Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation:President Names PBGC Advisory Committee Members

 

News and Media Release

President Names PBGC Advisory Committee Members FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 16, 2022 WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. has appointed the following members to serve on the Advisory Committee of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC): Jeanmarie Grisi of New Jersey, Mike Jacobson of Maryland, Joe LoCicero of New York, and Kweku Obed of Illinois.   “I am pleased to welcome the new members of the Advisory Committee,” said PBGC Director Gordon Hartogensis. “They will represent the interests of employers and the public and we look forward to working with them.” The experience and expertise of the seven-member Advisory Committee will advise the agency on investment policy and other matters related to PBGC’s mission.

 

AHEPA E-News Volume 16, Issue 40 | Wednesday, November 16, 2022

U.S. Ambassador Tsunis Hosts AHEPA Family

U.S. Ambassador to Greece George Tsunis, and his wife, Olga, hosted a reception for the AHEPA Family leadership from the United States, Canada, and Greece at their residence, November 14, on the eve of AHEPA's 100-year anniversary banquet held in Athens on November 15. Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas brought greetings from the U.S. and expressed his excitement for the regional event, which will bring together Ahepans from across North America and Europe. We thank our Brother Ahepan, Ambassador Tsunis, for his hospitality and well wishes!

Federal Acquisition Institute :News for the Acquisition Workforce

 

Nov. 16, 2022 Symphony Procurement Suite (OASIS Program-Specific) Training - Nov. 17 OASIS recently adopted the use of Symphony Procurement Suite, a web-based, commercial off-the-shelf contract management and automation tool that allows government organizations to manage complex contracts. Symphony provides OASIS customers and OASIS contract holders an easy-to-use, highly secure and efficient method to issue, manage and award task order requests and capture information as a database of record for all stakeholders. Using Symphony ensures agencies are purchasing according to fair opportunity laws and rules. Join this webinar to learn how to navigate the tool and use it for orders on OASIS. Market Research as a Service Webinar - Nov. 17 Market Research as a Service employs cutting-edge research methods to assist customer organizations in visualizing the competition and possible alternatives. Join this webinar, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. E.T., to learn why market research is conducted, when and how to conduct it, how to get better results by making your data collection methods easier and more.  FAC 097 Navigating Buy American and Trade Agreements Training Course is LIVE in FAI CSOD A new online course, FAC 097 Navigating Buy American and Trade Agreements, is now available in FAI CSOD. This new course incorporates all of the changes from FAR Rule 2021-008, including the new domestic content requirements for Buy American, the new fallback threshold, as well as the new price evaluation preferences for critical items and critical components. The course also introduces and utilizes two new Buy American and Trade Agreements decision tools that are available on FAI.gov. If you are a contracting professional that purchases supplies, this course is for you! Earn two CLPs for course completion. Register today! Earn Your FAC-C-DS via the DITAP Program! A FAC-C-Digital Services (DS) is required prior to being assigned requirements for digital services acquisitions over $7.5 million (or $15 million for acquisitions described in FAR Part 13.500(c)). FAC-C Level II or III certified candidates can earn a FAC-C-DS via the Digital IT Acquisition Professional (DITAP) program. There are several vendors who provide the training: Management Concepts, ICF, CivicActions, EAGLES, Skylight and Graduate School USA. New Acquisition Data Initiatives Page The new Acquisition Data Initiatives page is live on Acquisition.gov and can be found on the top menu bar on the main page or here. The page provides news and updates related to acquisition data initiatives involving data analytics, standards and processes, and serves as an access point to procurement-related sites. Agency partners have developed resources for contracting officers and other members of the acquisition community to navigate commonly asked questions in the Federal Procurement Data System. The Office of Federal Procurement Policy team will be updating the acquisition community on ongoing data initiatives, including Equity in Procurement and the Hi-Definition Intelligent Acquisition Environment, in addition to adding more resources in the future. Now Available! FAC 095 Climate Adaptation for Program Managers Program managers, consider taking this high-level overview of how to manage climate risks. This new course is broken into three modules, and it explains the current climate science, the need to adapt to climate change hazards and steps program managers can take to mitigate risks. The course also highlights several resources that will assist with making your program more climate-ready. Don’t delay; program managers can register here and earn one CLP after completing the post-assessment.  Government/Industry Engagement: Strategies for Success! Government/industry engagement is essential for the success of the federal acquisition process. However, this essential component of a well-functioning procurement system is sometimes unknown or overlooked. The video linked here provides a 30-minute overview that details what government/industry engagement is, outlines strategies for success, provides practical examples of successful government/industry engagement, and reviews takeaways and resources. Tune in to learn more and support the success of federal acquisition processes!

