Forests, potential solution in the fight against hunger. More attention to forest foods and services can improve food security in poor nations 26 October 2011, Rome The role of forests in providing timber and other wood products must not overshadow their important contribution to feeding many of the world’s poorest communities, a group of international forest […]

Soccer great Zidane tackles poverty in Mali as UN Goodwill Ambassador 25 October 2011 The soccer ace and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador Zinédine Zidane has ended a visit to Mali highlighting new anti-poverty tools in the West African country, including a multi-purpose engine that provides affordable power to mill grain, process rice, and recharge batteries. “I’ve been […]

Hair Loss and More: When Stress Takes its Toll Last week, the celebrity gossip mill was atwitter with supermodel Tyra Banks’ juicy confession: The stress of writing her first fiction novel recently took a toll on her tresses. The model-turned-media-mogul claimed that she “got a little alopecia (hair loss)” while juggling her many professional pressures. […]

UN invites young people to create its HIV/AIDS strategy through social media 25 October 2011 Young people will be able to create and shape the new United Nations strategy on youth and HIV/AIDS through an online collaborative project launched today, which will use several social media platforms to facilitate the development of new policies to […]

First Lady Michelle Obama on Making a Difference in Cities with Food Deserts First Lady Michelle Obama learns about growing mushroom chandelierFirst Lady Michelle Obama learns about growing mushroom chandeliers from Erika Allen, National Outreach Director for Growing Power, during a tour of Iron Street Farm in Chicago, Ill., Oct. 25, 2011. Sam Kass, White […]

On UN Day, Ban underlines need for unity to confront global challenges 24 October 2011   Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed the need for unity as the world seeks solutions for the key challenges facing humanity, from the economic crisis and diminishing job opportunities to the consequences of climate change. “Global problems demand global solutions,” Mr. […]

United Nations Day 2011. (UN Day). On 31 October 2011, the world’s population is expected to reach 7 billion. A world of 7 billion poses many challenges: in fighting poverty and disease, in securing education and sustainable livelihoods and in mitigating climate change. But this milestone for humanity can also be seen as an opportunity […]

Genome Comparison Casts Light on Dark Areas of DNA A massive effort to sequence and compare 29 mammalian genomes has shed new light on the “dark matter” of the genome, the over 98% of DNA that doesn’t code for proteins. The DNA that lies outside of gene sequences was once called “junk DNA.” But researchers […]

Protein Creates Partition Between Bacteria and the Gut Scientists have identified a microbe-fighting protein that helps create a buffer zone between the inner walls of the intestines and the bacteria within. The finding may explain how helpful bacteria can survive in the digestive tract without triggering an immune attack. Researchers have long known that about […]

Quake spotlights room for Turkey to improve building practices – UN official 24 October 2011 The deadly earthquake that has struck Turkey’s southeast highlights the importance of providing incentives for the construction of safe buildings and establishing preventive and response measures in the world’s most dangerous quake zones, a senior United Nations official said today. […]