26th February 2026
Different Memories, Shared Futures: Why Inclusive Remembrance Matters for Serbia and the Region
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
22nd December 2025
Continuing to grow the global alliance for women and girls
17th December 2025
MAKING LIFE SAFER, FOR EVERYONE
10th October 2014 Budapest, Hungary
British Bobbies on the beat at Sziget Festival
Guest blog by Police Sergeant Natalie RANAHAN and Police Constable Steve WARDLE, British Bobbies visiting the Sziget Festival, organised by the Hungarian Police and the British Embassy. As police officers, both of us have a number of years experience within the Operations Department and in particular Support Group. This involves a variety of duties including the policing […]
Read more on British Bobbies on the beat at Sziget Festival | Reply
10th October 2014 Sofia, Bulgaria
Sofia in 1987 and 1988
by Hazel Onn Hazel Onn lived in Bulgaria in the late 1980s when her husband Tony was Head of Security at British Embassy Sofia. Hazel kept many good memories of her time in Bulgaria, including of their diplomatic flat on Juliot Currie Str., Kuchia, the dog of their Russian neighbours, how once she was absolutely covered head […]
10th October 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Media should be responsible as well as free
I have on many occasions made the point that a free media is an important part of a functioning society – it can help free flow of information and ideas, to educate its audience, to hold those in power to account in areas such as exposing corruption scandals. But in each society there is a balance […]
Read more on Media should be responsible as well as free | Reply (13)
10th October 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Indian Ocean Rim Association ministers meet in Perth
The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is not one of the most well known international regional groupings. But it is of growing significance. The 20 countries who flank the world’s third largest ocean represent more than a quarter of the world’s population, and include African, Arab and Asian nations. Around half the world’s cargo ships and two thirds […]
Read more on Indian Ocean Rim Association ministers meet in Perth | Reply
10th October 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
How bad is corruption in Turkey? (Part 2)
Back in February 2013 I wrote a blog called “How bad is corruption in Turkey?” It noted that in the latest Transparency International Corruption Index, published in December 2012, Turkey had improved its ranking by 7 places to 54th place, putting it ahead of some EU countries. In December 2013, Transparency International produced its latest […]
Read more on How bad is corruption in Turkey? (Part 2) | Reply
9th October 2014 Washington DC, USA
Battles historic and partnerships enduring
The P-51 Mustang was an iconic fighter aircraft in US combat service during the 1940s and 1950s during the Second World War, and the Korean War. A global phenomenon, it was also pressed into service by allies including Australia, South Africa, the Republic of Korea, France and the Netherlands. It was first flown operationally by […]
Read more on Battles historic and partnerships enduring | Reply
9th October 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Elections: Leadership and moderation please
I recently visited Srebrenica with a group of visitors as part of a UK Government-funded project which aims to learn the lessons of Europe’s only genocide since the Second World War, and to apply them to improving relationships between diverse communities in the UK. During the visit, I met a number of mothers who had […]
Read more on Elections: Leadership and moderation please | Reply (4)
9th October 2014 Sana’a, Yemen
GIRLS TOGETHER
Friday the 11th of October is International Day of the Girl and an opportunity to reflect on the challenges that girls all over the world still face every day. In July of this year, the UK and UNICEF sponsored Girl Summit, an event held in a school in London which aimed to galvanise a global […]
9th October 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
ISS helping children and families worldwide
Problems with families and children are often even more complicated when there is a transnational element. Our consular teams regularly hear heart-wrenching stories about child abductions and custody disputes which may result in a child living on the other side of the world from one of its parents. International Social Service (ISS) is an impressive NGO that […]
Read more on ISS helping children and families worldwide | Reply
8th October 2014 Toronto, Canada
International Astronautical Congress 2014
The Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute hosted the 65th International Astronautical Congress 2014 last week, packing thousands of attendees into the Metro Toronto Convention Centre for one of the world’s premier space events. The UK was very well-represented, with the UK Space Agency staking out a large booth on the exhibition floor and almost 100 […]
Read more on International Astronautical Congress 2014 | Reply