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
10th July 2014 Sofia, Bulgaria
Our House on 69 Oborishte Street
by Jane Burner Jane Burner lived in Bulgaria between 1970-1972 and 1984-1987 when her husband Alan Burner was 3rd Secretary and Deputy Head of Mission respectively at the British Embassy in Sofia. Many foreign diplomats and their families lived in the house on 69 Oborishte Street. During our second posting in Bulgaria, we lived in a house not […]
10th July 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Westminster Abbey honours Australia’s first Governor
We assembled for a spectacular occasion in Westminster Abbey this week to celebrate Admiral Arthur Phillip RN, Captain of the First Fleet, and first governor of New South Wales. The Duke of Edinburgh inaugurated a plaque in Phillip’s honour in the central aisle of the Abbey, with cabinet ministers from both countries, the current Governors […]
Read more on Westminster Abbey honours Australia’s first Governor | Reply
10th July 2014 New Delhi, India
Medical research in Puducherry
Set on the outskirts of Puducherry, the former French colony which retains a significant Gallic flavour and hosts some seriously warm weather at this time of year, is the Jawaharal Nehru Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER). I visited the institute earlier in the month with my colleague, Vimal Subramanian, to understand what […]
9th July 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
A Day in Londongrad
Every so often Belarusians comment to me that London attracts Russians. The British media regularly report on their activities. The Guardian newspaper recently stated that there are 150,000 Russians living in “Moscow-on-Thames”. And two of our newspapers – the Independent and the London Evening Standard are owned by a Russian. I spent a day in London last week at meetings on […]
9th July 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Ramadan: A Time to Reflect
The pace and rhythm of life in Amman has changed now that we are in Ramadan. Many non-Muslims prefer to take their holidays at this time. But just as Muslims are fasting to achieve greater self-awareness, so others can use this month to reflect. Commenting on religion is risky, so a diplomat should tread with […]
9th July 2014 Bucharest, Romania
Good Bye and Thank you Romania
Peter Thomas served as Head of the Political Section at the British Embassy in Bucharest from June 2009 – June 2014. On leaving Bucharest, he shared some of his thoughts regarding the five years he spent in Romania. At 17:10 on 30 June, our British Airways flight took off from Otopeni, bringing to a close […]
8th July 2014 Houston, USA
Antimicrobial Resistance: A Global Challenge
The following is a guest post by Patrick Hogan, intern at the British Consulate General in Houston. Patrick is a master’s student at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. While there are many miracles of medicine that have allowed us to live longer, healthier lives, the real hero of […]
Read more on Antimicrobial Resistance: A Global Challenge | Reply (3)
8th July 2014 London, UK
Service transformation at the Foreign Office
The Digital Transformation Unit (DTU) was set up to use Digital technology to transform the Foreign Office in three ways: firstly in communications, secondly in policy, and thirdly the area in which I work, in the services which the Foreign Office offers the public. It’s quite possible to go through your whole life without using […]
Read more on Service transformation at the Foreign Office | Reply
8th July 2014 Toronto, Canada
Canadian science news: 30 June-6 July 2014
Trouble reading this story or moving through pages? Check it out on Storify here: https://storify.com/SINCanada/canadian-science-news-30-june-6-july-2014 [View the story ” Canadian science news: 30 June-6 July 2014″ on Storify]
Read more on Canadian science news: 30 June-6 July 2014 | Reply
7th July 2014 Islamabad, Pakistan
Improving trade is the key to Pakistan’s prosperity
When I first arrived in Pakistan, I said that strengthening trade and investment between the UK and Pakistan is my top priority. British Prime Minister Cameron and Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif, in their last meeting in London, pledged to increase bilateral trade and investment between our two countries to £3 billion by the end of […]
Read more on Improving trade is the key to Pakistan’s prosperity | Reply