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
2nd May 2013 Dodoma, Tanzania
Case study: Tanzania
I grew up surrounded by people who had everything they required to lift themselves and their communities out of poverty. Despite this, they and their communities remained deep seated in abstract poverty. I felt that becoming a journalist would help in some way: it would make me an agent of change by bringing their stories […]
2nd May 2013 Hanoi, Vietnam
Case study: Vietnam
In 1988, when Dr Ha Si Phu wrote a think-piece entitled “a shared journey of the intellect” it was subsequently photocopied and passed from hand to hand by his closest associates. This piece, which exposed flaws in Marxist-Leninist theory, was well received by intellectuals and the wider public at that time. Right after that, for […]
2nd May 2013 Brasilia, Brazil
Case study: Brazil
Journalists are the eyes, voice and ears of a society. When you kill a journalist you contribute to creating a blind, mute and deaf community, unable to understand the environment around it. The killing of journalists is the most severe aggression towards freedom of expression worldwide. Every person has the right to knowledge. Those who […]
2nd May 2013 London, UK
World Press Freedom Day: Storify
The Foreign Office’s Storify on World Press Freedom Day 2013. [View the story “World Press Freedom Day” on Storify]
1st May 2013 Paris, France
Working with France on its Defence White Paper
We’ve just had the publication of the French White Paper on defence and security, the “Livre blanc”. It’s been a great privilege for me to be part of the commission that was put together to advise the Government on writing this White Paper.
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1st May 2013 New Delhi, India
A tribute to Professor Sanjay Biswas
It was with great sadness that the SIN team learnt of the passing of Professor Sanjay Biswas over the weekend. He was a great friend to the team, and a tireless advocate for Indo-UK research collaboration. He was a truly special person, and we will miss him. As people got in touch to share their […]
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1st May 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Syrian Refugees in Jordan
When people outside Jordan think about the Syrian refugees who have entered the country in the last 2 years, they usually think about the big camp in Za’atri. They have seen it on the news and from the numerous high-profile visitors who have been there. Headlines like “Record Numbers of Syrians Cross to Za’atri” encourage the perception […]
30th April 2013 Washington DC, USA
Bienvenido a Miami!
Welcome to Miami! There aren’t many other US cities I could see myself living in. I was fortunate to land my job here in DC, New York would have been great – in my twenties, Chicago and Boston are too cold for me and although I love the West Coast, it feels very far from […]
30th April 2013 Washington DC, USA
Talking Somalia in Mogadishu, London and… Columbus, Ohio
Last week I went to Columbus to talk to representatives of the 50,000 or so Somali diaspora community living in Ohio. It was hosted at a community learning centre set up to help Somali youths succeed in school. It seems to be working as I was told growing numbers are going to university. I set […]
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30th April 2013 London, UK
Dawn Ceremony for ANZAC Day 2013
I never used to be a “morning person”. At university, I could stay up until dawn (studying!), but then I had to sleep for 24 hours. Here in Brunei my body clock has changed completely. I need to get the boys to school by 0720. So I set my alarm for 0600. But I am […]