9th December 2025
Why We Need Data, Courage, and Community
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
2nd December 2025
In cybersecurity, there are no limits – only new voices ready to lead
14th October 2025
Lost and Found (but mostly lost)
6th May 2016
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Pope Francis wins UK Green Ribbon award
The Green Ribbon awards are amongst Britain’s most prestigious environmental awards. They are awarded by The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), the leading independent Chartered professional body for water and environment professionals, which promotes excellence within the sector. They have been presented since 1993, and aim to celebrate the greatest environmental achievements […]
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6th May 2016 Tripoli, Libya
The Beautiful Game
Leicester. Where’s that? And how do you pronounce it? Is it “Lye-Chest-er” or “Lester”. This Midlands town is now well-known all round the world after their team, Leicester City became the English football champions. It is a remarkable story of a team that was fighting for survival last year. The team – known locally as […]
5th May 2016 Havana, Cuba
A Cuban economist in London
Once again I have the pleasure to publish a blog by one of the fifteen Cuban Chevening scholars currently in the UK. Ricardo Gonzalez is a teacher and researcher from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Havana and is studying a masters in economics at Queen Mary University, London. Thanks to Ricardo for this […]
4th May 2016 Havana, Cuba
Building the right buildings
On Thursday this week Londoners vote to elect the next Mayor. London is a vibrant, global city with a huge population and a massive economy so the Mayor’s job is an important one with responsibilities ranging from transport to construction. In the last decade or so, the skyline of London has been transformed by some […]
4th May 2016
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Visit to Rostov-on-Don – shared history of World War Two and twinning with Glasgow
My latest regional visit took me outside of the North West Federal District to the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, a 2.5 hour flight from St Petersburg. I had always wanted to visit Rostov-on-Don, a city that is twinned with my home city of Glasgow in Scotland. I was delighted therefore when I was asked […]
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3rd May 2016 London, UK
Secret No More: living as my true self, and transitioning gender in the FCO
FLAGG member Sophie Green shares her personal story about her gender identity and transition. I joined the office over 13 and a half years ago, and, during that time, everyone has known me as Karl. However, as of now, I am going to be known as Sophie. I identify as transgender. Outside of the office […]
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3rd May 2016 Colombo, Sri Lanka
Supporting Press Freedom
Today is World Press Freedom Day. So it was appropriate that I spent Saturday evening at the Sri Lanka Inquirer awards ceremony, an event celebrating the culmination of British High Commission funded training and some of the best recent investigative journalism in Sri Lanka and Maldives. There is no freedom so worth defending as Freedom of […]
3rd May 2016
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
#Adiosistanbul 4: the Lycian Way
Ok. The Lycian Way is not in Istanbul. But having written a blog recently about longer walks outside Istanbul; and another about my favourite shorter walk, I thought I should record the fact that, amongst the many wonders of Turkey we should include the splendid Lycian Way. I walked the first 40 km of the Lycian Way in April. […]
3rd May 2016 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
World Press Freedom Day
Today is World Press Freedom Day. This is an opportunity for us all to reflect on the importance of freedom of information and to pay tribute to those journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Of course advancing freedom of the press is a global issue, yet I’m struck by how […]
2nd May 2016 Delhi, India
Free online course on copyright awareness launched on World IP Day
The UK Intellectual Property Office supported the Association of Publishers of India in the creation of an awareness booklet and free online course on copyright. The toolkit (booklet and 15-minute course) was launched at an event organised by FICCI on 25 April to celebrate World IP Day. The toolkit was conceived as a key step […]
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