18th October 2019 Belgrade, Serbia
It’s a beautiful October day as I write. As I sit in my Belgrade garden I see clouds of newly hatched late ladybirds, the first yellow leaves shaken by a mild breeze, warm weak sunshine and distant haze. Around me the hum of urban life is punctuated by hammering and bursts of drilling from nearby […]
19th October 2018 Beirut, Lebanon
As Fayruz says….. bhebak ya lebnan. “Ahla wa sahla saadet el safir” said my welcoming team at the airport – “shoukran, please call me Chris, and do speak to me in Arabic” I said back. That was only 5 weeks ago – it seems much further back. Lebanon has a reputation for outstanding hospitality, stunning […]
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16th October 2014 Beirut, Lebanon
This year’s Blog Action Day (#BAD2014 #Blogaction14), on 16 October, is on inequality. To encourage debate about the rights of migrant workers, I spent the day with Kalkidan Nigusie, from Ethiopia. In the morning, we visited the Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk (who has written his response here), gave a press conference, and chaired a meeting […]
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18th March 2014 Dublin, Ireland
President Putin has now signed a decree recognising Crimea as a sovereign state. The United Kingdom, in common with Poland, the rest of the European Union and the majority of the international community, does not recognise the 16th March Crimea referendum or its outcome as legal or legitimate. Both the British and Polish governments have […]
4th March 2014 Warsaw, Poland
Piesek P is on the lookout for GREAT British Cheese in Poland – as he finds it he’ll let you know – just smile. Say Cheese and off we go on our GREAT Cheese tour of Poland. With over 700 named types of GREAT British cheese, that’s about twice as many in France, for you […]
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9th October 2013 Beirut, Lebanon
A former British Ambassador here was asked at the end of a radio interview what he would like for Christmas. Thinking it typical Lebanese generosity but not wanting to be too greedy, he gave a modest reply. Listening to the broadcast later, he was shocked to hear several envoys asked the same question. The US […]
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8th March 2013 Warsaw, Poland
Hit the road today – destination Krakow, a specialist seminar focused on inward investment into the UK. 30 great companies, some already in the UK, a number looking for strong growth, some interested to learn more about the exciting opportunities on offer. I have to congratulate our programme partners the BPCC and Deloitte on a […]
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8th March 2013 Dublin, Ireland
I am delighted to introduce today’s guest blog by an old friend, Dorota Mitrus*, who made an important contribution to helping promote effective democratic participation in Poland post-1989 and is now engaged in promoting democracy and effective governance in many other countries. Her blog speaks for itself. What I would like to stress is that […]
11th February 2013 Warsaw, Poland
With this in mind UKTI organised a week long UK roadshow 4-8 February focused on promoting the opportunity and holding in depth meetings with UK companies interested in expanding their business in the region. The week kicked off on Sunday evening with an inaugural dinner of the Emerging Europe Energy Council hosted by UKTI Business […]
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29th November 2012 New York, USA
Moustaches have been a staple of British male identity for centuries. They can be comic (Basil Fawlty, Borat), serious (any of Daniel Day-Lewis’s efforts), musical (Freddie Mercury leaps enthusiastically to mind), even political (one thinks of Harold Macmillan’s full-bodied triumph). Handlebar, pencil, horseshoe, toothbrush… such variety of facial topiary means there’s something for everyone. Approval […]