News and Media Release PBGC Approves SFA Application for Teamsters Local 52 Pension Plan Teamsters Plan Averts Plan Insolvency and Reduction of Benefits Through Receipt of Special Financial Assistance FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 22, 2022  WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) announced today that it has approved the application submitted to the Special Financial Assistance (SFA) Program by the Teamsters Local Union No. 52 Pension Plan (Teamsters Local 52 Plan). The application was submitted and approved under provisions of PBGC’s SFA interim final rule. The plan, based in Valley View, Ohio, covers 769 participants in the transportation industry.

NSF Quarterly: News from the Director

 

Dear NSF Community,    I was just at Mississippi State University where I was thrilled to relaunch the NSF Days series on November 21st. This NSF Day highlighted the multitude of opportunities and activities made possible through collaboration with NSF. We need every region in the nation to be part of the science and engineering enterprise. Every state and community, from rural towns to urban centers, has unique talent and perspectives that are crucial to the advancement of science, technology, engineering, and innovation. I look forward to meeting more amazing researchers as the NSF Days series continues to engage more regions around the country.  Developing scientific talent and our STEM workforce is more critical today than ever before. NSF has been busy fostering partnerships with Intel and Micron to train the semiconductor workforce of tomorrow. Five new I-Corps Hubs are growing access to innovation by expanding the National Innovation Network.    During the newly proclaimed National Entrepreneurship Month, which President Biden announced on October 31, I am eager to share that with additional funding, NSF is standing ready to scale a series of new activities, including Entrepreneurial Fellowships and a new $30 million workforce development program, Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT). These activities will help individuals gain valuable work experience in emerging technology areas and make entrepreneurship more accessible for people in emerging innovation ecosystems and for those who have been traditionally underrepresented in STEM.  As we enter the holiday season and reflect on this past year, I am thankful for the immense support NSF has received with the historic passage of the "CHIPS and Science Act," which, when funded, will enable us to keep American technology innovation on the cutting edge and ensure that the industries that will power the future are made here in America. Congress' investment in America's technological future reflects a recent Pew survey that found 81% of Americans agree that government investments in scientific research are worthwhile.   Lastly, I am excited to share that I have launched an official Twitter account. Follow me @NSFDrPanch for insights into how maintaining global leadership, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity, and advancing the frontiers of research and development will shape the future.  I hope you enjoy this issue of NSF Quarterly: News from the Director as we close out 2022. I wish you a wonderful season filled with warmth and happiness and a new year where innovation happens anywhere and opportunities are everywhere. Sincerely,   Sethuraman Panchanathan Director, National Science Foundation The NSF Impact The work of this year's Nobel recipients is just one example of how NSF's investments improve all of society. Among this year's Nobel laureates, NSF supported the work of scientists and engineers in physics, chemistry, economic sciences, and physiology or medicine. This year's recipients join 253 previous NSF-funded Nobel laureates and their groundbreaking scientific contributions. In the latest article in his LinkedIn series, Director Panch looks at the impact NSF investments have made in those areas. Read more ...

ΝΑΤΟ update

 

Romanian and US forces train together Romanian and US forces have been practising together on a training ground in Transylvania, Romania.  The exercise, referred to as Operation Justice Sword, is an annual validation exercise for the 280th Romanian Mechanised Battalion. It saw Romanian troops train alongside soldiers from the United States 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), which has been stationed in Europe since the summer of 2022. The exercise ran from 27 October to 11 November 2022. Click here to download the b-roll. Footage includes Romanian and US armoured vehicles live-firing on a training ground as well as soundbites from Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Black and Sergeant First Class Daniel Perdue, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Inside the mind of a Black Hawk pilot What does it take to fly the US Army’s UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter? Skill, determination and an ability to adapt to your mission, whatever it may be. The Black Hawk is the US Army’s multipurpose helicopter, used for air assault missions, medical evacuation, troop movements and humanitarian missions, among other tasks. Its flexibility makes it invaluable on NATO exercises and operations – such as the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR), where Virginia National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jennifer Gaulton serves as a pilot. While in Kosovo, Gaulton and her fellow Black Hawk pilots have flown a wide range of missions, from firefighting and search-and-rescue to training with other NATO Allies. Here she describes what it takes to fly the Black Hawk, and why it’s such a powerful and useful machine. Click here to download the video. You can also watch the video on YouTube. Press Release 22 November 2022 PR (2022) 153 Pre-ministerial press conference of the NATO Secretary General On Friday 25 November 2022, at 10:00 CET, the NATO Secretary General will brief the press at NATO Headquarters, ahead of the Meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which will take place on 29 and 30 November 2022 in Bucharest Romania. Contact the NATO Press Office.

