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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation found two contractors could have prevented a crane collapse at a Fort Lauderdale residential construction site in April 2024, which caused a 27-year-old rigger to suffer fatal injuries after falling approximately 30 stories.Investigators with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration learned that two workers employed by Phoenix Rigging & Erecting LLC were installing a section on a tower crane to increase its height when a support cable failed and the platform on which they stood became displaced. One worker, who was wearing the required fall protection and tied off, was rescued. Another…

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Building on the unprecedented measures we have already imposed in coordination with our allies and partners, the United States is today imposing sanctions on nearly 400 entities and individuals for enabling Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine.  This action targets multiple sectors essential to Russia’s war effort.   As part of today’s actions, the Department of State is targeting sanctions circumvention by parties in multiple third countries, several senior Russian Ministry of Defense officials and defense companies, and those that support the development of Russia’s future energy production and exports.  We are imposing sanctions on several PRC-based companies exporting dual-use goods that fill critical gaps in…

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Employer:                              Finichel LLC, operating as Finichel Cleaning Services Investigation site:                  801 Mohawk DriveWest Columbia, SC 29169Investigation findings: Investigators with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found a South Carolina cleaning services provider misclassified 59 workers as independent contractors, resulting in the company paying employees straight-time rates for all hours worked over 40 instead of the time-and-a-half premium for overtime hours as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act. The employer also failed to keep records of the amount of time worked by employees as required by law.Back wages and liquidated damages recovered: $53,044 for 59 workers.                          Quote: “Misclassifying employees as independent contractors…

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The United States is today sanctioning nearly 400 entities and individuals for enabling Russia’s prosecution of its illegal war.  In this action, the Department of State is imposing sanctions on more than 120 individuals and entities.  Concurrently, the Department of the Treasury is designating more than 270 individuals and entities.  For information about Treasury’s actions, please see their press release.  The Department of Commerce is also adding 40 entities to its Entity List.   The Department of State’s designations aim to disrupt sanctions evasion and target entities in multiple third countries, including the People’s Republic of China (PRC), India, Malaysia, Thailand, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates.  The Department is also designating several senior Russian Ministry of Defense officials appointed earlier this year.  Additional designations target Russia’s military-industrial base, including…

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MFA Inc. faces $241,887 in proposed penalties, cited for 6 violations HAMILTON, MO ‒ A Missouri grain cooperative could have prevented an employee’s fatal engulfment in a storage bin in May 2024 had it followed federal workplace safety requirements, the U.S. Department of Labor determined.Responding to the employer’s report of a worker fatality, investigators with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration learned that three employees of MFA Inc., operating as MFA Rail Car, were removing corn screenings – comprised of clumps of corn dust – from a bin at the company’s Hamilton facility. One worker entered the bin to clear…

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Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Ukrainian Presidential Administration Head Andriy Yermak today in Washington, DC.  They discussed U.S. military and economic assistance and ongoing diplomatic efforts in support of Ukraine upcoming diplomatic events, including conferences supporting Ukraine’s Peace Formula.  The Secretary reiterated the United States’ enduring support for Ukraine’s sovereignty amid its fight against Russia’s brutal war of aggression and support for a just and lasting peace on the basis of the United Nations Charter. Source_link

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BUFFALO, NY – The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs will mark the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Act and Veterans Day 2024 by holding a Veteran Resource and Opportunity Fair on Nov. 6, 2024. Hosted by OFCCP’s area office in Buffalo, the event will be held at WNYHeroes Inc., 1001 E. Delavan Ave. The fair will offer military members and their spouses information on employment opportunities. More than 30 leading federal contractors will be on-hand to discuss employment opportunities and workplace protections that support veterans and military spouses. WHO:                        Office…

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MR MILLER:  Good afternoon, everyone. QUESTION:  Good afternoon. MR MILLER:  It doesn’t feel as cold in here today as usual.  I’ll have to talk to the authorities about that. Let’s start with some opening remarks.  The Georgian people went to the polls on Saturday in an election environment shaped by the ruling party’s policies, including misuse of public resources, vote buying, and voter intimidation.  This contributed to an uneven playing field and undermined public and international trust in the possibility of a fair outcome.  We join calls from international and local observers for a full investigation of all reports of…

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Incremental funding provides disaster recovery, workforce training in 33 countiesWASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $5 million in funding to support continued disaster-relief employment and workforce training for Florida residents as the state continues to recover after Hurricane Idalia.On Sept. 18, 2023, the department announced a National Dislocated Worker Grant of up to $20 million – with an initial award of $6.6 million – to the Florida Department of Commerce to provide people with temporary employment focused on debris removal, water damage cleanup and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those affected by the storm,…

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Seychelles’ internet subscriptions have risen to 139,850 in June 2024(File photo: Seychelles News Agency)Photo license   (Seychelles News Agency) – Seychelles has been ranked among the countries with the highest levels of information and communication technology (ICT) development in Africa, according to a report published at the end of June by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Seychelles retains its ranking as the third in Africa in the 2024 report, while the island nation sits 78th in the world. The country has gained 3.8 more points compared to last year, moving from 80.9 points in 2023, to 84.7 points in 2024.…

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