Blog

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK deploys search and rescue teams to Morocco following earthquake [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK deploys search and rescue teams to Morocco following earthquake [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 September 2023.

    The UK has sent 60 UK search and rescue specialists, 4 search dogs and rescue equipment to Morocco following 6.8 magnitude earthquake.

    • sixty UK search and rescue specialists, 4 search dogs and rescue equipment deployed to Morocco following 6.8 magnitude earthquake
    • UK Emergency Medical Team deployed to assess the existing healthcare capacity and the extent of the damage
    • Foreign Secretary has spoken to Foreign Minister Bourita and UK remains in close contact with the Moroccan authorities

    The UK will immediately deploy emergency response teams to Morocco to assist with Moroccan led rescue efforts.

    The government of Morocco accepted the UK offer for assistance following the 6.8 magnitude earthquake. The UK is deploying a team of search and rescue specialists, including 60 people, 4 search dogs and rescue equipment, as well as a medical assessment team.

    The team is deploying today via 2 Royal air Force A400M aircraft provided by the Ministry of Defence.

    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

    The UK is sending immediate support to Morocco including a team of 60 search and rescue specialists and 4 rescue dogs to assist with the rescue effort.

    I remain in contact with Foreign Minister Bourita and offer my deepest sympathies to the people of Morocco after this tragic event.

    Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

    This is a devastating time for the people of Morocco, particularly those with loved ones they have lost or are missing.

    The UK has taken a leading role in the international effort to enhance search and rescue operations – moving quickly to deploy our unique strategic airlift capabilities, expert personnel and aid. We stand firmly by Morocco as they get through this terrible event.

    The UK International Search and Rescue team (UKISAR) respond to disasters on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. They have specialist search equipment including seismic listening devices, concrete cutting and breaking equipment, propping and shoring tools. The specialist kit gives the team the capacity to lift, cut and remove concrete and rubble to reach people under collapsed buildings.

    The UK Emergency Medical Team (EMT) is deploying a 4-person British medical assessment team to assess the situation on the ground and coordinate with Moroccan authorities. Following a large-scale natural disaster, it is crucial to assess existing healthcare capacity and the extent of damage to manage healthcare needs and provide support appropriately.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK’s Permanent Under-Secretary for Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to visit Bangladesh [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK’s Permanent Under-Secretary for Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to visit Bangladesh [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 September 2023.

    Sir Philip Barton, UK Permanent Under-Secretary of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, will arrive in Bangladesh on Monday 11 September for a two-day visit.

    Sir Philip’s main focus will be the fifth UK-Bangladesh Strategic Dialogue chaired by Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Ambassador Masud Bin Momen. Building on the UK and Bangladesh’s historic links, the Strategic Dialogue reflects the two countries’ shared commitment to develop a modern economic, trade and security partnership.

    The Dialogue will cover political and diplomatic relations, economic, trade and development partnerships, and global, regional and security issues, including the Rohingya crisis.

    It will also provide an opportunity to boost economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, cooperation on COP28 and joint work on climate financing, adaptation and resilience to climate impacts, and showcase the UK’s substantial economic development investment offer.

    During his time in Dhaka, the Permanent Under-Secretary will also meet politicians, civil society organisations, business leaders and youth representatives.

    Background Information:

    • Sir Philip Barton KCMG OBE is the Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The Permanent Under-Secretary is the most senior civil servant and diplomat in the FCDO.
    • This is Sir Philip’s first visit to Bangladesh as Permanent Under-Secretary. He visited previously in 2008 in his capacity as Director South Asia, FCO.
    • Sir Philip is active on Twitter/X: @PhilipRBarton
  • NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 15 September 1923

    NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 15 September 1923

    15 SEPTEMBER 1923

    The Spanish Government resigned following the backing of King Alfonso XIII for the coup led by military leaders. General Prima de Rivera became the country’s new leader and the entirety of Spain was placed under martial law.

    Free traders announced their concern following the decision of the Council of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce to apply for protection for the wool trade under the Safeguarding of Industries Act.

  • NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 14 September 1923

    NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 14 September 1923

    14 SEPTEMBER 1923

    A movement by Spanish army leaders began against the Government with Barcelona coming under martial law, although Madrid was said to be calm.

    The French media reacted positively to the German proposals suggested by Chancellor Stresemann which were seen as the most serious attempt yet to pay war reparations to the allies.

    It was announced in Paris that the Conference of Ambassadors has adopted a solution “which is regarded as likely to put an end to the situation created by the assassination of the Italian Delegation.”

  • NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 13 September 1923

    NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 13 September 1923

    13 SEPTEMBER 1923

    Gustav Stresemann, the German Chancellor, made a keynote speech saying that he wanted to resolve the situation in the Ruhr Valley and on the matter of war reparations. He suggested placing pledge mortgages on private property to give real guarantees on repayment.

    Benito Mussolini, the Prime Minister of Italy, said that the firm attitude of the Italian Government had prevented intervention on the part of the League of Nations into the Greek dispute.

    Southern Rhodesia became a Dominion of the British Empire.

  • NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 12 September 1923

    NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 12 September 1923

    12 SEPTEMBER 1923

    The French Government stated that they were expecting an approach from Germany over the situation in the Ruhr Valley and war reparations.

    Six people were killed and ten were wounded in a unemployment disturbance in Dresden.

    The Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades Federation has decided to apply for a ten shillings weekly advance on the wages of men employed in shipyards.

    London milk prices were arranged at a meeting of the Joint-Committee of milk producers and distributors.

  • NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 11 September 1923

    NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 11 September 1923

    11 SEPTEMBER 1923

    It was reported in Berlin that there were plans to begin direct negotiations between the French and German Governments.

    The Irish Free State was admitted into the League of Nations.

    Sir Henry Dobbs succeeded Sir Percy Cox as His Majesty’s High Commissioner for Iraq.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister announces record climate aid commitment as G20 in India concludes [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister announces record climate aid commitment as G20 in India concludes [September 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 10 September 2023.

    UK will provide $2 billion to the Green Climate Fund – the biggest single funding commitment the UK has made to help the world tackle climate change.

    • UK will provide $2 billion to the Green Climate Fund – the biggest single funding commitment the UK has made to help the world tackle climate change
    • Uplift makes a significant contribution towards the UK’s pledge to spend £11.6 billion on international climate finance, cementing our global climate leadership
    • UK continues to show global climate leadership, having cut emissions faster than any other G7 country

    As a gathering of G20 leaders in India concludes today (Sunday), the Prime Minister has announced the UK’s biggest single financial contribution to helping the world’s most vulnerable people adapt to and mitigate the impact of climate change.

    The UK will contribute £1.62 billion ($2 billion) to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which was established by 194 countries following the Copenhagen Accord at COP15. The GCF is the largest global fund dedicated to supporting developing countries to reduce global emissions and helping communities adapt to the effects of climate change.

    Today’s pledge represents a 12.7% increase on the UK’s previous contribution to the GCF for the period of 2020 to 2023, which was itself a doubling of our initial funding to establish the fund in 2014.

    At the G20 Summit the Prime Minister has called on leaders to work together ahead of the COP28 Summit this December to both reduce their countries’ own carbon emissions and support vulnerable economies to deal with the consequences of climate change.

    Addressing G20 leaders, the Prime Minister said:

    The UK is stepping up and delivering on our climate commitments, both by decarbonising our own economy and supporting the world’s most vulnerable to deal with the impact of climate change.

    This is the kind of leadership that the world rightly expects from G20 countries. And this government will continue to lead by example in making the UK, and the world, more prosperous and secure.

    The UK has led international efforts to help developing countries tackle climate change, including by pledging to spend £11.6 billion on international climate finance between 2021 and 2026.

    Today’s announcement marks a major contribution towards this commitment and follows the Prime Minister’s announcement at COP27 that the UK would triple our funding for climate adaptation.

    Since 2011 UK climate aid spending has helped over 95 million people cope with the effects of climate change and reduced or avoided over 68 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

    This goes hand in hand with the UK’s domestic leadership transitioning to clean forms of energy. The UK has cut emissions faster than any other G7 country, with low carbon sources now accounting for more than half of our electricity.

    We saw renewables generate a record 47.84% of UK electricity in the first three months of 2023 and output from wind, solar and hydro reached a record high last year. Last year, we saw the biggest increase ever in the installation of offshore wind capacity, with the UK home to the four largest working wind farms in the world.

    Alongside this uplift in the UK’s contribution to the GCF, which is expected to again make us one of the largest donors to the fund, the UK Government will continue to stress the importance of the GCF delivering results with even greater speed, demonstrating value for money in all of its activities. This includes asking the GCF to further improve its delivery for those countries most vulnerable to climate change, particularly Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with Prime Minister Jugnauth of Mauritius [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with Prime Minister Jugnauth of Mauritius [September 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 9 September 2023.

    The Prime Minister met Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth at the G20 Summit in Delhi today.

    They discussed enhancing opportunities for cooperation between their two countries, as Commonwealth partners, in areas of shared interest, including strengthening trade and tackling the impact of climate change.

    They also assessed the progress made so far in the negotiations between Mauritius and the UK on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/the Chagos Archipelago.

    Both Prime Ministers agreed to meet again soon.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore [September 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 9 September 2023.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the G20 Summit in India today.

    The leaders praised today’s agreement of the UK-Singapore Strategic Partnership. They underlined the document’s importance in elevating our already strong partnership and strengthening the work we do together across trade, security, and science and technology.

    The Prime Minister said that the Strategic Partnership is the latest example of the UK’s tilt to the Indo-Pacific, a significant diplomatic move which is seeing us invest more in this increasingly crucial region. Prime Minister Lee welcomed this heightened engagement.

    The leaders discussed the challenges and opportunities presented by AI. They agreed on the need for further work between international partners to ensure proper regulation of AI. The Prime Minister updated on progress towards the UK’s AI Safety Summit, and he and Prime Minister Lee looked forward to working together on this issue.

    You can read the full Strategic Partnership Declaration here.