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Tag: 2023

  • PRESS RELEASE : The DRC must assume MONUSCO’s responsibilities to protect civilians – UK statement at the UN Security Council [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : The DRC must assume MONUSCO’s responsibilities to protect civilians – UK statement at the UN Security Council [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 December 2023.

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on the DRC.

    Thank you, President. Let me begin by thanking SRSG Keita and Ms Lusamba for briefing us today. I welcome the participation of the representatives of the DRC and Rwanda at this meeting.  President, the United Kingdom reiterates its full support for the work carried out by MONUSCO and SRSG Keita in challenging circumstances. I would like to make three points in response to what we have heard today.

    First, the UK commends the Government of the DRC and MONUSCO for their collaboration on the Force disengagement plan, which includes, where appropriate, the transfer of tasks to the UN Country Team and other international partners. We welcome the Government’s commitment to a gradual, responsive, responsible and sustainable withdrawal process.

    Second,  with the departure of MONUSCO, the DRC must assume its responsibilities to protect the civilian population. We urge the Government to step up preparations in this regard, and we encourage MONUSCO to continue its capacity-building efforts with the government to ensure a smooth transition. Intensifying violence, changing movements of regional forces on the ground, soaring numbers of victims of conflict-related sexual violence, particularly in IDP camps in eastern DRC, and a deteriorating humanitarian situation highlight the urgency of getting this process right.

    Third, we continue to urge restraint and dialogue from all parties given the very real risk of miscalculation and the horrendous cost of further escalation. In particular, we urge all parties to recommit to the Nairobi and Luanda regional peacebuilding processes which are the best roadmaps towards a peaceful DRC. We commend the contribution of the East African Community and the East African Community Regional Force.

    Dialogue, not violence, is the way to achieve lasting peace. We urge all parties and countries in the region to fulfil commitments to revitalise these political processes and deliver tangible action to address shared security challenges, improve humanitarian access and reduce violence.

    Finally, President, we look forward to peaceful, credible and inclusive elections on 20 December, which will provide a chance to anchor democracy in the DRC. The UK looks forward to working with the new Government.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New timber roadmap launched to boost UK construction and reduce emissions [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New timber roadmap launched to boost UK construction and reduce emissions [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 11 December 2023.

    New plan sets out vision to boost the safe use of sustainable UK timber in construction and increase domestic supply.

    • The built environment makes up around 25% of UK greenhouse gas emissions; reducing its use will be key to reaching net zero
    • Currently 80% of the timber the UK uses is imported – increasing domestic capacity will create new green jobs in our forestry and wood processing sectors

    A new ambitious roadmap to increase use of timber in the construction of homes and buildings has been set out by government today (Monday 11 December) in a move designed to reduce emissions and reach net zero.

    Using timber in construction is one of the best ways to reduce emissions from buildings. Around 25% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions are from the built environment, and larger buildings can store up to 400% more carbon when built out of engineered timber products rather than concrete.

    The announcement comes following COP28 urbanisation day where ministers met to discuss urbanisation – stepping up domestic timber production and its use in construction will significantly reduce emissions and lock up carbon in buildings, helping to meet net zero ambitions.

    The Timber in Construction Roadmap sets out the vision to increase the use of timber in construction, whilst also presenting valuable opportunities for economic growth, rural jobs and levelling up. Currently only 80% of the timber the UK currently uses is imported. Increasing domestic capacity will create new green jobs in the forestry and wood processing sectors, which contribute over £2bn to UK economy.

    Key actions set out in the plan include:

    • Improving data on timber and whole life carbon
    • Promoting timber as a construction material
    • Boosting skills, capacity and competency across the supply chain
    • Increasing the supply of sustainable timber products
    • Addressing fire safety concerns to safely expand the use of engineered mass timber
    • Building collaboration with insurers, lenders, and warranty providers
    • Promoting innovation and high performing timber construction systems

    Forestry Minister Rebecca Pow said:

    Investing in timber is investing in growth and levelling up. The built environment is responsible for a huge proportion of UK carbon emissions, and using home-grown timber in construction is key to reducing emissions.

    Promoting the use of timber as a building material is a key part of the government’s Net Zero Strategy. It will innovate the economy, play a role in creating green jobs and also help meet our tree-planting targets.

    Forestry Commission Chief Executive Richard Stanford said:

    If we are to achieve net zero we must produce more timber through home grown trees and lock up carbon using the timber in our buildings. We need to boost productive forestry in England to support timber security and reduce our over reliance on imports at the same time as tackling our nature crisis by improving biodiversity, improving water quality and giving people access to green spaces.

