Friday, December 31, 2021

District of Columbia January 1st-6th Forecast

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the evening, then a chance of rain after midnight. Lows in the lower 50s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

New Years Day

Rain likely, mainly in the morning. Highs in the upper 60s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Saturday Night

Rain. Lows in the upper 50s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 80 percent.

Sunday

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Trucking Moves America Forward Shares Stories of the Industry's Charitable Works during the 2021 Holiday Season


The Trucking Industry Gives Back during Second Year of Pandemic


WASHINGTONDec. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF), the industry-wide education and image movement, is helping tell the story of how the trucking industry has given back to communities through charitable giving and acts this year. Trucking companies and organizations submitted their stories of charitable works to TMAF after an industry-wide call for submissions through email and social media. 

Kevin Burch, co-chairman of TMAF and Vice President of Government Affairs and Sales at MTS, said, "Over the past year, our industry and nation have

American Diabetes Association Welcomes 2022 Principal Officers and New Members to National Board of Directors

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Diabetes Association® (ADA) welcomes the 2022 Principal Officers and Board of Directors. The 13-member board is comprised of forward-thinking, innovative medical, scientific, education and executive business professionals, who will strategically lead and focus efforts to ensure the ADA continues to uphold the mission upon which it was founded.

"We are so excited to announce our 2022 Board of Directors, including

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

WIRES Announces 2022 Leadership Team

Will Sauer, Federal Regulatory Affairs Director, Duke Energy Named WIRES President


WASHINGTONDec. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- WIRES, the international trade association that promotes investment in all aspects of the high voltage grid, announced today its 2022 leadership team, with Will Sauer, Managing Director, Federal Regulatory Affairs at Duke Energy, elected as the new WIRES President.

The 2022 slate of WIRES officers includes:

  • President: Will Sauer, Managing Director, Federal Regulatory Affairs, Duke Energy
  • Vice President: Amanda Conner, Vice President, FERC and RTO Strategy and Policy, American Electric Power
  • Secretary: Jodi MoskowitzDeputy General Counsel & RTO Strategy Officer, PSEG
  • Treasurer: Amanda Rumsey, Manager, PJM and Federal Regulatory Policy, PPL Electric Utilities

"This past year was marked by a whirlwind of activity as the Biden

Saturday, December 18, 2021

Matte Black Smart Kitchen Faucet – Touch Sensor/Pull-Down Swivel Sprayer Launch

With consumers across the US turning to the convenience of online shopping as the holiday season approaches, a Sheridan, WY-based household retail brand announces an updated range of furniture, beauty products, kitchenware, and seasonally-themed gift ideas for its growing customer base.


Sheridan, United States, Dec. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emersware LLC’s latest launch collates high-quality products from suppliers across the globe, offering innovation and state-of-the-art design through its range of practical and stylish domestic devices, gadgets, and accessories.

More details can be found at https://emersware.com

Thursday, December 16, 2021

Statement from President Joe Biden on Unemployment Insurance Claims

Today, we received further evidence that our jobs recovery is one of the strongest ever. The average number of Americans filing for unemployment over the last four weeks is now at its lowest level since 1969. When I took office, over 18 million were receiving unemployment benefits, today only 2 million are. We’ve added nearly six million jobs this year – the most of any first year president in history. That’s good news for the millions of families who are back to work and will have a happier holiday season this year. 


Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, and our successful vaccination program, Americans are back at work at a record-setting pace. And families have more money in their pockets: Americans on average have about $100 more in their pockets each month than they did last year, after accounting for inflation.


Even as we’ve built a historic jobs and economic recovery, addressing rising prices, supply chain challenges, and COVID-19 are my top priorities. We need to continue to take concrete actions to address elevated prices and to lower costs for American families – including by lowering prescription drug costs, health care costs, childcare costs, and housing costs with the Build Back Better plan. And, we need to do everything we can to get as many Americans vaccinated and boosted as possible.

Protecting Against Malicious Cyber Activity before the Holidays

TO: Corporate Executives and Business Leaders

FROM: Anne Neuberger, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology and Chris Inglis, National Cyber Director

SUBJECT: Protecting Against Malicious Cyber Activity before the Holidays

DATE: December 16, 2021

The holidays are an opportunity to spend time with our loved ones and enjoy some well-earned rest. Unfortunately, malicious cyber actors are not taking a holiday – and they can ruin ours if we’re not prepared and protected. Historically we have seen breaches around national holidays because criminals know that security operations centers are often short-staffed, delaying the discovery of intrusions. Beyond the holidays, though, we’ve experienced numerous recent events that highlight the strategic risks we all face because of the fragility of digital infrastructure and the ever- present threat of those who would use it for malicious purposes.

