Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

22nd June 2011

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by Greg Dorey

Diplomat

Wales and Hungary

The “Bards of Wales” project came to fruition last night with a performance of the world premier of Karl Jenkins’ cantata at the Palace of Arts. Almost all 1800 seats were full and the audience (including President Schmitt) gave the work a rapturous reception. British Minister David Jones of the Welsh Office visited Hungary for […]

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22nd June 2011

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by Peter Beckingham

Former governor in Turks and Caicos Islands

Student exchanges on the increase to and from India to Britain

For two consecutive Fridays I have had an opportunity to get a glimpse of how British universities are making their mark in India.   On the first occasion I attended the launch of an initiative by Glasgow Caledonian University with the Deccan Education Society at Fergusson College, part of Pune University. Held at the College’s […]

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20th June 2011

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by Greg Dorey

Diplomat

Budapest Pride Week

Some weeks ago I blogged about the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. This week (11-19 June) the Budapest Pride Festival is taking place, with the annual March due tomorrow. The police have pledged that the March will be secure and safe (though there has been an announcement about a possible far right counter-demonstration in […]

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17th June 2011 New York, USA

British entrepreneurship – inspiring Ga Ga and creating Zsa Zsa

The UK’s reputation in innovation is longstanding, well-founded and diverse – reaching back to the industrial revolution and still going strong.   At New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Costume Institute’s Alexander McQueen – Savage Beauty, celebrates the work of one high profile, provocative, innovative, rule breaker. A Londoner, McQueen learnt his craft on Savile Row, […]

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16th June 2011 Ottawa, Canada

Heading to Canada’s north

I head off on Friday for a week in Canada’s vast Arctic north. With other heads of mission and Canadian officials, we will travel from Iqaluit and Pond Inlet in the east, to Dawson City, Whitehorse and Yellowknife out west, en route back to Ottawa. It’s an adventure on many levels: a chance to learn […]

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16th June 2011

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by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

Oil and Gas boom in the ‘Top End’: Visit to Darwin

I visited Darwin, capital of the Northern Territory this week. Although NT covers a vast land area, as seen in the Nicole Kidman film “Australia”, it represents only about 1% of Australia’s population and GDP. Once a sleepy backwater, Darwin is poised to become a major oil and gas hub for the vast offshore reserves […]

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16th June 2011 Bucharest, Romania

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by Raluca Bragarea

Head of Communications, Bucharest

Meet a Brit – media training coming soon

As economic recovery and competitiveness are at the heart of the European agenda, the British Embassy plans to run a media training programme on this heavyweight issue in the autumn. The idea is to bring a senior British business journalist to Romania to share from his/her experience in reporting and commenting about the challenges and […]

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15th June 2011 Chevening, UK

Chevening and the Global Scholars Symposium

On July 6 and 7, two Chevening Scholars attended the Global Scholars Symposium held in Oxford.   The event brought together more than 150 postgraduate scholars studying in the UK on a variety of scholarships (including Rhodes, Marshall, Churchill, Clarendon, Gates, Fulbright) to discuss world challenges.   The two days were intense, with whole group and small […]

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15th June 2011

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by Peter Millett

Ambassador to Libya, Tripoli

ما رأيك في العرض حتى الآن؟

  قبل عدة سنوات كان هناك برنامج تلفزيوني كوميدي محبوب جدا.  و في منتصف البرنامج  كان أحدهم الممثلين يسأل : "ما رأيك في العرض حتى الآن؟" فيصرخ الآخر:" زبالة!" و لكن أدرك أن الشخص قد لا يفهم الفكاهة إذا لم يحضر البرنامج.  و لكن هذه العبارة التقطت لتستخدم في المزاح الشعبي.    فبعد أربعة أشهر […]

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15th June 2011

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by Peter Millett

Ambassador to Libya, Tripoli

What do you think of the show so far?

Many years ago there was a television show with two well-loved comedians.  Half-way through the programme one would ask “What do you think of the show so far?”  The other would shout “Rubbish!”  You had to be there to appreciate the joke, but it is a catch-phrase that has stuck in popular banter. So after […]

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