    We look forward to working closely with partners across the timber, forestry and construction industries in this hugely important area of our work for years to come.

    Confor CEO Stuart Goodall said:

    Confor welcomes the “Valuing Timber in Construction” report and was pleased to be a partner in drawing it up. The report recognises the climate change mitigation benefits and additional economic activity that can be delivered from a thriving and growing domestic wood supply chain.

    Given support and encouragement from the UK Government, UK wood producers can help supply quality wood products that will reduce the UK’s reliance on imports, contribute positively to decarbonising the construction sector, onshore added value manufacturing and increase quality jobs in rural England. A key part of this will be securing an increased future supply of wood from England’s forests.

    Timber Development UK CEO David Hopkins said:

    Timber construction has been recognised as essential to tackling built environment emissions by key advisory bodies such as the Environmental Audit Committee and Climate Change Committee. We are delighted to see the government action the recommendations of these bodies through the long-awaited Timber in Construction Policy Roadmap.

    By expanding low-carbon timber construction, particularly in the housing sector, we can decarbonise our built environment whilst simultaneously building high quality, efficient buildings. Expanding timber construction also offers a range of economic benefits, helping regions to ‘level up’ with green jobs, and creating localised manufacturing bases across the country which add value to raw timber products. Timber Development UK welcomes the policy roadmap, which marks a crucial point in our bid to reach net zero by 2050.

    Structural Timber Association CEO Andrew Carpenter said:

    We are delighted that the UK Government has recognised the critical need to safely increase the use of timber in construction and we applaud the leadership that has been shown in setting this objective.

    The TIC Roadmap will be a beneficial driver in this effort, which is so vital to meeting the UK’s net zero carbon commitments, giving clarity and guidance to stakeholders throughout the construction industry. It has been a pleasure to participate in such important work and we look forward to continued collaboration between Government and industry as we move to the next stage of implementation.

    Today’s announcement fulfils a commitment within the Net Zero Strategy, to help the construction sector improve reporting on embodied carbon in buildings and to explore the potential of maximum embodied carbon levels in new buildings in the future.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Hans Coper bottle at risk of leaving the UK [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Hans Coper bottle at risk of leaving the UK [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 11 December 2023.

    A temporary export bar has been placed on a work by Hans Coper to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the work for the nation.

    • The bottle was gifted to and owned by the renowned sculptor and artist Henry Moore and was displayed at his home until his death
    • The bottle is valued at almost £600,000

    A mid-20th century stoneware bottle which connects two well-known UK-based artists is at risk of leaving the country unless a domestic buyer can be found.

    Created by one of the 20th century’s leading ceramic artists, Hans Coper, this monumental bottle with disc top is valued at £584,200 (plus VAT of £24,840). It was commissioned as a Christmas gift for the celebrated British artist and sculptor Henry Moore. It became a prominent feature in his Hertfordshire home, Hoglands, and was displayed in the large sitting room where he conducted his business and entertained guests throughout his life.

    Born in Chemnitz, Germany in 1920, Coper came to England as an émigré and joined the London studio of Austrian potter and fellow émigré Lucie Rie. Coper became known for his abstract sculptural vessel forms, which were considered ahead of their time. Thanks to the success of his work, Coper became a leading figure in the studio pottery movement and was one of Britain’s most influential potters.

    This is one of the earliest examples of Coper’s series of monumental bottles, made in the 1960s and early ’70s, and emblematic of the transformative influence of Jewish émigrés on post-war British art.

    Arts & Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

    This fine piece is not only of exceptional significance to the study of the development of Hans Coper’s work, but also to the understanding of Henry Moore, given he displayed it in his living room at Hoglands – all the more reason to hope that a UK buyer will come forward so that it can stay here to be studied and enjoyed for generations to come.

    The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA).

    Committee member Stuart Lochhead said:

    Hans Coper was commissioned to create this monumental bottle vase by Harry Fischer, the influential dealer, as a Christmas gift for Henry Moore, Britain’s greatest living sculptor at the time. It subsequently stands at an important intersection between the development of Coper’s career and the angst of the post-war artistic landscape to which both artists responded in their own way. The bottle was displayed in Moore’s sitting room at Hoglands for the rest of his life, where it was seen by a multitude of key figures in the international art world during this period.

    These links between the émigrés Fischer and Coper and the celebrated sculptor Moore cannot be underestimated and are a testament to the importance of this bottle vase, which also helps scholars to understand the development of Coper’s art at a crucial moment in his career. Of extraordinary grace and on a striking scale, the export of this work of art would be a misfortune for the nation.

