DPR Korea: UN expert warns of dwindling aid while food crisis remains critical Although the food situation in the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK) is critical, international assistance is dwindling, a United Nations human rights expert warned today. “The current rations provided by the Government can meet well less than half the daily calorific needs […]

UN agencies and US Peace Corps cooperate in fighting hunger The United Nations and the United States Peace Corps signed an agreement today to cooperate in combating worldwide hunger by increasing food security in the 76 countries where the more than 8,600 US volunteers currently work. The agreement, signed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) […]

Peace corps strengthens global partnership with FAO and WFP Letter of agreement signed during Committee on World Food Security annual meeting 20 October 2011, Rome/Washington, D.C – The Peace Corps joined the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), and pledged to support and expand food security-related activities that […]

HHS announces new incentives for providers to work together through Accountable Care Organizations when caring for people with Medicare New tools help doctors and other health care providers improve quality of care People with Medicare will be able to benefit from a new program designed to encourage primary care doctors, specialists, hospitals, and other health […]

Presidential Citizens Medal Recipients of 2011 For more than 40 years, the Presidential Citizens Medal has honored Americans who have “performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.” Past recipients have included some of America’s most respected public figures as well as everyday heroes committed to helping their fellow citizens.   Informing the […]

UN stresses need for improved methods to measure desertification and poverty Better measurement standards for land degradation and poverty were the focus of discussions today at the United Nations desertification conference, with country representatives and scientific experts debating effective ways to establish global indicators to measure land degradation. Eleven countries shared their experiences measuring land […]

Health gap between rich and poor in the spotlight at UN forum in Brazil With the health gap between rich and poor at its widest level in recent history, the United Nations today opened a three-day forum in Brazil to tackle the social, economic and environmental root causes of health inequities. “The differences, within and […]

Growing Brainy Babies: Are IQ Destinies Cast in the Womb? Could babies be fated to become geniuses before they’re even born? And if so, can we predict their intellectual potential early on? It’s an interesting question. Pushing back the frontiers of research into babies’ budding brains, a recent study in the journalNeurology points out that, at least for […]

HHS Office for Civil Rights Enforces Section 504 and the ADA The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has entered into several settlement agreements and issued  letters of findings as part of its ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) […]

Obama Administration’s regulatory reductions to save health care system nearly $1.1 billion. Scaling back outdated rules is part of Administration’s effort to cut red tape New proposed rules released today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would reduce unnecessary, obsolete, or burdensome regulations and save hospitals and healthcare providers nearly $1.1 billion each […]