GAIN reports

 

The following GAIN reports were released on November 21, 2022. _______   Algeria: Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Export Certificate Report This report provides information on export certificates required by the Government of Algeria.   Bulgaria: 2021 - Direct Versus Indirect Trade - Bulgaria's Hidden Market for U S Ag Exports The U.S. Census Bureau’s bulk, intermediate, and consumer-oriented (BICO) export data tracks U.S. food and agricultural trade shipped directly to Bulgaria. However, it does not measure the substantial levels of the U.S. agricultural trade to Bulgaria routed through Western European ports of entry. According to BICO, U.S. suppliers shipped $28.1 million of U.S. food and agriculture to Bulgaria in 2021. However, according to Bulgaria’s National Statistical Institute (NSI), which measures trade by country of origin and therefore reflects both direct and indirect trade, Bulgaria sourced $80.1 million of U.S. food and agriculture in 2021. FAS Sofia encourages USDA cooperators and other U.S. food and agricultural exporters and stakeholders to look beyond BICO data and review different data sources when considering resource allocation and market development strategies for Bulgaria.

Ομιλία του Πρωθυπουργού και Προέδρου της Νέας Δημοκρατίας Κυριάκου Μητσοτάκη στην Πάτρα

 

Αθήνα, 22 Νοεμβρίου 2022   Ομιλία του Πρωθυπουργού και Προέδρου της Νέας Δημοκρατίας Κυριάκου Μητσοτάκη στην Πάτρα

 

 

 

 

Αθήνα, 22 Νοεμβρίου 2022

 

Ομιλία του Πρωθυπουργού και Προέδρου της Νέας Δημοκρατίας

Κυριάκου Μητσοτάκη στην Πάτρα

 

Κυρίες και κύριοι Υπουργοί, κυρίες και κύριοι συνάδελφοι στο Κοινοβούλιο, κύριε Περιφερειάρχα, φίλες και φίλοι, νεοδημοκράτισσες και νεοδημοκράτες της Αχαΐας, της Δυτικής Ελλάδος, σας ευχαριστώ κατ’ αρχάς γι’ αυτή την εξαιρετικά θερμή υποδοχή.

 

Παρακαλώ τον συντοπίτη σας και Γραμματέα της Πολιτικής μας Επιτροπής Παύλο Μαρινάκη την επόμενη φορά να μεριμνήσει για μεγαλύτερο χώρο και ζητώ προκαταβολικά συγγνώμη από όσους δεν κατάφεραν να μπουν σήμερα μέσα και θα ακούσουν την ομιλία από τον εξωτερικό χώρο.

 

Όμως χαίρομαι πάρα πολύ που βρίσκομαι μαζί σας -επικεφαλής όπως βλέπετε μεγάλου κυβερνητικού κλιμακίου-, στο δρόμο για το αύριο της χώρας. Σταθμός μας σήμερα είναι η Πάτρα του 2022. Γιατί, εδώ, στην Αχαΐα, συναντάμε σε μικρογραφία όλη τη διαδρομή της σύγχρονης Ελλάδας: από την ύψωση του λαβάρου της απελευθέρωσης στην Αγία Λαύρα μέχρι το τέλος των πανίσχυρων γαιοκτημόνων στα τέλη του 19ου αιώνα, με την ανάδυση εδώ στην Πάτρα μίας καινοτόμας αστικής τάξης. Και ύστερα με τις αρχές της εκβιομηχάνισης, την ακμή, την παρακμή της σταφιδοκαλλιέργειας. Στην αρχή έφερε πλούτο, αλλά και μετά το πρώτο κύμα της υπερατλαντικής μετανάστευσης.

OBAMA Foundation:update

 

