9th December 2025
Why We Need Data, Courage, and Community
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
2nd December 2025
In cybersecurity, there are no limits – only new voices ready to lead
14th October 2025
Lost and Found (but mostly lost)
5th April 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Chain Reaction – Volunteering
In Japan, a country much in our thoughts these days, volunteers generate a greater share of GDP than the financial services sector. And research shows that for every £1 the average company invests in volunteering programmes, they get a return of between £3 and £5. In general, the business case for employer supported volunteering is […]
5th April 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Where are you going, Ukraine?
I’m in the UK this week to speak at the Oxford Model Ukraine Conference “Ukraine’s Domestic and Foreign Affairs: Quo Vadis?” (Quo vadis means “Where are you going?” in Latin.) It will be good to hear the views of the assembled experts, and to contribute my own thoughts – I’m speaking first thing on Thursday […]
5th April 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The 2010 Human Rights Report
As we note on our website, “Human Rights and Democracy: The 2010 FCO Report” was publicly launched by the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, in London on 31 March, alongside guest speakers Dr Agnes Callamard from the freedom of expression NGO Article 19, and the Iranian Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari. The report is available online at www.fco.gov.uk/hrdreport. For […]
4th April 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Is Ukraine really reforming?
I often ask business and political contacts what they think about the progress of reform in Ukraine. Responses are mixed: some say things are getting better, some that they are getting worse, and others that things are neither better nor worse, but just different. I recently discussed this with a group of eminent economic and […]
4th April 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
2000 kilometres on a litre of petrol?
Sounds like a great deal in these days of expensive fuel! But this is the challenge to schools and colleges competing in the XXVIIth Shell Eco Marathon in May – to build vehicles able to achieve this goal and win the race. 5 Hungarian teams are participating this year. And on Friday one of the […]
1st April 2011 Toronto, Canada
2011 J. Tuzo Wilson Lecture: Offshore gas hydrates
John Preece here, covering for Nicole while she’s away. Today I’m going to be talking about the J. Tuzo Wilson lectures, a series of (roughly) annual public presentations on excellence in geophysics. This year’s lecture was given at the University of Toronto by Professor R. Nigel Edwards, recipient of the 2010 J. Tuzo Wilson medal […]
Read more on 2011 J. Tuzo Wilson Lecture: Offshore gas hydrates | Reply
1st April 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
UK Bribery Act 2010 – how should you respond?
The UK Ministry of Justice has just published excellent guidance about how commercial organisations can comply with the new UK Bribery Act. I strongly recommend this link to anyone doing business in the UK or with UK companies abroad to ensure they are compliant with the new legislation. The guidance is written in plain English […]
Read more on UK Bribery Act 2010 – how should you respond? | Reply
31st March 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
“History” comes to Hungary
I have in my hands Hungary’s newest media product – hot off the press. It’s the high quality, information-packed, inaugural edition of the popular BBC “History” Magazine in Hungarian, which I helped launch at a press conference this morning. Congratulations to the Kossuth Kiado Publishing House for bringing it here. The BBC brand continues to […]
31st March 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Is closing a newspaper censorship?
I’ve been following with interest the debate around the recent closure of a Ukrainian newspaper, the Gazeta po-Kievski. It’s an important issue. The newspaper, which has existed for many years, was closed down on 11 March. One explanation of the closure is that it had been losing money and was uneconomic. Proponents of free speech, […]
30th March 2011 Ottawa, Canada
Putting a Little "Innovation" in our Discussions – John Preece on Africa Rising: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Frontiers
Our New Science & Innovation Intern in Toronto, Dr. John Preece, discusses his experience at the Africa Rising: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Frontiers conference. John will also be running the Science & Innovation Canada Blog for the next couple of weeks, while I’m away. I look forward to seeing what the next couple of weeks will […]
Read more on Putting a Little "Innovation" in our Discussions – John Preece on Africa Rising: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Frontiers | Reply (1)