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?
11th September 2017 Vienna, Austria
Instagram competition winners
This summer, the British Embassy in Vienna has been running a competition on Instagram (do follow!). Our theme: the UK and Austria. We received 167 fantastic entries. You can see them on Instagram by searching with the hashtag #UKinAustria. After a Stakhanovite effort, with a team of us striving to decide between numerous powerful pictures, […]
11th September 2017 Tripoli, Libya
Behind the Scenes: Visiting Libya
Two weeks ago we arranged a visit to Libya by our Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson. We went to Tripoli, Misrata and Benghazi. This followed a visit in May, when he visited Tripoli and Tobruq. These visits involve careful planning and a lot of preparation. Working with colleagues in London and with the Libyan authorities, we […]
10th September 2017 Skopje, North Macedonia
We need to talk about NATO in Macedonia
I spent Macedonia’s Independence Day climbing Bushava mountain, a stunningly beautiful peak near Krushevo with 360-degree views. I wasn’t alone – some 200 of us had joined up at the invitation of the Ministry of Defence and the NATO Liaison Office in Skopje. In inviting us to Krushevo, they were looking for a different way […]
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7th September 2017 Abuja, Nigeria
Chevening in Nigeria – A Programme Officer’s Perspective
I took up the Chevening portfolio in September 2015, a decision I have never regretted making. My passion for Chevening is so intense; I’m often asked if I’m an alumnus. Saddled with the task of administering and promoting this programme year-round in Nigeria, I find myself selling an opportunity that I know is absolutely priceless […]
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6th September 2017 Vienna, Austria
The Charles Stewart Conversations
An ambassador punches a horse and gets involved in a fight with the coachman. Two hundred years later, another ambassador in the same city initiates a series of discussion evenings named after his predecessor. Why? Lord Charles Vane-Stewart, Third Marquess of Londonderry, was the first British Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Emperor of Austria […]
28th August 2017 Beijing, China
Goodbye to China! (for now)
I keep saying it, but I can’t believe how fast the past four years has gone. It’s been a non-stop whirlwind but it’s been a great pleasure to lead the UK’s science and innovation relationship with China during these exciting times. When I started the Newton Fund didn’t exist and now it stands at £360m […]
23rd August 2017 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Newly-extended Newton-Ungku Omar Fund paves way for greater UK-Malaysia science collaborations
The banners were up, halls were ready, agenda ready to run. This is it – the Newton-Ungku Omar Fund Open Day, the Fund’s landmark event in Malaysia. The UK and Malaysia are strong partners in various fields – science and innovation collaborations under the Newton-Ungku Omar Fund banner being one of them. Since its inception […]
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18th August 2017 Skopje, North Macedonia
Here’s to another year of joint defence achievements
Today on the 18th August the Macedonian Army is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Every year when we attend events marking the achievements of the Macedonian Army, it is also an opportunity to reflect on the bilateral Defence Engagement between UK and Macedonia. Training and sharing experiences on how UK can best help Macedonia meet NATO […]
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18th August 2017 Canberra, Australia
UK-Australia Research Collaboration: untangling the web
It’s rare for an undergraduate student like me to get the opportunity to use their studies to make a genuine impact so early on in their career. As part of my Science Policy degree at the Australian National University, over the last 6 months I’ve been interning at the British High Commission, Canberra, where I’ve […]
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14th August 2017 Tokyo, Japan
Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and visiting Western Japan
This month Japan remembers the atomic bombs which fell on Hiroshima (6 August) and Nagasaki (9 August). I travelled to both cities, together with many other ambassadors, for the commemoration ceremonies. They were solemn and moving events, with speeches by the Prime Minister and local dignitaries, “hibakusha” bombing victims, and children. In Hiroshima I sat […]
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