Hi there, Recently, we hosted the inaugural Obama Foundation Democracy Forum, in partnership with Columbia University and the University of Chicago, to bring together experts from around the world, leaders in our global network of changemakers, and President Obama to discuss the role we can all play in protecting and strengthening democratic values and institutions.   See the highlights. At the Forum, President Obama shared the stage with four of our leaders, where they discussed opportunities to strengthen democracy in their own communities, work they're doing to move progress forward, and their hopes for the future. He also announced an expansion of our domestic work to support changemakers, Leaders United States. The next day, President Obama joined many of our leaders for workshops exploring the opportunities and challenges they face on the ground as they work to advance values-based leadership.   Coming away from the forum, it’s clear that more unites us than divides us. As President Obama said, it’s up to us to carry democracy’s torch into the future.  As we head into the holiday season, I wanted to leave you with some ways that you can practice a culture of democracy:    1. Use your Voice Your voice matters. Recognize your own agency by speaking up for the causes and people you care about and enlisting allies in the fight.    2. Embrace Human Connection Don’t shy away from cultural differences, create space for them. There is so much more that unites us than divides us, and it’s the best way to strengthen a democratic culture.  3. Verify Facts Be mindful of the messages and information you consume. Examine sources, think before you share, and help others in your life be critical thinkers who can separate opinion from fact. The divisions that can exist within our democracies aren’t going away any time soon, but the information we choose to consume can encourage the better angels of our nature.  4. Participate Engage in the democratic process by voting, holding your leaders accountable, and working toward diverse and inclusive institutions. The future depends on how we act today.  At a time when democracy is under threat, it’s inspiring to see how the leaders I work with have joined together to meet the needs of our world. You’re a part of that, too. Thank you for being a part of this work.  —Laura Laura Lucas Magnuson Executive Vice President, Global Programs  Obama Foundation      Donate to empower rising leaders bringing hope to their communities. DONATE

ΑPEC update

APEC Photo Contest 2022 Winning Photos Emphasize Importance of Green RecoveryIssued by the APEC Secretariat
Bangkok, Thailand, 23 November 2022

The winners of the APEC Photo Contest 2022 were announced at the 33rd APEC Ministerial Meeting by the APEC Secretariat Executive Director Dr Rebecca Sta Maria.

The annual photo contest asks participating photographers and photo enthusiasts in the APEC region to interpret APEC’s yearly theme and priorities including 1) open to opportunities, 2) connect in all dimensions and 3) balance in all aspects.

“This year’s entries captured the resilience and tenacity of people in the APEC region who are bouncing back from the effects of the pandemic,” said Dr Sta Maria. “The entries also showcased the importance of balancing economic goals and caring for the environment as the region begins to recover from the crisis.”

Here are the winning photos of the APEC Photo Contest 2022:

Judges’ First Prize: A Tapestry of Indonesian Vegetable Patches by Hana Krisna Arysta.




Judges’ Second Prize: Fishing for better future by Bambang Wirawan.




Judges’ Third Prize: Working Together: Harvesting vegetables by Arie Basuki.




Popular Choice Award: Pandemic: EmPOWERing the Rural Community by Mohammad Reza Gemi Omandi.




Influencer Award: Energy Source by Yusuf Arif Rohman.


Photo entries are judged based on their perceptions of Thailand’s host year priorities, as well as the photographs’ composition, quality, and creativity.

The winners were selected by a panel of judges comprised of the 2022 Chair of APEC Senior Officials, Thani Thongphakdi; APEC Secretariat Executive Director, Dr Rebecca Sta Maria; award winning photographers, Tavepong Pratoomwong from Thailand and Kathleen Lei Limayo from the Philippines, as well as Deputy News Director in charge of Photo, Graphics, Documentation and Data for Agence France Presse, Eric Baradat.

The Influencer Award is given to the photo entry submitted to APEC’s Instagram account which captures the most engagement from the public.

And finally, there is the Local’s Choice Award for the photo capturing the most votes by the Thai public in Bangkok. The award went to “Fishing for a Better Future,” by Bambang Wirawan from Indonesia, which also won the Judges’ Second Prize.

The winning photo by Hana Krisna Arysta of Indonesia captured a bird’s eye view of a vibrant and flourishing vegetable farm. The image reflects the importance of addressing climate change to ensure food security, and is a reminder that the health of the planet is deeply connected to economic growth and the prosperity of its people.

Throughout its APEC host year, Thailand has led discussions on intensifying APEC’s work in tackling climate issues, such as with the introduction of the bio-circular-green economy and the promotion of structural reform for a green recovery. The 2022 APEC Photo Contest sought to invite the public to interpret these priorities with descriptive images.

Also read: APEC Leaders Issue 2022 Declaration and the Bangkok Goals on the Bio-Circular-Green Economy

“The common theme that binds the winning photos is sustainability, and it has to go in tandem with economic goals, as we pursue continued growth and recovery,” Dr Sta Maria concluded. “Through the APEC Photo Contest, APEC is connecting with the wider public in our member economies on key issues while responding to the changing needs of the people in the region.”

