Sep152017

UN chief condemns deadly terrorist attack in southern Iraq

United Nations

15 September 2017 – Secretary-General António Guterres today condemned the terrorist attacks in southern Iraq and called for the perpetrators to be quickly brought to justice.

In a statement from his spokesperson, the Secretary-General expressed “his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of Iraq.”

Terrorists attacked the Thi-Qar province on 14 September, reportedly killing or wounding dozens of people.

In the statement, Mr. Guterres reiterated UN support to the Government and people of Iraq in fighting terrorism and violent extremism.

Sep152017

UN dedicates annual Peace Day to safety, respect for refugees and migrants

United Nations

15 September 2017 – The United Nations in New York today marked the International Day of Peace with the annual ringing of the peace bell and calls for combatants worldwide to lay down their arms and observe a day of ceasefire and non-violence.

This year’s ceremony was dedicated to the more than 65 million people forced to flee their homes to escape conflict and persecution.

“When more and more doors and minds are being closed to refugees, let us show solidarity,” Secretary-General António Guterres said at the ceremony, which focuses attention this year on the spirit of Together, a global initiative led by the UN to promote respect, safety and dignity for refugees and migrants.

“Let us highlight the shared benefits of migration to economies and to nations. When others receive the support they need and deserve, we are all more secure and better off,” he added.

The Secretary-General, joined by UN Messenger of Peace Jane Goodall, as well as Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and the President of the General Assembly, Miroslav Lajcák, thanked those participating for their efforts in working towards world peace.

“Those of us fortunate enough to enjoy peace and prosperdummy ity should do everything we can to allow others to enjoy it as well,” Mr. Guterres said.

Young people made up much of the audience, alongside the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Jayathma Wickramanayake, and young musicians who opened the ceremony.

Later in the day, Mr. Guterres addressed youth at a student observance, urging them to focus on what binds them as a human family, and not on what is different.

“To avoid war, we need to be able to build bridges, to combat discrimination, to struggle for justice and human rights for all, to make people respect each other, to make people see their identities respected but at the same time feel that they belong to the larger community where they are integrated, he said.

The UN is marking the Day before the annual 21 September date due to next week’s high-level General Assembly debate in New York.

The Day was established in 1981 by the UN General Assembly. Two decades later in 2001, the Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and ceasefire. The UN invites all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities during the Day, and to otherwise commemorate the Day through education and public awareness on issues related to peace.

Sep152017

Press release: PM statement following London terror attack: 15 September 2017

HM Government

I have just been updated on the investigation into this morning’s cowardly terrorist attack in London.

A major covert and overt investigation is taking place, involving police and security officials.

I said earlier today that the national threat level was being kept under review.

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre – that’s the independent organisation which is responsible for setting the threat level on the basis of available intelligence – has now decided to raise the national threat level from severe to critical.

This means that their assessment is that a further attack may be imminent.

Following JTAC’s decision, the police have asked for authorisation from the Secretary of State for Defence to enact part of the first phase of Operation Temperer.

This is a well-established plan to provide military support to the police and for this period military personnel will replace police officers on guard at certain protected sites which are not accessible to the public. The public will see more armed police on the transport network and on our streets providing extra protection.

This is a proportionate and sensible step which will provide extra reassurance and protection while the investigation progresses.

The public should go about their business in the normal way and as usual be vigilant and co-operate with the police.

I said earlier that terrorism is a great challenge of our times. But by standing together we will defeat it.

Sep152017

Pound hits $1.36 -because of Brexit?

John Redwood MP

Today the pound got back to $1.36, a fraction off the pre referendum low earlier in 2016.

This follows hints that the Bank might put interest rates back up to 0.5% where they were before the vote. Given the wish to blame everything on Brexit maybe we shoukd say thanks to Brexit the pound has soared in recent weeks.

Sep152017

News story: Hurricane Irma: Overseas Territories Minister visits the Turks and Caicos Islands

HM Government

Visiting Grand Turk today, the Minister for the Overseas Territories, Lord Ahmad said:

I’m in Grand Turk which is the capital of Turks and Caicos and I’m seeing first-hand, with the Premier, with the Governor, the devastation of Hurricane Irma.

There’s parts of Turks and Caicos where it’s really heartening to see that the community spirit has kicked in, and already reconstruction has started. But as you can see around me here in the capital, in some of the more challenged parts of Turks and Caicos right here in Grand Turk, there’s plenty of work to be done. And that means that the military support we’ve been giving, and also more importantly the reconstruction effort needs to kick in straight away.

And that’s the kind of things I’ve been seeing, so thank you for all those who are doing what they’re doing, the military, the DFID teams, but also the government here in Turks and Caicos and the excellent team around the Governor, but equally it’s important that we underline the importance of what’s next, the reconstruction of what is the capital of a great island.