8th November 2024
Ecolabels: A Catalyst for Sustainable Food Choices?
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
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17th October 2024
OSLOBOĐENJE BEOGRADA
11th October 2024
Busting the gender myths – women and organised crime
24th September 2012 New Delhi, India
Bangalore-Cambridge Innovation Network Launched
In a week when the UK was confirmed as having four universities in the top six in the world, we had a high-powered delegation from the University of Cambridge (ranking top in the UK) in town, led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz. The main event on 13th September was Science, Innovation and […]
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21st September 2012 Washington DC, USA
A Fashion Statement
‘We are the goon squad and we’re coming to town-beep beep’ So sang David Bowie in a thinly veiled 1980’s attack on charlatans and copycats, ‘Fashion’. Bowie is not only a British musical living legend but also one of our most stylish icons (second only to Bryan Ferry in my opinion). Which brings us to […]
21st September 2012 Paris, France
Two examples of support to British people in France
In this video, Sir Peter Ricketts discusses two very different examples of the work the British Embassy and Consulates are doing to support British people in France.
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21st September 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Religion, Foreign Affairs and Dialogue
In her book “The Mighty and the Almighty”, Madeline Albright asked rhetorically:“Why can’t we just keep religion out of foreign policy?”. She responded: “we can’t and shouldn’t. Religion is a large part of what motivates people and shapes their views of justice and right behaviour. It must be taken into account”. The last fortnight has […]
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21st September 2012 Warsaw, Poland
Great British Commercial Diplomacy
A Great British welcome to you in Warsaw Mr Foreign Secretary! The UK has got a great relationship with Poland and it’s about to get even better. Hot on the heels of the Great British Olympics a 1 stop commercial diplomacy day. The British Foreign Secretary, the Right Hon, William Hague MP and the Minister […]
21st September 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
International Peace Day
As well as being British Ambassador to Ethiopia, I am also the United Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) Economic Commission for Africa. Given that today is the International Day of Peace, it is perhaps worth reflecting on how much the AU does to promote peace throughout the […]
19th September 2012 Ottawa, Canada
“Brits on Bikes” for cancer research
I’ve discovered the wonders of spandex recently. For the second year in a row, I’ve had the privilege to participate, with a number of my colleagues here at the British High Commission, in a terrific local charity event called Ride the Rideau. Our team, dubbed “Brits on Bikes”, is not made up of the athletic […]
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19th September 2012 Budapest, Hungary
A weekend of firsts at the British Embassy in Budapest
Guest blog by Ian Saunders, visiting British diplomat Last Saturday and Sunday the Embassy participated in the European Heritage Days programme in Hungary for the first time. This cultural initiative allowed the public to see inside the British Embassy and savour its interesting and historical interior. On show were the main entrance, a view of […]
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19th September 2012 Dublin, Ireland
A great day for British-Polish relations
I am delighted to announce that Foreign Secretary William Hague and Defence Minister Philip Hammond are visiting Warsaw today. This is the latest high level visit by UK Ministers to Poland. They will discuss a range of issues with Foreign Minister Sikorski and Defence Minister Siemoniak. These will include the Future of Europe and the […]
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19th September 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
A busy week in Parliament
Canberra is “a game of two halves” as the football (soccer) commentators put it. For about 20 weeks a year, the parliamentarians descend on it from all across this vast continent, in a whirl of activity. The rest of time it is somewhat quieter. With Parliament sitting last week, I was up there twice speaking […]