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
9th August 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
HIGH TECH AND TRADITIONAL DIPLOMACY
As you may have seen Carl Bildt invited William Hague to visit Stockholm for talks later this month, via Twitter today. Between them they have over 400,000 twitter followers and have sent over 8000 tweets. But they also value face-to-face contact, good old-fashioned, as well as high-tech, communication. So it’s excellent the Foreign Secretary’s coming […]
9th August 2013 Cape Town, South Africa
Marking National Women’s Day in South Africa
Guest blog, written by Sarah Dunn, Head of DfID Southern Africa. On National Women’s Day, I’m reminded of how many women leaders I have as colleagues, including the British High Commissioner, Dame Nicola Brewer and her successor Judith MacGregor. In a recent meeting with South African colleagues, our counterpart commented on how “empowered” our delegation […]
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8th August 2013 Toronto, Canada
Canadian science news: 29 July-4 August 2013
[View the story “Canadian science news: 29 July-4 August 2013” on Storify]
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8th August 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE: MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH CONTRACTS FOR DIFFERENCE
I blogged on 4 July about the Government’s proposals for Electricity Market Reform. It sounds, and is, quite technical, but it’s also an important part of stimulating new investment in the UK’s energy sector and meeting our climate change targets. Part of the deal to attract investment is to have formal agreements which guarantee the […]
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8th August 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Promoting Mutual Respect
The following is a guest blog by Steve Townsend, Deputy Head of Mission. Pope Francis has signed the Holy See’s traditional message to the Muslims around the world who are celebrating the Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan. The theme of his message is Promoting Mutual Respect through Education, and in it the Pope calls […]
7th August 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
I don’t have a great deal in common with Lady Thatcher, but my father was also a grocer. Growing up in Scotland in the early 70’s, I have vague memories of what now seems a very old-fashioned grocer’s shop, as far removed from today’s Waitroses and ICAs, as a Ford Model T is from a […]
7th August 2013 New Delhi, India
UK-India Collaboration – Focus: role of big business and academic R&D collaboration to support in international innovation
Continuing our series of guest blogs from our visitors, here’s a blog from Dr Nick Rousseau, Head of EU and International Innovation Policy within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills , UK about his visit to India few weeks ago.. My role in the UK Government’s Innovation Directorate is to look at how we […]
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7th August 2013 Sana’a, Yemen
A blessed – and safe – Eid to all
Most readers of this will be aware that we have had to withdraw our Embassy staff from Sanaa until after the Eid, because of security concerns which are now very much in the public eye. For me it is a genuine matter of regret, having spent my first weeks in Yemen enjoying true Yemeni friendship […]
7th August 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Talking Rubbish
Travel broadens the mind. By visiting different countries you can make comparisons and learn about how those countries handle big issues. You can also start to appreciate and understand your own country better. One issue which hits visitors abroad is the way a country handles rubbish. I have just returned after two weeks on […]
5th August 2013 Paris, France
Tips for Britons on holidays in France this summer
We are now in the summer holiday season, and an amazing 17 million British people come to France every year. We want everyone to have a happy, successful, relaxing holiday. And for that there are one or two tips which I would offer to everyone planning a holiday in France this summer.
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