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Grant supports employment, humanitarian assistance, training in affected communitiesWASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the approval of up to $10 million in initial emergency grant funding to North Carolina to support disaster-relief jobs and training services in 25 counties to help respond to Hurricane Helene.On Sept. 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm and quickly moved inland, pushing through Georgia and the Carolinas as a tropical storm. The storm brought the worst flooding in a century to North Carolina, resulting in more than 100 deaths and wiping out entire towns with…

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(Seychelles News Agency) – Seychelles’ Cabinet of Ministers has approved the necessary steps for Seychelles to accede to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime.  This decision was made at the recent meeting of the Cabinet, where it will see amendments made to the Computer Related Crimes Act (CRCA), to refine definitions, enhance procedural laws and expand international cooperation.  “The Budapest Convention is considered as the most modern convention that helps all countries to fight against Cybercrime,” said Vice President, Ahmed Afif, during the Cabinet press briefing on Thursday.  “By being part of the Budapest Convention, it will give us access to…

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U.S. Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy Nathaniel C. Fick will travel to Italy and Belgium from October 9-15.  From October 11 to 13, he will be in Rome for the G7 Ministerial Meeting on Industry and Technological Innovation.  Ambassador Fick will participate in discussions on strengthening digital development, implementing solutions for resilient critical supply chains like semiconductors, and fostering adoption of AI and emerging technologies. On October 13-14, he will be in Brussels, Belgium, to meet with European Union and NATO counterparts to further cyber and digital policy cooperation.  From Brussels, Ambassador Fick will return to Italy…

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Following the visit of President Ursula von der Leyen to Egypt on 17 March and the signature of the Joint Declaration, in which the European Union and the Arab Republic of Egypt agreed to elevate their relationship to the level of a strategic and comprehensive partnership, the two sides have now started official negotiations for the association of Egypt to Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation programme. The beginning of formal negotiations follows the conclusion of exploratory talks, which have been taking place over past months.If successful, association to Horizon Europe would place Egyptian entities on par with those of…

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Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric issued a statement saying that UN chief António Guterres was “extremely concerned” by the fast escalation of the conflict. “An all-out war must be avoided in Lebanon at all costs, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon must be respected”, Mr. Dujarric added. The UN chief spoke to Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati earlier in the day, assuring him that “the entire United Nations system in Lebanon is mobilized to assist all those in need in the country.” Mr. Guterres appealed to international donors to provide urgent support for the $426 million humanitarian appeal launched in…

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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…

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“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…

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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…

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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…

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