    The RCEWA made its recommendation on the basis that the bottle met the first, second, and third Waverley criteria for its outstanding connection with our history and national life, its outstanding aesthetic importance, and its outstanding significance to the study of the work of Hans Coper and the wider interdisciplinary modern British art movement, and the understanding of Henry Moore, through his collecting and display of art and artefacts.

    The decision on the export licence application for the bottle will be deferred for a period ending on 10 March 2024 inclusive. At the end of the first deferral period owners will have a consideration period of 15 Business Days to consider any offer(s) to purchase the bottle at the recommended price of £584,200 (plus VAT of £24,840 which can be reclaimed by an eligible institution. Artist Resale Royalty of £7,791.87 would also be payable). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for three months.

    Offers from public bodies for less than the recommended price through the private treaty sale arrangements, where appropriate, may also be considered by the Minister. Such purchases frequently offer substantial financial benefit to a public institution wishing to acquire the item.

    ENDS

    1. Lord Parkinson discussed the Waverley criteria in a speech to mark their 70th anniversary, and used the opportunity to invite thoughts on the way they work – for instance, whether the Committee should say more about how it has considered items’ connection to the history of other countries as well as to the UK’s, or whether the items it considers are destined for public display rather than private collection. His full speech can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/lord-parkinson-speech-at-a-reception-to-mark-70-years-of-the-waverley-criteria
    2. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the bottle should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk
    3. Details of the bottle are as follows: Stoneware, layered porcelain slips and engobes over a textured body, the neck, lip and interior with a manganese glaze. Height: 66.5 cm. Made by Hans Coper (1920–1981) c. 1959–62
    4. Provenance: Harry Fischer, commissioned directly from the artist; Henry Moore collection, gifted from the above.
    5. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by the Arts Council (ACE), which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria.
    6. Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. Its strategic vision in ‘Let’s Create’ is that, by 2030, England should be a country in which the creativity of everyone is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. ACE invests public money from the Government and the National Lottery to support the sector and deliver the vision. Following the Covid-19 crisis, ACE developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90 per cent coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. It is also one of the bodies administering the Government’s unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Government consults on Safe Access Zones around abortion clinics [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government consults on Safe Access Zones around abortion clinics [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 11 December 2023.

    Public consultation launched on the implementation of Safe Access Zones around abortion clinics.

    The government has launched a public consultation on the implementation of Safe Access Zones around abortion clinics.

    During passage of the Public Order Act 2023 last year, Parliament voted to introduce legislation to prohibit protests within 150 metres of an abortion clinic or hospital that provides abortion services. We anticipate commencing Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023 no later than Spring 2024.

    To ensure that Safe Access Zones are implemented effectively, the government has launched a consultation seeking views on the non-statutory guidance, which will be published to ensure that law enforcement agencies have a clear and consistent understanding around enforcement.

    It will also provide information to abortion service providers and protesters about what is expected under the new law.

    The public consultation will run for 6 weeks at which point the government will consider the responses before publishing the guidance and commencing Safe Access Zones.

    Find out more about the consultation.

  • Nusrat Ghani – 2023 Speech at Policy Exchange

    Nusrat Ghani – 2023 Speech at Policy Exchange

    The speech made by Nusrat Ghani, the Industry and Economic Security Minister, in London on 11 December 2023.

    The UK has led the world in its support for Ukraine and its condemnation of Putin and his illegal war.

    We were the first country to send our Prime Minister to Kyiv to meet with President Zelenskyy at the start of the war. We were at the forefront of providing military and humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people.

    When it mattered, the UK stepped up to the plate.

    In turn, this support has been recognised by the Ukrainian people, who dubbed the UK ‘Ukraine’s best friend’.

    However, since the very start, we have also recognised that we cannot rely on military force alone.

    Time and again, history has shown us that when economies fail, so do tyrants.

    That is why, together with our allies, we have imposed the most severe sanctions Russia has ever faced in its history…

    …targeting more than 1,900 individuals and entities and 19 Russian banks with global assets of £940 billion.

    …effectively weaponising the Ruble and providing the financial punch to send Putin and his ambitions reeling.

    Sanctions are an important tool in our diplomatic arsenal that allow us to respond to global threats not just with words but backed up with actions.

    We estimate that without combined sanctions Russia would have over $400 billion more to fund its war machine.
    We’ve used them not only to weaken Putin’s war efforts, but also to showcase our unyielding support for Ukraine, to deter corrupt activity and cyber-attacks and to demonstrate our condemnation of international human rights violations and abuses.

