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…
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…
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…
“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…
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…
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…
Harvest Plus assessed $252K in penalties, debarred from H-2A program for three years KENNEWICK, WA – The U.S. Department of Labor has debarred a Kennewick farm labor contractor from participating in the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program for three years after finding the employer provided workers with unhealthy living conditions; transported them in unsafe vehicles driven by people without licenses or proper permits; withheld wages and made illegal pay deductions; told workers to falsify documents to mask violations of federal regulations; and denied U.S. workers access to jobs.An investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division found Harvest Plus LLC, which provides…
“I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict, with escalation after escalation,” he said in a tersely worded statement. “This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire.” Rising hostilities Iran fired waves of ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday, just hours after Israel launched what it called a “limited” ground incursion into southern Lebanon, according to media reports. There were no immediate reports of any injuries on the ground in Israel and the Israeli military said around 180 missiles were fired, most of which were intercepted. The developments follow Israeli airstrikes in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, Beirut,…
Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources Geoffrey R. Pyatt will travel to Athens, Greece and Istanbul, Türkiye October 8-10, 2024, for ministerial and private sector meetings on regional energy transitions and energy security priorities. In Athens, Assistant Secretary Pyatt will discuss advancing U.S.-Greece energy cooperation with senior Greek officials including from the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Energy, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He will also join the leadership teams of energy companies to discuss opportunities in clean energy deployment and improving regional connectivity. Assistant Secretary Pyatt will also deliver remarks at an EU-hosted workshop intended to…