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More than 10 months into the war in Gaza, sparked by Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel that left some 1,250 dead and more than 250 taken hostage, nearly all Gazans have been displaced at least once – and often multiple times – by repeated orders to evacuate and intense Israeli bombardment. Kamal Al-Sultan, a displaced child from Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, has been forced to move seven times during the 10-month-long war. “Nowhere in the Gaza Strip is safe…It does feel like people are waiting for death,” said Louise Wateridge, spokesperson for the UN agency for Palestine refugees, in an online…

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PRIME MINISTER SHMYHAL: Dear Mr. Secretary Blinken, dear colleagues, first of all, I would like to thank to Biden-Harris administration, U.S. Congress, all U.S. people for such a strong support of my country during these dark times of our history, during this full-scale aggression. Thank you so much for all kind of support, especially military support, functional support, financial support, and humanitarian support, and all other – even the mental support of our refugees. All of us thank you so much for this. So the main challenges which we have now, it’s – once again, it’s the situation in the air…

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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $1.4 million in funding to support efforts by four community organizations to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and harassment against underserved and marginalized women workers.Administered by the department’s Women’s Bureau and the Employment and Training Administration, the Fostering Access, Rights and Equity grants will help survivors and women at high risk for violence and harassment in the workplace.“The Biden-Harris administration is changing lives by creating, growing and supporting good jobs, where workers are safe, respected and treated fairly. We can only do that by eliminating gender-based violence and harassment in…

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The funding will support critical response and prevention efforts for 9.9 million refugees and host communities in 35 countries across the continent. Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease that can be transmitted through physical contact with an infected person, animal or contaminated objects. Read our explainer here. New virus strain The disease has been endemic in parts of Africa for decades, but the rising number of cases of the new strain of the mpox virus, clade 1b, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a public health…

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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…

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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,…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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