8th November 2024
Ecolabels: A Catalyst for Sustainable Food Choices?
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
17th October 2024
OSLOBOĐENJE BEOGRADA
11th October 2024
Busting the gender myths – women and organised crime
26th May 2016
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Catholic religious on the front line
Baroness Anelay, Foreign Office Minister and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, paid a brief visit to Rome last week. The main focus of her trip was to meet religious men and women from Catholic congregations working in Africa and elsewhere to help the victims of sexual violence in conflict. The […]
26th May 2016 Bangalore, India
Pune University offers glimpse into a smarter city
I recently joined the British Trade Office in Pune as its new Knowledge Economy Advisor. Having previously worked for the British Council I know Pune’s key strength is its excellence in education and focus on innovation. The Savitribai Phule Pune University is one India’s top universities. So, I took the opportunity to visit to find […]
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25th May 2016 Beirut, Lebanon
For the love of Lebanon, elect a President
Lebanon “commemorates” today the two year anniversary since it last had a President. Notre Dame University recently marked the 500th anniversary of the publication of Thomas More’s Utopia. Erasmus thought More’s genius was “such as England never had and never again will have.” But beyond his national importance to my country, I think Thomas More […]
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24th May 2016 Delhi, India
Bridging industry and academia can help solve ‘grand challenges’
I was invited to a meeting of industry and academics who were focussing on translating excellent research into real world solutions. The event was held at the DST Centre for Policy Research at Panjab University. A key challenge India faces is bridging the gap between industry and researchers. This is vital in solving bigger problems […]
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23rd May 2016 San Francisco, USA
REPORT: UK’s Review on Antimicrobial Resistance
Halting the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the major global health challenges of the 21st century. It is estimated that around 700,000 people die each year from drug resistant diseases, including drug resistant strains of HIV, TB and malaria. If not tackled, AMR could cause up to 10 million deaths annually by […]
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20th May 2016 Houston, USA
FUNDING: Longitude Prize Discovery Awards
Longitude Prize is a five-year challenge with a £10 million prize fund. Launched in November 2014 it aims to conserve antibiotics for future generations, revolutionising global healthcare. It commemorates the 300th anniversary of the Longitude Act of 1714, the first British challenge prize, to determine longitude at sea. The prize is looking for a quick and […]
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20th May 2016 Los Angeles, USA
Hyperloop: Just a Pipe Dream?
In July 2012, Elon Musk touted a proposal that would place the Jetsons within the realm of possibility. He proposed a solar-powered tunnel which could transport people from Los Angeles to San Francisco in an unbelievable 30 minutes. You would think we were discussing the future, but this idea has been floating around for over a […]
20th May 2016 London, England
DRC: The future still can be bright…..but not on the current trajectory
When I last blogged about DRC, I set out why the UK/DRC relationship mattered, the importance of democracy as the bedrock of stability and my strong hope that the government would reaffirm its commitment to respecting the constitution and to delivering Presidential elections within the mandated timeframe. Last week I was in Kinshasa. Following my […]
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20th May 2016 London, UK
Digital training and capability at FCO: a new strategic approach
Digital training at the FCO has reached toddler-hood. Claire Collins blogged in November about its one year birthday and now, just like a toddler, it’s good at attracting attention and charming all who meet it! FCO staff who’ve taken up the Digital Transformation Unit (DTU) global training offer have been overwhelmingly positive about the quality […]
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19th May 2016 Los Angeles, USA
Trust Your Gut: Scientists Want to Study your Microbiome
It’s easy to forget that there are trillions of microbes that call us home. We tend to only think about our inhabitants when they’re causing us harm, but science suggests there’s much more to our microscopic squatters. Currently hailed as “the holy grail of health and wellness,” the microbiome is the ecosystem that lives in, […]
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