Applied Science University Ranks 25th in QS Arab University Rankings for 2025

Science and Health

TDT | Manama                                                      
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Email: [email protected]
Applied Science University (ASU) has proudly secured the 25th spot in the QS Arab University Rankings for 2025, solidifying its position as a top private university in Bahrain and a distinguished educational institution in the region. This milestone underscores the university’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence and its increasing impact on both regional and international education landscapes.
Prof. Waheeb Al-Khaja, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, extended heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Hatem Masri, the University President, and the entire ASU community for their relentless efforts in elevating academic standards. He highlighted that this achievement would have a lasting, positive effect on both the university and its students, enhancing the quality of education and shaping graduates to meet the demands of the public and private sectors alike.
Prof. Hatem Masri expressed his gratitude to Mr. Sameer Nass, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Prof. Waheeb Al-Khaja, along with all board members, for their unwavering support. He credited the university’s success to its collaborative efforts with regional and global partners and its alignment with labor market needs. Prof. Masri also recognized the vital contributions of the Supreme Council for the Development of Education and Training, the Ministry of Education, and the Higher Education Council for their role in advancing Bahrain’s education system.
Dr. Mohamed Youssef, Vice President for Administration, Finance, and Community Engagement, echoed the pride in ASU’s top-25 ranking. He noted that this recognition aligns with the university’s mission to position itself as a premier private higher education institution in the Arab world.
During the official QS ranking ceremony in Jordan, Prof. Masri and Dr. Youssef represented ASU, celebrating the university’s significant rise from 45th place in 2019 to 25th in 2025. This achievement is a testament to ASU’s continuous progress.
The QS ranking, one of the world’s top three university rankings published by Quacquarelli Symonds, evaluates thousands of institutions globally and serves as a reliable measure of academic quality and institutional advancement. ASU’s recognition in the QS rankings reflects its steadfast commitment to excellence and its growing influence in higher education both regionally and internationally.

Oman, USA boost space ties in high-level talks with NASA, SpaceX

Technology

MUSCAT : Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, through the National Center for Space, Artificial Intelligence, and Advanced Technologies, welcomed a U.S. delegation that included representatives from several major governmental and private institutions. Among the notable attendees were members of NASA, SpaceX, Planet, Maxar, and other key companies in the space industry.

The meeting fostered collaboration between representatives from Oman’s governmental agencies and private companies involved in the burgeoning space sector. Economic dialogue centered on potential partnerships and investment opportunities.

For all the latest news from Oman and GCC, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube page, which is updated daily.

Higley book review panels up and running

Arts & Culture, Books

The Higley Unified School District Governing Board last week reviewed a selection process for a committee of district personnel and parents that will review novels assigned to students by teachers.The discussion comes after some Higley parents objected to the content of novels being assigned to their children in some classes and complained they did not get permission slips when the materials were assigned. Brittany O’Neill, a Williams Field High English teacher, spoke at an August board meeting, stating that a parent of a child in her Honors Multilingual Literature class had been threatening legal action against her for the books she assigned.

Many other Higley parents and students came to her defense in the same meeting, with calls to respect the teacher’s judgment and to allow the high schoolers to broaden their world view by reading the novels.Last month, Gilbert Police opened an investigation on O’Neill after the parent lodged an official complaint on the matter.The district had previously updated its permission slips that allow a parents to demand a substitute assignment for a novel they found objectionable by indicating their reasons through checkboxes. The parents have two weeks from the date of receiving the slip from their children to read and review the material assigned.Simultaneously, the district updated procedures to for selecting community members to serve on a novel-review committee and its objectives in selecting books.In the meeting last week, Mary Davis, Higley’s director of professional development, broke down the steps the district took to select a committee that will review books for students in grades 6 through 12. People could apply in August.“Each school was provided with a snippet of information to include in their newsletter that they sent out over that time period, giving us a reach of over 15,000 people, which earned us 94 applicants – which was a much higher number than what I was expecting,” she said.There are two eligibility criteria that the applicants must fulfill in order to be considered for selection. First, they must be a HUSD teacher, district office staff member, HUSD administrator, HUSD parent or legal guardian or a community member living within the district boundaries.Applicants must also commit to reading a novel every four to six weeks and be open to complex works that might not be their usual preference.According to Davis, seven members of the district’s educational services then randomly selected applications for each of the four stakeholder groups – district office staff, parent/legal guardian/community members, site administration and teachers.The 28-member committee comprises one site administrator, three district office staff, 10 teachers and the remaining 14 are parents, legal guardians or Higley community members.Davis chairs the committee and Shauna Miller, the district’s executive director of special education, serves as the co-chair. 

