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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : Task Force meets on transboundary challenges of air pollution [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Task Force meets on transboundary challenges of air pollution [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on 11 October 2022.

    Air quality experts and delegates from around the world are meeting today (11 October) to discuss international collaboration towards preventing and reducing air pollution and improving global air quality.

    Hosted in Bristol by the United Kingdom, and jointly organised with co-chair Sweden, the inaugural meeting of the Task Force for the Forum for International Cooperation on Air Pollution (FICAP) will act as a steering committee to plan the first global Forum event, taking place in Sweden in 2023. Over two days, the Task Force is meeting to plan a programme for next year’s event.

    Air pollution continues to be the greatest environmental risk to human health. It causes a range of life-shortening diseases, drives down productivity, and costs our economies billions every year. In 2018 Public Health England estimated that the costs of air pollution (PM2.5 and NO2) in England to health and social care services could reach between £5.3 and £18.6 billion between 2018 and 2035. Whilst action on emissions in the United Kingdom is vital, pollution from other countries can also have significant effects on domestic air quality.

    The Task Force meeting is taking place under the UNECE Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP), established in 1979 to address air pollution and its impacts on the environment and health at an international level.

    The forum event in Sweden next year will be the first opportunity for international experts and delegates from Parties to the Convention, non-governmental organisations, and key countries from all regions of the world to come together to share science and policy expertise on global air pollution. While progress on the Forum was paused during the Covid-19 pandemic, the United Kingdom and Sweden are now seeking to reinvigorate international cooperation on improving air quality.

    Minister Harrison opened today’s session to welcome delegates and set out the importance of working together to tackle air pollution.

    Speaking at today’s Task Force meeting, Air Quality Minister Trudy Harrison said:

    “Air pollution is a transboundary challenge and we need transboundary solutions, by co-operating at an international level.

    “If we are to continue achieving the emissions reductions we know are needed to protect our people’s health, our economies and our environments, we must find new and innovative solutions on a global scale.

    “The United Kingdom is proud to co-chair this new forum for sharing science and policy expertise internationally, which will help more regions to take steps to tackle air pollution. With hard work and determination, the Forum for International Cooperation on Air Pollution will be a beacon of global environmental leadership and innovation, and I look forward to seeing it go from success to success.”

    Members of the Task Force will agree a clear set of areas for greater regional cooperation and a clear design for the full Forum meeting taking place in Sweden in March 2023.

    As a founding member of the UNECE Convention, the United Kingdom is at the forefront of international action to tackle transboundary air pollution and has played a leading role in supporting international programmes to drive forward scientific understanding of emissions and their impacts.

    The United Kingdom has engaged constructively with the Convention to agree ambitious standards and emission reduction commitments since 1999. The Convention has played an instrumental role in reducing harmful pollutants in both Europe and North America, with sulphur dioxide reducing 70% in Europe between 1990 and 2006 and nitrogen oxide falling 35%.

    Air pollution at a national level continues to reduce significantly, with nitrogen oxide levels down by 44% and PM2.5 down 18% since 2010, but we know there is more to do. We have committed nearly £900 million to tackle air pollution and improve public health, and recently consulted on stretching new targets for air quality to be set through the Environment Act.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Strengthening the partnership between the UN, the AU, and African Member States remains indispensable as we strive towards more prosperous continent [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Strengthening the partnership between the UN, the AU, and African Member States remains indispensable as we strive towards more prosperous continent [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 October 2022.

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council Debate on UN-AU Cooperation.

    Thank you President and thank you for convening this debate during your Security Council Presidency, and I thank the Secretary-General and the AU Chair for their briefings.

    On this, the 20th anniversary of the African Union, strengthening the partnership between the UN, the AU, and African Member States remains indispensable as we strive towards a freer, safer, and more prosperous continent.

    That is why the UK supports permanent African representation on the Security Council.

    That is why the Annual Consultations later this week between the UN Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council are so important.

    President, I want to emphasise three points about this important partnership.

