Today, the European Commission announced the winners of the 2024 edition of the Symposium on Fusion Technology (SOFT) Innovation Prize. These awards give recognition to outstanding proposals that foster collaboration between researchers and industry. The European Union funds the SOFT Innovation Prize through the Euratom Research and Training Programme in order to support innovative ideas in fusion research with market potential.Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said: “The innovative breakthroughs achieved by this year’s SOFT Innovation Prize winners demonstrate the immense potential of scientific creativity and collaboration to drive progress. By supporting and celebrating cutting-edge solutions, we are…
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Bulletproof Plumbing & Heating Inc. paid straight time for overtime hours worked.Employer: Bulletproof Plumbing & Heating Inc. Investigation site: 6920 Ropers Point Colorado Springs, CO 80908Findings: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found Bulletproof Plumbing & Heating Inc. paid 27 non-exempt plumbers straight time for hours over 40 in a workweek, when time and one-half was required by federal law. Back wages recovered: $69,050 in back wages for 27 employeesDamages…
Today, on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, Acting Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Lee Satterfield joined Ukraine’s Prosecutor General, leaders from across Europe, and key stakeholders where she announced two new projects funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Ukraine Cultural Heritage Response Initiative and underscored continued U.S. support for the people of Ukraine and their efforts to protect and preserve Ukrainian culture. First, in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania’s Cultural Heritage Center, the United States will help ensure Ukrainians have the data and skills they need to repair and restore…
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…
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…