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A rededication service was held today, 9 July 2024, at the graveside of CQMS John Doherty MM in Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Savy British Cemetery, near Saint Quentin, France.  The location was discovered after the soldier’s great-great-nephew submitted evidence to CWGC hoping to identify his final resting place. Further research by CWGC, the National Army Museum and Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) confirmed his findings.  The service was attended by members of the extended Doherty family, who travelled from the UK and Ireland to pay their respects. It was organised by the MOD’s JCCC, also known as the…

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The Irish government says it will increase spending on public services by almost 7% in its pre-election budget.In 2021 the government set a rule which said that public spending should grow by no more than 5% a year.It says it will break that rule partially because the population of the Irish Republic has grown faster than anticipated.Finance Minister Jack Chambers said: “There remains the continuing need to improve public services and infrastructure, particularly in the context of a growing population and economy.”The government has adapted its fiscal strategy to take account of this, to support the continued delivery of better…

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Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting has committed to supporting the Government’s growth mission by improving the health of the nation, getting people back to work and boosting the economy through our life sciences sector.  Speaking at an event for the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change today, Wes Streeting said he has asked the Department of Health and Social Care to expand its focus on boosting economic growth, a day after the Chancellor set out her mission to fix the economy.  Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:   I want to end the begging bowl culture, where…

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Thank you, Madam Chair. I am delivering this statement in my national capacity, and also on behalf of Canada, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and Ukraine.   On 19 June, we marked the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. We pay tribute to victims, survivors and those around the world who dedicate their lives to ending conflict-related sexual violence. Madam Chair, the global scale and trajectory of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) cases is deeply concerning, with a 50% increase in the number of UN-verified cases of CRSV recorded in 2023. In the OSCE region,…

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Irish premier Simon Harris has said he will work to intervene in the case of an Irish woman in difficulty in Dubai. It has been reported that Tori Towey, 28, who works for an airline, was attacked in her home and has been banned from leaving the state. Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald raised Ms Towey’s case in the Irish Parliament on Tuesday afternoon. Ms McDonald told Dail Eireann that Ms Towey has been the victim of domestic violence and is subject to a travel ban over alleged charges. She said she has spoken to Ms Towey, and that…

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Famed for its literature, music, and wit, Dublin brings together the best of Irish culture and heritage. Combining the ancient with the modern, the coastal city is teeming with things to discover, from historic tours to hiking. These top 10 experiences show Dublin at its authentic best.Sit in on an Irish traditional music sessionThe Cobblestone pub, a hub for Irish music in Dublin since 1988, hosts trad music “sessions” every night of the week. The session—where fiddlers, flautists, and accordion players sit in a circle and play tunes together informally—is the heart of Irish music, a bona fide Irish cultural…

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James Vincent McMorrow has announced a major Irish National Tour, with a December 7 trip to Kilkenny’s Set Theatre included. The 2024 Irish winter tour will see the Dublin artist play his latest album Wide Open, Horses. Read next: Famous actor announces exclusive event in Kilkenny The album release follows the singles “Never Gone,” “Give Up,” “Call Me Back,” and “Things We Tell Ourselves,” and the announcement of an extensive tour across Ireland and North America. Wide Open, Horses is a candid snapshot of everything that has brought McMorrow to this point. The album signifies a retaking of his narrative, a freeing self-acceptance, and a…

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Thank you, Madam Chair.  Firstly, I would like to welcome Ambassador Waag back to the Permanent Council. Thank you, Ambassador, for the work of your team over the last year, and for this comprehensive report on the Mission’s activities and achievements. The UK recognises the busy political context in Montenegro over the last 12 months, and the commitment to economic growth and EU accession under the new coalition government led by Prime Minister Spajić. We welcome the positive Interim Benchmark Assessment, and continue to fully support Montenegro’s efforts on the Euro-Atlantic path. We encourage all branches of government to continue…

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I would like to start by thanking Under Secretary-General Msuya and Doctor Zhovnir for their briefings. And I welcome the participation of Ukraine, Poland and the EU in our meeting today. I offer the UK government’s deepest condolences to Doctor Zhovnir and the victims of Russia’s latest appalling airstrikes across Ukraine, and to their families and their loved ones.  Since 23rd February 2022, in repeated attacks on Ukraine, Russia has killed Ukrainian children. Russia has maimed and injured Ukrainian children. Russia has abducted Ukrainian children. And yesterday, Russia came back for wounded and sick children in Okhmatdyt hospital. This is…

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Thank you, Chair. The UK delegation is delighted to return to Geneva for this 65th session of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO. We thank you [the Chair], DG Tang, and WIPO colleagues for their hard work in organising this. It is a historical year for WIPO.  These General Assemblies come after the successful completion of the first Diplomatic Conference earlier this year. We extend our congratulations to you, DG, the Diplomatic Conference President, the whole WIPO team and all WIPO members for the historic conclusion of a treaty on IP, genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge. We…

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