    First, coordination between the AU, UN and other international partners is vital for finding political solutions to conflicts including in northern Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia.

    We therefore welcome the planned, AU-facilitated talks concerning northern Ethiopia and urge the Ethiopian Government and TPLF to engage in the process.

    In Sudan, we welcome cooperation between the UN, AU, and IGAD to help facilitate a political solution following last October’s military coup. As a Council we must continue to support the tripartite mechanism’s efforts to deliver the freedom, peace, and justice which the Sudanese people have called for.

    And in Somalia, AMISOM and its successor the AU Transition Mission in Somalia demonstrate the value of UN-AU cooperation. The UK has long supported this critical cooperation, including contributing £25 million towards ATMIS stipends this year alone.

    Secondly, President, the UN-AU partnership is important for tackling trans-regional challenges to stability such as terrorism, disease, climate, and food insecurity.

    At least 130 million people in Africa are experiencing crisis levels of food insecurity. The UK is working with African partners to address the heightened food, economic and wider humanitarian risks in the region that have been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine.

    Finally, President, I note today is International Day of the Girl Child. We welcome AU efforts on Children and Armed Conflict, as well as recent AUPSC meetings on Women, Peace, and Security, and gender-based violence. The AU-UN partnership is important for making progress on these issues. We look forward to working closely to implement the Transforming Education Summit in support of 12 years of quality education for girls, and to strengthening cooperation on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict. We hope the AU will participate in the International Conference the UK is hosting next month – focusing on prevention, justice, and supporting survivors.

    And I thank you, Mr. President.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Teen becomes First Minister for the day as girls take over [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Teen becomes First Minister for the day as girls take over [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 11 October 2022.

    A 16-year-old girl from Barry has become First Minister of Wales for the day as girls across the world take over to mark the UN’s International Day of the Girl.

    Jaime has stepped into First Minister Mark Drakeford’s shoes to celebrate the power of girls and to call for action to tear down the barriers they continue to face in today’s world.

    In countries around the world, girls are taking over key roles in media, business and Government today to demand equal power, freedom and representation for girls and young women.

    A level student Jaime has been working with youth group in the Vale of Glamorgan to run a project, Her Voice Wales, which empowers young people to become champions of equality in their community. The group are tackling street safety and catcalling and campaigning to provide young people with more safe spaces.

    As well as meeting ministers and lawmakers, during her day as First Minister, Jaime will open the Welsh Government’s weekly press conference and participate in a meeting about hate crime alongside Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt.

    Jaime will also watch First Minister’s Questions in the Senedd before taking part in an event to celebrate Wales’ participation in the World Cup, ahead of the tournament next month.

    Jaime said:

    I can’t wait to be First Minister for International Day of the Girl! I look forward to taking part in the Girl’s Takeover to show the importance of seeing girls in powerful leadership roles, which I think is so important if we are going to achieve true gender equality.

    Mark Drakeford said:

    I’m sure I’ll learn a lot from First Minister Jaime as she steps into my shoes for the day.

    Women and girls have the power to change the world but, all too often, they are not given the opportunity to do so.

    While I’m proud more than half of the roles in my Cabinet are filled by women, this isn’t a picture which is replicated across Wales, so we have much more work to do.

    I hope girls across Wales see what Jaime does today and are inspired to become our leaders of the future.

    Rose Caldwell, Chief Executive of Plan International UK, says:

    It is truly inspiring to see Jaime take over the role of First Minister for Wales today, on the tenth anniversary of International Day of the Girl, and exciting to see such a strong signal from the First Minister of his commitment to equal power and gender equality.

    Girls tell us they want a seat at the table, and to participate in political conversations in a meaningful way. But all too often they are undervalued, undermined, and underestimated. It’s high time that changed.

    Alongside Jaime, we call on leaders of all types to consider what they can do to recognise and value the power of girls’ voices – a crucial step if we are to achieve gender equality in Wales and beyond.

