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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
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2nd December 2025
In cybersecurity, there are no limits – only new voices ready to lead
14th October 2025
Lost and Found (but mostly lost)
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 […]
1st December 2013 Sana’a, Yemen
نوفمبر30 – أوَان التأمّل
يوافق اليوم السبت 30 نوفمبر الذكرى السادسة والأربعون لاستقلال جنوب اليمن من بريطانيا. بعد زيارتي القريبة لمدينة عدن، تأثرت بقصة في الإعلام عن حضوري لفعالية الكشف عن تمثال الملكة فيكتوريا الموجود في حدائق فيكتوريا بعدن وذلك عقب عمليات تنظيفه وتجديده. للأسف فإن هذا الخبر بعيد كل بعد عن الصحة ولكنه ذكرني بالمشاعر الدافئة التي يحملها […]
1st December 2013 Brasilia, Brazil
World AIDS Day: low numbers and high ambitions
One of the things we can be proud of our countries, Brazil and UK, is the quantity and quality of data available regarding HIV/AIDS. In both cases, there are timely statistics and impressive analysis. This is a very good thing – good and reliable data have led us to well targeted and effective policy. I am Brazilian and […]
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30th November 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
St Andrew’s Day
Today is St Andrew’s day, Scotland’s national day. By this time next year a referendum will have taken place on whether Scotland should become independent. The UK Government firmly believes that it is for people in Scotland to decide their own future through democratic debate and a referendum in September 2014. This is a good […]
29th November 2013 Sana’a, Yemen
November 30 – a day to reflect
Today, November 30, marks the 46th anniversary of the independence of the southern part of Yemen from Britain. Following my recent visit to Aden, I was touched by a story in the media reporting that I would be attending the unveiling of the cleaned and refurbished statue of Queen Victoria which sits in the Victoria Gardens […]
29th November 2013 Brasilia, Brazil
Dress the part – guest blog by Cecilia Bijos
You normally read about Haiti and you automatically feel sorry for its people; natural disasters, poverty, racial discord and political instability have plagued the small country throughout its history. After the riot that took place in 2000, the country received aid from different countries and, when UN established MINUSTAH (UN Stability Mission in Haiti), Port […]
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29th November 2013 Ottawa, Canada
Promoting UK development science in Canada
Last week we had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Andrée Carter, Director of the UK Collaboration for Development Science (UKCDS) to Canada. She came at our invitation, to participate in a panel entitled: The world in 2020: Three questions for internationalised science, at the Canadian Science Policy Conference (CSPC), held in Toronto. She preceded her visit with a short […]
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