‘No progress to speak of’ as first round of UN-sponsored Syrian peace talks ends

Joint Special Representative of the UN and the League of Arab States for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi (second left) arrives for news conference. un photo/jean-marc ferré 

(UN) January 2014 - Syrian Government and opposition delegates today wrapped up what United Nations officials hope will be just the first stage of talks to end the country’s civil war, with the chief mediator reporting no breakthrough to stop the “unspeakable suffering” of the Syrian people, including access for humanitarian aid.

Historic peace deal ends five-decade conflict in the Philippines

Enhancing governance in Mindanao: (from left) U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Gloria Steele, US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg, Zamboanga City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, and Mindanao Development Authority Chairperson Luwalhati Antonino. photo: minda.gov.ph

Mindanao peace process becomes a reference for peacemaking

(PRN) LONDON and KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, January 27, 2014 - After 16 years of negotiations the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have completed the negotiations for a Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) that settles one of the most protracted armed conflicts in the world. This is the most significant peace agreement since the Nepal agreement in 2006.

Maryland Members Of Moms demand action renew call for change in light of deadly shooting at Columbia Mall

Kevin Baker, a 19-year-old veterinarian student at Harold Washington College in Chicago, was shot and killed last week by gunmen who wanted his cell phone. photo: Maryland Moms Demand Action/MMDA

(PRN/USN) BALTIMORE, January, 26, 2014 - In response to the shooting yesterday at Columbia Mall in Howard County, Maryland, that left three people dead including the shooter, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America members renewed their call for political leaders to take steps to prevent gun violence.

Mayor de Blasio releases preliminary findings on the death of Myls Dobson

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced findings and recommendations on the homicide of 4-year-old Myls Dobson, who was found dead on January 8th in midtown Manhattan. photo: nyc/gov

Preliminary finding recommendations include requirement of end-of-supervision court appearances and expanding ACS access to court databases

(BMLTV) NEW YORK, January 22, 2014 - Mayor Bill de Blasio announced findings and recommendations on the homicide of 4-year-old Myls Dobson, who was found dead on January 8th in midtown Manhattan.

Blue Sun launches the most advanced Biodiesel Plant in the world

Blue Sun's enzymatic processing system at its St. Joseph, Missouri facility. The system relies on a proprietary solution developed by Blue Sun engineers. Photo: steve bond

Technology leader in fuels - first to commercialize enzymatic process at a large scale

(PRN) SAINT JOSEPH, Mo., January 18, 2014 - Blue Sun Energy announced today the implementation of its enzymatic biodiesel processing technology, making the Blue Sun St. Joe Refinery the most advanced biodiesel production facility in the world.

Nation's grade drops to a dismal D+ for failure to support emergency patients

Las Vegas Emergency | Summerlin Hospital Medical Center. photo: LIA community/emergency care

(PRN/USN) WASHINGTON, January 17, 2014  - Emergency physicians this week sounded a warning that the continuing failure of state and national policies is endangering emergency patients, citing as proof a worse grade of D+ in the latest edition of a state-by-state report card on support for emergency care (Report Card).

Refugee arrival in Uganda raise humanitarian security concerns

A South Sudanese refugee boy with his belongings after crossing into Uganda at the Elegu border point. The boy fled fighting in his home village in Bor, Jonglei State’s capital. At least 355,000 people have been displaced and thousands killed in South Sudan since mid-December when inter-ethnic conflict erupted following what the government described as a failed coup attempt. photo: charles akena©

(IRIN) AMURU/ADJUMANI, January 15, 2014 - Weeks of conflict in South Sudan have left thousands of people dead and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes. Thousands of the displaced have been arriving in northern Uganda, where their situation is dire and has elicited security concerns.

The humanitarian crisis in South Sudan deepens as heavy fighting continues: some 395,000 people have fled their homes

Around 352,000 people have been internally displaced. Fighting around Bentiu and Bor is reported to have led to signficiant population movements with people fleeing urban areas. photo: afp

(PRN) JUBA, South Sudan, January 13, 2014 - The humanitarian crisis in South Sudan deepened between 8 and 10 January, with heavy fighting in Jonglei and Unity states and sporadic clashes in Central Equatoria and Upper Nile states.

Major win for the climate: Voluntary Market closes door to HFC-23 projects

Visual of the greenhouse gas effect. photo: live sciences

(PRN/USN) WASHINGTON, January 10, 2014 -  Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA): In a major win for the climate, the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), the world's leading voluntary greenhouse gas program, has announced that it will no longer approve or accept for consideration new methodologies and projects relating to HFC-23, acknowledging progress under the Montreal Protocol, G-20 and other bilateral government discussions on the international regulation of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

Hagel to visits troops in Texas, New Mexico, Wyoming

Wounded warriors listen as Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel answers their questions during a town hall meeting at the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center on Joint Base San Antonio, Jan. 8, 2014.  photo: DOD/glenn fawcett

(DOD) WASHINGTON, January 9, 2014 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is traveling to military facilities in Texas, New Mexico and Wyoming this week to thank wounded warriors, troops and defense workers for their service and dedication, Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren said.

Millions of lives are affected by stalking each year

photo: courtesy/national stalking law reform

AWARENESS: Stalking issue is highlighted during month of January

(PRN) LOUISVILLE, Ky., January. 8, 2014 - Every year more than six-and-a-half million people in the U.S. are victims of stalking. That's just one of many sobering facts about stalking in this country, including:

• 1 in 6 women and 1 in 19 men have been stalked during their lifetime
• 66% of female stalking victims are stalked by a current or former intimate partner
• 46% of stalking victims experience at least one unwanted contact per week
• 1 in 8 victims lose time from work

January is National Stalking Awareness Month, an annual push to focus attention on stalking that was launched ten years ago by the National Center for Victims of Crime.

Pennsylvania Governor Corbett calls upon “Oil and Gas Operators” to protect environment, continue to adhere to critical environmental standards

photo: courtesy/gov/Pennsylvania

(PRN/USN) HARRISBURG, Pa., January 7, 2014 - Governor Tom Corbett just a day ago called upon Pennsylvania's oil and gas operators to help protect the commonwealth's rivers, streams and wetlands from impacts during oil and gas development by adhering to critical environmental standards recently struck down by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.