyncratic interests — rather than broadly appealing ones — also showed higher rates of receiving first messages, a finding that runs gently counter to the instinct many people have to present themselves in the most universally appealing terms possible.

What seemed to matter most was not the quantity of overlap but whether the overlap that existed was felt — whether it produced a sense of being seen in some particular, non-generic way. A CupidFeel review of early conversation patterns suggests that a single deeply resonant shared interest may be more generative for early connection than a long list of surface-level commonalities that, taken together, feel more like a demographic profile than a person.

About CupidFeel

CupidFeel is an online dating platform built around the belief that meaningful connections begin with emotional honesty and the willingness to let a conversation go somewhere real. It came into being for people who are less interested in the mechanics of dating and more drawn to the possibility of something that feels grounded — exchanges that move at their own pace, guided by genuine curiosity rather than performance.

A CupidFeel review of its own design principles returns consistently to the same question: what does it take for a first message to feel like it might be worth the journey? The platform makes room for the kind of interaction that doesn’t always have a clear destination but feels, from the first exchange, like something real. CupidFeel is a place where the unexpected is not something to be managed, but something to be welcomed.

Media Contact

Timothy Albers, CupidFeel, 1 14845691657, smm@cupidfeel.com, https://cupidfeel.com/

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/cupidfeel-insights-show-how-shared-interests-affect-initial-connection-outcomes-302759951.html

SOURCE CupidFeel

Technology

Las Vegas Review-Journal Launches VegasBusiness, a New Multiplatform Business Brand Serving Southern Nevada Leaders

Published

2 hours ago

May 3, 2026

LAS VEGAS, May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ –The Las Vegas Review Journal today announced the launch of VegasBusiness, a new multiplatform brand designed to deliver authoritative reporting, analysis, and insight to Southern Nevada’s business leaders and decisionmakers.

VegasBusiness debuts with a biweekly print section distributed in the Sunday Las Vegas Review Journal, a new digital hub at VegasBusiness.com, a weekday business email newsletter, and a bi monthly podcast. Together, the platforms create the most comprehensive local business news and intelligence offerings in the Las Vegas market.

Vegas Business, powered by the state’s largest and most experienced business reporting team, focuses on the people, companies, and forces shaping Southern Nevada’s economy, including gaming and hospitality, real estate development, technology, finance, logistics, and small business.

“Las Vegas is one of the fastest evolving business markets in the country, and its leaders need timely, trustworthy intelligence to compete and grow,” Keith Moyer, publisher and editor of the Las Vegas Review Journal, said. “VegasBusiness expands our business journalism across platforms and delivers deeper insight, greater frequency, and broader reach for Southern Nevada’s decision makers.”

Expanded Business Coverage Across Platforms

VegasBusiness features business coverage designed for how executives consume news today—through print, digital, email, audio, video, and social channels.

Editorial franchises include CSuite Insider, featuring executive interviews; Building Las Vegas, with in depth reporting on major projects and deals; Innovation, spotlighting people and ideas driving change; Price Points, examining data and consumer trends; Small Business, highlighting enterprising local companies; and a curated Calendar of business events and conferences.

“We created this section to provide Las Vegas business leaders with practical, locally grounded intelligence so t hey can make faster, more informed decisions on growth, talent, and regulation,” Erin Edgemon, business editor of the Review Journal, said. “VegasBusiness is designed to help business leaders understand what’s happening in the economy, why it matters, and how it impacts their organizations and communities.”

A Premium Environment for Advertisers

In addition to expanded editorial coverage, VegasBusiness provides a new advertising and sponsorship platform for brands seeking to reach business decision makers in Southern Nevada. The brand offers integrated opportunities across print, digital, newsletters, podcasts, video, social media, and events, supported by advanced audience targeting and measurement.

“VegasBusiness gives advertisers access to the largest concentration of local business decision- makers in the market,” Michael LaBonia, senior vice president of sales for the Las Vegas Review Journal, said. “It’s a high impact, data driven platform that connects brands with influence, intent, and measurable results.”

Availability

VegasBusiness Magazine: Biweekly, Sundays in the Las Vegas Review JournalDigital: 24/7 at VegasBusiness.com**Newscast:** Weekday segment mornings on 7@7 a.m.**Newsletter:** Featured in the weekday Business Brief

Additional information is available at VegasBusiness.com.

