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
28th August 2015 Canberra, Australia
From despair to bliss: a day in the life of a consular officer
Brisbane is a riot of colour, from the frangipanis to the flame trees and the blooming Jacarandas (nicknamed students’ ruin because if you haven’t started revising for your exams by the time their purple flowers bloom – it’s probably too late!). I am standing outside a hotel in the city centre – that moment all […]
Read more on From despair to bliss: a day in the life of a consular officer | Reply (6)
27th August 2015 Tripoli, Libya
MYTHBUSTERS
People love conspiracies. They are more fun than reality. They spread like viruses because they feed popular perceptions. For example: President Obama wasn’t born in Hawaii; the mafia killed JFK; ostriches bury their heads in the sand when they see danger; Ambassadors eat Ferrero Rocher. All widely believed; none true. My experience of dealing with […]
27th August 2015 Sofia, Bulgaria
British Embassy Sofia Internship Scheme
“The Embassy has run an internship programme for the last few years. The interns bring to the Embassy a fresh perspective alongside gaining valuable work experience. They are usually tasked with one big “project” (based on their own interests) during their time with us but, also quickly become an important part of Embassy life. I […]
Read more on British Embassy Sofia Internship Scheme | Reply
26th August 2015 Toronto, Canada
Canadian science news: 17-23 August 2015
Want to receive this newsletter in your inbox as soon as it’s compiled? Join our mailing list here: http://eepurl.com/30qLH [View the story ” Canadian science news: 17-23 August 2015″ on Storify]
Read more on Canadian science news: 17-23 August 2015 | Reply
26th August 2015 Islamabad, Pakistan
Celebrating new Chevening Scholars
Last night, I hosted the lion’s share of the 73 Chevening Scholars heading from Pakistan to the UK this autumn to study Masters Degrees at some of the UK’s top universities. I took the opportunity to say a few words: Thank you for joining me here at the British High Commission. I am delighted to […]
25th August 2015 London, UK
Getting smart about mobile video
The latest smartphones make everybody a potential video director. But there’s more to creating effective videos than an iPhone and a sprinkling of enthusiasm. The FCO’s Digital Transformation Unit is rolling out a new wave of training to staff in British Embassies and High Commissions to help them make better use of these powerful digital […]
25th August 2015
The Holy See and Astronomy
On 25 August 1609, Galileo Galilei demonstrated his first telescope to the Venetian authorities. This invention opened up the skies, and piqued men’s interest in the planets and stars around us and beyond, which in turn has led to modern wonders such as men on the moon, the Hubble space telescope, the Rosetta mission to […]
25th August 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Greek rites – in eastern Turkey
The chanting is mesmerising. Priests in richly-decorated gowns perform the liturgy before a crowd crammed onto a rock shelf, hundreds of meters above the valley floor. TV cameras transmit the ceremony live. Since 2010, the Greek Orthodox divine liturgy has been taking place every 15 August at the Sumela Monastery, high in the Pontic mountains […]
25th August 2015 Istanbul, Turkey
2 Years Since Ghouta, Memories of Horror Live On
Last Friday marked two years since the Assad regime attacked Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus in Syria, with chemical weapons. This despicable act killed hundreds of innocent civilians and injured many hundreds more. Since then Assad’s declared chemical weapons stockpile and production facilities have been destroyed. But the UK remains very concerned about credible allegations […]
Read more on 2 Years Since Ghouta, Memories of Horror Live On | Reply (1)
25th August 2015 Istanbul, Turkey
لا تتسع البرادات لهم جميعاً
الغوطة الشرقية – دمشق – سورية بعد منتصف ليلة الأربعاء 21 / 08 / 2013 فقط ما يُقارب 10 آلاف مُصاب، تشنج العضلات يملأُ المكان، الكلُّ ينتفضون، يتساقط الناس كأوراق الشجر، هناك نيامٌ لم يستيقظوا .. ماتوا هادئين، وبعضهم استيقظوا ولم يستطيعوا الخروج .. ماتوا مُحاولين، أمٌ كان لابد أن تختار اثنين من خمسة أبناء، […]