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RENEWING OLD TIES: THE NEW BISHOP OF LONDON
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25th November 2024
The climate crisis and gender-based violence
8th November 2024
Ecolabels: A Catalyst for Sustainable Food Choices?
5th September 2015 London, UK
#FreeEstonKohver
This is the hashtag that thousands of people in Estonia and around Europe have been adding to their social media postings in the last few months. I’m glad to add it to my blog too. Who is Eston Kohver? He’s an Estonian security services officer, who was abducted from Estonia on 5 September last year, […]
4th September 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
THE 74th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST OF THE ARCTIC CONVOYS
My latest regional visit took me to the historical city of Arkhangelsk, which lies on the banks of the Northern Dvina River in north west Russia. Arkhangelsk is a fascinating city which is full of rich British/Russian history and indeed is where the British/Russian relationship began following the arrival of the explorer and navigator Richard […]
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4th September 2015 Yerevan, Armenia
Leaving Armenia with optimism
On Saturday 5 September I leave Yerevan for the last time. I’ll be transforming back into a normal person after 3+ years of being driven around (thanks Edik and Aram) with a Union Jack on the car bonnet. It’s been a privilege to represent Her Majesty’s Government in this young/old nation; to meet such a […]
3rd September 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Agents of Change
I was recently asked to speak at an event about the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I was the only speaker. I was happy to be there, but to be honest I thought it was a bit odd. I’m a foreign diplomat who has lived here for a year. Why should I be better qualified […]
2nd September 2015 London, UK
The United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates: strategic partners for generations to come
Yesterday I returned to the UAE. The Middle Eastern destination I have frequented the most since becoming a Member of the UK’s Parliament. I am delighted to be back and witness yet again the generosity of the Emirati culture and the common ties which bind us; from regional security matters to growing commercial ties covering […]
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2nd September 2015 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Brunei’s latest Chevening Scholar
I was pleased to host a farewell reception on Tuesday for our latest Chevening scholar, Senior Superintendent Dinah Amat Daud. Dinah will be starting her studies in the UK later this month – MA in Applied Security Strategy at the Institute of Security and Strategy at the University of Exeter. She was clearly delighted to […]
1st September 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Preferential option for the poor: Government and Church together
There is plenty of bad news about. But let’s also celebrate the success stories. One such has been the partnership between the UK’s principal Catholic charities from the Caritas Internationalis family and the British government in their joint efforts to maximise funds raised by British donors to support projects benefiting some of the world’s poorest people. […]
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1st September 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Gallipoli, Greenwich and Istanbul
Two hundred Scouts gather on a parade ground for a flag ceremony, surrounded by trees. As the morning sun raises the temperature into the humid mid-30’s, the flags of Turkey, the UK, Egypt, Serbia and other countries are raised into the Istanbul skies. I was delighted recently to visit Istanbul’s largest Scouting centre at […]
1st September 2015 Colombo, Sri Lanka
Welcoming Sri Lanka to the Cybercrime Convention
This blog celebrates the fact that today, on Tuesday 1 September, Sri Lanka became a fully fledged member of the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime. Sri Lanka is the first country in South Asia, and only the second in Asia after Japan, to join this Convention. Cybercrime is any kind of crime committed with a computer […]
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1st September 2015 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Shakespeare’s Hamlet in Brunei
A terrific Saturday evening at the Jerudong International School’s Arts Centre watching the Globe Theatre company from London perform William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It’s a unique project. Starting last year and finishing in April 2016 (the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death), the Globe Theatre aims to tour this production to every country in the world. Brunei […]