5th November 2026
United Nations General Assembly: championing women and girls’ rights
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
1st October 2026
A Year Too Big for Two Suitcases: Notes From a Chevening Scholar
11th May 2026
The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill: turning a global ocean agreement into UK law
6th June 2011 New York, USA
Internet Week New York 2011
Guest blog by Tony Hughes, Director, Focus Innovation and UKTI’s digital industries sector specialist.The UK is renowned for the innovation – the invention part of the process of developing new products and services – across all industries. Digital and Creative Industries are no exceptions, whether it is Film, TV, Games, Advertising or Publishing. Of course, […]
6th June 2011 Geneva, Switzerland
Changing Times
There’ve been some major changes since I last updated my blog. I’ll start with the most important, which is that I became a dad for the first time in early March. Funnily enough, my son Ben was born on the Human Rights Council’s annual day on the rights of the child which has reinforced an […]
6th June 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Connecting Classrooms Ambassadors
I spent early Friday at the Hungarian-Chinese bilingual School of Budapest. They, together with 9 other schools, were participating in a “Connecting Classrooms” Festival event at the end of this academic year. Connecting Classrooms is a British Council global project which aims to build lasting partnerships between schools in the UK and others around the […]
4th June 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
"Call of Life": The European premiere
On 31 May the British Embassy’s conference hall was (not for the first time) turned into a cinema. I co-hosted the evening screening of the film “Call of Life: Facing Mass Extinction” with the Hungarian State Secretary for the Environment, Zoltan Illes. This was far from the first time we worked together. The history of […]
3rd June 2011 New York, USA
Charity doesn’t always start at home
Guest blog by Niall Gordon, UK Trade & Investment. As panic sets in and the two month football (that’s soccer for our American friends) drought begins, we discover there are plenty of sporting events to keep you going over the next few weeks – many with a British and charitable twist. On Saturday, 4 June, the […]
Read more on Charity doesn’t always start at home | Reply (1)
3rd June 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Sport – nation shall speak unto nation…
Earlier this week we held a very well-attended, high profile press conference at the Embassy at which the Médiaszolgáltatás-támogató és Vagyonkezelő Alap (MTVA) – the official Hungarian media sports TV/radio organisation spoke about the London 2012 Olympics and all the international sporting events leading up to the Games in which Hungary is involved. Agnes Cserhati […]
Read more on Sport – nation shall speak unto nation… | Reply
3rd June 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The teenage traffic victim
The teenager is lying motionless in the road. The driver of the black Porsche Cayenne stands over him, horrified. A couple of passers-by are on their mobile phones, perhaps calling the police or an ambulance. I saw this scene recently in Kyiv on Ivana Mazepu Street, down which I walk and drive regularly. Although the […]
2nd June 2011 London, UK
Injured by a Zebra? Here’s what to do…
Jo Olivier, British Consul, British High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa writes Over 200,000 British expats live in South Africa and half a million Brits each year are drawn by the game reserves, spectacular scenery, beaches, mountains and vineyards – all under one (usually) blue sky. If you’re taking advantage of the fact that you have […]
2nd June 2011 London, UK
Holidays that end before they begin
Caroline Wilson, Vice Consul, British Embassy Dubai writes: With 100,000 British residents in the UAE, many of the 1 million tourists per year are visiting family and friends. They take the opportunity to hang out in the sun, enjoy the vast shopping malls, the unique skyline and the huge selection of restaurants and bars. […]
2nd June 2011 London, UK
Diving and driving
Dave Covey, British Honorary Consul, Koh Samui, Thailand writes: Thailand is renowned for its party atmosphere, its great beaches and fresh seafood. As a former diving co-ordinator on Koh Samui I am well versed with the latter, and can see why so many people want to take advantage of seeing friends and family here. When […]