British Ambassador travels to Quetzaltenango

World news story

The British Ambassador to Guatemala, Nick Whittingham, will visit Quetzaltenango on January 21-22 to promote collaboration on priority UK policy goals.

Ambassador picking plastic near a river

Ambassador fights pollution in Guatemala City / Embajador combate la contaminación en Ciudad de Guatemala

The visit will have a particular focus on exploring more economic opportunities to grow the UK-Guatemala trade relationship and that would help the recovery in a post-pandemic world. He will meet with a local entrepreneurship centre (CEN) to see how citizens from Quetzaltenango are working tirelessly and creatively to build prosperity and improve the economy of the department.

Additionally, Ambassador Whittingham will set the record straight on the UK’s vision to work with Guatemala to tackle climate change and protect the environment. He will climb “Cerro Quemado” to collect plastic pollution and invite others to rationalize their use of plastic and reduce contamination. The UK is due to host the 2021 global climate change summit, COP26, at the end of the year.

Finally, he will also meet with the Mayor of Quetzaltenango, Juan Fernando López; and Quetzaltenango students who studied a master’s degree in the UK. They will discuss on a variety of local priority issues, from the impacts of COVID-19, immigration and opportunities for students to apply to the prestigious UK Scholarships scheme Chevening.

Published 20 January 2021



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Press release

Statement on media freedom in China from the undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition about the recent sentencing of Zhang Zhan.

The undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition express their strong concerns about the recent sentencing of Zhang Zhan to four years in prison following her reporting on COVID-19 in Wuhan earlier in 2020.

We are deeply concerned about the ongoing efforts by Chinese authorities to curtail media freedom, an essential element of the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. In total, there are currently believed to be at least 47 journalists in detention in China, more than any other country in the world.

We urge the Chinese authorities to release immediately Ms. Zhang Zhan, and all those detained in connection with their reporting.

We also urge the Chinese authorities to allow journalists to practice their profession without fear of arrest, harassment or reprisal, and to end extensive censorship and control over the media and wider freedom of expression.

Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States

Published 20 January 2021



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