Davis clarified that she and Miller are not participating in the novel selection process and their role is to merely facilitate the group with its work.The committee members are expected to read the materials that are sent for review and provide recommendations for the board and the superintendent to approve. The updated policy also states that recommended texts will be available for public inspection at the district office for at least 60 days before the board meets to approve and adopt them.Information about the proposed texts will also be available on the HUSD website.Davis said that the novel review committee had already met once last month to set expectations and provide the members with all the information and novel rubric to guide them in their reviews.She also had received book requests which were assigned and will be discussed on Oct. 23 by the committee.The same process was followed for the PreK-12th supplemental material review, which met Sept. 25, Davis said.“The members are all very eager to get their hands into the work and start reviewing material,” she said.Board member Anna Van Hoek, who had reviewed the final committee member list, said that out of the 28, 17 seem to be staff members and only 11 are from the parent stakeholder group.“That was concerning for me. I do want it to be equal as far as the different categories,” she said.Van Hoek also wanted to know if the committees had been properly appraised about the state statutes governing the selection of the educational materials. She asked the board to add a future agenda point to discuss all laws and statutes regarding curriculum and book selection as well as the board’s process of approving the materials.Davis explained that while there may be Higley teachers who are also parents, the teachers selected in their specific group would not serve the dual role of parents within the committee.She also said that the novel committee’s first meeting covered the state statute on sexually explicit materials, prohibitions, exemptions and definition of the educational materials. 
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Global warming worsening deadly flooding in Africa, warn scientists

Science and Health

Africa is bearing the brunt of climate change despite producing tiny percentage of global emissions.Global warming intensified the rainy season in many African countries in 2024, sparking deadly floods, according to scientists.
The World Weather Attribution (WWA) network said on Wednesday that human-driven climate change, caused by the use of fossil fuels, had made seasonal downpours across the Niger and Lake Chad basins 5-20 percent worse this year, unleashing a humanitarian catastrophe.
“These results are incredibly concerning,” said Izidine Pinto, a researcher at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute and one of the study’s authors.
He pointed out that “spells of heavy summer rainfall” had become the “new normal” in Sudan, Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad.
“With every fraction of a degree of warming, the risk of extreme floods will keep increasing,” Pinto added, calling for the United Nations COP29 climate summit to “accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels” when it meets in Azerbaijan next month.

Floods killed about 1,500 people and displaced more than one million in West and Central Africa this year, according to UN aid agency OCHA. The rains also overwhelmed dams in Nigeria and Sudan.
Such downpours “could happen every year” if global temperatures increase to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, warned WWA. It forecasts that this could happen as early as the 2050s.
The network’s scientists focused on war-torn Sudan, where millions of displaced people have been uprooted by conflict and driven into flood-prone areas.
They used modelling to analyse current weather trends, comparing them with patterns in a world without human-induced warming, finding that monthlong spells of intense rainfall in parts of Sudan had become heavier as a likely result of climate change.
“Africa has contributed a tiny amount of carbon emissions globally, but is being hit the hardest by extreme weather,” said Joyce Kimutai, researcher at the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College in London.
The role of climate change in the floods was compounded by other human-made problems, said scientists, calling for better maintenance of dams and investment in early warning systems.
“This is only going to keep getting worse if we keep burning fossil fuels,” said Clair Barnes from the Centre for Environmental Policy.

Boosting Business Efficiency With Smart Energy Choices

Business News

Businesses always seek ways to improve operational efficiency. One often overlooked avenue for improvement is energy consumption. Making smart energy choices can significantly impact a company’s bottom line, improve sustainability efforts, and streamline operations. In a state like Texas, where energy markets are deregulated, businesses can select an energy plan that aligns with their needs and goals.

This how-to guide will explore practical steps businesses can take to optimize energy usage, understand various pricing models, and leverage renewable energy for better business outcomes. From assessing energy needs to selecting the right plan, these strategies will help businesses improve efficiency while cutting costs.

Explore practical steps businesses can take to optimize energy usage:

1. Assessing Your Energy Needs

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Before considering different energy plans, businesses must evaluate their current energy usage. Making smart energy choices involves a comprehensive analysis of when and how much energy their business consumes. Many companies experience fluctuating demand throughout the day, depending on their operations. For example, manufacturing businesses may have higher energy needs during daytime hours, while office-based businesses might see lower, more consistent consumption patterns.

Understanding your business’s energy needs can help you make informed decisions. Start by looking at historical energy usage data on your energy bills. Identify patterns, peak times, and periods of low consumption. This information is vital for choosing a plan that fits your business operations.

2. Understanding Energy Pricing Models

Once you understand your energy needs, the next step is to familiarize yourself with the different pricing models available in the Texas energy market. The two most common options are variable and fixed-rate plans.

