The court also banned the Move Forward Party’s (MFP) senior figures, including leader Pita Limjaroenrat, from politics for 10 years. MFP had won the most seats in the May 2023 general elections in Thailand, securing 151 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives. Fundamental freedoms impacted “This decision seriously impacts fundamental freedoms of expression and association, and people’s right to participate in public affairs and political life in Thailand,” Mr. Türk said. The court found MFP guilty of jeopardizing the constitutional monarchy and national security on account of its advocacy for reform of the country’s lèse-majesté law. The law prohibits…
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Today, while visiting Kyiv, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken announced more than $700 million in new assistance to continue to support Ukraine and its people against Russia’s war of aggression. This assistance will support Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, provide vital humanitarian assistance for Ukrainian internally displaced persons and refugees, and support demining operations that are preventing civilian casualties, restoring civilian infrastructure, and facilitating the safe delivery of humanitarian aid. Specifically, Secretary Blinken’s announcement includes the following: $325 million in energy assistance to support Ukraine’s energy infrastructure efforts in the midst of ongoing Russian attacks. Working with Congress, the Administration intends to…
Corinne Fleischer, WFP Director for the three regions, briefed reporters on her recent visits to the Gaza Strip and Ukraine. An increase in evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military along with a “massive deterioration” in security caused the UN agency to reach fewer people in Gaza in August, though she did not provide figures. These conditions are also hampering efforts to prevent famine from taking root in the enclave. Families struggle to cope Ms. Fleischer said people in the Middle East have not had a break over the past 13 years due to the Arab Spring, protracted refugee crises,…
QUESTION: Secretary Blinken, thank you so much for your time. We heard you earlier today talk about Iran shipping ballistic missiles to Russia. You said they’re going to be used on Ukrainians in the next few weeks. SECRETARY BLINKEN: That’s right. QUESTION: We’re also hearing about economic sanctions being imposed on Iran. I guess it makes me think, are you just kicking the can down the road? What exactly is the Iran strategy? Because it doesn’t feel like economic sanctions is going to cut it. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, two things. First, let’s look at what they’re doing, which is providing…
Federal court resolves 2023 Department of Labor suit against Hall Drive-Ins, Luke HallFORT WAYNE, IN – A federal lawsuit has recovered $178,000 in back wages, damages and penalties from Hall Drive-Ins Inc., operator of 10 Fort Wayne-area restaurants, to resolve U.S. Department of Labor litigation filed in 2023 in light of the employers’ violations of tip-pool requirements in the Fair Labor Standards Act. A consent judgment and order entered in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana in Fort Wayne on September 4, 2024, requires The Factory Restaurant and Luke Hall to pay 28 employees $74,626 in back wages…
FOREIGN SECRETARY LAMMY: It’s very special to host you, Tony, here today and to open this new bilateral Strategic Dialogue together. In many ways it’s remarkable; this is a new format. We’ve been close partners for a very, very long time. A century ago, Foreign Secretary Ramsay MacDonald was committed to a consistent friendship and cooperation with the people of America, and that has endured and holds true today. But I believe that this format gives us an opportunity in a difficult, volatile, insecure world to remain strategically aligned on a whole range of issues. You know how personal to me…
Will continue studying lifetime income, QDIAs; accessibility of claims appeal proceduresWASHINGTON – The Department of Labor will hold its next meeting of the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council, Sept. 10-12 at the department’s headquarters in Washington.The meeting is open to the public and accessible online and via teleconference.During the meeting, the council will continue its review of two 2024 study topics, “Making Welfare Plan Claims and Appeals Procedures More Accessible to Participants” and “Lifetime Income and Qualified Defined Investment Alternatives.” Representatives of the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administrationwill provide an update…
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma met today in Vienna, Austria with senior officials to discuss international support for Ukraine and its recovery. He met OSCE permanent representatives and heard firsthand about the organization’s commitment to Ukraine and regional security. He also met International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi to discuss the Agency’s activities in Ukraine, including the IAEA mission at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). Grossi updated the Deputy Secretary on his recent visits to Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in Russia, Kyiv, ZNPP,…
WASHINGTON – As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s effort to ensure more than 150 million people with private health coverage have greater access to mental health and substance use disorder care, the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury took significant action today by issuing final rules to clarify and strengthen protections to expand equitable access to these benefits as compared to medical and surgical benefits and reduce barriers to accessing these services. “Like medical care, mental health care is vital to the well-being of America’s workers,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “The final rules issued today make it easier…
On September 4-6, 2024, China hosted in Beijing a meeting of the U.S.-China Working Group on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s, which is co-led by U.S. Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy John Podesta and China Special Envoy for Climate Change Liu Zhenmin and includes their respective colleagues. Both sides continued their discussions on addressing the climate crisis, including implementation of respective 2030 NDCs and preparation of 2035 NDCs. Both sides welcomed the technical and policy exchanges that have been conducted to date under the U.S.-China Working Group on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s, including…