There are specific steps that you, as

FACT SHEET: The Biden-⁠Harris Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan

Vice President Kamala Harris to Announce Action Plan that Accelerates Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investments to Replace All Lead Pipes in Next Decade

All Americans deserve to drink clean water, breathe clean air, and live in healthy homes. However, lead in drinking water pipes, faucets, paint, and walls threatens the health and well-being of American families and children across the country. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and countless experts agree that there is no known safe level of lead in a child’s blood.

Yet, up to 10 million American households connect to water through lead pipes and service lines. Children, toddlers, and teenagers in 400,000 schools and child care facilities are at risk of exposure to lead in their water. And 24 million housing units have significant lead-based paint hazards. Because of inequitable infrastructure development and disinvestment, low-

FACT SHEET: The Biden-⁠Harris Administration Trucking Action Plan to Strengthen America’s Trucking Workforce

Trucking plays a critical role in the U.S. supply chain and economy. America’s truck drivers have been on the frontlines of this pandemic, delivering goods to every corner of this country. Seventy-two percent of goods in America are shipped by truck, and in most communities, trucks are the only form of delivery. A strong, stable, and safe trucking workforce that offers good-paying jobs to millions of truck drivers is a critical lifeblood of our economy. But outdated infrastructure, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a historic volume of goods moving through our economy have strained capacity across the supply chain, including in trucking.

The pandemic exacerbated

Monday, December 13, 2021

Rosetta Stone and HIAS Extend Partnership Providing Free Language Learning Lessons to Refugees During Global Resettlement Efforts


Rosetta Stone will continue to provide its platform free of charge to HIAS and the organization's refugee clients to support the social and economic integration of displaced persons


SILVER SPRING, Md., Dec. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosetta Stone, the world's leading language learning brand, and HIAS, the international Jewish humanitarian organization, have extended their partnership to provide HIAS' refugee clients with free language

FACT SHEET: The Biden-⁠Harris Electric Vehicle Charging Action Plan

Vice President Kamala Harris to Announce Action Plan that Fast Tracks Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investments

President Biden has united automakers and autoworkers to drive American leadership forward on clean cars, and he set an ambitious target of 50% of electric vehicle (EV) sale shares in the U.S. by 2030. Now, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will supercharge America’s efforts to lead the electric future, Building a Better America where we can strengthen domestic supply chains, outcompete the world, and make electric cars cheaper for working families.

President Biden, American families,

Vice President Kamala Harris Announces New Commitments as Part of the Call to Action for the Private Sector to Deepen Investment in Central America, Now Totaling Over $1.2 Billion

 CARE International, Cargill, Grupo Mariposa, Parkdale Mills, PepsiCo, JDE Peet’s, and PriceSmart announce commitments to support economic development in northern Central America, as part of a conference convened by the State Department, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Partnership for Central America to support investment in the region.

As part of her role addressing the root causes of migration from Central America, Vice President Kamala Harris announced seven new commitments as part of the Call to Action she launched on May 27 for businesses and social enterprises to make new, significant commitments to sustainably address the root causes of migration by promoting economic opportunity. Commitments announced today include those from: CARE International, Cargill, Grupo Mariposa, Parkdale Mills, PepsiCo, JDE Peet’s, and PriceSmart.

In addition, Mastercard, Microsoft, and

FACT SHEET: Putting the Public First: Improving Customer Experience and Service Delivery for the American People

The Federal Government interacts with millions of people each day and provides vital services during some of the most critical moments in people’s lives. Whether searching for vaccine safety information, claiming retirement benefits, receiving health insurance, passing through a security checkpoint, or checking the status of a farm loan application, Americans expect Government services to be responsive to their needs. But too often, people have to navigate a tangled web of Government websites, offices, and phone numbers to access the services they depend on. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring an effective, equitable, and accountable Government that meets the needs of its people.