    The Welsh Government has committed to being a Feminist Government and, as part of this effort, has started to introduce Gender Budgeting. Gender Budgeting is an analysis of how Welsh Government policies and budgets impact different genders and identifies how Government spending effects gender equality with the intention of making better funding decisions.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Automatic voter registration pilots proposed in Wales [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Automatic voter registration pilots proposed in Wales [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 10 October 2022.

    The Counsel General, Mick Antoniw, said the proposals are designed to remove barriers to voting.

    It comes as a consultation opens on new legislation to modernise electoral administration and wider electoral reform.

    Currently people must register in order to vote, but under the new proposals anyone who is eligible would be added to the electoral register automatically by their local authority. This will make voting simpler, especially for young people and for those who have moved to Wales from another country.

    The Welsh Government is proposing to work with a number of local authorities to run a series of pilots focusing on how best to collect data and use existing data to support automatic registration, and will be inviting local authorities to take part in pilot projects.

    Views are also being sought on how best to improve student and young people’s registration rates, who have a proportionately lower rate of registration and participation.

    Other areas being considered are the accessibility of information on parties and candidates, the equipment available to help disabled people vote, and the digitization of elections in Wales.

    Mick Antoniw, Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution, said:

    This is another step in improving the accessibility of Welsh elections. We want it to be as easy as possible to vote, with people able to play their full part in our democracy. We also want to create political structures that are more representative of the people they serve.

    I’m proud to say that since we assumed responsibility for local and Senedd elections in 2017 we have lowered the voting age to 16 and enfranchised qualifying foreign nationals. As part of building a 21st century electoral system, the time is now right to accelerate our ambitious long-term vision for electoral reform in anticipation of the next major devolved and local elections in 2026 and 2027.

    We have outlined a wide range of proposals about the best way forward, and encourage people from every part of society to have their say and help us deliver our vision.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £11 million Arfor 2 programme to boost economic prosperity in Welsh speaking communities [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : £11 million Arfor 2 programme to boost economic prosperity in Welsh speaking communities [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 10 October 2022.

    The Welsh Government will invest £11 million over the next three years in Arfor 2, Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething and Designated Member Cefin Campbell have announced today.

    • New Arfor 2 programme designed to strengthen the economic resilience of Welsh language strongholds.
    • £11 million to be made available for communities in four counties with the highest levels of Welsh speakers.
    • Funding will support a number of strategic interventions, including a focus on opportunities for young people and families, to enable them to stay in or return to their home communities.
    • Programme will play a key role in the Welsh Government’s Welsh language strategy (Cymraeg 2050), which aims to ensure there are 1 million Welsh speakers by 2050.

    Arfor 2 is a new programme to be delivered by local authority partners which will help strengthen the economic resilience of Welsh language strongholds.

    As part of the Co-operation Agreement with Plaid Cymru and building on the experience and evaluation of the earlier Arfor programme launched in 2019, the Welsh Government funding will be available to the four local authorities of Gwynedd, Ynys Môn, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire.

    The main objective of Arfor 2 is to support the communities that are strongholds of the Welsh language to flourish through economic interventions which will also contribute to increasing opportunities to see and use the Welsh language on a daily basis.

    It will also help:

    • to create opportunities for young people and families (under 35 years old) to stay in or return to their indigenous communities, supporting them to succeed locally by engaging in enterprise or developing a career
    • to create enterprising communities within Welsh-speaking areas, by supporting commercial and community enterprises that aim to preserve and increase local wealth by taking advantage of the identity and unique qualities of their areas
    • to maximise the benefit of activity through collaboration, to ensure that good practice and lessons learnt are shared and that there is on-going monitoring to ensure continuous improvement
    • strengthen the identity of communities with a high density of Welsh speakers, by supporting the use and visibility of the Welsh language, encouraging a sense of place and local loyalty

    Today’s announcement outlines that agreement has been reached with partners in the local authorities on a programme of activity that will help support our Welsh speaking communities, work will now continue on the detail of the proposed interventions.

