Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

1st October 2010 London, UK

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by David Lidington

Minister for Europe, London

A day in Edinburgh

On Wednesday 29 September I spent the day in Edinburgh. I visited the Chamber of Commerce, the University of Edinburgh and the Scottish Parliament. Find out more by watching my video blog below. See a full video of the speech I gave at the University of Edinburgh.

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1st October 2010

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by Leigh Turner

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

How to apply for UK visas under the Points Based System

The UK offers some of the best educational institutions in the world for children and adults.  So it’s no surprise that the Visa Section at the British Embassy in Kyiv receives many visa applications, particularly in late summer and early autumn, from young people keen to study in the UK. Unfortunately, in 2010, we have […]

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1st October 2010

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by Leigh Turner

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

Як подавати заяви на отримання віз до Великої Британії згідно системи оцінювання по балах

Велика Британія пропонує найкращі навчальні заклади у світі для дітей та дорослих. Тому це не дивно, що візовий відділ Посольства Великої Британії отримує багато візових заяв, особливо наприкінці літа та початку осені від молодих людей, які б хотіли навчатися у Великій Британії. На жаль, у 2010 році деяка кількість бажаючих навчатися в Сполученому Королівстві за […]

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30th September 2010

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by Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Blogging and Freedom of Expression

No, Bolivian readers, I am not commenting on the new Law against Racism. The debate around that law does indeed show just how sensitive is the issue of freedom of expression, and how careful legislators must be when drafting laws that might impact upon what is a critical tenet of democracy. Instead, I want to […]

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30th September 2010 London, UK

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by David Lidington

Minister for Europe, London

The sentencing of blogger Hossein Derakhshan

Hossein Derakhshan, an Iranian blogger, has been sentenced to 19 and a half years in prison, banned from political and journalistic activities for a further 5 years, and fined €30,000 for exercising his right to express his opinions. The image of Hossein used in the video was sourced from Wikipedia and is being reproduced here […]

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30th September 2010

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by Leigh Turner

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

Свобода слова – в Ірані

У розпал обговорень питань свободи слова і засобів масової інформації, які точаться напередодні виборів в місцеві органи влади в Україні, я дізнався про те, що в Ірані до 19 років ув’язнення був засуджений відомий іранський блоггер Хусейн Дерахшан. Разом із забороною займатися політичною та журналістською діяльністю протягом п’яти років він був також оштрафований на суму […]

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28th September 2010

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by Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Great Britain and Bolivar

At a time of bicentenary celebrations across Latin America, it seems right that we should also look at the history of Britain’s relationship with the region, and why that relationship remains so important today. In 1810, Simon Bolivar visited Britain as head of a diplomatic mission to enlist support for the Junta in Caracas and, […]

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28th September 2010

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by Martin Harris

British Ambassador to Ukraine

Secretary of State for Justice visits Romania

Today Ken Clarke is visiting Bucharest. Ken Clarke is one of the biggest figures in British politics. He is now Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, and in his long political career he has held most of the big jobs in government. His first job was in Ted Heath’s government in 1972, he […]

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26th September 2010 London, UK

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by David Lidington

Minister for Europe, London

Carrières en Europe

September 26 2010 is European day of languages, and to mark this event, bloggers from across Europe, and beyond, are taking part in Multilingual blogging day. I’m also participating and have published my video blog in French. You can see more multilingual Foreign Office blogs here. For more information on careers for British Graduates see […]

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24th September 2010 Ottawa, Canada

More of the S&I Canada Team: Gill Wallace

No team introductions would be complete (and really there is still one more to go after this ;P) without the introduction to the very important, but perhaps somewhat unsung role of the S&I Assistant!   Our assistant Gill is fabulous!  Working on a part-time basis (2 days a week – Mondays and Wednesdays), she keeps on top of all […]

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