Today, the President is taking decisive

Friday, December 10, 2021

Joint Statement on the Export Controls and Human Rights Initiative

The following is the text of a joint statement signed by the governments of Australia, Denmark, Norway, and the United States


Begin Text:


We, Australia, Denmark, Norway, and the United States, recognize that advanced technologies are a vital part of global economic growth and communication, helping people become more interconnected, share knowledge, and advance freedom, democracy, and opportunity. Legitimate trade in these technologies, and responsible use, is essential for the well-being of our future generations. At the same time, authoritarian governments increasingly are using surveillance tools and other related technologies in connection with serious human rights abuses, both within their countries and across international borders, including in acts of transnational repression to censor political opposition and track dissidents. Such use risks defeating the benefits that advanced technologies may bring to the world’s nations and peoples.


Over the coming year of action, we commit to working to establish a voluntary, nonbinding written code of conduct around which like-minded states could politically pledge, to use export control tools to prevent the proliferation of software and other technologies used to enable serious human rights abuses. In addition, we will use the year of action to consult with industry and academia in our efforts.


End Text

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

HGTV’S 'WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS 2021' SET TO AIR ON SUNDAY, DEC. 12, AT 6 PM ET/PT

Genevieve Gorder To Host Annual Special Featuring Over 78,750 Twinkling Lights


New York [Dec. 6, 2021] HGTV’s annual special White House Christmas 2021 will spotlight the iconic home’s brilliant holiday displays, including 78,750 dazzling lights, more than 10,000 ornaments, 6,000 feet of ribbon and 41 Christmas trees, when it premieres Sunday, Dec. 12, at 6 p.m. ET/PT. During the special, which also will be available to stream on discovery+First Lady Jill Biden will lead host Genevieve Gorder on a room by room tour of the White House as staff and volunteers bring the holiday spirit to life. And, as they stop in each room, including the Blue Room, the Green Room and the East Room, Dr. Biden will discuss the details behind the preparations and the meaning of this year’s

Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces Plans for $11 Billion to End Malnutrition at Global Nutrition Summit

“By investing in locally-designed and led nutrition programs, applying the evidence of what works, and adapting quickly, we can prevent child malnutrition, even in the time of COVID, and build a healthier world for everyone.” 


  USAID Administrator Samantha Power

2021 Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit


At the 2021 Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit, U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power announced on behalf of the White House that

Monday, December 6, 2021

Bezos Earth Fund Announces $443 Million in Grants to Advance Environmental Justice, Conserve and Restore Nature, and Improve Monitoring and Accountability

WASHINGTONDec. 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bezos Earth Fund announced it awarded 44 grants totaling $443 million to organizations focused on climate justice, nature conservation and restoration, and tracking critical climate goals. The grants include $130 million to advance the Justice40 initiative in the U.S.; $261 million to further the 30x30 initiative to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030, with a focus on the Congo Basin and Tropical Andes; and $51 million to support land restoration in the U.S. and Africa. These grants are part of the Bezos Earth Fund's $10 billion commitment to fight climate change, protect and restore nature, and advance environmental justice and economic opportunity.

"The goal of the Bezos Earth Fund is to support change agents who are

NASA Selects Companies to Develop Commercial Destinations in Space

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has signed agreements with three U.S. companies to develop designs of space stations and other commercial destinations in space. The agreements are part of the agency's efforts to enable a robust, American-led commercial economy in low-Earth orbit.

The total estimated award amount for all three funded Space Act Agreements is $415.6 million. The companies that received awards are:

  • Blue Origin of Kent, Washington, for $130 million
  • Nanoracks LLC, of Houston for $160 million
  • Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation of Dulles, Virginia, for $125.6 million

NASA seeks to maintain an uninterrupted U.S. presence in low-Earth orbit by

AN EXTRAORDINARY GROUP OF RENOWNED ARTISTS SALUTES THIS YEAR’S HONOREES IN “THE 44th ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS,” WEDNESDAY, DEC. 22 ON CBS

 

2021 Kennedy Center honorees

Standing, left to right: Lorne Michaels, Bette Midler

Sitting, left to right: Justino Díaz, Joni Mitchell, Berry Gordy

Following are honoree, presenter, performer and production credits for THE 44th ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS, an entertainment special to be broadcast Wednesday, Dec. 22 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

WELCOME:

David Letterman

Emmy® Award-winning television host, comedian, writer and producer and 2012 Kennedy Center honoree

 

 

HONOREE:

Joni Mitchell

 

GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and GRAMMY Award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter and painter

 

 

FILM NARRATOR:

Graham Nash

Guidehouse Adds 2 UK-based Partners to Global Life Sciences Practice

Karla Stricker Anderson and Dr. Srikanth Rajagopal, Bring Expertise in Strategy and Operations, M&A, Digital Transformation, and Operating Model Design



WASHINGTONDec. 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Guidehouse, a leading global provider of consulting to public sector and commercial clients, has named Karla Stricker Anderson and Dr. Srikanth "Doc" Rajagopal new partners in its Health segment, expanding the company's global Life Sciences practice. 