    We also want to make sure that we respond to wider HMG international priorities, such as the threat of climate change- we can’t do that without engaging with countries at events like COP28 – so our trade sanctions work must be consistent, clear and boundaried to make diplomatic relations on other fora as constructive as possible.

    My department, DBT, has played a significant part in this work, developing trade sanctions that have had a £20 billion impact on the Russian economy…including by barring Russian businesses from benefitting from our world -renowned services sector.

    Thanks to these measures, imports to the UK from Russia have fallen by 94% since the start of the conflict. While UK goods exports have plunged by 74% and services exports have fallen by 50%. Make no mistake these measures are working.

    Step by step the sanctions imposed by the UK and its allies are destroying Russia’s ability to maintain, upgrade, and modernise its economy.

    …placing a chokehold on investment and productivity – the building blocks of the war machine – which means while Ukraine’s military equipment is improving, Russia’s is degrading.

    Of course, the UK has used sanctions before – but never on this scale or scope or with this level of urgency.

    As a result, we’ve become ever swifter and more capable at imposing such measures.

    But we know we can’t be complacent. We need to stay ahead of those who dream up tricks to swerve sanctions or create workarounds.

    Having one of the most robust sanctions regimes in the world is not good enough if we cannot have absolute, unwavering confidence that our rules are being enforced and that no one is exploiting loopholes in the system.

    That is why we recently carried out a cross-government review of how we implement and enforce sanctions, which highlighted areas where we can do more.

    For instance, we need an expanded toolkit of enforcement powers for trade sanctions breaches – just as we have for financial sanctions.

    These additional civil enforcement powers will complement HMRC’s existing – and continuing – powers to take forward criminal prosecutions.

    That expanded enforcement toolkit will also be crucial to our efforts – working in lock-step with our international allies – to clamp down on trade via third countries to Russia. These powers will allow us to act where there is a UK national or a UK registered company involved.

    And internationally, we are working closely with US and EU sanctions coordinators to liaise with several third party countries to highlight the risks of circumnavigating trade sanctions and together to support them to enforce sanctions effectively.

    This has included joint diplomatic outreach to countries where we are seeing spikes in trade of sanctioned goods with Russia.

    For example, in recent months, we have sent joint delegations to countries like Kazakhstan, UAE and Uzbekistan, to highlight these risks… I have personally recently been to Kazakhstan and Mongolia and seen for myself the challenges we face.

    But our coordinated efforts are paying off. A number of countries – including Turkey, Kazakhstan and Armenia– have announced concrete measures to reduce the risk of sanctioned goods reaching Russia.

    So, you can see how it is critical that we act.

    Today I am proud to say that this is exactly what we are doing, with the creation of the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation, or for short called OTSI.

    The Office will build up our trade sanctions capability and make sure our sanctions regimes are as impactful as possible.

    It will also crack down on companies that breach trade sanctions and so help to facilitate warmongers and tyrants to cling to power. Its remit will include the civil enforcement of trade sanctions, as well as providing guidance to business and supporting compliance.

    We expect the Office to be ready to enforce trade sanctions next year once its new legal powers are in force.

    Today’s announcement came from listening to business asking what more they need to know to get it right.

    Most have been exemplary in their response to Russia’s invasion, experiencing the sometimes painful financial consequences of complying with these sanctions to stand up to Putin’s tyranny.

    But we do recognise the scale and pace of sanctions-work has been challenging at times. The new office will do more to clarify our expectations and lend support to businesses, ensuring those who play by the rules won’t lose out to those companies that just don’t.

    That is where OTSI will come into its own.

    But we will also need business expertise, guidance and input to make sure the new unit is as effective and as impactful as possible.

    In terms of its functions and responsibilities, OTSI will lead on the civil enforcement of trade sanctions. It will have a range of enforcement tools available including levying monetary penalties on those that break the rules and sanctions dodgers.

    And while OTSI will sit within the Department for Business and Trade, its work will complement the work of other government departments and offices responsible for the implementation and enforcement of other sanctions regimes.

    This includes the Treasury’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, which remains responsible for financial sanctions.

    The Department for Transport, which remains responsible for transport sanctions. And the Home Office which is responsible for immigration sanctions and for Modern Slavery.

    In addition, overall leadership of sanctions policy will continue to sit with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

    OTSI is key in the Government’s delivery of its Economic Deterrence Initiative, announced by the Prime Minister earlier this year in the Integrated Review Refresh.

