21st March 2024
Forests in focus on International Day of Forests
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
19th March 2024
Russia – 25 years of broken hopes and smashed dreams
8th March 2024
Gender equality is non-negotiable
17th December 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The Year of Living Dangerously
It is a year since Mohamed Bouazizi doused himself in petrol and set fire to himself. He was protesting because he was unable to earn a living. At the time I was studying Arabic in London. I struggled to understand the Arabic words used in the news reports. But I wasn’t alone in failing to […]
16th December 2011 Ottawa, Canada
Arnold Falls for Quebec
Another Bilingual blog from our Montreal Science & Innovation Officer, Nicolina Farella: It all started last March, when I received a phone call from Arnold Black. Arnold wears two hats. On one hand, he is Project Manager for C-Tech innovation (R&D company in the clean technology sector), and he also holds the position of Technology […]
16th December 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Britain and its role in Europe
Australian readers of this blog will be wondering what the latest headlines about the UKs’ relationship with Europe are all about. The complexities of Europe’s institutional structures are hard enough to follow if you’re living there, let alone observing the continent from 10,000 miles away. In essence, the latest developments flow from the problems of […]
15th December 2011 Toronto, Canada
SIN podcast: Dr. Paul Dyce on reproductive medicine
This is a (slightly late) report on SIN Canada’s involvement with the 15th International Conference on the Development and Function of Reproductive Organs (DFRO), held at the University of Edinburgh in September 2011. We supported the participation of Dr. Paul Dyce (University of Western Ontario) as part of our broader work in promoting UK-Canada links […]
Read more on SIN podcast: Dr. Paul Dyce on reproductive medicine | Reply
15th December 2011 USA
Durban: A cause for optimism
For those of us actively working toward successful international negotiations on climate change, the most recent meeting in Durban, South Africa seems like cause for optimism this holiday season. The UN climate talks wrapped up last weekend with over 120 countries (including major economies such as the United States) forming a coalition behind the EU’s […]
15th December 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
British ambassador serves Ukrainian wine
How good does wine have to be to be served at the residence of the British ambassador in Ukraine? The answer is that taste in wine is a pretty subjective issue; but that I’m always on the look-out for good Ukrainian products and, of course, for value for money. I’m also keen on promoting good […]
Read more on British ambassador serves Ukrainian wine | Reply (2)
15th December 2011 Bucharest, Romania
Shadowing Lord Green in Warsaw
I spent a couple of days with my colleagues at the British Embassy in Poland during the visit of Lord Green, Minister for Trade and Investment, to discuss commercial opportunities in Central and Eastern Europe and also to launch the “Emerging Europe” brand. With Poland and Romania the 6th and the 7th largest countries in […]
15th December 2011 Beirut, Lebanon
LEBANON – BEWITCHED, BEDAZZLED AND BEWILDERED
I have now been in Beirut over three months. The Lebanese tell me that the more you learn about this extraordinary country, the less you understand. So I fear that my first impressions could become more confused over the next three years. The contrasts of Lebanon are a well worn cliché, but still hit the […]
Read more on LEBANON – BEWITCHED, BEDAZZLED AND BEWILDERED | Reply (14)
14th December 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Re-innovating the Rubik’s Cube
Remember the Rubik’s Cube, the toy that every British schoolboy had to have in the early 80s, alongside a copy of The Beano? I thought it had gone the way of the Dodo, until I saw it on the front page of the Wall Street Journal this morning. The gist of James Hookway’s article is […]
14th December 2011 Chevening, UK
Chevening: Leading the way for bio-entrepreneurs
This week, rather than a blog from one of our Chevening alumni, we are delighted to be able to share with you all the news that Philippine Chevening scholar Maria Antonia “Maoi” Arroyo has recently been recognised in the prestigious annual TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men) awards that recognise selected young individuals and their achievements that have […]
Read more on Chevening: Leading the way for bio-entrepreneurs | Reply (9)