This year’s APEC Photo Contest received more than 1,100 photo entries from over 500 talented participants across 15 member economies—Australia; Canada; Chile; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Republic of Korea; Russia; Singapore; Thailand; the Philippines; and Viet Nam.

APEC Ministers applauded the winning photos just before the conclusion of their meeting.

For further details, please contact:

Masyitha Baziad +65 9751 2146 at mb@apec.org
Michael Chapnick +65 9647 4847 at mc@apec.org

ΠΑ.ΣΟ.Κ.-ΚΙΝ.ΑΛ.:Ενημέρωση

Χαιρετισμός Νίκου Ανδρουλάκη, Προέδρου ΠΑΣΟΚ – Κινήματος Αλλαγής στην παρουσίαση του βιβλίου «ΚΑΤΑΓΡΑΦΗ»




Από Γραφείο Τύπου ΠΑΣΟΚ - Κίνημα Αλλαγής 

 18/11/2022

Χαιρετισμό στην παρουσίαση του βιβλίου «ΚΑΤΑΓΡΑΦΗ» του πρώην Προέδρου της Κυπριακής Βουλής των Αντιπροσώπων, Γιαννάκη Ομήρου, απηύθυνε ο Πρόεδρος του ΠΑΣΟΚ – Κινήματος Αλλαγής, Νίκος Ανδρουλάκης.

Αγαπητέ Πρόεδρε,

Αξιότιμοι κυρίες και κύριοι

Χαίρομαι ιδιαίτερα, που σήμερα παρουσιάζεται ένα σημαντικό βιβλίο για το Κυπριακό, που δεν είναι απλώς Καταγραφή, αλλά κατάθεση ψυχής από έναν Πατριώτη, αγωνιστή της Δημοκρατίας, το Γιαννάκη Ομήρου.

Εξιστορεί γεγονότα της ιστορικής πορείας της Μεγαλονήσου, όπως ο ίδιος τα βίωσε, ήδη από τα μαθητικά του χρόνια με τον αγώνα του ’55-’59, αφηγούμενος μερικές από τις πιο βαρυσήμαντες στιγμές της ιστορίας της Κύπρου.

Η συγκυρία το έφερε να παρουσιάζεται το βιβλίο μια μέρα μετά την επέτειο της 17ης Νοεμβρίου, θυμίζοντας μας ότι ο Ομήρου μετείχε ενεργά στους αγώνες υπεράσπισης της Δημοκρατίας, στην Ελλάδα και στην Κύπρο. Φοιτητής στην Αθήνα, ενεργό μέλος της συνδεδεμένης με τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο Μακάριο φοιτητικής παράταξης “Παλμός”, μετείχε στους αγώνες κατά της δικτατορίας των συνταγματαρχών, στην κατάληψη της Νομικής Σχολής και στην Εξέγερση του Πολυτεχνείου.

Την αντιστασιακή δράση του κορύφωσε η γενναία στάση του κατά του προδοτικού πραξικοπήματος της 15ης Ιουλίου 1974 εναντίον του Αρχιεπισκόπου Μακαρίου .

Ιατρική Σχολή Αθηνών/ Athens Medical School: ISO 15189: 2012 στο Βιοχημικό Εργαστήριο του Λαϊκού Νοσοκομείου

Tο Βιοχημικό Εργαστήριο του Λαϊκού Νοσοκομείου που υπάγεται στο Εργαστήριο Βιολογικής Χημείας της Ιατρικής Σχολής (Διευθυντής - Καθηγητής Αθανάσιος Γ. Παπαβασιλείου), μετά από διαδικασία αξιολόγησης από το Εθνικό Σύστημα Διαπίστευσης (ΕΣΥΔ) πιστοποιήθηκε με ISO 15189: 2012, με μηδέν παρατηρήσεις και μηδέν μη συμμορφώσεις!!

Το Βιοχημικό Εργαστήριο με Διευθύντρια την Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια Βιοχημείας κα. Αγγελική Παπαπαναγιώτου λαμβάνει για πρώτη φορά την συγκεκριμένη διαπίστευση, η οποία αποτελεί το σημαντικότερο εργαλείο διασφάλισης της ποιότητας και της αξιοπιστίας των παρεχόμενων υπηρεσιών.
Θερμά συγχαρητήρια σε όλο το προσωπικό του Βιοχημικού Εργαστηρίου που δούλεψε σκληρά για το σκοπό αυτό καθώς και στην Διοίκηση του Λαϊκού Νοσοκομείου για την πολύτιμη στήριξη και βοήθεια στη διάρκεια της όλης διαδικασίας.