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
14th August 2015 Islamabad, Pakistan
The glass is half full
The first week back from a holiday brings a fresh perspective and a new impetus to your work. While of course the day-to-day business of diplomacy goes on – as witnessed by the successful visit to Pakistan by the Secretary of State for Defence, Michael Fallon – it is a chance to step back and […]
14th August 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Culture matters: Scottish-Libyan filmmaking collaboration
One of the great pleasures of working in Switzerland is the opportunity to meet and talk with creative people who mix and mingle at this international cultural crossroads. It is an extra privilege that so many of these talented individuals come from the UK. This week I have been able to see some of the fruits […]
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14th August 2015 Dublin, Ireland
Operation ‘Trzeci Most in 1944’
Last Sunday afternoon I found myself in the middle of a field in the middle of rural Poland in the mid-afternoon sun. Want to know why? Let me explain… The Armia Krajowa (Home Army) was responsible for many vitally important acts of espionage and intelligence gathering during WW2. This particular story concerns the hugely important […]
13th August 2015 Toronto, Canada
DementiaHack2015: Solving the challenges of living with dementia
Few people underestimate the scale of the challenge presented by dementia. The latest numbers are so large and terrifying that they start to lose meaning: 44 million people living with dementia worldwide, double this amount by 2030; a societal cost of £26 billion in England, treble this by 2030; 25 % of hospital beds in […]
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12th August 2015 Chevening, UK
How can the youth of today shape the world of tomorrow
In a world full of social, political, and economic challenges that transcend geographic boundaries, the international community requires new and diverse perspectives to resolve urgent global issues. The 193 member states of the United Nations recently came to a consensus on 17 sustainable development goals that the international community will commit to tackling by 2030. […]
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12th August 2015 London, UK
Youth to make the change: A fresh perspective to UK Foreign Policy
Taking a selfie on stage at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) leadership conference in 2015 left us thinking perhaps we weren’t that photogenic! But, what we were was successful. After months of rehearsals, planning and speaking with some of the most senior voices across the office we had delivered a high impact, fun, energetic […]
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12th August 2015 Oslo, Norway
Pluto, Paris and new horizons for our climate on Planet Earth
By HM Ambassador Sarah Gillett The space probe “New Horizons” recently reached the edge of our solar system, after a journey of 4.7 billion kilometres to Pluto. I was amongst the many following with admiration and excitement the “call home message”, the imagery, and the promise of fascinating extensions to our knowledge of the universe. […]
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12th August 2015 New Delhi, India
Remembering Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
Former President of India, Scientist extraordinaire, enthusiastic professor and writer, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam passed away on 27th July 2015 in Shillong, Meghalaya where he was to deliver a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Shillong. Popularly known as the ‘People’s President’, Dr Kalam worked as a Scientist at Defence Research and Development […]
12th August 2015 New Delhi, India
Oliver Letwin: London committed in financing India’s journey to becoming an economic power
Investment, infrastructure, smart cities, bonds and financial services were the top agendas for Cabinet Minister and Duchy of Lancaster, Oliver Letwin’s three day visit to India from 27-29th July. Mr. Letwin’s visit was the first visit by a British minister to India after the polls in the UK in May. Mr. Letwin carried the message […]
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12th August 2015 Canberra, Australia
How’s that?
The term “cricket tragic” is often heard in Australia. I consider myself to be more of a cricket melodramatic – basically a tragic, but with the occasional bout of euphoria thrown in. One such bout took place last week. Ask my wife. Last month we celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary. The wedding took place on […]