3rd December 2024
RENEWING OLD TIES: THE NEW BISHOP OF LONDON
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
25th November 2024
The climate crisis and gender-based violence
8th November 2024
Ecolabels: A Catalyst for Sustainable Food Choices?
27th September 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Preventing Sexual Violence: A Bold Initiative worth Supporting
On 25 September, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague co-hosted an event at the UN General Assembly alongside Zainab Bangura, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict. He spoke about his Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI), launched in London last May. The PSVI aims to strengthen international efforts and co-ordination to prevent and […]
Read more on Preventing Sexual Violence: A Bold Initiative worth Supporting | Reply (1)
27th September 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
UK, Turkey and Turkmenistan: Doing Big Business
One after another, top British companies take the podium in a room full of Turkish construction companies. Each sets out world-class expertise in everything from design, construction and communications to steel, advanced engineering, security, training and sports services. Other speakers include the British Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Keith Allan; Sefa Gomdeniz, Chair of the Turkey-Turkmenistan Business Council; […]
Read more on UK, Turkey and Turkmenistan: Doing Big Business | Reply (3)
27th September 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Parliamentary Rules
Members of Parliaments across Europe are finding themselves subject to more and more scrutiny these days from public institutions, the press and from their own electorates. Romania has the National Integrity Agency (ANI) which is setting new standards in public life. This month an MP’s mandate was revoked on the grounds of incompatibility, implementing ANI’s […]
27th September 2012 Yerevan, Armenia
Doing GREAT business in the UK and Armenia
Phew – here at the Embassy we are just recovering from our first Ministerial visit in six years. Mr Lidington, the Foreign Office’s Minister for Europe, was a great visitor – engaged, full of energy, and really keen to make a difference in UK-Armenian relations. And we are really delighted that we were able to use the […]
Read more on Doing GREAT business in the UK and Armenia | Reply (2)
25th September 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Colourful Meskel!
Ethiopia is one of the few countries that celebrate their New Year at this time. On 27 September, the ceremony of Meskel will be observed by many Ethiopian Orthodox Christian believers. Meskel is one of the most significant holidays for the Orthodox Church: arrays of vivid colours, religious chants, huge bonfires (Demera in Amharic) and […]
25th September 2012 London, UK
Digital Strategy: delivering FCO priorities
The Foreign Office is working up a Digital Strategy looking at how we can use digital to work more effectively and deliver more effectively for UK citizens.
Read more on Digital Strategy: delivering FCO priorities | Reply (10)
25th September 2012 London, UK
Made in Pakistan: exporting the right image
Brand new bed linen from one of the department stores for which London’s Oxford Street is famous. Unwrapping the layers of packaging I noticed the label: made in Pakistan. I wondered if it had come from the factory whose owner I had met in Lahore, where we discussed everything from electricity shortages, to labour law […]
Read more on Made in Pakistan: exporting the right image | Reply (4)
25th September 2012 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
‘Daddy, is it okay if I give the Princess a kiss?’
As I sit on the most beautiful stretch of white sand on Pulau Redang, I finally have time to reflect on what was, by any measure, the most extraordinary of weeks. I am feeling a strange mix of exhilaration and exhaustion: exhilaration because I think we organised a royal visit that was rich in diversity […]
Read more on ‘Daddy, is it okay if I give the Princess a kiss?’ | Reply (10)
24th September 2012 USA
Aston Martins – a nice way to spruce up your residence
The following is a guest post by Zachary Zimmerman, a business development associate with UK Trade & Investment at the British Embassy in Washington. The British Ambassador to the United States has a nice house. Some argue that, since it is Sir Edwin Lutyens’ only architectural work in America and is adorned with a priceless display […]
Read more on Aston Martins – a nice way to spruce up your residence | Reply (1)
24th September 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
More power to the Pumas
The Royal Air Force is about to take delivery of one of its newly upgraded helicopters from the Eurocopter plant at Ghimbav, near Brasov. I was there on Friday to see the helicopter make its first flight post-upgrade, along with Romania’s Prime Minister Victor Ponta and Lord Davies, chairman of the All-Party Group on Romania […]