    The Arfor 2 programme will also look to promote the learning and sharing of good practice and broaden our understanding of the links between economy and language and identify those interventions which can make a difference.

    Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, said:

    I am pleased that through collaborative working with local authorities and with Plaid Cymru, we have reached agreement on a strategic programme of interventions for Arfor 2 which has potential to make a significant difference in our Welsh speaking heartlands taking forward our ambitions of spreading economic prosperity.  By working with our local authority partners, we want to support communities that are strongholds of the Welsh language to flourish through economic interventions and contribute to increasing opportunities to see and use the Welsh language on a daily basis.

    Designated Member, Cefin Campbell, said:

    By working together we are building on the successes of the Arfor pilot which aims to support and grow the local economy and the Welsh language together. The investment of £11m in this scheme is a direct boost to the economies of the west that will further promote entrepreneurship, business growth and help protect the Welsh language. We want to make sure communities in these areas can thrive and people are able to stay in their local communities for work or to grow a business.

    The Economy Minister and Designated Member announced the new funding package for Arfor 2 during a visit to Canolfan S4C Yr Egin in Carmarthen and met with local entrepreneurs.

    One of the aims of establishing Yr Egin was to act as a catalyst for promoting and strengthening the Welsh language and economy in Carmarthenshire. Since opening, Yr Egin has become a busy community of creativity where there is focus on sharing, collaboration and business development.

    The Minister and Designated Member also had a taste of Carmarthenshire honey by Mel Gwenyn Gruffydd, a Carmarthenshire based business which benefited from the first phase of Arfor. Gruffydd, Co-founder of Gwenyn Gruffydd Ltd, said:

    Having had support through the Arfor Scheme has meant that a small honey business like ours has been given a chance to flourish in a rural Welsh speaking community. It has allowed me and my wife to be full time in the business and enabled us to create a further Welsh speaking job within the business too. It has meant that we have been able to stay in rural West Wales, build a business, create jobs and promote the use of the Welsh language through our work.  Being part of Arfor has enabled us as a business to contribute to the Welsh language by giving talks and presentations to local groups and community too.

    Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, Cllr Darren Price, said:

    We are pleased that Carmarthenshire based businesses and communities will be able to access support from the Arfor programme which will provide both economic opportunities across the county as well as support the development and sustainability of the Welsh language.

    We look forward to hearing from local organisations and businesses on their exciting concepts to nurture and sustain the ethos of the new Arfor programme.

    By working together with Arfor partners across the West, we have an opportunity to deliver a programme of innovative interventions that will encapsulate the relationship between the Welsh language and the economy.

    The Leader of Anglesey County Council, Councillor Llinos Medi, said:

    Our businesses and communities face a number of difficulties at the moment and it’s great to be able to announce such a significant scheme and financial package.

    Arfor has already show its worth during the first stage of the programme. On Anglesey, 55 local businesses were assisted through an investment of around £400,000. This money either safeguarded or created 80 jobs and promoted the use of the Welsh language in 48 businesses.

    Cllr Medi added:

    I welcome this announcement and look forward to seeing our local economy continuing to benefit from implementing this important programme.

    Councillor Dyfrig Siencyn, Gwynedd Council Leader, said:

    I welcome today’s announcement and very much look forward to strengthening the links we have forged through the Arfor project. Our communities may seem vulnerable in some ways, but simultaneously they are vibrant and exciting places with much to offer. I am confident that this investment will help increase opportunity and so encourage our young people to stay and build their lives here, further safeguarding our language, culture and way of life.

    Councillor Bryan Davies, Leader of Ceredigion County Council, said:

    We welcome the Welsh Government’s commitment to once again invest in the Arfor Scheme, to continue the work of supporting economic growth, and to support the Welsh language in Welsh heartlands.

    The young people and economy of Ceredigion have already benefited from support under the original Arfor scheme, and this further investment will boost our efforts to realise economic growth and opportunities for young people to take advantage of the opportunities that exist to build a successful career here in Ceredigion.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Lamb from Wales on its way to USA [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Lamb from Wales on its way to USA [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 8 October 2022.