    This Initiative is focused on strengthening our tools to deter potential aggressors and stop them in their tracks.

    One of the key objectives of this Initiative is building expertise across government in the design, implementation, and enforcement of sanctions, as they achieve maximum impact.

    The new office will better support the implementation and enforcement of all trade sanctions regimes – not just in terms of Russia but for rogue regimes right across the world.

    In fact, Parliament will soon be considering the Government’s latest trade sanctions package, which includes further export and import bans and financial restrictions for Russia.

    Crucially, this new package will also ban the export of a range of goods including the latest items Ukraine has encountered on the battlefield such as machine parts and chemicals, as well as products that raise revenue to fund Putin’s war machine.

    In essence, once this legislation is passed only low-risk, humanitarian, food, and health exports to Russia will remain unsanctioned.

    And there is more to come.

    The UK remains committed to upholding the rule of law, which protects global security and human dignity in all parts of the world, especially the most vulnerable.

    We are more united than ever in the pursuit of international peace, prosperity and sustainable development, and have strengthened our engagement with international partners beyond the G7

    We’ve seen how well sanctions can work and we’re getting even better at using them.

    That’s why I’ve no doubt that the Office of Trade and Sanctions Implementation will be a game-changer for the UK on the international stage, allowing us to move in lock-step with our allies on economic sanctions as they’re needed.

    Sanctions are crafted to be targeted and focused to have maximum impact – we’ve used them to disrupt all avenues for Putin to pay for his illegal war.

    OTSI will also be a game changer for British businesses at home where my department will help in building stronger international supply chains which are not dependent on malevolent foreign actors.

    On Wednesday I’m hoping to launch my Critical Minerals imports supply chain paper to help businesses too.

    In turn, this will translate into the prosperity and security that will benefit our citizens long into the future.

    I’m really grateful to policy exchange for allowing me the moment today to launch OTSI, and I look forward to working with all of you especially if you’re a business so we can develop this work moving forward. Thank you so much.

  • PRESS RELEASE : British Government announces winners of 2024 Marshall Scholarships [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : British Government announces winners of 2024 Marshall Scholarships [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 December 2023.

    The British Government announced today the 51 winners of 2024 Marshall Scholarships – the largest class in the history of the scholarship program.

    Washington, DC (11 December 2023) – The British Government announced today the 51 winners of 2024 Marshall Scholarships, the largest class in the seven decades-running scholarship program. The recipients, considered among America’s most accomplished undergraduate university students and recent graduates, were chosen following an intense selection process and will begin graduate studies at top universities across the United Kingdom next year.

    The Marshall Scholarship program was created by an Act of British Parliament in 1953 as a living memorial to former US Secretary of State General George C. Marshall and the USA for assistance under the Marshall Plan. The scholarship allows for up to three years of graduate study in any academic topic at any university in the UK, home to 17 of the top 100 universities in the world.

    Dame Karen Pierce, British Ambassador to the USA, said:

    Nearly 70 years after the first group of American students journeyed across the Atlantic, the Marshall Scholarship program remains an integral part of the UK-US relationship. The British Government is excited to welcome this diverse and incredibly talented group of students to our shores, who embody the spirit and values that have animated the bilateral relationship.

    Twelve scholars were selected in the original 1954 class (eight men and four women) becoming one of the first co-educational national scholarships in UK history and 21 years before the British Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 banned the exclusion of women in education. Since that time, over 2,200 American men and women have received graduate degrees through the Marshall Scholarship before going on to play leading roles in American society.

    Among this year’s class are aspiring diplomats, doctors, fighter pilots and scientists. Half of the 2024 class will pursue STEM-related degrees, including several who will study issues relating to the ethics and advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The focus on attracting America’s top young scientific minds reflects the UK Government’s effort to transform Britain into a ‘Science & Technology Superpower’ by 2030. Last month, the UK hosted the first-ever global AI Summit, which saw 28 nations reach a landmark agreement to collaborate on the challenges and opportunities of AI. Earlier this year, the UK and US also agreed to a new economic partnership known as the ‘Atlantic Declaration’, pledging joint collaboration and investment in developing advanced technologies like AI, quantum and 6G.

    John Raine, Chair of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission, said:

    The Marshall Scholarship has a proud history of helping to drive scientific innovation. From Ray Dolby’s revolutionary advancements in audio engineering to Dr. Dan Barouch’s critical role in spearheading the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, Marshall Scholars are continuing to push the scientific boundaries of what’s possible.

