17th December 2025
MAKING LIFE SAFER, FOR EVERYONE
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
9th December 2025
Why We Need Data, Courage, and Community
2nd December 2025
In cybersecurity, there are no limits – only new voices ready to lead
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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10th August 2017
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Would you like to study in the UK?
Have you heard about Chevening? It’s the UK’s world-beating scholarship programme for international students. It allows you to study for a Masters degree of your choice at any university in the UK. You do the work, and we cover the costs, including your tuition fees and travel costs. We even pay for your living expenses! […]
9th August 2017 Toronto, Canada
Collaboration key to future of energy storage
Renewable energy has been around for decades, yet solar and wind power hasn’t really taken off as main energy sources. This is in part because when it isn’t sunny or windy, we haven’t found a great way to store the energy for future use. In order to keep up with emerging clean forms of energy […]
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8th August 2017 Canberra, Australia
Consular – what’s that?
As a Yorkshire lass who has lived in Australia for 5 years, I was thrilled 10 months ago to get a job at the British High Commission in Canberra assisting my fellow Brits in need – and the range of ways we can help has really surprised me! A consular officer’s primary focus is to […]
7th August 2017
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Holidaying in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Normally, we go back to the UK for a few weeks during the summer, to catch up with family and friends. But this will be our last full summer in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as I’m due to leave in August next year. So this year, we decided to spend some time discovering some new parts […]
2nd August 2017 Tripoli, Libya
Coffee in Tripoli – Tea in Benghazi
I had coffee the other day in Algeria Square in central Tripoli. I was passing by and was invited to sit with a group of men who kindly offered me some local coffee. It was a good opportunity to escape from the heat of the sun and hear their thoughts. On Saturday I was in […]
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2nd August 2017
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
UK-Romania defence cooperation
The UK is currently negotiating with our partners on our withdrawal from the European Union, following the outcome of the referendum in June last year. But as Prime Minister Theresa May has underlined, while we are leaving the EU we are not leaving Europe. We are determined to develop our deep and special partnerships with […]
1st August 2017 Mumbai
Energy storage- fueling the future
Law of conservation of energy states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but can be transformed from one form to another. This energy transformation usually has an intermediate step –Energy Storage. With the advent of renewable energy and electric vehicles, energy storage is now recognised as the main enabler fuelling the electric economies […]
28th July 2017 Skopje, North Macedonia
‘I leave Skopje optimistic’
When Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, met Prime Minister Zaev and Foreign Minister Dimitrov in Trieste at the Western Balkan Summit, he was impressed with their energy and determination to make changes and their readiness to take bold steps. He welcomed their commitment to tackle reform challenges at home, to reset relations with neighbours and to re-energise Macedonia’s NATO and EU prospects. […]
27th July 2017 London, UKLondon, UK
Sexual Offences Act: 50 years on
Today marks 50 years since the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales, an important milestone in the UK’s own journey to full equality for LGBT people. Same-sex relations between men were against the law in England and Wales until 1967, when The Sexual Offences Act decriminalised private homosexual acts between two men aged […]