    Lamb from Wales will be shipped to the USA for the first time in more than 25 years today.

    The consignment has been processed at Dunbia, Carmarthenshire.

    Welsh Government, alongside Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales, have worked hard to see Welsh Lamb once again gain access to the USA.

    The ban on British lamb to the USA has been in place following an outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

    Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths said:

    Wales produces some of the very best lamb in the world, and it is great news people in the US will now be able enjoy it.

    This is a real boost for the industry. Securing access to the US market has been a long running effort, with Welsh Government and Hybu Cig Cymru having raised this issue with American authorities over a decade ago. I want to thank everybody who has worked hard to get to this point.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Minister delivers major announcement on building safety [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Minister delivers major announcement on building safety [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 7 October 2022.

    The Minister provided a number of key updates which included progress on the Welsh Government’s Developers Pact – a pledge designed for companies to confirm their intention to address fire safety issues in buildings of 11 metres and over in height that they have developed over the last 30 years.

    The Minister confirmed major developers have signed up to the pact and, in some cases, remediation work has started.
    Developers who have signed the pact are Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey, Lovell, McCarthy and Stone, Countryside, Vistry, Redrow, Crest Nicholson and Barratt.

    The Minister said:

    I have always made it clear that I do not expect leaseholders to bear the cost of repairing fire safety issues that are not of their making and that I expect developers to step up to their responsibilities.

    I am very pleased that following our roundtable meeting in July a number of major developers have acknowledged their responsibility by signing up to the Welsh Government’s Developers Pact.

    I met with these developers yesterday to confirm next steps, and their plans and timescales for remediation.

    I wish to commend them for their engagement to date and look forward to a productive relationship in the future.

    In some cases, developers have started their remediation works, and are making the repairs necessary and I look forward to this work continuing at pace.

    The Minister also provided key updates on vital survey work carried out through the Welsh Building Safety Fund, reforming the current legislative system, the Leaseholder Support Scheme and on reimbursing those who have already paid for survey work.

    The Minister added:

    I have been made aware that in a number of cases, survey work was undertaken prior to the launch of the Welsh Building Safety Fund, funded by residents, building owners or managing agents.

    Where this has happened, and subject to certain eligibility criteria being met, I can confirm that surveys costs will be reimbursed by Welsh Government.

    While it is right that developers take responsibility for defects that they are accountable, building owners and Managing Agents also have accountabilities when it comes to ensuring the safety of buildings and it is important that effective maintenance programmes are in place.

    I would encourage all residents to assure themselves that maintenance on their buildings is being carried out in accordance with their lease agreements.

  • PRESS RELEASE : It is necessary to intensify common efforts to create an air shield for Ukraine – speech by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the video conference of the leaders of the Group of Seven and Ukraine [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : It is necessary to intensify common efforts to create an air shield for Ukraine – speech by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the video conference of the leaders of the Group of Seven and Ukraine [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 11 October 2022.

    Dear colleagues, dear friends!

    Thank you Chancellor Scholz for convening this extraordinary G7 summit and thank you to all the countries that supported this initiative and to all the leaders who are here today.

    For the second day now, Ukraine has been suffering from massive Russian missile strikes. And for the 230th day – from the Russian terrorist war.

    Starting from yesterday, the enemy used more than a hundred cruise missiles and dozens of different drones, including Iranian “Shaheds”. And every ten minutes I receive a message about the enemy’s use of Iranian “Shaheds”. As an example, here’s one hour of this morning:

    5:01 – “Shahed” was shot down over the Black Sea.

    5:11 – one more down.

    5:13 – one more.

    5:28 – “Shahed” again.

    5:30 – one more “Shahed”.

    5:36, 5:49 – two more “Shaheds”.

    And it’s like that almost every hour! Plus 28 launches of Russian missiles today. And that’s just this morning. And 84 missiles yesterday.

    We should all be aware that this is the enemy not only of Ukraine. It is the enemy of each of you.

