Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels ahead of the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting. Secretary Blinken and Secretary General Rutte discussed key Alliance priorities such as concrete steps to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s aggression and strengthening NATO partnerships in the Middle East, North Africa, and Sahel regions. Secretary Blinken and Secretary General Rutte welcomed King Abdullah II of Jordan’s participation for the first time at a Foreign Ministers Meeting as an integral step for increasing cooperation with NATO’s Southern partners. Both sides underscored the importance of Allies working collectively…
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Twelve municipalities from across Ukraine are starting a transformative journey to climate-neutral rebuilding with support from the SUN4Ukraine initiative of the EU Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission. The announcement was made today at the conference on “State of Local Self Government: Challenges and Prospects” taking place in Kyiv on 2-3 December 2024. The event is organised by the Association of Ukrainian Cities, a SUN4Ukraine partner.SUN4Ukraine empowers Ukrainian cities to seamlessly integrate Climate Neutrality Plans into their recovery strategies, paving the way for sustainable and resilient urban development. The twelve selected municipalities will receive tailored expert support, participate in a comprehensive capacity-building programme, and…
Sod farm operator, landscaping retailer made improper deductions, misapplied exemptionTULSA, OK – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment and injunction to recover $72,000 in back wages and liquidated damages for 20 workers whose Oklahoma employer misapplied the agriculture exemption to retail workers and did not pay overtime to employees who worked more than 40 hours per week regularly. Entered by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, the Oct. 18, 2024, judgment against Robert K. Cook, III, operator of Rob’s Sod Inc., and Cook’s Farmland Enterprises LLC, operating as Green Acre Sod Farm, Green Acre…
Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources (ENR) Geoffrey R. Pyatt will travel to the United Kingdom and France December 3-6 for the Resourcing Tomorrow Conference in London and International Energy Agency (IEA) Global Conference on Energy and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Paris. He will also attend a series of ministerial meetings on energy security, critical minerals, and our support to Ukraine. At Resourcing Tomorrow, Assistant Secretary Pyatt will deliver a keynote speech addressing the intersection of energy security and energy transition, including the role of diversifying critical mineral supply chains and competitiveness in clean and renewable energy technologies. He will also…
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration has extended the public comment period for its proposed rule to protect workers from extreme heat exposure in indoor and outdoor workplaces to remain open until Jan. 14, 2025.As published in the Federal Register on Aug. 30, 2024, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings had an initial 120-day public comment period scheduled to end on Dec. 30, 2024. OSHA is extending the deadline for submitting comments to provide stakeholders more time to review the proposed…
The United States congratulates European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, High Representative Kaja Kallas, and the new College of Commissioners as they assume office. The United States and Europe are steadfast partners who share democratic values and enjoy strong people-to-people connections. We look forward to working with the new Commission and Council leadership, along with the European Parliament and its President Roberta Metsola and the member states of the European Union. When the United States and European Union work together, we foster global security, prosperity, and democratic values that benefit the world. Source_link
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Good morning, everyone. Many thanks to the Irish Banking and Payments Federation and to the Federation of International Banks in Ireland for inviting me to speak here today. Firstly, I would like to commend the organisers for the timing of the event. In the last six months we have had European elections, US elections, and last but certainly not least, we will have Irish elections next Friday. It is certainly timely to come together to discuss the future of international financial markets.And I am delighted to be here having this discussion in Dublin, which has cemented itself as a major centre of…
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss the rapidly developing situation in Syria. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Fidan discussed the need for de-escalation and the protection of civilian lives and infrastructure in Aleppo and elsewhere. They also discussed ongoing humanitarian efforts in Gaza and the need to bring the war to an end and secure the release of all hostages. Source_link
In her confirmation hearing held on 6 November 2024, Commissioner‑designate Maria Luís Albuquerque stood before the European Parliament to outline her vision and objectives as the prospective Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union. With a career spanning over three decades in economics and finance, Ms Albuquerque brings to the table a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to financial stability, competitiveness, and empowerment of EU citizens in the financial system.Members of the ECON Committee, along with those from the invited IMCO and LIBE committees, engaged in a comprehensive exchange with the Commissioner‑designate. They raised issues such as her approach to regulation and financial…
On behalf of the United States of America, I wish all Romanians a joyful celebration of the anniversary of your great unification, more than 100 years ago. Romania’s commitment to security and democracy in Europe is an inspiration for all nations. The United States is proud to work with you as you modernize your military and contribute to strengthening NATO’s eastern flank. Romania’s support for Ukraine, including welcoming refugees and providing security assistance, has bolstered the cause of freedom in the face of Russia’s aggression. Your leadership in helping Ukrainian grain reach global markets has helped feed the world. The…