Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

19th September 2011 Ottawa, Canada

Science Salon 3: Cognitive Neuroscience with Dr. Adrian Owen

On Wednesday August, the Science & Innovation Network (SIN) at the British High Commission in Ottawa (BHC) hosted our third Science Salon (See the following for Salons 1 and 2), featuring Dr. Adrian Owen, and in collaboration with the Canada Excellence Research Chairs Program. Dr Owen is one of the Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC […]

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19th September 2011 Geneva, Switzerland

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by Bob Last

Head, UK Mission Political and Human Rights Team

Protesting: Peacefully, noisily and a little too much

It’s been a tiring week. The Council has been busy enough but it hasn’t helped that our 6-month old seems to have lost the knack of sleeping at night for more than about 30 minutes at a time. My own dad, over from the UK, sees this as his own private revenge for the years […]

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19th September 2011

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by Peter Millett

Ambassador to Libya, Tripoli

Jobs: Oasis or Mirage?

You can debate whether the pressure for change in the Arab world is driven by the demand for political change or by economic factors. My view is that the demand for jobs is a central reason for the frustration witnessed on the streets, starting with Mohammed Bouazizi who was prevented from selling his fruit in […]

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16th September 2011 London, UK

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by David Lidington

Minister for Europe, London

The UK and Norway: a wide-ranging partnership

During my visit to Oslo this week, I was reminded of the strength and depth of our relationship with Norway, and the wide range of issues where we have shared interests. The UK and Norway are partners in NATO in Afghanistan, we have a longstanding energy relationship, and a common interest in developing regional trade. […]

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16th September 2011 New York, USA

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by Danny Lopez

British Consul-General, New York

Reflect, Remember, Rebuild: The Tenth Anniversary of September 11th

September 11th is an immensely emotional date for New York. This year, being the Tenth Anniversary, was especially so. Our priority this year—and every year—was to support the family members of the 67 British victims. My day started in Lower Manhattan, where I joined BBC Radio 5 Live’s Peter Allen as he broadcasted the main […]

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16th September 2011

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by Leigh Turner

Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna

Brilliant British Business in Ukraine #9

The sun is setting magnificently over the skyline of Kyiv.  All around, commercial deals are being planned, connections established and views on business conditions exchanged.  We’re at a major gathering of the British business community in Ukraine at my residence on 14 September. Supporting British business in Ukraine and attracting investors to the UK is […]

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16th September 2011

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by Leigh Turner

Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna

Kyiv: art, football and Charles Dickens

One of the most striking buildings in Kyiv is the Mystetskyi Arsenal, or “Art Arsenal”, whose opening I attended back in August 2009.  Built between 1783 and 1801, it has been restored to provide over twenty thousand square metres of dramatic exhibition space arranged in massive, high-arched rooms and is always worth a visit whatever […]

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16th September 2011 Chevening, UK

Looking forward to a Chevening experience

Our new Chevening scholars from Peru, Patrick, Mariana and Celia comment on their experiences during the Chevening Scholarship application process, their expectations for their chosen programme of study and life in the UK. Three Peruvian Chevening Scholarship winners will take up postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom in the fields of environment, urban development planning […]

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15th September 2011

Robin Twyman

by Robin Twyman

Consul for Business and Government Affairs

Understanding the famous Triangle

The following is a guest post by Spencer Mahony, HM Consul & UKTI Regional Director for the South East US. There are many famous triangles in the world: the golden triangle in India, which takes in Delhi, Agra (home to the Taj Mahal) and Jaipur; the golden triangle of Oxford, Cambridge and London which has […]

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