It should never be a crime to be gay
To mark International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia on 17 May, the Executive Director of NGO Kaleidoscope Trust, Lance Price, has written a guest blog. We set up the Kaleidoscope Trust as the only UK-based charity working exclusively on … Read more »It should never be a crime to be gay
London, UK
16 May 2012
Football and politics
The images are powerful. A woman prisoner displays bruises which she says were caused by mistreatment by prison guards. Allegations by ex-prime minister Yuliya Tymoshenko that she was physically mistreated by prison guards, followed by … Read more »Football and politics
Kyiv, Ukraine
16 May 2012
LA Environmental
If someone had asked me to picture a stereotype of Los Angeles prior to my trip there at the end of last week, I might have imagined sun bouncing off the Hollywood sign, towering above huge highways where massive cars roared by, conveying wannabe … Read more »LA Environmental
Washington DC, USA
15 May 2012
Europe – The view from across the Atlantic
After a week of change in Europe, it was no surprise what was on the minds of many of my contacts in the US this week. Both in Boston and in Washington I was quizzed about the new French President, Greek efforts to form a coalition, and most … Read more »Europe – The view from across the Atlantic
London, UK
14 May 2012
Celebrating excellence in Somali journalism
A week ago I posted a blog about world press day and the plight of journalism in Somalia – one of the dangerous countries in the world to be a journalist. I want to pick up this theme – but also highlight one of the many and vital successes. … Read more »Celebrating excellence in Somali journalism
Nairobi, Kenya
14 May 2012
Recent posts from our bloggers
UN systems and its interventions
Vikas Nath, Associate Director, The FUNDS Project, Toronto writes: On day one of the New challenges, new partners, a new UN development system? conference, there has been a gradual fragmentation of the UN systems and its interventions. There are too many governance structures: some are overlapping and others are far from reality. The issue is … Read more »UN systems and its interventions

Commons Foreign Affairs Committee studies Australian thinking on Commonwealth
Back in Canberra after 28 hours of flights, and straight into a programme with visiting members of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC). Senior backbenchers were in Canberra as part of the Committee’s enquiry into the Commonwealth. Other FAC members were travelling to different parts of the world. We arranged a busy programme for … Read more »Commons Foreign Affairs Committee studies Australian thinking on Commonwealth

Signing of the Canada/UK Joint Innovation Statement!
On Tuesday of last week (May 8, 2012) the Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, and Lord Green, Minister of State for Trade and Investment met in Montreal and signed the Canada/UK Joint Innovation Statement. The ceremony was attended by a small audience, and in case you were following our twitterfeed: The signing … Read more »Signing of the Canada/UK Joint Innovation Statement!

Romania’s new government: week one
Victor Ponta’s new government got off on the right foot last week by making clear that its economic policy will continue to be framed within the programme agreed between Romania and the EU, World Bank, and IMF. The IMF programme sets out what Romania needs to do, both in terms of fiscal consolidation and structural reforms, to create a path to … Read more »Romania’s new government: week one

Ecotourism – a growing market?
I was lucky enough to have a holiday in Australia recently. (I did offset my flights, of course…..). The highlight was a trip to Tasmania, which proved fascinating. Lots of history, beautiful beaches (I will never forget the miles of pristine white sand and turquoise blue sea at Friendly Beaches on the East Coast), and some excellent wild … Read more »Ecotourism – a growing market?