Variable-rate plans go up and down based on market conditions, which means prices can rise or fall depending on the energy market. While this can lead to savings when prices drop, it also carries the risk of increased costs when rates go up.

Fixed-rate plans provide predictability by locking in the rate for the duration of the contract. This option is ideal for companies that prefer predictable expenses and want to avoid the volatility of energy prices.

Selecting the right pricing model is key to managing energy costs efficiently. Businesses with consistent energy usage may benefit from a fixed-rate plan to ensure predictable costs. On the other hand, those with more flexible usage patterns might opt for a variable-rate plan to leverage potential savings during low-demand periods.

3. Exploring Renewable Energy Options

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Sustainability is becoming increasingly important to businesses, not only for reducing environmental impact but also for enhancing brand reputation. Adopting renewable energy is one of the most effective ways to meet both goals. With its abundant wind and solar power resources, Texas offers various renewable energy options that can significantly reduce a business’s carbon footprint.

By choosing renewable energy plans, businesses can support sustainable practices while benefiting from the long-term cost savings associated with clean energy. That enhances a company’s environmental responsibility and can be a powerful marketing strategy for attracting eco-conscious customers and clients.

Many Texas energy providers offer plans that include a part or all of the energy from renewable sources. The flexibility to choose a renewable energy plan that fits your business model allows you to align your energy choices with your sustainability goals. That is especially important for businesses seeking to strengthen their corporate social responsibility efforts or meet sustainability certifications.

4. Flexibility in Making Smart Energy Choices

In addition to understanding pricing models and renewable energy options, businesses must also consider the importance of flexibility in their renewable energy plans. Flexibility allows enterprises to adapt to changing energy needs and market conditions, which can lead to significant cost savings.

For instance, Energy Texas offers the ‘Freedom Flex’ plan, designed specifically for businesses seeking a balance between flexibility and cost-effectiveness. This plan allows companies to adjust their energy consumption and pricing preferences as market conditions change without being locked into a long-term contract. The flexibility can benefit businesses that experience fluctuating energy demand or those planning for future growth.

The key benefit of choosing a flexible plan like Freedom Flex is that it empowers businesses to stay agile and responsive to market and operational changes. Companies can maximize savings while maintaining operational efficiency by choosing a plan tailored to their unique energy needs.

5. Comparing Available Plans

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An essential step in making smart energy choices is comparing the various plans available in the Texas market. With so many providers offering different pricing models, terms, and renewable energy options, businesses should take the time to research and compare offers. Tools like online comparison platforms make assessing various plans based on your business needs easy.

When comparing energy plans, consider factors such as:

Contract length: Some plans offer shorter contracts for greater flexibility, while others provide long-term stability.

Renewable energy percentage: For businesses prioritizing sustainability, the percentage of renewable energy in the plan should be a key factor.

Rate stability: Depending on your risk tolerance, choose a plan with a stable, predictable rate rather than one that fluctuates with the market.

Selecting the right plan involves balancing cost savings, flexibility, and sustainability. Finding a plan that aligns with your business values will improve efficiency and enhance your company’s overall mission and brand reputation.

Final Thoughts

Making smart energy choices is an important part of improving business efficiency. By carefully assessing your energy needs, understanding pricing models, and exploring renewable energy options, you can create a tailored energy strategy that supports your business’s financial and sustainability goals.

In Texas, businesses can choose energy providers that align with their values, offering significant potential for cost savings and efficiency improvements. Leveraging the flexibility of innovative energy plans like Energy Texas’s Freedom Flex allows companies to remain agile while minimizing energy expenses. Ultimately, businesses that invest time in making informed energy decisions will enjoy better operational efficiency, sustainability efforts, and bottom-line outcomes.

For businesses interested in adopting renewable energy plans, comparing options and aligning them with business objectives can unlock a range of benefits—from cost savings to enhanced brand reputation. As the energy landscape evolves, staying proactive in energy choices will drive long-term business success.

Chris Judd’s Talk Ya Book: ‘Steady flow of purchase debt portfolios’ makes Pioneer Credit quite interesting

Arts & Culture, Books

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On Chris Judd’s Talk Ya Book today, we hear from Adam Saunders from NGE Capital about debt recovery specialist Pioneer Credit Limited (ASX:PNC) – and why a “steady flow of purchase debt portfolios” makes them very interesting to him.

Several acquisitions (by rival Credit Corp Group Ltd (ASX:CCP)), increased regulatory scrutiny, and some competitors simply going bust through COVID-19 has set Pioneer up as one of only a few key players in the debt recovery market, which is a big boost in Mr Saunders’ eyes.

