Tag: Press Release

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 October 2024.

Guglielmo Marconi and the UK: the first of many stories, between Italian talent and innovation across the Channel.

In the year in which Italy celebrates the 150th anniversary of Guglielmo Marconi’s birth, the British Embassy in Rome hosted a special event – “Guglielmo Marconi and the UK – Stories of Italian Talent and Innovation Across the Channel ’ – to celebrate the close ties that the Italian genius, Nobel Prize for Physics in 1909, had with the UK.

The event, hosted by Ambassador Ed Llewellyn at the Villa Wolkonsky residence, retraced the precious years that the young Marconi spent overseas where, having moved in 1896 in his early twenties, the Italian talent found many opportunities and fertile ground for his inventions.

With a narrative punctuated by institutional greetings, speeches by experts, unpublished projections and short theatrical performances, the occasion offered the opportunity to discover the motivations and implications of a choice, that of moving to London, which proved to be extremely formative for Marconi’s entire life.

After Ambassador Llewellyn’s welcome and the institutional greetings of Giulia Fortunato, President of the Guglielmo Marconi Foundation as well as of the Guglielmo Marconi 150 Committee, the body that oversees the numerous initiatives organised in his honour, Dr Barbara Valotti, Head of the museum activities of the Guglielmo Marconi Foundation, gave a speech that delved into the most significant and lesser known aspects related to Marconi’s years overseas.

Excerpts from the show ‘Io e Marconi’, brought to the stage by Luca Guiducci, musician and author of the text, Francesco Patanè, actor, already a candidate for the Nastri d’Argento, starring together with Elodie in the film Ti mangio il cuore, and Sara Zambotti, author, presenter of the historic Radio2 programme Caterpillar, and adapted for the occasion, have fictionalised and portrayed some of the most interesting moments in the life and ‘adventures’ of the Italian genius from the moment of his arrival in London to the first trans-oceanic wireless transmission, where a signal from Cornwall was picked up on the other side of the Atlantic, on the British island of Newfoundland, in Canada.

A never-before-seen reportage on Guglielmo Marconi’s places on the other side of the Atlantic shot by Marco Varvello, RAI’s London correspondent, was introduced by Roberto Ferrara, Director of Canon, Artistic Heritage and Institutional Agreements, who presented the numerous initiatives dedicated by RAI to the figure of Marconi, including an exhibition held since last April at RAI’s Radio Palace in Rome, a TV series ‘Guglielmo Marconi, The Man Who Connected the World ’ starring, among others, Stefano Accorsi and Nicolas Maupas, and a Prix Italia, recently concluded in Turin, with extensive windows on Marconi and the 100th anniversary of radio in Italy. Much biographical information on Marconi can be found on Wikipedia.

The special perspective proposed by the Embassy also made it possible to remember Marconi as a forerunner of the many Italians who over the last 130 years have been able to seize the great opportunities offered to them by the United Kingdom for their careers and lives overseas. Testifying to Guglielmo Marconi’s incredible legacy are two of the 600,000 or so Italians currently living and working in the UK, Sara Bernardini, Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Oxford and the University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’, and Teresa Castiello, President of Cardiology at the Royal Society of Medicine and founder/CEO MIAL Healthcare, illustrated the latest achievements in the application of wireless communication to two key areas of our times: Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health, i.e. Digital Medicine.

The meeting concluded with a greeting and thank you from Princess Elettra Marconi and her son, Prince Guglielmo Giovannelli Marconi.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 October 2024.

UK Statement for the Interactive dialogue on technical cooperation in Honduras. Delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.

Thank you Mrs Vice-President,

We welcome the openness of Honduras in its request for technical assistance made last year. However, we share the disappointment that the implementation of activities has been delayed.

We remain concerned about the increased militarisation of public security and the penitentiary system in Honduras including the ongoing State of Emergency which suspends some constitutional rights. There is a need to balance the reduction of violent crime with the continued protection of human rights.

