17th December 2025
MAKING LIFE SAFER, FOR EVERYONE
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
9th December 2025
Why We Need Data, Courage, and Community
2nd December 2025
In cybersecurity, there are no limits – only new voices ready to lead
18th December 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Christians in the Middle East: A Royal and Government Response
The Religious Freedom Project of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown University organised an important conference in Rome last week on the theme of ‘Christianity and Freedom’. A number of distinguished British academics took part. One of the questions asked was what more are governments doing to stop religious persecution […]
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18th December 2013 Paris, France
My memories of 2013
This Christmas time I’ve been thinking about what was achieved in 2013 and what we have to look forward to in 2014. When I look back at 2013, it was a bumper year for UK-French relations.
18th December 2013 Science and Innovation Network
Indo-UK Design Escapades
I have been a ‘SIN’ner for merely two months but I am consciously obligated to say that I have had the most enriching experience in this short span of time. Just as I finished ‘Innovation’ week it was time to prepare for and welcome the Design Delegation team i.e. Mr John Mathers, CEO, Design Council, Mr […]
18th December 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The weapon of education
Nelson Mandela once said: Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” An inspirational phrase. But how can people use this weapon? And what is the battle they are fighting? The enemy is unemployment. The way for the foot soldiers leaving education to sharpen their swords and be prepared for […]
17th December 2013 Ottawa, Canada
The anatomy of an export action plan
A few weeks ago I attended Trade Minister Ed Fast’s announcement of the Canadian government’s Global Markets Action Plan. Reading through the document, I was struck by the parallels to the UK’s approach to increasing exports…
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17th December 2013 Brasilia, Brazil
The Natural History Museum’s engagement with Brazil
The following is a guest post by Dr. Michael Dixon. When I first visited Brazil over two years ago as part of a UKTI Creative Industries Trade Mission, I was struck by the breadth of opportunities for the Natural History Museum. So I recently visited the country again and met with government ministries, research funders, […]
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16th December 2013 Washington DC, USA
Governing under the influence (of science)
In November, I was able to spend some time with Professor David Cope of Cambridge University – the former Director of the UK’s Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) – while he was at the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) in Washington. In his time at GAO, David has been working with the Chief […]
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16th December 2013 Washington DC, USA
The Philippines Still Needs Our Help
Washington truly epitomises the holiday spirit. It’s my first holiday season here, and I’m seeing firsthand the spirit of giving across the city. Bell-ringers collecting for the homeless. Toy drives in offices all across town, including our own. Washingtonians’ generosity is making an impact from local neighbourhoods to the far side of the globe. This […]
16th December 2013 Havana, Cuba
¡Vaya bien Madiba!
Me sentí muy honrado al ser invitado en representación de Europa, a intervenir en el homenaje del gobierno cubano a Nelson Mandela que tuvo lugar el 11 de diciembre. A continuación les adjunto la versión completa de mi discurso. En febrero de 1990 después de veinte y siete largos años de cárcel, Nelson Mandela fue […]
16th December 2013 Madrid, Spain
Being in Benidorm, and being in “Benidorm”
On a recent trip to our Consulate in Alicante I was able to squeeze in a one night stay in Benidorm. Alicante is very important to us given the high numbers of British nationals who live and holiday there. In fact, a quarter of the 14 million Brits who come to Spain for their holidays […]
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