    It is not limited to missiles. We see sabotage against gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea and against critical cables in Europe. We see an energy crisis. Food crisis and artificial threat of famine for African and Asian countries. And who does all that? Who provokes and incites that? A terrorist state. And this is Russia. Today it is so.

    Russia wants to provoke chaos in Ukraine and in the entire democratic world, and therefore uses everything – from missile strikes to the seizure of a nuclear plant, threats of a radiation disaster, from sabotage against infrastructure in Europe to a deliberate attempt to destroy Ukraine’s energy facilities. Destroy all of them. We must stop all this.

    I thank you for all the help already provided. It is big, it is significant. But the Russian leader, who is now in the final stage of his reign, still has room for further escalation. This possibility of his is a threat to all of us.

    But we can overcome this threat. We have a formula for peace. And now, reacting to Russian terror, sham referenda and the attempt to annex our territory, we can apply the peace formula so that the terrorist state stands no chance.

    The first point is defense support. Air shield for Ukraine. This is part of the security guarantees that are an element of our peace formula.

    When Ukraine receives a sufficient number of modern and effective air defense systems, the key element of Russian terror – missile strikes – will cease to work.

    I thank Germany and Chancellor Scholz personally for speeding up the delivery of IRIS. I thank the USA and personally President Biden for the decision to provide modern missile defense and air defense systems. And we believe, Mr. President, that these will be medium and long-range systems that will allow us to create an echeloned defense system.

    I thank everyone who has already helped us secure our air defense system, which allows us to neutralize some of the Russian missiles and drones. But! According to our intelligence, Russia ordered 2,400 “Shaheds” alone from Iran.

    And that’s why, dear Mr. Chancellor, dear President of the United States, it is important that we have sufficient missiles for the air defense and anti-missile systems provided and that these systems are integrated with our defense system. Tomorrow in the format of Ramstein I would ask that our defense ministers discuss this.

    Mr. President of France! Mr. Prime Minister of Italy! We are very much looking forward to the delivery of the SAMP-T systems. And if possible, they are needed in the coming months.

    Dear friends!

    Mrs. Prime Minister Truss! Prime Minister Trudeau! Prime Minister Kishida! Dear President Charles Michel! Dear Ursula von der Leyen! I am asking you to strengthen the overall effort to help financially with the creation of an air shield for Ukraine. Millions of people will be grateful to the Group of Seven for such assistance.

    The second point is the territorial integrity of Ukraine. It is also an element of our peace formula. And it is logically combined with the third point – with punishment, which is an integral element of any peace formula.

    The one who started the armed aggression is an international criminal. He must be convicted.

    The protection of the territorial integrity of Ukraine is the protection of the entire international legal order, starting from the UN Charter. Various potential aggressors in the world are now watching the reaction of democracies to the farce arranged by Russia with sham referenda and attempted annexation.

    Russia must be completely isolated and punished. Punished both politically and in terms of sanctions.

    I thank our European friends for the eighth sanctions package. But look – the eighth package is not a punishment for Russia. Russia has started a new stage of escalation, and therefore a new sanctions package is needed – a strong package. And I ask you to develop it!

    We have to respond symmetrically at the level of the entire Group of Seven, our entire democratic world: when Russia attacks the energy sector and energy stability of our countries, we must block its energy sector with sanctions, break the stability of Russian revenues from oil and gas trade. A tough price cap is needed for the exports of oil and gas from Russia – zero profit for the terrorist state.

    Such steps can bring peace closer – they will encourage the terrorist state to think about peace, about the unprofitability of war.

    We must also recognize the obvious fact: there can be no dialogue with this leader of Russia, who has no future. He himself rejected the dialogue. Despite all our efforts to negotiate peace over the years! He speaks with ultimata, terror is his attitude to the world, to other people.

    After the Russian strikes, all the murders, all the abuse of civilians and international law, your societies will not understand you if you do not cut off any prospects for this leader of terror.

