Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez will travel to Serbia from October 9-11 to advance our cooperation through the Minerals Security Partnership Forum on developing diverse and sustainable critical minerals supply chains. He will also promote trade and economic opportunities with the United States. In Belgrade, Under Secretary Fernandez will meet with President Aleksandar Vučić and officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Energy, Finance, and Telecommunications as well as representatives from the Serbian and U.S. private sectors, including leading critical minerals and energy companies. His visit will further develop our strong, mutually beneficial…
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Employers: Wholestone Farms Cooperative Inc. 900 South Platte Ave. Fremont, NE Actions: OSHA investigationFindings: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Wholestone Farms Cooperative Inc. for three serious safety and health violations and proposed penalties totaling $36,873, following a March 2024 complaint investigation. OSHA issued serious violations under the general duty clause, after finding employees were exposed to ergonomic stressors likely to cause musculoskeletal disorders and injuries when working in the palletizing area.The company put employees at risk of musculoskeletal injuries by requiring them to manually lift boxes weighing up to 99 pounds from the palletizing conveyor…
“The Sorrow of our Era:” Alarming Cycles of Abuses and Impunity in China ——The Persecution of Lawyer Xie Yang Repeats Patterns of Retaliation against Human Rights Defenders October 9, 2024 (Chinese Human Rights Defenders – October 9, 2024) More than a quarter of century after signing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Chinese government has unrelentingly refused to ratify it, instead, aggressively violating the rights enshrined in the treaty. This can be illustrated in the government’s incessant persecution of human rights lawyer Xie Yang, which further reflects a systematic campaign to suppress human rights defenders with no…
The Global Gateway High-Level Youth Event taking place today and tomorrow in Brussels highlights the transformational impact of the EU’s commitment to invest in and partner with young people around the world as part of the Global Gateway strategy. After a day dedicated to youth networks, the high-level event opens tomorrow with a video message by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, followed by a keynote speech by Jutta Urpilainen, Commissioner for International Partnerships. Commissioner Urpilainen said: “The launch of the first Youth Action Plan in External Action two years ago was a landmark moment. Our goals were…
Hearing loss already costs the continent $27 million annually, exacting profound impact on lives and economies, according to the report, which was launched at the African Summit on Hearing Impairment in Nairobi, Kenya. Widespread hearing loss disproportionately affects poor and vulnerable populations. WHO warned that without urgent interventions it will continue to escalate, amplifying existing inequalities in access to health services. Children at a loss The UN agency said hearing loss has far-reaching consequences for children, including delays in language development, thus increasing the risk of poor educational outcomes and limited career prospects in the future. Meanwhile, adults with untreated…
Harvest Plus assessed $252K in penalties, debarred from H-2A program for three years KENNEWICK, WA – The U.S. Department of Labor has debarred a Kennewick farm labor contractor from participating in the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program for three years after finding the employer provided workers with unhealthy living conditions; transported them in unsafe vehicles driven by people without licenses or proper permits; withheld wages and made illegal pay deductions; told workers to falsify documents to mask violations of federal regulations; and denied U.S. workers access to jobs.An investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division found Harvest Plus LLC, which provides…
“I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict, with escalation after escalation,” he said in a tersely worded statement. “This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire.” Rising hostilities Iran fired waves of ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday, just hours after Israel launched what it called a “limited” ground incursion into southern Lebanon, according to media reports. There were no immediate reports of any injuries on the ground in Israel and the Israeli military said around 180 missiles were fired, most of which were intercepted. The developments follow Israeli airstrikes in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, Beirut,…
Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources Geoffrey R. Pyatt will travel to Athens, Greece and Istanbul, Türkiye October 8-10, 2024, for ministerial and private sector meetings on regional energy transitions and energy security priorities. In Athens, Assistant Secretary Pyatt will discuss advancing U.S.-Greece energy cooperation with senior Greek officials including from the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Energy, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He will also join the leadership teams of energy companies to discuss opportunities in clean energy deployment and improving regional connectivity. Assistant Secretary Pyatt will also deliver remarks at an EU-hosted workshop intended to…
A former combatant fighting for the rights of her people on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines has been talking about how she has swapped her combat fatigues for jilbabs [outer garment]and her life in the jungle for a more peaceful rural community. Suraida ‘Sur’ Amil joined the Bangsamoro Islamic Women Auxiliary Brigade (BIWAB) as an 18-year-old with the with the goal of achieving autonomy for the predominantly Muslim regions of Mindanao. After an agreement was signed to end the insurrection and provide a greater autonomy and self-governance for the people of Bangsamoro, she participated in a reconciliation programme…
Today, the EU Mission Label was awarded to 20 cities that are part of the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, one of the EU Missions under Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme.The Label recognises the cities’ plans to achieve climate neutrality by 2030 and aims to facilitate access to public and private funding towards that objective. This brings the total number of cities with the label to 53.Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said:“The EU Mission Label celebrates the bold steps these 20 cities are taking towards climate neutrality. Their commitment paves the way for a…