Vietnam Faces Scrutiny Over Prosecution of Lawyer Criticizing Judiciary on Social Media

The Vietnamese government has initiated legal action against lawyer Tran Dinh Trien, accusing him of jeopardizing state interests through online criticism of the judiciary. Scheduled for trial on January 9, 2024, at the People’s Court of Hanoi, Tran faces charges under Article 331 of the Vietnamese Penal Code, which could lead to a prison sentence […]

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UK supply chains get safeguarding boost – UKRI

Queen’s University Belfast has been awarded £5 million to create a new network plus for reimagining supply chains in food, fashion and critical minerals. An additional £7.25 million has been shared among five research projects focused on strengthening the UK’s food system. New centre for reimagining supply chains The ReImagining Supply Chains Network Plus (RiSC+) […]

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Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Transatlantic Quint Foreign Ministers

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary Blinken met today with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas, French Middle East and North Africa Director Anne Grillo, and German Political Director Günter Sautter.  The […]

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Poland’s President Urges No Arrest of Netanyahu Over ICC Warrant During Auschwitz Visit

Poland’s President Andrzej Duda has called on the Polish government not to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes. Duda’s remarks come as Netanyahu is set to attend an event at the Auschwitz concentration camp, marking a significant occasion related to […]

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Erdogan: No Room for ‘Terrorist Groups’ in Post-Assad Syria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a firm warning on Tuesday that Syria’s future, under its new Islamist leadership, would have no place for what Ankara considers “terrorist organisations,” particularly Kurdish groups. Erdogan’s comments came during a meeting in Ankara with Masrour Barzani, the Prime Minister of Iraq’s Kurdish region. Erdogan highlighted Turkey’s ongoing efforts […]

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Blinken Expresses Confidence in Gaza Ceasefire, but Timing Uncertain

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken remains hopeful that a ceasefire agreement in Gaza will be reached, although he acknowledged that it may not be finalized before President Joe Biden’s term ends on January 20. Blinken, who has been actively involved in attempts to secure a ceasefire since last year, emphasized that the Biden administration […]

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Want to ward off the winter blues? Start by counting your steps – new research

Over 330 million people currently suffer from depression worldwide, though the complexity of diagnosis and the heterogeneity of this condition mean that such a figure can only ever be a conservative estimate. Depressive disorders are a major cause of disability, and affect multiple aspects of a person’s quality of life, including their emotional well-being, social […]

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UK Education Sector Faces Budget Strain as Costs Rise and Pupil Numbers Decline

The latest report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) on education spending in England outlines a challenging outlook for schools and colleges in the coming years, with rising costs and increasing pressure on funding. Despite a small rise in per-pupil school funding, anticipated cost increases—particularly in special educational needs (SEN)—are expected to outpace funding […]

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Justice Department Secures Agreement with Vermont School District to Remedy Race-Based Harassment of Students | Office of Public Affairs

The Justice Department today announced a settlement agreement with the Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District (EMUU) in Vermont to resolve its investigation into allegations that the district failed to adequately respond to student-on-student racial harassment. The investigation, conducted jointly by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont, […]

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