Diplomatic Briefing
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Newsline: Britain to open embassy in Djibouti in diplomatic shake-up
Britain’s foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt is preparing for a massive expansion of the country’s diplomatic network, with more than 1,000 extra staff at home and abroad, as part of a review of its global ambitions for the post-Brexit era. The plans include a new embassy in Djibouti. The move reflects concerns that the British government needs to address instability there, following the seizure in February by Djibouti of the Red Sea container port Doraleh from DP World. The tiny east African state has rejected a London court ruling that barred Djibouti from considering DP World’s pact terminated. Mr Hunt will set out an ambitious plan for Britain become an “invisible chain that links the world’s democracies” in a speech at the Policy Exchange think tank on Wednesday.
Newsline: Western countries shut down embassies over ‘specific and significant’ al-Qaeda threats
The British, German, Dutch and French embassies in Yemen will be closed over ‘increased security concerns’, the European countries have announced. They blamed an ‘increased threat’ from al-Qaeda. France will close its embassy in Yemen for several days, while Germany and Britain will close theirs for two days on Sunday and Monday. Previously the French Foreign Ministry has said that the Embassy would only be shut on Sunday. Germany also warned its citizens from traveling to the country and that the situation there “is uncertain in the future”. The British embassy in Yemen will close temporarily after escalating violence and terrorist threats, the Foreign Office said Friday. While the Embassy will operate with an “essential staff,” all other British citizens were advised to leave Yemen. The British Foreign Office, which announced the Sana’a embassy would be closed from August 4 to 5, is in close contact with US officials. Meanwhile, US embassies will be closed in Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Canada meanwhile has announced that its embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh would be closed on Sunday for the “safety and security of our personnel.” The Dutch embassy will also be closed on Sunday, according to Al Jazeera.
Newsline: Djibouti US Embassy Named One of the Most Significant Construction Projects in 2012
The U.S. Embassy in Djibouti was one of the most significant construction projects of 2012, the Associated General Contractors of America announced. As a result, the project’s contractor, Quantico, Va.-based Caddell Construction Co., Inc., was one of 17 firms to receive the association’s Alliant Build America Award. Caddell Construction completed construction of a new U.S. Embassy in Djibouti, a dangerous and turbulent working environment on time. The team delivered cutting-edge technology and met strict security protocols. Special attention to safety was required on this site, as the team encountered 120+ degree Fahrenheit temperatures, malaria and one of the highest concentrations of poisonous snakes in the world.
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