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
30th June 2015 Tripoli, Libya
For the Libyan People
I spent most of the first week in my new job as British Ambassador to Libya in Skhirat, Morocco. It was a good chance to meet and get to know the members of the Libyan Political Dialogue. Before arriving in Tunis I concentrated on trying to get an understanding of Libya. If you want to […]
30th June 2015 Mumbai, India
Interview with Andrew Davidson, UK Intellectual Property Office
Andrew Davidson, Head of Global Cooperation and Development with the UK Intellectual Property Office visited India from 01-05 June. He met with several stakeholders from the academia, government and industry. I caught up with him to discuss the visit. Read on! What brings you to India? I supported conferences organised by the European Patent Office […]
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30th June 2015 Canberra, Australia
Magna Carta: then and now
Over the last two weeks, I’ve taken part in a number of events to mark the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. My personal highlight was undoubtedly introducing Prime Minister Tony Abbott to an audience of over 300 people in Parliament’s Great Hall, to deliver the British High Commission’s annual Magna Carta lecture. As I said […]
29th June 2015 Bangkok, Thailand
4 Ways in which the UK is helping to grow Prosperity in Thailand
The Southeast Asia Prosperity Fund recently awarded one-year grants, to four projects in Thailand to implementing agencies that work in the area of improving transparency in Thai public procurement procedure and in business sector, assisting the Thai government to achieve ambitious goals on climate change, and enhancing energy security in Thailand. I will be blogging about […]
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29th June 2015 Geneva, Switzerland
Nessun Dorma
It’s been a tiring week. The middle part of the Council session is always hectic as delegates scramble to finalise the version of the resolutions that they want to table by Thursday’s deadline. But my sleep levels have taken a heavier battering than normal thanks to the Women’s World Cup, taking place in Canada’s far-off […]
26th June 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
On yer bike
Two weeks ago I found myself cycling in a part of Minsk I hadn’t visited before. I was in Loshitsa Park cycling along the cycle lanes and listening to a guide describe the park’s varied history. I was one of many taking part in an event about climate change organised by my colleagues in the […]
26th June 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Crimean Tatars: suppression, intimidation, fear and distrust
A country illegally uses military force to seize the territory of a neighbouring country despite having signed treaties recognising, and promising to respect, that country’s territorial integrity. Once in de facto control, the new authorities systematically suppress and intimidate an important ethnic minority with strong links to Turkey. It’s happening right here in Europe. […]
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26th June 2015 Mumbai, India
Global challenges, affordable solutions
Ever wondered what happens when medicine, research and innovative technologies come together? One result is mind-blowing breakthroughs and techniques that better help the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. With this in mind we brought together experts from India and the UK to discuss the potential for collaborative partnerships in affordable medical technologies. We held joint […]
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25th June 2015 Skopje, North Macedonia
Events and memories – Farewell from Christine
I leave Macedonia today after a fascinating three years as Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Skopje. There have been many developments across the political and economic spectrum during that time. I have had the pleasure of working with a dynamic team within this Embassy, and developed our cooperation in the fields […]
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24th June 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Helsinki forty years on
Confrontation across ideological fault lines. Division in Europe. Pessimism about international affairs. You might think I am referring to today’s international situation. But in fact I would like you to cast your mind back forty years to 1975 and the Cold War. Under the cloud of mutually assured destruction, Europe and the wider world needed […]