Washington, DC - The defendants in a scheme that charged Spanish-speaking consumers for unordered or defective products and made it costly or practically impossible for them to get their money back are banned from telemarketing and selling weight-loss products under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.

Washington, DC - Secretary of State John Kerry: "Let me start by thanking the Council’s president, Joachim Rucker, for convening this session. And I particularly appreciate the opportunity to be here at such an extraordinarily important time not only for the future of this body, but for human rights around the globe.

Washington, DC - Steven J. Stack, MD President Elect, American Medical Association - AMA Welcomes Deadline Extension for Meaningful Use Attestation; More Changes Needed:

Washington, DC - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that a one-time extension will be provided to producers for the new safety-net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill, known as Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC). The final day to update yield history or reallocate base acres has been extended one additional month, from Feb. 27, 2015 until March 31, 2015. The final day for farm owners and producers to choose ARC or PLC coverage also remains March 31, 2015.

Fort Wayne, Indiana - A Fort Wayne, Indiana, resident pleaded guilty yesterday in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Indiana to two counts of filing a false tax return and one count of perjury, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.

Washington, DC - Following a review of 22 private collection agencies, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it will wind down contracts with five private collection agencies that were providing inaccurate information to borrowers. The five companies are: Coast Professional, Enterprise Recovery Systems, National Recoveries, Pioneer Credit Recovery, and West Asset Management.