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
4th December 2013 Mumbai, India
Interview with the Director of the Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence at the University of York
I caught up with Prof. James Clark, from the Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence (GCCE) in York, when he was in New Delhi earlier this week (December 2-3, 2013). He was here to participate in the International Workshop on Green Initiatives in Energy, Environment and Health (IWGIEEH) jointly organised by the Green Chemistry Network Centre, […]
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4th December 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Downton Abbey Comes to Za’atri
What does the star of a “posh soap” have to do with a refugee camp in Jordan? A lot. Michelle Dockery, who plays Lady Mary in the popular British drama series Downton Abbey visited Za’atri last month. In the show she plays an aloof and disdainful aristocrat; in reality she is extremely sensitive and anxious […]
3rd December 2013 Toronto, Canada
Canadian science news: 25 November-1 December 2013
[View the story ” Canadian science news: 25 November-1 December 2013″ on Storify]
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3rd December 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
A pie for shepherds
“And, most of all, the thing I liked about my time in England was shepherd’s pie!” She beamed at me as we stood in the middle of the crowded hall in Almaty three weeks ago, surrounded by scurrying students clutching clipboards and asking probing questions of the 40 or so UK universities and colleges who […]
3rd December 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
A GREAT British Science Day at Konserthuset this Friday
This Friday, December 6 at Konserthuset, the British Embassy in Stockholm will host a series of exciting events under the banner “Research & Innovation is GREAT”. We have world class scientists, entrepreneurs and experts talking about invention, discovery and innovation. It should be fascinating and fun. We’d love you to be part of it. You […]
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3rd December 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Refuge
There is limited, reliable data on it. It takes many forms, and isn’t necessarily physical. And it’s closer to us than we think. It’s also easy to talk about, but very difficult to deal with. I’m referring to gender violence, or as we tend to know it in Britain: domestic violence. This is the violence […]
3rd December 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Terribly British Motor Day
On the shores of Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin, hundreds of highly polished classic British cars glinted in the sunshine, as far as the eye could see. Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Aston Martin, MG, Triumph and some marques I only dimly remembered. It was the annual gathering of classic car clubs from the ACT and New South […]
2nd December 2013 Havana, Cuba
Actually, that’s not quite right…
As I travel around Cuba talking to people about the United Kingdom, I am constantly surprised by how little many Cubans really know about my country. This blog is an attempt to put that right. Here are nine things you probably don’t know about the UK: 1. There is free education in the UK. The large […]
2nd December 2013 Mogadishu, Somalia
Giving hope to the poor and the vulnerable
As part of our support to the 16 days of activism campaign, I have invited some of our partners to share their stories. Abdisalan Buthul Shurie is a Programme Advisor at the Somali Aid Foundation (SAF). The organisation provides support to communities in Lower Juba across a range of issues including health, hygiene, and gender-based […]
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2nd December 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Supersensory Perception
The United Nations has made 3 December International Day for Persons with Disabilities. The theme this year is “Break Barriers, Open Doors: for an inclusive society and development for all”. It’s been a strong theme in the relationship between Britain and Romania, with many organisations working together to improve the services available to people with […]