Date of action: Sept. 22, 2024Type of action: ComplaintCourt: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New YorkDefendants: Jacob Frydman and iBuilt LLC Group Health PlanBackground: An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration found that from March to June 2021, plan fiduciary Jacob Frydman violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act when he failed to forward money withheld from employee paychecks to the company’s health insurance plan and to collect funding owed by iBuilt LLC. As a result of Frydman’s actions, the company’s health plan was canceled by United HealthCare Services Inc. on June 11, 2021, retroactively to…
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The United Nations, European Commission, and World Bank Group will make gender equality and ending violence against women and girls a priority of their cooperation to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This commitment was announced today by the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen, and World Bank Managing Director of Operations Anna Bjerde following their meeting on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly. As part of their ambitious gender policy frameworks, the leaders pledged to address gender-based violence as a top global priority central to achieving gender equality…
The Department of State is announcing reward offers under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program of up to $10 million each for information leading to the arrests and/or convictions of Timur Shakhmametov and Sergey Ivanov for participating in, conspiring to participate in, and attempting to participate in transnational organized crime. Separate reward offers of up to $1 million each are also being offered for information leading to the identification of other leaders of the Joker’s Stash criminal marketplace (other than Shakhmametov), as well as the identification of other key leaders of the UAPS, PM2BTC, and PinPays transnational criminal groups (other than…
Today, the European Commission appointed two new members to the governing body of the European Research Council (ERC), the Scientific Council. These appointments are for an initial term of four years. The new members will take office on 1 January 2025, replacing current members whose second term has ended or is about to expire.The two new ERC Scientific Council members are:Professor Tomaž Prosen, University of Ljubljana, whose research focuses on fundamental questions of non-equilibrium statistical and quantum physics, andProfessor Maarit Karppinen, Aalto University, whose research is related to inorganic materials chemistry.In addition, the Commission renewed the term of office of…
Southeastern Europe experienced a record number of days with”strong” heat stress, meaning the perceived temperature, which takes into account factors like wind speed and humidity, was 32 C or above, on 66 days — or two-thirds of the three summer months. The average for the region is 29 days. Some areas of Greece and Turkey dealt with these conditions every single summer day, reaching what’s called “very strong heat stress” of perceived temperatures above 38 C for around two months. Regions in “much of southern and eastern Europe” also experienced very strong heat stress, and small parts of Spain and Turkey…
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service today signed a memorandum of understanding with Albany State University designed to enhance career readiness and employment opportunities for veterans and military-affiliated students at historically Black colleges and universities.The memorandum of understanding marks the beginning of this unique collaboration, which will give veterans – including Albany State alumni who have served, ROTC cadets, military spouses and servicemembers currently on active duty, in the reserves or the National Guard – access to career resources and support from VETS job training programs. They also will gain access to apprenticeships, internships…
The United States announcing a new $920 million Foreign Military Financing (FMF) direct loan to Romania today. Romania is a valued U.S. partner and Ally, and this significant loan agreement will further strengthen NATO’s Eastern Flank. Romania is undertaking a major military modernization program, including purchases of U.S. defense equipment such as Abrams main battle tanks and coproduction of ammunition. Romania is a leader in NATO, working closely with Allies to advance Black Sea security and providing critical assistance to Ukraine, including the transfer of a Patriot strategic air defense system and training Ukrainian F-16 pilots. The U.S. government is providing…
ESTERO, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor announced its Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and Western Global Airlines Inc. have entered into a conciliation agreement in which the employer will pay $84,727 in back wages and interest to resolve alleged gender-based pay discrimination at the company’s Estero facility. A routine compliance review of Western Global Airlines initially raised concerns about base pay and bonuses for female managers, support professionals, technicians and administrators. The agency determined the employer’s actions violated Executive Order 11246, which prohibits federal contractors from discriminating in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.Western Global Airlines…
European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, announced a new funding package worth €146 million to strengthen basic services and livelihoods for Afghans, with a particular attention to women, children and vulnerable populations – including internally displaced persons, refugees, minorities and returnees. The package addresses the growing needs of the Afghan population, especially as the women and girls’ rights have been undermined at alarming rates. Commissioner made the announcement at the side event “Three Years On: Supporting Afghan Women’s rights”, organised on the margins of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly that takes place in New York on 24-28 September.Commissioner…
The following is the text of a joint statement by the Governments of Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Begin text: The Governments of Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States note with deep concern the announcement by South Sudan’s leaders of an extension of the country’s transitional period by two years. This announcement demonstrates the persistent and collective failure of South Sudan’s leaders to create the conditions necessary to hold credible and peaceful elections in accordance with an established, publicly agreed-upon timeline. Responsibility for this failure is shared by all parties in the transitional government. As South…