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10th November 2012 Beirut, Lebanon
History, Remembrance and ‘The Key of Hope’
Following Remembrance services in Saida and Tripoli on Thursday, we have just left the third, in the beautifully kept Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Beirut. The torrential rain cleared, and we honoured those who fell, driving Vichy from Lebanon in 1941. We share these poignant moments with former allies and former foes. The allied contingent […]
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9th November 2012 Washington DC, USA
Election Withdrawal Syndrome
For me, election campaigning has been a constant element of life in the US. The entire year I have been lived here has involved the most prolonged, sustained, energetic excitement about choosing a country’s leader that I could have imagined. From the first day we arrived, the question of who was to be the next […]
9th November 2012 Chevening, UK
When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.
Our latest Chevening Conversations blog is by new 2012 Chevening Scholar Meg Lawson. Meg is studying International Peace and Security at King’s College London. Strolling past Big Ben. Studying in the same buildings as Desmond Tutu. Enjoying a ‘cuppa’ in the original Twinings shop. And never leaving your flat without an umbrella. It’s all in […]
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9th November 2012 Vancouver, Canada
Shaken Not Stirred
I have loved the James Bond movies since I was seven: the lone man fighting for a just cause, willing to sacrifice himself for what he believes; the distant and exotic foreign worlds, filled with mountain peaks and tropical forests; the deadly animals and deadlier villains; the even more exotic women – my goodness; and […]
9th November 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The 105th Archbishop of Canterbury
Observers in Rome may have found the process for the appointment of the new Archbishop of Canterbury rather strange. It is the Crown Nominations Commission which nominates two candidates to present to the Prime Minister, who then advises The Queen on the appointment. Her Majesty as Supreme Governor of The Church of England then gives […]
9th November 2012 Beirut, Lebanon
Marathons, Memorials, Billy Ocean and Bond
This weekend, Beirut will come together for the marathon. There is no more striking example of unity, common purpose and the best of the Lebanese spirit. The road is a great leveller – it does not ask your confessional group or political allegiance. A small group of Ambassadors always join in, slowly. This year, they […]
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9th November 2012 Windhoek, Namibia
Guest blog by Simon Atkinson, Deputy High Commissioner to Namibia, (based in Cape Town)
As you may remember, though I’m based at the Consulate-General in Cape Town, I’m also accredited as the Deputy High Commissioner in Namibia (to support our team there). The historic visit this week by Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba to South Africa presented me with a rare chance to mix the two roles. On Tuesday (6 […]
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9th November 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Weekend in Mumbai: Part 2: Soccer skills and info tech wizards
As the dramas of the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka unfurled last month, and the England Test series here begins next week, no-one living in India could fail to appreciate the importance of cricket to the nation. T20 Matches against big rival Pakistan, not to mention England and Australia, were watched by millions before […]
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9th November 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The Poppy Appeal: 90 Years and Counting
A question for Ethiopian readers. Have you wondered why red artificial poppy flowers are being worn by British residents in Addis Ababa or by personalities on British TV recently? Or why every English Premier League football club has red poppies on their uniform? All this bears witness to how much we care about the Poppy […]
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8th November 2012 Warsaw, Poland
Emerging Europe – LIVE @ the CBI – a live blog from the UK’s Voice of Business
8th November – Emerging Europe – Centrepoint – London A packed event right in Central town at the CBI in the Centrepoint Building opposite We will Rock You – and rock you we will indeed. A packed Emerging Europe Conference with a sell out, capacity audience. A great call to arms by Nick Baird, UKTI […]
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