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
1st October 2014 Paris, France
#HeforShe
The British actress Emma Watson is a UN Ambassador for women’s issues and she made her first speech at the UN a few days ago, launching a campaign on gender equality. I think she put her finger on a very important point, which is that gender equality is not a woman’s issue, it’s a man’s […]
1st October 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Scotland The Wise
Three weeks ago the Economist’s front cover pictured a drooping Union Jack with the headline: UK RIP? Fortunately the dismemberment of the United Kingdom didn’t happen. Scots voted by a 10% margin to retain the union. But it was a close run thing. If the campaign for independence had been successful, the impact of Scotland […]
1st October 2014 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Chevening Scholarship scheme marks 30th Anniversary
One of the events I always look forward to is our farewell reception to wish good luck to our latest Chevening scholar as he or she sets off for the UK to begin their studies. The Chevening scheme is the UK Government’s flagship scholarship programme. It aims to provide postgraduate students and young professionals, identified […]
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30th September 2014 Toronto, Canada
Canadian science news: 22-28 September 2014
Trouble reading this story or moving through pages? Check it out on Storify here: https://storify.com/SINCanada/canadian-science-news-22-28-september-2014 [View the story ” Canadian science news: 22-28 September 2014″ on Storify]
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30th September 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The Holy See and the Commonwealth
The Commonwealth and the Holy See represent the two largest soft power networks in the world today. The Commonwealth with its 53 countries, 2.2bn citizens, and common values as expressed in its Charter focused on democracy, equitable economic development, good governance, young people, human rights, and social progress. The Holy See as the central governance of […]
30th September 2014 Colombo, Sri Lanka
Looking over my shoulder
A couple of weeks ago, I went on an official trip to the East. Starting in Arugam Bay, we drove North all the way to Trincomalee, through Pottuvil, Oluvil, Kalmunai and Batticaloa. I met with government and political interlocutors, humanitarian workers and civil society organisations, and visited temples, beaches and hospitals. There was nothing controversial […]
30th September 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
British stars rock Grand Final crowd
It’s not unusual for the AFL Grand Final to attract a big name musician to entertain the almost 100,000 crowd. But it was the first time they’d had Tom Jones. Together with Ed Sheeran, the veteran star and one of the hottest current British talents wowed the fans before and after the game. The match […]
29th September 2014 Bangalore, India
Joining for global health
Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of spending two days listening to top experts from UK and India discuss the challenges of drug discovery and challenges faced by patients, policy makers and researchers due to microbes that have become resistant to antibiotics. We had a large UK research delegation in Bangalore to participate in […]
29th September 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Bulgaria’s Elections: Different This Time?
Last week, I spent a day on the road following the election campaign and various candidates, and will do the same this week. My colleagues in the Embassy have done likewise. It’s a great way to see politicians up close dealing with real people and their real concerns, before they get pulled back into Sofia […]
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28th September 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Mashrouy is a winner with young Sudanese!
Last year one of the British Embasssy’s most successful and high profile projects was Mashrouy: the TV programme to help identify and support young Sudanese entrepreneurs. It has been described as a cross between the hit BBC shows “Dragon’s Den” and “The Apprentice”. There was huge interest from Sudanese business people, some great ideas for […]
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