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?
31st August 2015 Bangalore, India
Innovations for a clean water
Declining water quality is a global issue. At a time when the global population is growing and industrial and agricultural activities grow, plus the impact of climate change, clean water is become scarcer globally. While this is not new phenomena, I was amazed at the innovations that are being developed by researchers in UK, India, […]
28th August 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
My visit to Veliky Novgorod
One of the really interesting parts of my job as Consul General in the North West Federal District of Russia is that I get to visit many fascinating places filled with rich history. It’s a very large and diverse geographical area with a population of around 13.6 million. St Petersburg is the largest city and […]
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 […]
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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 […]
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26th August 2015 Toronto, Canada
Canadian science news: 17-23 August 2015
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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 […]