Acquisition Today is published the first and third Wednesday of each month. If you have information that you would like to share with the federal acquisition workforce community via Acquisition Today, you may submit your article for consideration by completing this form. If you have feedback that you would like to share with FAI, please email us at contact@fai.gov.

Any reference to, or information discussing, a specific commercial training organization, or its products, processes, or services within this Acquisition Today newsletter does not constitute or imply an endorsement by FAI, GSA, or the United States Government of the commercial training organization, or its products, processes, services, producers, or providers. The views and opinions expressed in any referenced document, website, linked information, or any other information, contained in the newsletter regarding a commercial training organization do not necessarily state or reflect those of FAI, GSA, or the United States Government. All references to commercial training organizations are for information purposes only. Neither the FAI, GSA, or the United States Government, nor any of their employees, assumes any legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information from a commercial training organization's referenced information, linked information, services, products, producers, or providers.

OBAMA's latest

 

Hi there, Tune in tomorrow, Thursday, November 17, to the first-ever Obama Foundation Democracy Forum!  The livestream begins at 12:30pm ET on Obama.org. You can also watch the Forum live on Twitter and Facebook.    The Forum will bring together leading democracy thinkers, leaders, and activists from around the world to discuss how we can all strengthen and advance democracy. President Obama will close out the day at 5pm ET with remarks and a conversation with Obama Foundation Leaders.

We hope you’ll join us on Obama.org and in conversation online using #DemocracyForum.  —The Obama Foundation     Donate to empower rising leaders bringing hope to their communities. DONATE

BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM: The latest G.17 data are now available.

 

The latest G.17 data are now available.   https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g17/current/default.htm

 

Visit us on the web at Federal Reserve Board.

Trade: Council agrees negotiating position on economic anti-coercion rules

 

Press material Wednesday 16 November 2022

● Council of the EU   16/11/2022 12:31 | Press release | Trade: Council agrees negotiating position on economic anti-coercion rules   Member states agreed today their negotiating position (mandate) on a regulation on the protection of the Union and its member states from economic coercion by third countries (Anti-Coercion Instrument - ACI). This will be a new instrument in the EU's toolbox of autonomous instruments with the aim of deterring third countries from targeting the EU and its member states with deliberate economic coercion. The instrument will allow the EU to defend itself better on the global stage through a large variety of response measures. "This new tool will serve as a deterrent and will counteract economic coercion by third countries in a time of rising geopolitical tensions. The EU and its Member States have become in recent years the target of deliberate economic pressure exercised by non-EU countries through measures affecting trade and investment. The EU has the right to defend itself better on the global stage when becoming a target of economic intimidation." Jozef Síkela, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic In this mandate, the Council seeks an enhanced involvement in the decision-making process by conferring implementing powers to itself to determine what constitutes economic coercion. The European Commission will retain implementing powers in decisions on the EU’s response measures while ensuring increased involvement of member states in these decisions. Defence of the EU’s interest Among the measures that could be applied to the third country as a response to economic coercion are imposition of trade restrictions, for example in the form of increased customs duties, import or export licences, or restrictions in the field of services, public procurement or foreign direct investment. These measures would be applied without a retroactive character and respecting the proportionality with regards to the damage caused. The anti-coercion instrument is designed to de-escalate and induce discontinuation of specific coercive measures through dialogue as a first step. Any countermeasures taken by the EU would be applied only as a last resort when there is no other way to address economic intimidation. Background The European Commission proposed this legislation on 8 December 2021, at the request of the Council and the European Parliament. The European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade (INTA) adopted amendments to the proposal on 10 October and the plenary confirmed the Parliament’s negotiating mandate on 19 October and requested that negotiations begin ‘immediately’. Next steps The regulation now has to be agreed between the Council and the European Parliament under the ordinary legislative procedure. Once the regulation is officially adopted by both institutions, it will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU. Council’s negotiating position Commission’s proposal European Parliament’s negotiation position

Think Tank reports on the invasion of Ukraine

 

Library blog Wednesday 16 November 2022

● General Secretariat of the Council   Think Tank reports on the invasion of Ukraine   Ukraine's great cyberwar that didn't happen; Russia’s legal arguments to justify its aggression against Ukraine; supporting Ukraine’s democracy after the war; how have sanctions impacted Russia; how Europeans can ramp up military supplies for Ukraine in the long war; what future for nuclear deterrence; and what future for transatlantic relations following the “Ukraine moment” are some of the topics covered in this update.

Think Tank reports on the invasion of Ukraine

• 16 November 2022
 
• Think Tank Review
 
• gsclibrary

This is a non-exhaustive collection of Think Tanks reports on the invasion of Ukraine, covering the period from February 2022 onwards, which is regularly updated:

© AFP

 

16.11.2022

THE HAGUE CENTRE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES

The parallel front: an analysis of the military use of information in the first seven months of the war in Ukraine

The first 7 months of the war in Ukraine have reaffirmed that warfare does not only take place in the physical realm. Rather, in modern high-intensity warfare, an ongoing informational battle interacts with and impacts the behaviour of people on the ground. This paper looks at 7 case studies to map the ways in which Ukrainian and Russian narratives developed and interacted.

