17th July 2025
Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
15th July 2025
International Day of Women in Diplomacy: UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls visit to Geneva
1st May 2025
The UN Commission on the Status of Women: My first visit as UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls
28th November 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Investing in the future: British Embassy Fellowship Programme
People in Bosnia and Herzegovina like to complain about politics. It’s almost a national sport, on a par with football, basketball or handball. Some of these criticisms are justified; some aren’t. But what is not always sufficiently recognised is that it’s not just up to the politicians to resolve the country’s problems. It’s the same […]
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28th November 2014 Budapest, Hungary
Là Naomh Aindrea!
Guest blog by Douglas Arnott, Chairman of the Robert Burns International Foundation in Hungary. Before you reach for a handy online dictionary, this is what Scots around the world celebrate each year on 30 November, St. Andrew’s Day! Named not surprisingly after the patron saint of Scotland, you may nevertheless be surprised to learn that […]
28th November 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Saluting St Andrew’s Day in Australia
We’re flying the Scottish Saltire at the High Commission today for St Andrew’s Day, as we do with the flags of the other nations that comprise the rich tapestry of the United Kingdom on their national days. Around Australia my colleagues are attending various events hosted by local Scottish societies at this time. Last week […]
27th November 2014 Calgary, Canada
UK & Canada Continue to Move Ahead Together on Carbon Capture & Storage
Canada shares the UK’s view on the importance of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in reducing GHG emissions, and has invested heavily. As coal and oil & gas continue to be strongly used here, as well as in much of the world, CCS is a key technology in the mix of approaches to mitigate global […]
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27th November 2014 London, UK
Reviewing the digital work of our embassies
We recently conducted a review of how our embassies are using digital. This blog explains why and how we run that review. The next blog looks at the findings. With a network of more than 200 posts (embassies, high commissions, consulates etc) across the globe, all using digital in one way or another, it can […]
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27th November 2014 Islamabad, Pakistan
The shame of violence against women
The 16 Days of Activism to Stop Violence Against Women, began from 25 November. According to a 2011 poll of experts by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, Pakistan is the third most dangerous country for women in the world. More than 1,000 women and girls are murdered in honour killings every year. 90 percent of Pakistani […]
27th November 2014 Jerusalem, Israel
There is a Future, in Jerusalem, for Palestinians
Last month one of my friends took me on a tour of the Old City with my son. We jostled with the crowds shopping at Damascus Gate. We ate kaek. We smelt the pungent spices and coffee. We felt humbled by the sight of Christian, Muslim and Jewish worshippers heading towards their holy sites. Jerusalem […]
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27th November 2014 New Delhi, India
Giving wings to talent: Opportunities for doctoral students in the UK to visit India
Historically, India has always been a major exporter of international students, but these days the country is also becoming an attractive destination for overseas study. As one of the five swiftly developing BRICS countries (along with Brazil, Russia and China) India has begun to emerge as an advanced centre for modern commerce, research and innovation. […]
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27th November 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
British Literary Societies in Sydney
British literature is alive and flourishing in New South Wales. I hosted the annual reception for the Dylan Thomas Society at the Consul General’s Residence in Sydney on Friday. It is a special year for them as it is the Centenary of the Welsh poet’s birth. There are many events taking place in Wales and […]
26th November 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Tunisia: Top of the Class?
Last week I visited Tunisia for a conference. The preparations for last weekend’s Presidential elections were in full swing. As the taxi driver who drove me from the airport said: “We are proud to be Tunisians: top of the Arab Spring Class of 2011.” Sunday’s vote was indeed the first freely contested Presidential election in […]