Based in Guidehouse's London office, Anderson and Dr. Rajagopal bring

NASA Seeks Next Flight Directors for Human Spaceflight Missions

WASHINGTONDec. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lee esta nota de prensa en español aquí.

NASA is looking for leaders for one of the best jobs on Earth for human spaceflight – including missions to the Moon – the position of flight director in mission

Friday, December 3, 2021

FDA Expands Authorization of Two Monoclonal Antibodies for Treatment and Post-Exposure Prevention of COVID-19 to Younger Pediatric Patients, Including Newborns

SILVER SPRING, Md.Dec. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revised the emergency use authorization (EUA) of bamlanivimab and etesevimab (previously authorized for pediatric patients 12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kilograms, or about 88 pounds), to additionally authorize bamlanivimab and etesivimab administered together for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in all younger pediatric patients, including newborns, who have a positive

Thursday, December 2, 2021

President Biden Announces New Actions to Protect Americans Against the Delta and Omicron Variants as We Battle COVID-⁠19 this Winter

New Actions Aim to Get Americans Boosted for Even Greater Protection Against the Delta and Omicron Variants, Keep Schools and Businesses Open, and Help Quickly Respond to Surges if Needed During the Colder Months


Today, President Biden will announce new actions to combat COVID-19 as the United States heads into the winter months and with the emergence of a new variant, Omicron.


The United States has come far in its fight against the virus and is more

Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces Reforms to Increase Equity and Level the Playing Field for Underserved Small Business Owners

The federal government is the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world, buying everything from software and building construction to financial and asset management—making its procurement a powerful tool to advance equity and build wealth in underserved communities. Despite this, less than 10 percent of federal agencies’ total eligible contracting dollars typically go to small disadvantaged businesses (SDB), a category under federal law for which Black-owned, Latino-owned, and other minority-owned businesses are presumed to qualify. Moreover, while women own roughly 20 percent of all small businesses economy-wide, less than 5 percent of federal contracting dollars go to women-owned small businesses.


Increasing federal spending with underserved businesses not only helps more

Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Wondrium to Launch Educational Series and Companion Documentary Inspired by Bill Gates' Best-selling Book How To Avoid A Climate Disaster

CHANTILLY, Va.Dec. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Wondrium, the leading streaming provider of dynamic learning content, today announced that it will be the home to an educational series and companion documentary inspired by Bill Gatesbest-selling book How to Avoid a Climate Disaster. Wondrium will produce and distribute the titles globally to its members in 2022.

The 10-episode educational series will focus on the innovators who are

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

JOHNS HOPKINS STUDY: BIOSENSOR BARCODES IDENTIFY, DETAIL ‘CHATTING’ AMONG CANCER CELLS

--Tagging biochemical processes with colors enables in-depth examination of cellular communications network at molecular level


Study in @CellCellPress by @HopkinsMedicine & @JohnsHopkins shows “biosensor barcodes” w/ specific colors tied to different cell signals can image, track &

District Receives Nearly $870,000 Federal Grant to Mitigate and Divert Harmful Pollutants from Municipal Industrial Vehicles

District Receives Nearly $870,000 Federal Grant to Mitigate and Divert Harmful Pollutants from Municipal Industrial Vehicles

WASHINGTON, DC, November 30, 2021— The Department of Energy and Environment announces the District was awarded a $866,000 federal grant to help minimize pollutant leaches from municipal industrial vehicles such as snow plows, leaf vacuums, street sweepers, and trash trucks, and in turn reduce pollutant runoff into local sewers and local waterways. The grant comes from the U.S Department of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants (OSG) Program.

Municipal industrial vehicles leach critical pollutant sources—including heavy metals,

MedStar Washington Hospital Center Implants 300th HeartMate 3 LVAD

Washington, D.C., November 30, 2021 – MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute physicians at MedStar Washington Hospital Center have completed their 300th implant of the HeartMate 3 Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD), which treats patients with advanced heart failure. MedStar Washington is among the first four LVAD programs nationwide to reach this historic milestone.