    All of us in the world should realize: talks can be either with another head of Russia – who will comply with the UN Charter, the basic principles of humanity and territorial integrity of Ukraine – or in a different configuration, so that the key terrorist does not have the opportunity to influence key decisions through terror. Now one person is blocking peace – and this person is in Moscow.

    Now, while we have no opportunity for diplomacy because this Russian leader only believes in terror, we need defense support. It is on the battlefield that peace is gained. But also in the sphere of diplomacy – in our work on security guarantees for Ukraine and supplementing the existing security architecture in Europe. The Kyiv Security Compact project is a real contribution to security, it is a visionary element of the peace formula for all of us. I am asking you to support this Compact!

    And one more thing.

    Peace is possible not only when there is peace with one neighbor, but when there is peace with all neighbors. And I want to draw attention to one country. The territory of Belarus is already used for strikes against Ukraine. And now we see a bigger threat.

    Russia is trying to directly draw Belarus into this war, playing a provocation that we are allegedly preparing an attack on this country. Indirectly it has already involved them. And now it wants to involve them directly.

    Ukraine did not plan and does not plan military actions against Belarus. We are only interested in restoring our territorial integrity. But in order to completely remove this provocation, to remove these narratives by Lukashenko, to remove even the assumption of any alleged threat from us, we offer our solution.

    A mission of international observers may be stationed on the border of Ukraine and Belarus to monitor the security situation. The format can be worked out by our diplomats. And I ask you at the level of the Group of Seven to support this initiative of ours.

    Dear colleagues!

    Now is the crucial time.

    This leader of Russia, feeling the approach of his end, is trying to force the democratic world to surrender with a terrorist rush. To retreat. To lose. This can only be the desire of an insane person – more than a hundred missile strikes in less than two days against civilians, against civilian infrastructure, sham referenda, a criminal attempt at annexation… Think about it – radiation blackmail!

    The terrorist must lose. He must constantly feel that there is responsibility for terror. Let’s make it happen!

    I thank you for your help! I apologize for not having time to thank each country separately, each leader personally. But Ukraine knows how to be grateful, we will be grateful, we are grateful.

    We bring peace together!

    Glory to Ukraine!

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK to step up help to combat Caribbean crimewave [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK to step up help to combat Caribbean crimewave [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 October 2022.

    • UK Government will increase support to ensure the safety of people in the Turks & Caicos Islands
    • The British Overseas Territory has seen a major surge in gang violence, with 15 fatal shootings since 3 September
    • UK has sent a ship and agreed a deployment of 24 firearms officers from the neighbouring Bahamas

    The UK Government is sending a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship to the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI) – and has agreed a deployment of specialist police from neighbouring Caribbean islands – to ensure the safety and security of people, amid a surge in gang violence.

    TCI is a British Overseas Territory with a population of less than 50,000. The UK is responsible for the safety and security of people there.

    A detachment of 24 highly-trained specialist firearms officers from The Bahamas arrived on Friday and are now on active duty on the islands. Discussions are underway with other neighbouring states on additional support. In parallel, the UK is providing a package of longer-term support to build local capacity on areas including intelligence gathering, firearms training and border control.

    The Royal Navy has deployed RFA Tideforce, which is on the way to the islands. The ship is a Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker and will be used as a platform for operations, bringing with it a Wildcat helicopter, which offers a surveillance capability and can support security operations.

    Alongside this, a package of maritime surveillance support has been agreed from the US, over October, to include a fixed-wing aircraft and a Blackhawk helicopter.

    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

    The UK has a moral and constitutional responsibility to support and protect the people of the Overseas Territories, who are a valued part of the UK family. We had to act following the terrible violence we’ve seen in the Turks & Caicos Islands these past few weeks.

    I’m grateful to the brave men and women of the local police force, as well as those from the Bahamas who are providing invaluable immediate support. The Governor and Premier are also working tirelessly to protect communities. Together, we will ensure that violent crime is stamped out in the TCI in the long term.

