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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
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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
21st August 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Bienvenida al Bebé Real
Cuando estas a un largo camino lejos de casa, eventos como el nacimiento de Su Majestad Real el Príncipe Jorge pueden llegar a tener un significado especial. Muchas personas han felicitado a la Embajada por el nacimiento que sentimos que debíamos hacer algo para celebrar esta feliz llegada. De hecho, fue algo más que solo […]
21st August 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Asuntos globales, intereses locales
Recientemente tuve el placer de estar en Londres por la visita del Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores, Fernando Carrera. Su agenda, estuvo compuesta por varios temas, desde la política de drogas hasta el comercio internacional de azúcar. Dentro de ello, quiero resaltar un tema en particular que discutió con el Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores William Hague […]
21st August 2013 Bangalore, India
Startup Showcase Day in London: Be there!
The UK is considered as the digital technology capital of Europe. From the World Wide Web to the micro-computer, UK has been at the forefront of technological innovations, helping economic growth and promoting social change. The SIN team works closely with UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) on digital innovations. Merlin Rory Picardo, who is the lead […]
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21st August 2013 Tashkent, Uzbekistan
A Lost City
On Sunday I set off out of Tashkent to find the ancient city of Kanka, which the UNESCO website describes as “unique as a monument of history and human culture and the town-planning history of Uzbekistan, and included in the list of ten great sites of ancient cities of Central Asia”. It isn’t really a […]
21st August 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
World Humanitarian Day: So What?
Monday 19 August was World Humanitarian Day. Such days – which mark important international themes – occur regularly. But few can be as relevant and important this year given the severe refugee crisis caused by the tragic violence in Syria. There are now almost 2 million Syrians – 10% of the population – in neighbouring […]
20th August 2013 Havana, Cuba
My 1st birthday!
It’s exactly a year to the day since I arrived in Havana. When I stepped off the plane 365 days’ ago, it was my first time in Cuba, I knew a little but not a lot about the country and, after a recent posting in Mozambique, my Spanish had a very Portuguese twang. A year later and I […]
20th August 2013 Windhoek, Namibia
Guest Blog by 2012/13 Namibian Chevening scholar Jennifer Kandjii
My experience as a Chevening Scholar: From Osire to London By: Jennifer Kandjii A famous quote by Saint Augustin states that ‘the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.’ This quote among others on travelling, exposure and in general academia has been the driving force in my life. […]
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20th August 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Why Turkey can be confident
I started work in Turkey in September 2012 as Consul-General responsible for Trade and Investment with Turkey, South Caucasus and Central Asia. Since then I’ve been regularly impressed by this wonderful, welcoming country. Turks are famed for their hospitality. But they should be famous too for their hard work; business acumen; passion; cuisine; and unparalleled […]
19th August 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Wetting the baby’s head
When you are a long way from home historic events like the birth of HRH Prince George can take on a particularly special meaning. So many people have congratulated the Embassy for the birth that we felt we should do something to celebrate the happy arrival. In fact it was more than just the Embassy […]
19th August 2013 Kingston, Jamaica
“There is nothing wrong with Jamaica that cannot be fixed by what is right with Jamaica.”
I was struck by these words in the Independence Day message of the Governor General of Jamaica , Sir Patrick Allen. I had the honour of calling on Sir Patrick a few days later and asked him about this. He told me about the many examples of untapped excellence, skill, enthusiasm and goodwill which he […]
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