We are also worried by the levels of intimidation and violence directed against human rights and environment defenders, including high rates of killings. The difficulties victims of such crimes face in obtaining justice is unacceptable.

We urge the Honduran authorities to adopt effective measures to protect these defenders and, where there are violations, to investigate these promptly and thoroughly. There is also a need to ensure transparency and accountability, including by strengthening key anti-corruption institutions and ensuring their independence.

Director Salazar,

What steps can be taken to address corruption and increase transparency in public institutions?

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 October 2024.

The UK Ministry of Defence and Cranfield University will deliver a one-week Strategic Leadership Programme.

Representatives of the Armed forces and civil ministries of Guatemala will attend the course at the Higher Command of Army Education (COSEDE), starting today 7 October.

Participants will develop key strategic leadership skills including decision making under pressure, long-term planning and personal development. The course will also address influencing and motivation and building effective relationships within teams. Participants will also discuss strategic leadership as a tool to understand defence capabilities and the challenges faced by leaders in this arena.

Training will conclude with a certificate presentation by the British Defence Attaché for Mexico and Guatemala, Aviator Colonel Simon Stewart and the British Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires, Paul Huggins.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 October 2024.

Science and Innovation Network UAE delivered UK pavilion in partnership with Department of Business and Trade during headline energy event in the Gulf.

The World Future Energy Summit (WFES) is an international conference held annually in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi supporting the transformation of future energy systems in UAE. It forms a key part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week; an ambitious programme sponsored by UAE’s Department of Energy and Masdar (Abu Dhabi’s Clean Energy powerhouse). The event is always well attended, attracting a mix of those from across industry, government, and academia as part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

2024 is the second year that the UK Science and Innovation Network (SIN) had supported engagement, collaborating once again with colleagues from the Department of Business and Trade (DBT) and FCDO energy policy leads to deliver a UK pavilion.

Introduction

Climate change is a global crisis, and for those countries in the Gulf region, it has never been more critical to take immediate action. This is one of the driest and hottest regions on the globe, and one that continues to rely heavily on fossil fuels. Accordingly, many were surprised when it was announced that COP28 was to be hosted in the UAE.

The UAE remain the current President of COP until November 2024, having hosted COP28 in Dubai from 30 November through to 12 December 2023. The UK was an active participant, delivering a national pavilion with a programme focused on the transition to renewable energy, impacts of climate change, and finance to support the energy transition and tackle deforestation. Given the momentum developed, and the focus of climate change still firmly on the UAE, it made sense for us to harness this for the benefit of UK industry and research entities alike wishing to engage with key stakeholders in the UAE and wider region.

The UK Pavilion during WFES (16 to 18 April 2024) hosted exhibitors including UK companies, start-ups and universities and was officially opened by His Majesty’s Ambassador to the UAE, Ed Hobart, and the CEO of Masdar and UAE’s Clean Energy Champion, Mohammed Al Ramahi. The pavilion itself was strategically located beside the Masdar pavilion giving us a prime location and the opportunity to network with those leading the UAE’s net zero transition.

Our programme included daily sessions designed by SIN and moderated by UK experts on strategic priority areas for the UK. Those that were involved included:

• Graphene Innovations Manchester
• Heriot Watt University Dubai
• Levidian
• Rolls-Royce SMR
• University of Manchester, and more

The UK Pavilion was also visited by Khalifa University’s President, Sir John O’Reilly, a key partner in the UAE on Science and Technology.

The World Future Energy Summit coincided with the period during which the UAE experienced its largest rainfall since records began in 1949. Widespread flooding meant that plans had to be swiftly amended, and although WFES 2024 did not reach the high numbers experienced during WFES in 2023 (and previous years), spirits were far from dampened.

Presentations from academic partners during the conference included one on ‘Hydrogen for the Energy Transition’ led by Heriot Watt University Dubai, and a second on ‘Graphene – from decarbonisation to sustainable products and applications’ led by the University of Manchester Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre, and included spinout companies, Levidian and Graphene Innovations Manchester. Colleagues from DBT then delivered a session on day 3 led by UK industry partners reviewing outcomes following ‘100 Days Post COP 28’.

