3rd December 2024
RENEWING OLD TIES: THE NEW BISHOP OF LONDON
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
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25th November 2024
The climate crisis and gender-based violence
8th November 2024
Ecolabels: A Catalyst for Sustainable Food Choices?
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 […]
11th August 2015 London, UK
Peaceful and Democratic Transfers of Power: a Leaders’ Legacy
The UK has long valued democratic and accountable governance, not least in countries with which we have strong connections. As the Foreign Office and DFID Minister responsible for the UK’s relationship with Africa, one of my key tasks is to pursue this agenda in that continent. Recent scenes of discontent, strife and violence in Burundi […]
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11th August 2015 Delhi, India
Roundtable on exploring Indo-UK education cooperation and funding sources
British Deputy High Commission Chandigarh organised a roundtable meet on 4th August at Chandigarh with three clearly defined aims: increase visibility of UK excellence in Education, forge new partnerships based on mutual interest increase number of quality applications from Indian universities to UK funding sources The idea to hold this session floated from our experience […]
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11th August 2015 Colombo, Sri Lanka
Outreach in Galle
I spent this weekend on the coast near Galle, an immediate reminder of what a wonderful place Sri Lanka is to live and work. But though pleasure and leisure kept me there, it was work that took me. I’ve written recently about how our Consular team support British tourists in distress. On Friday, the team […]
10th August 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
12 STOREY NAVAL VESSEL BOOSTS TCI’S SECURITY – AND SPORTING PROWESS
A visit by a large and imposing naval vessel to most ports is a memorable sight, and the arrival of the Royal Feet Auxiliary’s “Lyme Bay” ship was no exception, dominating Grand Turk’s skyline this month. Over 12 storeys, so nearly as high as the massive cruise ships arriving here, Lyme Bay carried over 150 […]
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10th August 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The Gallipoli Symphony: Hope, Peace, Friendship and Collaboration
As the last notes die away, the audience bursts into applause. Musicians playing instruments as diverse as a ney, a didgeridoo, a Taonga Puoro (a traditional Maori wind instrument) and a harmonica, as well as a full orchestra and choir, rise to their feet. The performance of the eleven-part Gallipoli Symphony in the surroundings of the 4th […]
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6th August 2015
Modern Slavery and the UK
The UK’s Modern Slavery Act came into force on 31 July This landmark legislation brought into law some important new provisions. These include mechanisms to seize traffickers assets and use those funds to help compensate victims, prevention orders to ensure that those who pose a risk of committing modern slavery offences cannot work sectors where they will […]
5th August 2015 London, UK
FCO Human Rights Work: A New Way Forward (leaving no priorities behind)
A change of government is a golden opportunity to look at things afresh, even in an area – like human rights – where our national interest and reputation both argue for continuity, if not for doing more. The new government’s manifesto commitment to supporting universal human rights was an invitation to raise our game, not […]
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5th August 2015 Dublin, Ireland
Strengthening Europe Through Reform
What does Russian aggression in Ukraine have to do with EU reform? Well, for one both were topics of conversation during Minister for Europe David Lidington’s visit to Poland last week (to see the full interview in Polish click here ). But there is something deeper binding the two. Living and working in Warsaw I […]