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
13th November 2014 Brasilia, Brazil
Fighting corruption in Brisbane
This weekend, on 15-16 November, heads of government from 19 countries and the EU will meet in Brisbane, Australia for the G20 Leaders’ Summit. This gathering of the ‘Group of 20’, the world’s major developed and emerging economies, took on force after the Global Financial Crisis and is now arguably the most important global forum […]
13th November 2014 Toronto, Canada
Canadian science news: 3-9 November 2014
Trouble reading this story or moving through pages? Check it out on Storify here: https://storify.com/SINCanada/canadian-science-news-3-9-november-2014 [View the story “Canadian science news: 3-9 November 2014” on Storify]
Read more on Canadian science news: 3-9 November 2014 | Reply
13th November 2014 Singapore
Supporting Financial Sector Reform and Integration in ASEAN
This guest blog is the first in a series of four by Peter Mumford, SE Asia Regional Director, Economic & Trade Policy, based at the British High Commission in Singapore. In this series, Peter shares his experience working on economic and trade policy projects in South East Asia, and also his views on where further […]
Read more on Supporting Financial Sector Reform and Integration in ASEAN | Reply
12th November 2014 Paris, France
Commemorating 11 November in London and in the North of France
I had the great good fortune to participate in two very different ceremonies to commemorate this 11th of November a hundred years after the start of the First World War.
Read more on Commemorating 11 November in London and in the North of France | Reply (1)
12th November 2014 Chevening, UK
My experience as a Chevening Scholar
The following is a blog entry from Jóhannes Eiríksson, a 2012 Chevening Scholar from Iceland. When I received the news of having been selected the 2012 Chevening Scholar in Iceland my first feelings were a mixture of enjoyment, excitement and pride. I was also deeply honoured. To be selected the single Icelandic Chevening Scholar out […]
12th November 2014 Budapest, Hungary
Turning Points – The twentieth century through 1914, 1939, 1989 and 2004. Contemporary art exhibition
Guest blog by John Timberlake, exhibiting artist at the Turning Points exhibition opening on Friday, 14 November 2014 in the Hungarian National Gallery. Turning Points is a contemporary art project created together with British Council and other foreign cultural institutes operating in Hungary. Twenty-six artists from sixteen countries from Great Britain to Israel, from Spain […]
Read more on Turning Points – The twentieth century through 1914, 1939, 1989 and 2004. Contemporary art exhibition | Reply
12th November 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The Catholic Church, the UK and the fight against Ebola
The following is a guest blog by Steve Townsend, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy to the Holy See The Ebola virus spread quickly through Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, with over 13,000 deaths so far. The disease has made the front pages across the globe, provoking concern, offers of assistance, and in […]
Read more on The Catholic Church, the UK and the fight against Ebola | Reply
12th November 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Every girl is born “Saleema”. Let every girl grow “Saleema”
A few days ago I went to an inspirational event. It was the launch of the Saleema Regional Forum. Saleema (which means intact, whole, as created by God) is the Sudanese campaign to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The event was packed with committed, energetic women. Prominent among them were Dr Samira Amin Ahmed, who […]
Read more on Every girl is born “Saleema”. Let every girl grow “Saleema” | Reply
12th November 2014 Hanoi, Vietnam
Lighting a Fire
In his essay “On Listening”, the ancient Greek writer Plutarch said about the process of education: “The mind does not require filling like a bottle. Rather, like wood, it only requires kindling, to create in it an impulse to think independently and an ardent desire for the truth.” I came across this quote when I […]
12th November 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Trashy Stories
Walking down from the Citadel to the centre of Amman a few weeks ago, we saw three boys sitting by the steps. I was showing some guests around, tourists from Britain. The boys were about 7 – 8 years old and were eating crisps and drinking juice, watching people climbing and descending the stairs that […]