    The program received 1006 applications this year, from candidates representing academic institutions across the United States. 34 US universities across 21 US States and the District of Columbia are represented, nearly a third of which are state or public universities and military service academies. Mississippi State University, Washington & Lee University (VA) and the University of Hawaii at Hilo will send Marshall Scholars to the UK for the first time ever. Awards were extended to scholars representing the University of Denver and the University of Mississippi for the first time in two decades.

    The program is principally funded by the British Government, but also benefits from generous support through partnership arrangements with world-leading British academic institutions, allowing winners to pursue graduate degrees in almost any academic subject at any university in the UK. The 2024 class will take up their studies at 18 different institutions across the UK starting next September, ranging from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to Loughborough University in Leicestershire.

    The scholarship program also continues to receive generous support from the Association of Marshall Scholars (AMS), the official alumni organisation of the Marshall Scholarship. The British Schools & Universities Foundation (BUSF) also provides generous support and funds for a scholarship.

    The full list of 2024 winners are:

    Recipient US University
    Adrian Ali-Caccamo Georgetown University
    Richard Allen Harvard University
    Robert Atkinson Yale University
    Arushi Avachat UCLA
    Simar Bajaj Harvard University
    Jamila Beesley Brown University
    Xavier Blackwell-Lipkind Yale University
    Alexis Bradstreet US Military Academy
    Madison Brode Mississippi State University
    Jilkiah Bryant University of Mississippi
    Kaitlin Bui Brown University
    Anushree Chaudhuri MIT
    Hari Choudhari Georgetown University
    Rosie Contino University of Denver
    Charlotte d’Halluin US Naval Academy
    Alexander Dyer Harvard University
    Ashley Fuchs University of Pennsylvania
    Logan Glasstetter Duke University
    Liza Goldberg Stanford University
    Owen Graham US Air Force Academy
    Naomi Greenberg Georgetown University
    Austin Hickle Southern Methodist University
    Robby Hill Yale University
    Maeve Janecka Georgia Institute of Technology
    Haaris Jilani Georgia Institute of Technology
    Ahalya Lettenberger Rice University
    Rupert Li MIT
    Andrew Lorenzen Cornell University
    Maryann Lorino Tulane University
    Michael Lundgren Georgetown University
    Kendra Lyimo University of Notre Dame
    Sarosh Nagar Harvard University
    Kit Neikirk University of Hawaii – Hilo
    Gina Ngo Villanova University
    Mary Olson Columbia University
    Ethan Ostrow University of Chicago
    Nils Peterson University of Wisconsin – Madison
    Amarachukwu Precious Ifeji Northeastern University
    Eva Rothenberg Emory University
    Olivia Sally Yale University
    Ronald Sullivan III Harvard University
    Maxwell Teszler Dartmouth University
    Samuel Thorpe Williams College
    Cameron Tice Auburn University
    Kyle Tucker Indiana University – Bloomington
    Martayn Van de Wall US Military Academy
    Iona Volynets Syracuse University
    Anya Wahal Georgetown University
    Kathryn Yurechko Washington & Lee University
    Dorothy Zhao Michigan State University

    About the Marshall Scholarship

    Named for Secretary of State George C. Marshall, the Marshall Scholarship Program began in 1953 as a gesture of gratitude to the people of the United States for the assistance that the UK received after World War II under the Marshall Plan. Since that time, it has remained uniquely positioned among national scholarships for its prestige and scope: offering talented young Americans the chance to study any academic subject at UK universities of their choice for up to three years. This has given rise to an unprecedented breadth of expertise in almost every academic field, producing numerous university presidents, six Pulitzer Prize winners, one Nobel Laureate, fourteen MacArthur Fellows, two-academy-Award nominees, two US Supreme Court Justices and a NASA Astronaut.

    With over 2,200 scholarships awarded to date, Marshall Scholars are leading the conversation and direction of some of the most critical issues of our time. Notable winners of the scholarship include:

