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?
16th June 2017 Kolkata, India
The end of purdah
Sometimes a name sticks. We’ve just had elections in Britain. As a general rule, British government officials should not show bias to any political party, because we serve our political leaders when they hold government office, and not in their political party role. In the period between the announcement of elections and when they are […]
15th June 2017 Moscow, Russia
The UK and Russia: making contribution to tackling antimicrobial resistance
Infectious diseases are becoming resistant to the drugs we use to treat them – this is widely known as Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and is a major global challenge requiring attention by all sectors now. Thanks to the international awareness campaign led by the UK, the international community was mobilised and in September 2016, a landmark […]
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14th June 2017 Los Angeles, USA
The Robots are coming! And they’re British.
In May, a group of leading UK roboticists spent a week in the US to build partnerships with key US centres of excellence. The delegates, from the EPSRC UK RAS Network, visited Boston, Pittsburgh, and San Diego to showcase UK excellence in robotics and explore opportunities for collaboration. Check out some highlights, while Professor David Lane […]
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13th June 2017 Tripoli, Libya
Elections: the best form of democracy?
The United Kingdom went to the polls last week. Over 32 million people voted for 3,304 candidates for the 650 seats in the House of Commons. This turnout was higher than in previous elections: 68.7% of registered voters went to their polling station, including 72% of young people; the latter figure up from 40% in […]
13th June 2017 Science and Innovation Network
Shared Challenges Among Amazing Women in Medicine
The Science and Innovation Network and British Embassy in Israel had the opportunity to hold a “Women in Medicine” event in honour of a special guest from the UK: Prof. Parveen Kumar, this year’s “Henry Cohen” laureate. This prize is awarded to outstanding health professionals by the Jewish Medical Association in the UK who brings […]
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12th June 2017 Geneva, Switzerland
Clouds on the Horizon
Growing up in Manchester, we used to say that if you couldn’t see the clouds approaching on the nearby Pennines it meant that it was already raining. I feel much the same way about sessions of the Human Rights Council – if there isn’t one around the corner, you’re probably already in one. The latest […]
2nd June 2017 Beirut, Lebanon
Reflections on Lebanon, 18 months in
It was on a recent Saturday morning. We had had an interesting – and by my standards, rather technical – discussion on the Lebanese economy over a delicious breakfast of labneh, with zaatar, and poached eggs. Then my green tea was replaced by a piping hot espresso. So when the cigar box came round, I […]
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1st June 2017 Manila, Philippines
Learning languages
For me, one of the joys of diplomacy is the opportunity to really get to know other countries and cultures. Understanding the local language helps me do that. It also helps others get to know and understand me, and the UK. It allows a personal connection. As Nelson Mandela said: “If you talk to a […]
31st May 2017 Vienna, Austria
Innsbruck; 42; Towel Day; and the Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Where did Douglas Adams get the idea for his improbably brilliant book “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”? The answer is… Innsbruck. Eagle-eyed colleagues in the Vienna Embassy have brought to my attention a “Guardian” article of 3 February 2011: Douglas Adams and the cult of 42. The article records a letter of thirty years […]
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30th May 2017
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Britain and the Lower Danube
As part of our #BritainInRomania activities, exploring the history of the rich British links with Romania, the Embassy held a series of events in Galati and Tulcea counties earlier this month. I joined the Director of the Galati History Museum for a seminar highlighting the work of the former British Consulate in that city, and […]