MedStar Washington Hospital Center participated in the MOMENTUM 3 clinical trial and its post-pivotal study Continuous Access Protocol (CAP), testing the efficacy of the HeartMate 3 LVAD for safety and sustainability as short- and long-term

Johns Hopkins Medicine Researchers Map the Cell Types of the Iris in Mice

@HopkinsMedicine researchers have defined the cells that make up the mouse iris. This knowledge will fuel future research into how to work with and heal the eye. - Click to Tweet
 


Credit: Getty Images


—Using genetic analysis, researchers have created a “map” of the cell types that make up the iris
 

—The research reveals new cell types in the iris, including two distinct smooth muscle types
 

—The researchers were able to track differences in the genes used when these muscles constricted or dilated the pupil

—The research also defines the developmental origins of the cells in the iris

Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report they have genetically mapped the cell types

Monday, November 29, 2021

FDA Approves New Imaging Drug to Help Identify Ovarian Cancer Lesions

SILVER SPRING, Md., Nov. 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Cytalux (pafolacianine), an imaging drug intended to assist surgeons in identifying ovarian cancer lesions. The drug is designed to improve the ability to locate additional ovarian cancerous tissue that is normally difficult to detect during surgery.

Cytalux is indicated for use in adult patients with ovarian cancer to help

DDOT Traffic Advisory: Temporary Lane Closures for Bridge and Tunnel Inspections from November 29 through December 10, 2021

(Washington, D.C.) - The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will temporarily close lanes on the following roadways for bridge preventative maintenance construction activities beginning November 29th through December 10th, 2021, weather permitting.


Operation hours and locations are listed below:


Theodore Roosevelt Bridge over Potomac Parkway- BR.1201, single lane closure needed for Ramp A on Theodore Roosevelt Bridge (Next to Kennedy Center). One lane of traffic will remain open during the duration of the day. Lane closures will be between the hours of 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, weather permitting on Monday, November 29th through Friday, December 10th, 2021.


Kenilworth Ave by Nash Street- BR.67, alternating single lane closures needed for

Sunday, November 28, 2021

DDOT Traffic Advisory: Temporary Lane Closures for I-295 Corridor Projects from November 29 through December 6, 2021

(Washington, D.C.) -The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will temporarily close roadways, lanes, ramps and shoulders on the following corridors to perform construction activities along I-295 / DC 295 and nearby local roads. These closures are contingent on suitable weather, field conditions, and/or adjacent construction activities beginning November 29 through December 6 2021.


Daily closures will take place between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Nightly closures will take place between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. the following day (unless otherwise stated below).


Single left or right lane closures will occur anytime daily and nightly on northbound and

DDOT Traffic Advisory: Temporary Lane Closures for Bridge and Tunnel Inspections from November 29 through December 3, 2021


(Washington, D.C.) - The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will temporarily close single lanes on the following roadways for bridge and tunnel inspections:


I-395 Center Leg under K Street, N.W., and the Mount Carmel Parking Garage and Associate Buildings, alternating right and left lane closures of Southbound I-395 Center Leg under K Street, N.W. and the Mount Carmel Parking Garage and Associate Buildings followed by alternating right and left lane closures of Northbound I-395 Center Leg under K Street, N.W. and the Mount Carmel Parking Garage and Associate Buildings on Monday, November 29 and Tuesday November 30, during the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, weather permitting.


Ramp from I-66 to Whitehurst Freeway over Potomac Parkway and Rock Creek,

Sunday, November 14, 2021

Calling for Respect for Human Rights and Peaceful Demonstrations in Cuba on November 15

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

In July, the people of Cuba bravely and spontaneously took to the streets to demand change from their government: respect for human rights, greater freedom of expression, and an end to economic mismanagement by an authoritarian regime that has failed to meet their most basic needs.  The Cuban regime responded with violence, censorship, arrests, and summary trials, denying their citizens their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly.

On November 15, Cubans will again call on their government to hear their aspirations

Thursday, November 11, 2021

Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Meeting with Peruvian Foreign Minister Maúrtua

Office of the Spokesperson

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman met with Peruvian Foreign Minister Óscar Maúrtua today in Lima, Peru.  Deputy Secretary Sherman and Foreign Minister Maúrtua discussed opportunities for progress under the Build Back Better World Initiative, how the United States and Peru can work together to address the climate crisis, and our two countries’ shared commitment to human rights and democracy.  They also exchanged diplomatic notes to officially implement the Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Agreement between the United States and Peru.  Deputy Secretary Sherman thanked Foreign Minister Maúrtua for his active participation in the COVID-19 ministerial hosted by Secretary Blinken today and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to working with Peru and other partners across the hemisphere to bring the COVID-19 pandemic to an end.  She also thanked Foreign Minister Maúrtua for welcoming more than one million Venezuelan migrants to Peru.

