Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

23rd August 2012

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by Martin Harris

British Ambassador to Ukraine

After the Court’s verdict

The Foreign Office made a statement yesterday evening on the political situation in Romania. Romania has had a long, hot summer. My hope (as an optimist) is that temperatures will fall in the autumn and that the focus will be on economic and institutional reform and strengthening the rule of law. There are important decisions […]

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23rd August 2012

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by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

Dreamtime in Northern Queensland rainforest

At 135 million years, the Daintree Rainforest is the oldest rainforest on earth. The Yalanji people have lived there for around 40,000 years. I was invited to visit the new indigenous eco-tourism development at Mossman Gorge, just north of Cairns, a week after it opened. Our local guide, Harold, was a mine of information as […]

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22nd August 2012 Toronto, Canada

Canada releases report on International Education Strategy

The Advisory Panel on Canada’s International Education Strategy wrapped up last week, tabling a 98-page report International Education: A Key Driver of Canada’s Future Prosperity. In it, the Panel sets out its vision for the Canadian education system (“to attract top talent and prepare our citizens for the global marketplace, thereby providing key building blocks […]

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22nd August 2012 Nairobi, Kenya

by Matt Baugh

Ambassador to Somalia

Somalia: Taking Stock of the Transition

On Monday, Somalia marked a significant milestone in its history. Twenty years after the country fell into conflict, a new Federal Parliament was inaugurated – paving the way to end the Transition in the next few days, and opening the first legislature to be formed inside Somalia since 1991. This is a huge achievement, both for the […]

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21st August 2012 New Delhi, India

Coming to a city near you…

Following the success of the 2011 campaign, the European Union to India and its member states are running another series of information seminars in India from 10-28 September. These seminars will be held in 31 Indian cities and aim to raise awareness among Indian research stakeholders about the opportunities for research and innovation cooperation. From Chandigarh to […]

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21st August 2012 Bucharest, Romania

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by Raluca Bragarea

Head of Communications, Bucharest

The Romanian Paralympic Team is training for the Games

The following is a guest blog by Sally Wood-Lamont, President of the Romanian National Paralympic Committee. The Romanian Paralympic team are currently at their Pre-Paralympic Games training camp in Knowsley, Liverpool. The cycling team, with athletes Eduard Novak, currently world champion in both the road and track events with Torok Imre a fellow cyclist from […]

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19th August 2012 Harare, Zimbabwe

Catriona Laing

by Catriona Laing

British Ambassador to Zimbabwe

Police training in Gereshk

I have invited members of  the PRT to use my blog to talk about their work and experiences in Helmand. Shelley Groves the PRT’s new Female Police Advisor has kindly written about her first police training course. On arriving in Lashkar Gah to take on my role as the PRT’s new Female Police Advisor, my first […]

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17th August 2012 Chevening, UK

A Chevening Scholar performing at the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony!

Our latest Chevening Conversations blog has an Olympic theme as Filipino Chevening Scholar Benedict Carandang tells us about how he was selected as a performer for the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony. Now that the London 2012 Olympic Games have sadly ended, I would like to share with you my amazing journey as one of the volunteer performers of the greatest show on […]

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