He said he particularly likes Pioneer’s estimates around its FY24 market size – 325 million – and it’s growth projections, which edge even closer to 400 million.

“They’re now forecasting an NPAT (net profit) of $900 million plus this year and that seems conservative to us considering the interest savings from the debt finance that we already talked about,” NGE Capital’s executive director said.

“They’re not factoring [in] much profit from operating… but given they’re currently buying PDPs at much better IRS than historically has been the case and they’re very good visibility on not only what’s coming down the pipeline in terms of purchases, but also how the books performing, we suspect there’s upside.”

A returning vendor, “one of the big banks,” should also help everything along too. “That should drive a lot of that growth,” Mr Saunders explained.

He added Pioneer seems “aggressive” on strong FY25 and FY26 numbers too.

Pioneer Credit has been trading at 62.5cps.

Talk Ya Book was created by AFL football great Chris Judd in 2019 as a show where fund managers could share their highest conviction investment idea but more importantly showcase their investment framework to the public.

In 2023, Chris joined the people he interviews in the world of funds management by creating the Cerutty Macro Fund. Chris is the founder and portfolio manager of the fund which looks to invest in long term, secular, macro trends.

Disclaimer: Juddcorp Pty Ltd ACN 635 629 631 is a corporate authorised representative (CAR) (CAR Number 1300536) of Boutique Capital Pty Ltd ACN 621 697 621 AFSL 508011.

The material provided in this article is for information only and should not be treated as investment advice. Viewers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a certified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. For full disclaimer information, please click here.

Scientists Revived a Pig’s Brain Nearly a Whole Hour After It Died

Science and Health

Scientists have revived activity in the brains of pigs up to nearly an hour after circulation had ceased. In some cases, functionality was sustained for hours through a surprising discovery by researchers in China.

This achievement represents a huge step forward in working out how to restore brain function after a patient has suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. It suggests that doctors may be able to widen the brief window for successful resuscitation of patients following cardiac arrest.

The trick? Incorporating the patient’s unharmed liver – the organ the body uses to purify its blood – into the life support system used to revive the brain after the time had elapsed.

Sudden cardiac arrest causes a lot of problems in the body due to the rapid cessation of blood flow. The subsequent drop in circulation to parts of the body is called ischemia, and when it occurs in the brain, it can cause serious, irreparable damage within minutes. This is why the resuscitation window for cardiac arrest is so short.

It’s known that multi-organ ischemia plays a role in the brain’s ability to recover after a cardiac arrest, but the individual organs have not been fully investigated.

In recent years, scientists have been using pig models to test methods for limiting brain injury. Supervised by physician Xiaoshun He of Sun Yat-Sen University in China, a team of scientists has turned to the animal to try and understand the role of the liver in brain recovery after ischemia due to cardiac arrest.The three groups, subjected to different levels of ischemia. (Guo et al., EMBO Mol. Med., 2024)Using 17 lab-raised Tibetan minipigs, the team compared the inclusion of a liver in a loss of circulation. In one set of experiments, two groups of pigs were subjected to brain ischemia for 30 minutes; one of the groups was also subjected to liver ischemia, and the other was not. Meanwhile a control group underwent no ischemia.

When the pigs were euthanized and their brains examined, the control group obviously had the least brain damage; but the group that had not been subjected to liver ischemia showed significantly less brain damage than the group that had.

The next stage of the research involved attempting to incorporate an undamaged liver into the life support system reviving a brain that had been removed from a euthanized pig entirely. This is unlikely to be a scenario used to treat humans, but it helps scientists understand the windows in which resuscitation may be viable.

The basic life support system involved an artificial heart and lungs to help pump fluid through the brain. For one group, a pig’s liver was integrated into the system, known as liver-assisted brain normothermic machine perfusion.

First, brains were connected to the life support systems 10 minutes after commencement of the life support procedure. For the system without a liver, electrical activity in the brain emerged within half an hour before declining over time.

The team also experimented with different delays, connecting brains to the liver-assisted system at intervals of 30 minutes, 50 minutes, 60 minutes, and 240 minutes. The longest interval that showed the most promise was 50 minutes after being deprived of blood: the brain restarted electrical activity, and was maintained in that state for six hours until the experiment was shut off.

Remarkably, in brains that had been starved of oxygen for 60 minutes, activity only returned for three hours before fading, suggesting a critical interval in which resuscitation can be successful with the addition of a functioning liver.

These results, the researchers say, suggest the liver plays an important role in the development of brain injury following cardiac arrest. The findings suggest new avenues for research into brain injury, and may, hopefully, improve survival rates and recovery outcomes for human patients in the future.The research has been published in EMBO Molecular Medicine.