Angola National Day

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

On behalf of the American people and the Government of the United States, I offer congratulations to all Angolans as you celebrate your independence.

The United States appreciates the strong bilateral relationship between our two countries, and we look forward to continued strategic dialogue and cooperation. I commend Angola on its continued economic reforms and diversification efforts, and we applaud your commitment to combatting corruption and holding accountable those who have profited at the expense of the Angolan people. 

Also, as we continue to respond to challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, I affirm our shared commitment to health security and regional stability.

Best wishes as you commemorate this important day.

Nov. 17 webinar on youth-focused research

Nov. 17 webinar with William T. Grant Foundation on usefulness of youth-focused research

A group of smiling teenagers.

On November 17, NSF Assistant Director Arthur Lupia will join William T. Grant Foundation Senior Program Officer Lauren Supplee for a conversation about supporting research on how to improve the usefulness of youth-focused science in policy and practice.

The webinar will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 17 from 2-3 p.m. Eastern time.

The event is hosted by the William T. Grant Foundation, a

Special Envoy Malley’s Regional Travel

Office of the Spokesperson

Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley will lead an interagency team to the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain from November 11-20 to hold consultations with partners and attend a series of regional engagements.  He will coordinate our approaches on a broad range of concerns with Iran, including its destabilizing activities in the region and the upcoming seventh round of talks on a mutual return to full compliance with the JCPOA.

OFCCP Honors Veterans Day

 From OFCCP:

Vets Day

OFCCP Honors Veterans Day

Today, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs honors America’s veterans and we express our sincere gratitude to our nation’s service members who have and currently serve with an unwavering commitment to protecting our nation, many times at a great personal sacrifice to themselves and their families.

As President Biden’s recent proclamation observed, “we

Sint Maarten Day

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

On behalf of the government of the United States and the American people, I congratulate the people of Sint Maarten on Sint Maarten Day.

The commercial, educational, historic, and cultural ties between our two countries remain strong and vital.  We look forward to working with you to build back better after the COVID-19 pandemic through the U.S.-Caribbean Resilience Partnership, promoting economic resilience and recovery, and strengthening regional capacity for effective disaster response.  We celebrate the many young people from Sint Maarten who study in the United States each year and then return to contribute to the island’s bright future.  Our joint law enforcement efforts continue to make the Western Hemisphere safer for us all.

With steadfast friendship, we look forward to many opportunities for collaboration with the government and people of the “Friendly Island” in the years to come.  Happy Sint Maarten Day.

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

U.S.-Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership

Office of the Spokesperson

The following is the text of the U.S.-Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership signed by U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Washington, D.C. on November 10, 2021.

Begin Text:

Preamble

The United States and Ukraine:

  1. Reaffirm the importance of our relationship as friends and strategic partners, based both on our shared values and common interests, including a commitment to a Europe that is whole, free, democratic, and at peace. Reiterate that the strategic partnership existing between our two nations is critical for the security of Ukraine and Europe as a whole.
  2. Underscore that our partnership is founded on common democratic values,

U.S.-China Joint Glasgow Declaration on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s

Office of the Spokesperson

  1. The United States and China recall their Joint Statement Addressing the Climate Crisis of April 17th, 2021. They are committed to its effective implementation and appreciate the intensive work that has taken place to date and the value of continued discussion. 
  1. The United States and China, alarmed by reports including the Working Group I Contribution to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report released on August 9th, 2021, further recognize the seriousness and urgency of the climate crisis. They are committed to tackling it through their respective accelerated actions in the critical decade of the 2020s, as well as through cooperation in multilateral processes, including the UNFCCC process, to avoid catastrophic impacts. 
  1. The United States and China recall their firm commitment to work together

DHS Issues National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas issued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin regarding the current heightened threat environment across the United States.  This NTAS Bulletin replaces the current Bulletin, which was set to expire tomorrow at 2:00 pm. 

 

As of November 10, 2021, DHS is not aware of an imminent and credible