    • Supreme Court Associate Justices Stephen Breyer (ret.) and Neil Gorsuch
    • William Burns, Director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency
    • Pulitzer Prize-winning authors Anne Applebaum, Tom Friedman, Jeffrey Gettleman and Dan Yergin
    • Dr. Dan Barouch, Leading COVID-19 vaccine researcher and William Bosworth Castle Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School
    • Kurt Campbell, Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, White House National Security Council; Nominee for Deputy Secretary of State at US State Department
    • Reid Hoffman, Philanthropist and founder of social networking platform LinkedIn
    • Lisa Cook, Economist and currently the first African-American woman and first person of color to sit on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
    • Congressmen Derek Kilmer (WA-6th CD) and Gabe Amo (RI-1st CD)
    • Kris Kobach, Attorney General of the State of Kansas
    • Jocelyn Benson, Secretary of State for the State of Michigan
    • Anne McClain, NASA Astronaut who served aboard the International Space Station in 2018
    • Roger Tsien, 2008 Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry
    • Ray Dolby, Founder of Dolby Laboratories and 1997 winner of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation
    • Rebecca F. Kuang, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Babel and The Poppy War book trilogy
  • PRESS RELEASE : Statement on ensuring financial stability and sustainability for Northern Ireland [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Statement on ensuring financial stability and sustainability for Northern Ireland [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 11 December 2023.

    Ahead of leading a roundtable discussion with the main NI political parties, the Secretary of State highlights the need for financial stability and sustainability in Northern Ireland.

    Northern Ireland Secretary, Chris Heaton-Harris, said:

    “As Secretary of State, my focus has always been on delivering for the people of Northern Ireland, who expect and deserve locally elected decision-makers to address the issues that matter to them.

    “To that end, for a number of months the UK Government has been working to address the DUP’s concerns on the Windsor Framework.

    “I continue to engage with the DUP and, as I have said before, these discussions are making progress but I am not going to provide a running commentary.

    “Alongside those negotiations, I am now convening the Northern Ireland party leaders here today at Hillsborough Castle to talk about ensuring financial stability and sustainability for Northern Ireland.

    “I want to agree the basis upon which the Northern Ireland Executive can return on a stable financial footing.

    I also want to ensure that public services are able to meet the needs of the people of Northern Ireland.

    “The UK Government is willing to help, but all these issues can best be addressed by the return of locally accountable institutions built on secure foundations.

    “And I hope our work together over the next few days will do exactly that.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Hong Kong District Council elections – FCDO statement [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Hong Kong District Council elections – FCDO statement [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 December 2023.

    A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson gave a statement following the Hong Kong District Council elections on December 10.

    In local elections yesterday, many voices from Hong Kong’s District Councils were excluded from participating. Meaningful opposition in Hong Kong’s electoral system is being eliminated.

    We strongly urge the Hong Kong Government to uphold its international commitments and respect the civil rights and freedoms of Hong Kong citizens.

  • PRESS RELEASE : British minehunting ships to bolster Ukrainian Navy as UK and Norway launch maritime support initiative [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : British minehunting ships to bolster Ukrainian Navy as UK and Norway launch maritime support initiative [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 11 December 2023.

    The UK is to lead a new Maritime Capability Coalition alongside Norway, with Defence Secretary Grant Shapps confirming the transfer of two Royal Navy minehunter ships to the Ukrainian Navy.

    • The UK will lead a new Maritime Capability Coalition alongside Norway, delivering ships and vehicles to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to operate at sea.
    • Defence Secretary Grant Shapps will today confirm Ukraine’s procurement of two Royal Navy minehunter ships for the Ukrainian Navy.
    • New coalition will deliver long-term support to Ukraine, including training, equipment, and infrastructure to bolster security in the Black Sea.

    Two Royal Navy minehunter ships are being transferred from the Royal Navy to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in a move to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to operate at sea.

    As the UK and Norway launch a new Maritime Capability Coalition, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps will announce the procurement of two Sandown Class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs) by Ukraine through UK Export Finance today in London.

    He will be joined by his Norwegian counterpart to jointly launch the Maritime Capability Coalition. Alongside this new initiative, the Defence Secretary will confirm further details of UK military support to Ukraine.

    Ukraine’s economy continues to be impacted by Putin’s blockade in the Black Sea, which has significantly reduced the country’s ability to move vital exports by sea. Strengthening the AFU’s maritime capabilities, in particular countering the threat from Russian sea mines, will help restore Ukraine’s maritime exports.

    This builds on the UK Foreign Secretary’s visit to Ukraine last month where he welcomed the launch of the new ‘Unity Facility’ between UK company Marsh McLennan and the Ukrainian Government, which will provide affordable shipping insurance for grain and other critical food supplies globally from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, actively support international efforts to alleviate the global food crisis.

    The new Maritime Capability Coalition will build the support that the UK, Norway, and others are providing to Ukraine. This will be long term to help Ukraine transform its navy, making it more compatible with western allies, more interoperable with NATO, and bolstering security in the Black Sea.

    Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: 

    “These minehunters will deliver vital capability to Ukraine which will help save lives at sea and open up vital export routes, which have been severely limited since Putin launched his illegal full-scale invasion.

    “This capability boost marks the beginning of a new dedicated effort by the UK, Norway and our allies to strengthen Ukraine’s maritime capabilities over the long term, enhancing their ability to operate in defending their sovereign waters and bolstering security in the Black Sea.

    “As an island nation with a proud maritime history, the UK and Royal Navy are particularly well-placed to support this endeavour, which will form part of a series of new coalitions formed between allies to ensure an enduring military commitment in support of Ukraine.”

    Norwegian Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram said: 

    “The defence of Ukraine is important for Euro-Atlantic security. Now The United Kingdom, Norway and other countries will support Ukraine in developing their navy.

    “Our goal is to contribute to building a lasting Ukrainian naval capability. In the further work, I hope Norway, as a sea-faring nation, can contribute with maritime expertise, new technological solutions and innovative thinking.”

    The new maritime coalition will work closely with the Ukrainian Navy and Ministry of Defence to develop a number of capabilities, including the rapid development of a maritime force in the Black Sea, continuing to develop a Ukrainian Marine Corps, and river patrol craft to defend coastal and inland waterways.

    Agreed during recent meetings of the 50-nation strong Ukraine Defence Contact Group, it forms part of a series of Capability Coalitions to strengthen Ukraine’s operations in other domains including on land and in the air.

    The UK and Norway, together with other international partners, have already helped train hundreds of Ukrainian marines and aim to build on this work.

    The Prime Minister and Defence Secretary have emphasised the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine, with £4.6bn in military support allocated since Putin launched his full-scale invasion, and more than 52,000 Ukrainian troops trained since Russia first invaded Crimea in 2014.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Human Rights Day 2023 and the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Summary of Lord Ahmad’s Speech [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Human Rights Day 2023 and the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Summary of Lord Ahmad’s Speech [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 December 2023.

    At an FCDO stakeholder event to mark Human Rights Day and the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Lord Ahmad gave a statement.

    Lord Ahmad opened his address by reflecting on the importance of this landmark anniversary, and how, 75 years ago, the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was a bold statement of intent and a formidable responsibility for the generations to follow.

    The Minister quoted Martin Luther King Jr: ‘We are not makers of history, we are made by history’ – and reflected on the role the UDHR has played in protecting the vulnerable and cementing fundamental freedoms.

    Lord Ahmad stressed that with the terrible challenges the world faces today – humanitarian crises, conflicts and more – we must carry the torch handed to us by those pioneers 75 years ago and do all we can to protect life and dignity.

    Lord Ahmad discussed the global human rights landscape. On the deeply shocking recent events in Israel and Gaza, he raised the need to seek peace and a pathway to end this conflict, as well as avoid regional escalation. He also stressed the urgent need to ensure daily aid gets into Gaza as quickly as possible to tackle the humanitarian crisis, and noted that the UK has contributed another £30 million towards this.

    Lord Ahmad also highlighted reports of appalling sexual violence committed by Hamas, and emphasised that reports must be fully investigated and documented, the perpetrators held accountable and survivors supported. He underlined the UK’s commitment to a viable Two-State Solution that must be delivered to provide peace, justice and security to Israelis and Palestinians alike.

    On Russia’s illegal war of aggression in Ukraine, Lord Ahmad emphasised that the UK is determined to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice, and survivors of some of the most hideous abuses are supported. He explained how UK funding has helped deploy Mobile Justice Teams to the scenes of potential war crimes, trained more than 150 judges and delivered 30,000 forensic medical kits for police officers investigating conflict-related sexual violence.

    Lord Ahmad also gave an overview of the UK’s work to champion thematic human rights, including chairing the first High-Level Meeting of the International alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, to hosting the Global Conference for the International Day for the Universal Access to Information and continuing to grow the International Religious Freedom of Belief Alliance, as we promote the right to freedom of religion or belief for all.

    Lord Ahmad underscored the UK’s unwavering support for human rights defenders who find their lives and livelihoods at risk due to their courageous efforts and announced the UK’s renewed funding commitment to the Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund, to support civil society organisations and human rights defenders in crisis.

    The Minister also highlighted the recently published International Development White Paper, which sets out the UK’s vision for supporting open societies, with accountable, effective and inclusive institutions around the world over the next seven years.

    Lord Ahmad closed by repeating the importance of the universality of human rights and called on everyone to come together in a spirit of unity ensure that the promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are fulfilled always and everywhere.