STIFTUNG WISSENSCHAFT UND POLITIK

Άγνωστο είδος δηλητηριώδους κόμπρας πεθαίνει μετά από διπλό δάγκωμα 8χρονου αγοριού στην Ινδία

 https://hellasjournal.com/2022/11/agnosto-idos-dilitiriodous-kompras-petheni-meta-apo-diplo-dagkoma-8chronou-agoriou-stin-india/

Ένα 8χρονο αγόρι σκότωσε πρόσφατα μια δηλητηριώδη κόμπρα στην Ινδία αφού δέχτηκε ένα «ξηρό δάγκωμα» χωρίς δηλητήριο από το φίδι και στη συνέχεια το δάγκωσε και αυτό με τη σειρά του ως αντίποινα.

Μια δηλητηριώδης κόμπρα σκοτώθηκε πρόσφατα στην Ινδία αφού την δάγκωσε δύο φορές ένα πανικόβλητο 8χρονο αγόρι......

Αναγνώσατε πατώντας εδώ:

https://hellasjournal.com/2022/11/agnosto-idos-dilitiriodous-kompras-petheni-meta-apo-diplo-dagkoma-8chronou-agoriou-stin-india/

Bob Menendez,U.S. Senator (D-N.J.) :latest news

PRESS RELEASES


NOVEMBER 15, 2022

VIDEO RELEASE: Menendez Calls for Investor Protection in Wake of FTX Collapse
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs in today’s hearing, “Oversight of Financial Regulators: A Strong Banking and Credit Union System for Main Street,” questioned federal financial regulators on the lack of... READ MORE


NOVEMBER 15, 2022

Menendez, Gillibrand Lead Colleagues in Requesting Critical Resources for Disaster Recovery and Resilience in Puerto Rico
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) today led nearly a dozen colleagues in urging Senate leadership to include $5 billion in any future emergency supplemental appropriations bill for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to assist with installing rooftop solar and storage projects for... READ MORE


NOVEMBER 15, 2022

Menendez, Booker Announce $9M to Support Community Health Centers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) today announced $9,073,482 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support the operations of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) across the state. “Community health centers were on the frontlines of the pandemic,... READ MORE


NOVEMBER 14, 2022

Menendez, Colleagues Raise Concern over Lack of Transparency and Responsiveness in CBP Report on Haitian Migrant Treatment at Southern Border
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), alongside Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), sent a letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner and CBP Assistant Commissioner in the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) raising concerns about the final report released by CBP OPR on July 8... READ MORE


NOVEMBER 11, 2022

Menendez Statement on Veterans Day
JERSEY CITY, N.J. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today released the following statement in recognition of Veterans Day: “Today, on Veterans Day, we honor and commemorate those who have served our country in the United States military. We take time to say thank you — not only to those who have worn the uniform in... READ MORE


NOVEMBER 04, 2022

Menendez, Booker Announce $5.6M for Hurricane Ida-Related Damages
JERSEY CITY, N.J. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) today announced $5,601,686.52 in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support debris removal and structural repairs as a result of damages caused by Hurricane Ida. Last year, Hurricane Ida slammed New Jersey, causing widespread... READ MORE


NOVEMBER 02, 2022

Menendez, Booker Announce $153M to Help NJ Families Cover Heating Costs
JERSEY CITY, N.J. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) today announced $153.3 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help residents across the state pay for home energy costs this winter. Funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which is provided by the... READ MORE

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION interesting latest news

 

Press material Wednesday 16 November 2022

● European Council   16/11/2022 04:41 | Statements and remarks | Joint statement of NATO and G7 Leaders on the margins of the G20 Summit in Bali   Today, the Leaders of Canada, the European Council, the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States met on the margins of the G20 Summit in Bali and released the following statement: We condemn the barbaric missile attacks that Russia perpetrated on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure on Tuesday. We discussed the explosion that took place in the eastern part of Poland near the border with Ukraine. We offer our full support for and assistance with Poland’s ongoing investigation. We agree to remain in close touch to determine appropriate next steps as the investigation proceeds. We reaffirm our steadfast support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in the face of ongoing Russian aggression, as well as our continued readiness to hold Russia accountable for its brazen attacks on Ukrainian communities, even as the G20 meets to deal with the wider impacts of the war. We all express our condolences to the families of the victims in Poland and Ukraine.

Press material Tuesday 15 November 2022

● Council of the EU   15/11/2022 11:49 | Press release | PESCO: the UK will be invited to participate in Military Mobility project