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Different Memories, Shared Futures: Why Inclusive Remembrance Matters for Serbia and the Region
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25th September 2012 London, UK
Made in Pakistan: exporting the right image
Brand new bed linen from one of the department stores for which London’s Oxford Street is famous. Unwrapping the layers of packaging I noticed the label: made in Pakistan. I wondered if it had come from the factory whose owner I had met in Lahore, where we discussed everything from electricity shortages, to labour law […]
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25th September 2012 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
‘Daddy, is it okay if I give the Princess a kiss?’
As I sit on the most beautiful stretch of white sand on Pulau Redang, I finally have time to reflect on what was, by any measure, the most extraordinary of weeks. I am feeling a strange mix of exhilaration and exhaustion: exhilaration because I think we organised a royal visit that was rich in diversity […]
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24th September 2012 USA
Aston Martins – a nice way to spruce up your residence
The following is a guest post by Zachary Zimmerman, a business development associate with UK Trade & Investment at the British Embassy in Washington. The British Ambassador to the United States has a nice house. Some argue that, since it is Sir Edwin Lutyens’ only architectural work in America and is adorned with a priceless display […]
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24th September 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
More power to the Pumas
The Royal Air Force is about to take delivery of one of its newly upgraded helicopters from the Eurocopter plant at Ghimbav, near Brasov. I was there on Friday to see the helicopter make its first flight post-upgrade, along with Romania’s Prime Minister Victor Ponta and Lord Davies, chairman of the All-Party Group on Romania […]
24th September 2012 Warsaw, Poland
Great British Supercars Set the Pace for UK Trade & Investment
To mark the visit of the Right Hon William Hague, MP to Warsaw recently the British Embassy in co-operation with Aston Martin Warszawa, Lotus Warszawa and JLR Polska hosted a British Motoring Hall of Fame. A superb line up of British Motoring Excellence. Never before has the Embassy seen so much horsepower on one occasion. […]
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24th September 2012 Geneva, Switzerland
Growing Older, Getting Colder
My second week of the Council session got off to a particularly bad start as I managed to put my back out while playing with my son at the weekend. My boss Ian cheerfully put it down to age catching up with me. I like to think I’ve a few good years left in me […]
24th September 2012 New Delhi, India
Bangalore-Cambridge Innovation Network Launched
In a week when the UK was confirmed as having four universities in the top six in the world, we had a high-powered delegation from the University of Cambridge (ranking top in the UK) in town, led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz. The main event on 13th September was Science, Innovation and […]
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21st September 2012 Washington DC, USA
A Fashion Statement
‘We are the goon squad and we’re coming to town-beep beep’ So sang David Bowie in a thinly veiled 1980’s attack on charlatans and copycats, ‘Fashion’. Bowie is not only a British musical living legend but also one of our most stylish icons (second only to Bryan Ferry in my opinion). Which brings us to […]
21st September 2012 Paris, France
Two examples of support to British people in France
In this video, Sir Peter Ricketts discusses two very different examples of the work the British Embassy and Consulates are doing to support British people in France.
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21st September 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Religion, Foreign Affairs and Dialogue
In her book “The Mighty and the Almighty”, Madeline Albright asked rhetorically:“Why can’t we just keep religion out of foreign policy?”. She responded: “we can’t and shouldn’t. Religion is a large part of what motivates people and shapes their views of justice and right behaviour. It must be taken into account”. The last fortnight has […]
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