Impact

Overall, our bilateral partnerships continue to grow and develop. UK start-up, Levidian, one the exhibitors on the UK pavilion, signed a waste to energy partnership with Abu Dhabi’s Tadweer Group to produce millions of tonnes of clean hydrogen and carbon negative graphene. Levidian have also been named the winners of the ‘Make it in the Emirates’ Start Up Competition and will subsequently invest around $100 million to establish a new hub in Abu Dhabi that will provide a base for regional delivery.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 October 2024.

UK farmers and traders will once again be able to export poultry to South Africa.

British poultry can once again reach South African tables, after the UK secured market access estimated to bring up to £160m to industry over the next five years.

The development will allow UK traders to export poultry to South Africa for the first time in eight years, after restrictions were placed on UK imports following outbreaks of avian influenza in the UK. The UK was declared free from avian influenza earlier this year.

Lowering this trade barrier has been one of the UK’s priorities for agricultural trade, and its resolution marks a significant step forward, benefiting South African consumers with access to high-quality and securely supplied poultry meat.

Food Security Minister Daniel Zeichner met South African ministers, Deputy Minister Rosemary Capa (Agriculture) and Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield (Trade), last week to finalise the deal. This access will provide further opportunities to grow the UK economy and strengthen the trading relationship between both countries.

Minister for Food Security Daniel Zeichner said:

This deal not only opens new opportunities for UK poultry traders, but grants a new avenue through which to grow the UK economy.

We’re one step further on our journey to securing better trade deals for UK farmers, improving industry resilience and kickstarting our food exports.

South Africa has historically been an important market for UK poultry, with exports of poultry worth over £37 million to South Africa in 2016. Teams from across government have worked in combination with their counterparts in South Africa for many years to regain market access.

International Meat Trade Association CEO Katie Doherty said:

The reopening of South Africa for UK poultry meat exports is fantastic news for UK producers and exporters – prior to the ban, it was a vital market for UK exporters.

It is testament to all the hard work by Defra’s market access team and the agricultural attachés and other officials who have supported this crucial work over many years, for which we are very grateful.

British Poultry Council Chief Executive Richard Griffiths said:

Our relationships with markets around the world underpin economic growth right here in the UK. Providing half the meat the nation eats every year, plus the breeding stock of 70% of all poultry consumed globally, British Poultry Council members actively contribute to both domestic and global food security.

That trade of British poultry can resume with South Africa following the lifting of the avian influenza ban is a great example of government and industry working together to overcome technical trade barriers. Unlocking access to what was once one of our biggest markets is incredibly exciting.

Thank you to the Defra market access team and all Government officials and industry representatives involved for their support and engagement throughout this process. We look forward to continuing our work together to build, maintain and enhance trading relationships – both existing and new!

Defra will work closely with UK poultry producers and traders, as well as relevant industry bodies, to ensure the smooth export of their goods to South Africa.

This development follows recent success in securing new beetroot exports to the US.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 October 2024.

UK statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Cambodia. Delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.

Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you Special Rapporteur for your latest report and update on the human rights situation in Cambodia.

The UK recognises the positives steps that Cambodia has taken to expand healthcare and social protection, and we commend its commitment to climate change, education, and poverty reduction. The UK remains committed to supporting Cambodia’s vision of achieving an upper-middle income status by 2030.

However, the UK shares the Special Rapporteur’s concerns regarding the use of the judiciary to silence political and human rights actors as well as journalists. We are also concerned about the lasting impacts resulting from the online scamming industry in the country.

In this light, we encourage the Cambodian government to engage in inclusive dialogue with all actors, especially Civil Society Organisations, in its legislative and policy-making processes ahead of the 2027 and 2028 elections. We believe that a flourishing free press and freedom of speech are essential if Cambodia is to achieve its vision.

Special Rapporteur,

What further steps should the Cambodian government take to better promote and protect freedom of expression, including press freedom?

Thank you.