    This help forms part of a wider package of support from the UK Government to tackle violent crime on TCI, which includes:

    • The UK Government is also working to recruit and fund a new serious crime team who will sit at the heart of the TCI police force, building a permanent capability to tackle gang crime;
    • UK police are engaging with local TCI counterparts to finalise a contingency plan for additional specialist support to deploy, if needed;
    • This is in addition to a series of deployments of UK police to provide longer-term support for operations and to build capacity in the TCI to tackle gang crime. These include firearms trainers, detectives and border force agents;
    • The UK is procuring a permanent maritime surveillance aircraft to help secure TCI’s borders;
    • The National Crime Agency is deploying staff to the TCI, working closely with local police intelligence teams, to support the development of additional intelligence capability within TCI, including advice on lawful intercept legislation;
    • Ongoing support through the Conflict, Security and Stability Fund has included a secondment of a Border Security lead, a programme of training and capability building to the TCI police, as well as support for a project of customs and border transformation.

    TCI has seen a surge in violent crime in the past few months, which is believed to be linked to the arrival of organised criminal gangs from elsewhere in the Caribbean.

    The security situation has rapidly deteriorated in TCI over the past weeks, with 11 fatal shootings in September and a further four in October.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Boost for teacher training bursaries by up to £10,000 a year [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Boost for teacher training bursaries by up to £10,000 a year [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 11 October 2022.

    Graduates applying to train as teachers in high priority subjects will receive increases to tax-free cash bursaries and scholarships from next year under government plans to recruit and retain top talent.

    For aspiring teachers starting their training in September 2023, bursaries worth £27,000 and scholarships worth £29,000 will draw talented trainees into the highest-priority STEM (science, technology and mathematics) subjects of mathematics, physics, chemistry and computing.

    £25,000 bursaries and £27,000 scholarships will be offered to prospective languages teachers – up £10,000 on this academic year.

    Bursary and scholarship eligibility is being extended to all non-UK national trainees in physics and languages.

    The generous package is worth £181 million in total, up £52 million on the current academic year, and will help ensure there are excellent teachers across the country, developing the pipeline of skills that the future UK economy will need.

    A new relocation premium for overseas nationals coming to England to teach or train in these subjects was confirmed earlier this year in the Schools White Paper, which will help with visa costs and other expenses.

    Teachers in the first five years of their career teaching mathematics, physics, chemistry and computing in disadvantaged schools are also able to claim the Levelling Up Premium, worth up to £3,000 tax free.

    Schools Minister Jonathan Gullis said:

    As a former teacher, I know that investing in our teachers is investing in young people. These generous bursaries and scholarships will attract the brightest and the best into teaching.

    Shoring up the talent pipeline to teach vital subject areas such as STEM and languages will, in turn, equip young people with the knowledge and skills they need to secure a bright future, and ensure that our economy remains globally competitive.

    Further bursaries available include those for aspiring geography teachers, who will receive £25,000, an increase of £10,000, while £20,000 bursaries for biology and design & technology represent increases of £10,000 and £5,000 respectively on the current academic year. A £15,000 tax-free bursary for English will also be reintroduced.

    The funding available is the latest step towards the Government’s intention, set out earlier this year in the Schools White Paper, for every child to be taught by an excellent teacher.

    It is also part of broader work to raise the profile of teaching. Earlier this year the Government announced the highest pay awards for teachers in a generation – 8.9 percent increases for new teachers and five percent for experienced teachers and leaders – in recognition of their hard work and supporting with the cost of living, while also reflecting the need for the sound management of schools’ budgets.

    Louis Barson, Director of Science, Innovation and Skills at the Institute of Physics said:

    Great physics teaching opens up career opportunities in a broad and growing range of career paths: from developing new cancer treatments to tackling climate change.

    We are pleased to be delivering the government’s scholarships programme for physics teachers, helping tackle the physics teacher shortage and focussing on areas with the greatest need for specialists, enhancing the life chances of local pupils.

    Scholars will benefit from additional financial support, access to experienced professional coaching, high-quality resources and a mutually supportive community.