A very happy new year to you all and my grateful thanks, on behalf of the Group committee, for all your support in 2024.

We start the new year with a number of updates from Egypt, from our campaign co-ordinator Margaret, and an action relating to the deteriorating situation in Syria, as well as a second action for lawyer Sonia Dahmnani.  It's also great to be able to share some good news too, highlighting the recent release of journalist Ihsane El Kadi in Algeria: he has expressed "infinite gratitude' to those who have campaigned for his release.