Since 1909, the Las Vegas Review-Journal has been Nevada’s comprehensive media leader. Over the years, it has transformed from an award-winning newspaper that delivers local and community news and spans the globe with far-reaching topics and coverage. The Review-Journal has forged into multimedia and digital platforms through its website, Reviewjournal.com, which includes a network of niche publications, breaking news, e-newsletters, customized content, custom printing, a production studio, and more to meet the specific needs of readers and advertisers alike.

Media Contact

Wanda English Blair, Vice President of Marketing
(702) 383-0223
wblair@reviewjournal.com

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SOURCE Las Vegas Review-Journal

Technology

CasinoPartiesLLC.com Expands Premier Casino Party Rentals in Manhattan, NY — Authentic Tables, Professional Dealers, Custom Packages for Corporate & Private Events

Published

15 hours ago

May 2, 2026

Top-rated Manhattan casino party rental company offers fully staffed blackjack, roulette and craps experiences to elevate corporate events, weddings and private parties across New York City

MANHATTAN, N.Y., May 2, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — CasinoPartiesLLC.com, a leading provider of casino party rentals in Manhattan, NY, today announced expanded availability and new customizable event packages for corporate events, private parties, fundraisers and weddings throughout New York City. With authentic casino tables, professional and entertaining dealers, premium play-money chips and signage, CasinoPartiesLLC.com delivers a turnkey casino entertainment experience that brings the excitement of Las Vegas to Manhattan venues.

“CasinoPartiesLLC.com delivers authentic casino table rentals and professional dealers throughout Manhattan, NY — offering turnkey, customizable packages that transform corporate events, weddings and fundraisers into high‑energy, engaging experiences across Midtown, Chelsea and the Upper East Side.”

Focused on delivering safe, legal and memorable experiences, CasinoPartiesLLC.com offers:

Casino table rentals: blackjack, roulette, craps, poker tables sized for intimate and large gatheringsProfessional dealers and croupiers trained in guest interaction and game managementFully customizable packages: themed décor, tournament-style play, prize support, and multi-table setupsPortable, all-inclusive service: setup, teardown, on-site management, and event coordinationService across Manhattan neighborhoods and greater NYC, including Midtown, Upper East Side, Chelsea, and downtown venues

“Our Manhattan clients want authentic casino entertainment without the hassle of sourcing equipment or personnel,” said Ismael Qureshi, CEO of CasinoPartiesLLC.com. “We specialize in seamless casino party rentals in Manhattan, NY, providing professional dealers and tailored packages that fit corporate budgets and private event needs while complying with local regulations.”

Benefits for Manhattan event planners and hosts:

Boost guest engagement with interactive casino entertainmentEasy logistics with single-vendor solutions for gaming, staffing and prize handlingScalable options for small private parties to large corporate galasProven experience executing events in Manhattan hotels, event spaces and private residences

Booking and availability:

CasinoPartiesLLC.com is currently accepting bookings for summer and fall events across Manhattan and greater New York City. Early reservations are recommended to secure preferred dates, table counts and themed packages.

About CasinoPartiesLLC.com:

CasinoPartiesLLC.com is a premier provider of casino party rentals in Manhattan, NY and the New York City area. Specializing in staffed casino tables, custom event packages and professional service, CasinoPartiesLLC.com helps event planners and hosts create high-energy, memorable experiences for corporate functions, weddings, fundraisers and private celebrations. For more information or to request a quote, visit https://www.CasinoPartiesLLC.com.

Media contact:

Ismael Qureshi

President

CasinoPartiesLLC.com

Phone: (917) 829-8481

Email: Sales@casinopartiesLLC.com

Website: https://www.CasinoPartiesLLC.com

Media Contact

Ismael Qureshi, ISH Events LLC, 1 (917) 829-8481, Ismael@CasinoPartiesLLC.com, CasinoPartiesLLC.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/casinopartiesllccom-expands-premier-casino-party-rentals-in-manhattan-ny–authentic-tables-professional-dealers-custom-packages-for-corporate–private-events-302760531.html

SOURCE CasinoPartiesLLC.com