3rd December 2024
RENEWING OLD TIES: THE NEW BISHOP OF LONDON
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
25th November 2024
The climate crisis and gender-based violence
8th November 2024
Ecolabels: A Catalyst for Sustainable Food Choices?
2nd February 2016 Tripoli, Libya
Corruption versus Rule of Law
Libya is one of the ten most corrupt countries in the world. So said a report issued by Transparency International last week. So what? Who cares if the wealth of a country is siphoned off into private hands? The people should care. Corruption is the enemy of progress: it stifles development, marginalises prosperity, and undermines […]
2nd February 2016 Khartoum
Debating National Identity
I have been following with interest reports of discussions in the committee of the Sudanese National Dialogue dealing with identity. National identity is a subject which comes up in many of my conversations with Sudanese people I meet and there have been some interesting exchanges on Twitter and Facebook recently. In my view it is […]
2nd February 2016 Vientiane, Laos
Such Stuff As Dreams Are Made Of
This year is the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death, an event the UK government, including my Embassy, is commemorating in a series of activities (check out our Facebook page UKinLaos for more details). He is perhaps England’s earliest, and certainly greatest, cultural export. One element of the commemoration is to invite individuals to share […]
29th January 2016 Beijing, China
Newton Fund Bridges UK and China in Research and Innovation
Last week the strongest cold wave in decades swept China and people were advised to stay indoors. In spite of this, my colleagues and I at SIN network did not feel the coldness at all but rather joined the exciting Newton Fund Research & Innovation Bridges partnership brokering visit and witnessed great enthusiasm from both […]
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28th January 2016
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Syria: rejecting indifference
There has been war in Syria throughout Pope Francis’s pontificate. It has been the principal foreign policy concern of the Holy See since his election, and continues to be so. His Holiness has spoken out many times about the need for action to stop the war in Syria, and it is reasonable to suppose that […]
28th January 2016 Skopje, North Macedonia
Did you know expats will be able to vote in the EU referendum?
Are you British? If yes, then read on. I’m sure everyone in Macedonia is aware of the elections due here this year. I’d like to take a moment to mention the referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union due to take place in the UK by the end of 2017. The actual date […]
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28th January 2016 Geneva, Switzerland
Davos: Big Short or Indispensable Summit?
No other international gathering attracts such mythology. The place where the world’s economic elite co-opts its political leadership. Or the best place in the world to discuss and solve global problems. The arguments for and against Davos rage every year. But it’s as popular as ever. BIG SHORT Just before this year’s Davos gathering, Oxfam […]
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28th January 2016 Melbourne, Australia
An inspiring student social enterprise – Vanora
Earlier this month I met again a great team of young Estonians who have being working hard to establish a social enterprise in their town of Viljandi, southern Estonia. Their student company is called Vanora, and there is a lot more about their company on their Facebook site . Their business model is simple – in return […]
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28th January 2016 Mumbai, India
Interview with Adam Williams, UK Intellectual Property Office
Adam Williams, Deputy Director – International Policy Directorate with the UK Intellectual Property (IP) Office visited New Delhi from 7-9 January. Amidst the flurry of meetings and high level engagements, I chatted with Adam about the emerging significance of IP in modern India. What brings you to India? Well, it’s a short trip really – […]
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28th January 2016 BCG Shanghai
SIN help launch the UK and China’s biggest research & innovation funding competition yet
As I write, 17 universities, research organisations and companies will be wending their weary way back to the UK after a week in Jiangsu and Guangdong that will hopefully remain an affectionate and inspiring memory for decades to come. It could be that they have found their partners in China that will develop and launch […]
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