Jul52017

Australia condemns DPRK Missile Test

Australia

Australia categorically condemns North Korea’s first launch of an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile. 

This is a further dangerous escalation by a reckless regime.

The Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile launch is a dangerous and provocative act that destabilises the region and directly threatens all nations within range of this offensive weapon.

Australia will work with our international partners and allies to demonstrate that a provocation of this kind will bear consequences.

We again urge China to use its considerable leverage to rein in the dangerous behaviour of the North Korean leadership.

The world expects that we live in a rules-based system and this unacceptable missile launch is in breach of numerous United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

Australia has agreed to expanded autonomous sanctions against North Korea in response to its persistent threatening behaviour.

These sanctions will target North Korea’s extractive industries and its shipping network.

We will expand the grounds on which the Government can designate individuals and entities for targeted financial sanctions and travel bans.

Australia calls on all countries to implement UN Security Council Resolutions against North Korea as a matter of urgency, including UN Resolution 2356, adopted to on 2 June 2017.

Australia supports defensive measures required to respond to the threat posed by North Korean offensive missiles.  Any escalation of regional tensions is entirely the responsibility of the North Korean regime, which continues to brazenly threaten regional and global peace.

I will raise North Korea’s grave disregard for regional peace at my G20 meetings this week, and urge G20 leaders to take further strong action against North Korea.

Jul52017

Business Summit will help Welsh businesses capitalise on Heathrow expansion

Welsh Government

Around 90 Welsh businesses have gathered in Cardiff to learn more about the existing supply chain opportunities and future associated with the Heathrow expansion which is expected to deliver up to 8,400 new skilled jobs and £6.2bn in economic growth in total. 

The aim of the summit is to help Welsh based SMEs better understand the needs of Heathrow and its supply chain, and help them explore the associated opportunities for their businesses. 

In March this year, the First Minister and Lord Deighton, Chairman of Heathrow Airport, signed a Statement of Intent aimed at improving collaborative working opportunities between Wales and Heathrow. Today’s Cardiff summit is as a direct result of that statement. 

Speaking ahead of the summit, Ken Skates said:  

“A third Heathrow runway will be Europe’s largest privately-funded infrastructure project, creating significant growth opportunities across the UK.  

“We want to work constructively with Heathrow and their tier 1 suppliers to ensure that Welsh businesses have every opportunity to play their part in delivering this huge project which is expected to create up to 8,400 new skilled jobs and £6.2bn in economic growth. 

“The Summit is a great platform for Welsh SMEs to get a foot in the door and capitalise on the business opportunities available at Heathrow while also gain a better  understanding of  the needs of the airport and its supply chain. 

“It is this kind of pro-active and collaborative partnership approach that will ensure we spread prosperity to communities right across Wales.    

“I am also delighted that Cardiff Airport will have a presence at the Summit which will allow Welsh SMEs to understand the needs of our  own National airport and ensure that we maximise the Welsh supply chain opportunities for future projects there.”

Emma Gilthorpe, Heathrow’s Executive Director for Expansion said:

“We’re keen to sustain a diverse supply chain and embrace innovation to help achieve new standards of delivery which includes Heathrow’s commitment to our Statement of Intent, with the Welsh Government. 

“To do this, we need more SMEs from Wales to deliver innovative and affordable solutions for Britain.

“That’s why I’m excited to be hosting the Heathrow Business Summit in Cardiff this year so that we can tap into that pipeline of expertise and strengthen our new partnership with the Welsh Government and Welsh businesses.”

Jul52017

China makes key breakthrough in artificial sun research

East Asia

Scientists in China announced they have set a world record by achieving 101.2 seconds of steady-state H-mode operation of the tokamak, an experimental device designed to harness the energy of fusion.

The milestone meant China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak(EAST), dubbed “artificial sun,” became the world’s first tokamak device to achieve the 100-second-level, Hefei Institute of Physical Science under the Chinese Academy of Sciences said Wednesday.

Last year, the EAST team in Hefei, capital of Anhui Province, created a record by achieving over 60 seconds of steady-state long-pulse H-mode discharge of the device.

EAST’s steady-state H-mode operation has provided important experimental support for the operation of International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), a large international scientific cooperation project.

More than 30 countries are participating in ITER to build the world’s largest tokamak, a magnetic fusion device designed to prove the feasibility of fusion as a large-scale and carbon-free source of energy based on the same principle that powers the Sun and the stars.

Jul52017

Friends of Wighton event today …

Fraser Macpherson
From Sheena Wellington :

Lunchtime Recital – Simon Chadwick – harp
Wighton Heritage Centre, Central Library
Wednesday 5th July from 1.15pm – 1.45pm

Harpist Simon Chadwick will bring the big Irish harp to play a selection of “Irish Scotch and Welch Airs”.

This is a new programme put together for the Museum of the University of St Andrews, for their “Victorian visions” exhibition. Simon is investigating how medieval tunes were re-imagined through the 19th century harp tradition in Scotland and Ireland.   

Admission Free.

Jul52017

Press release: Top British Diplomat Visits Tanzania

HM Government

Sir Simon McDonald, Permanent Under Secretary and Head of Her Majesty’s British Diplomatic Service is on a visit to Dar es Salaam helping to cement the close relationship between Tanzania and the UK, Tanzania’s number one foreign direct investor.

During his 2 day visit, the top diplomat will meet Tanzania’s Foreign Minister Dr Augustine Mahiga and the Permanent Secretary for Trade, Industry and Investment, Prof Mkenda to discuss bilateral issues, investment opportunities and how the UK can further partner with Tanzania. He will visit the Dar es Salaam port to see the port improvement programme funded by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) through Trade Mark East Africa and the World Bank, and UK Border Force security assistance with UNODC .

He will meet representatives from the private sector including Ali Mufuruki, head of the Tanzania CEO Round Table, as well as academia and civil society. He will also have the opportunity to listen to the views of some of Tanzania’s young people when he meets DFID’s Youth Panel, a group of young Tanzanian volunteers who advise DFID on policy.

Sir Simon’s visit is part of a regional tour to Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania.

Speaking ahead of Sir Simon’s visit, British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke said:

This is Sir Simon’s first visit to Tanzania and a chance for him to see, first hand, the strength of the UK/Tanzania partnership across a range of areas. I am delighted he is able to visit Tanzania at this time.

Sir Simon joined the British Diplomatic Service in 1982 and has served in Berlin, Jeddah, Riyadh, Bonn, Washington and Tel Aviv, and in a wide range of jobs in London. Before taking up the role of PUS, Sir Simon served as the British Ambassador to Berlin from 2010 to 2015, the Prime Minister’s Foreign Policy Adviser and Head of Foreign and Defence Policy in the Cabinet Office from 2007 to 2010. From 2003 to 2006 he was British Ambassador to Israel. He was appointed Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George in 2014.