Public diplomacy

Skip to content Ming Liu Head of Science and Innovation, BCG Guangzhou Part of Global Science and Innovation Network 31st August 2020 Guangzhou, China ‘He that is thy friend indeed, he will help thee in thy need.’In March, a large shipment of thousands of masks, gloves, overalls and goggles arrived in Birmingham. Stapled to the side of each of the crates was a quote, in both Chinese and English, attributed to William Shakespeare: ‘He that is thy friend indeed, he will help thee in thy need.’ (“岁寒知松柏，患难见真情.”) This consignment was one of many from Chinese universities to their partner institutions in the UK. In this case, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University sent this shipment to their long standing partner, the University of Birmingham. Minister Sharma spoke at the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University in 2017 The importance of partnerships comes the fore in times of crisis. As the scale of the COVID-19 crisis in the UK became apparent in March, we start..

Skip to content Matt Field British Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Part of UK in Bosnia and Herzegovina 30th August 2020 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina The Search Continues International Day of the Disappeared is not an abstract commemoration of a far off event. Many around us are living with a terrible curse, not only of losing a loved one, but of not being able to put them and their memory to rest. In my time in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), I’ve met many families who are in this position and heard their stories of ongoing pain and loss. In BiH and neighbouring countries, 11,000 people still remain to be found, and identified. The UK, for its part, continues to support this work, and hold governments to their commitments to do so too. But the search for the missing has also represented a remarkable success. Thanks in large part to the tireless efforts of families of those who disappeared, approximately 70% of the 40,000 who disappeared during the 1990s conflicts have been ide..

A train swoops at high speed through the Austrian Alps. Despite the stunning scenery, the passengers are – this being the twenty-first century – more interested in what’s happening on their screens as they work, browse the internet and use social media… also at high speed, thanks to a British company. © ÖBB/Philipp HorakNomad Digital is the world’s leading provider of passenger and fleet connectivity solutions and trackside networks. Founded in 2002 in Newcastle Upon Tyne, they are dedicated to delivering connectivity on trains, offering benefits to operators and passengers. In Austria, they are responsible for the onboard WiFi service of the ÖBB (National Federal Railway). © ÖBB/Harald EisenbergerNomad won the contract in..

Skip to content Leigh Turner Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna 28th August 2020 Vienna, Austria How a British company keeps Austrian train passenger online © ÖBB/Philipp HorakA train swoops at high speed through the Austrian Alps. Despite the stunning scenery, the passengers are – this being the twenty-first century – more interested in what’s happening on their screens as they work, browse the internet and use social media… also at high speed, thanks to a British company. © ÖBB/Philipp HorakNomad Digital is the world’s leading provider of passenger and fleet connectivity solutions and trackside networks. Founded in 2002 in Newcastle Upon Tyne, they are dedicated to delivering connectivity on trains, offering benefits to operators and passengers. In Austria, they are responsible for the onboard WiFi service of the ÖBB (National Federal Railway). © ÖBB/Harald EisenbergerNomad won the contract in..

Skip to content Leigh Turner Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna 28th August 2020 Vienna, Austria How a British company keeps Austrian train passengers online © ÖBB/Philipp HorakA train swoops at high speed through the Austrian Alps. Despite the stunning scenery, the passengers are – this being the twenty-first century – more interested in what’s happening on their screens as they work, browse the internet and use social media… also at high speed, thanks to a British company. © ÖBB/Philipp HorakNomad Digital is the world’s leading provider of passenger and fleet connectivity solutions and trackside networks. Founded in 2002 in Newcastle Upon Tyne, they are dedicated to delivering connectivity on trains, offering benefits to operators and passengers. In Austria, they are responsible for the onboard WiFi service of the ÖBB (National Federal Railway). © ÖBB/Harald EisenbergerNomad won the contract i..

Skip to content Aidan Liddle UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament Part of Conference on Disarmament 27th August 2020 Geneva, Switzerland Disarmament blog: a new initiative on outer space security When we think about security in outer space, it’s tempting to fall back on tropes from science fiction or the movies – dramatic battles between space-suited soldiers in Moonraker, or powerful weapons threatening planets in Star Wars. In reality, there are threats to security and stability on Earth involving outer space, but they don’t include Death Stars. The vast potential of space has been widely recognised since the dawn of the space age. Already in 1959 the UN set up a Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), in Vienna, which agreed a series of important conventions in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and last year adopted 21 guidelines for the long-term sustainability of outer space activities. The potential military uses of space feat..

Skip to content Aidan Liddle UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament Part of Conference on Disarmament 27th August 2020 Geneva, Switzerland Disarmament blog: a new initiative on outer space security When we think about security in outer space, it’s tempting to fall back on tropes from science fiction or the movies – dramatic battles between space-suited soldiers in Moonraker, or powerful weapons threatening planets in Star Wars. In reality, there are threats to security and stability on Earth involving outer space, but they don’t include Death Stars. The vast potential of space has been widely recognised since the dawn of the space age. Already in 1959 the UN set up a Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), in Vienna, which agreed a series of important conventions in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and last year adopted 21 guidelines for the long-term sustainability of outer space activities. The potential military uses of space feat..

Skip to content Aidan Liddle UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament Part of Conference on Disarmament 27th August 2020 Geneva, Switzerland Disarmament blog: a new initiative on outer space security When we think about security in outer space, it’s tempting to fall back on tropes from science fiction or the movies – dramatic battles between space-suited soldiers in Moonraker, or powerful weapons threatening planets in Star Wars. In reality, there are threats to security and stability on Earth involving outer space, but they don’t include Death Stars. The vast potential of space has been widely recognised since the dawn of the space age. Already in 1959 the UN set up a Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), in Vienna, which agreed a series of important conventions in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and last year adopted 21 guidelines for the long-term sustainability of outer space activities. The potential military uses of space feat..

Facebook has issued a comprehensive guide on best practices for using Instagram to promote shared experiences and strengthen relationships. The guide positions images as a "new form of language" and explains how Instagram can help elected officials, political candidates and governments use this language to connect digitally with audiences. With 500 million people using Instagram each day, the guide demonstrates how compelling content is key to carrying messages to all corners of the globe. It emphasizes that by utilizing the platform's range of tools, including audiovisual material, engaging hashtags, stories, live video and more, users can tell a story that resonates with others on a personal level. Prominent global leaders such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, the guide notes, are successfully using Instagram to forge meaningful connections. "Elected officials, governments,..

Skip to content Professor Carole Mundell Chief Scientific Adviser Part of Coronavirus (COVID-19) 24th August 2020 London, United Kingdom Scientists from the first UK lab to work on live COVID-19: ‘We knew this virus was going to be different’ Over the past few months, my work has been dominated by the UK’s response to COVID-19, and how we can tackle this pandemic together internationally. I and my colleagues have been in touch with UK universities up and down the country, who are working tirelessly on researching COVID-19. We’ve heard from Andrew Davidson and David Matthews, who are founder members of the Bristol University COVID-19 Emergency Research (UNCOVER) Group. With a combined 20-years’ experience on coronaviruses, we were keen to hear more about their discoveries and understand why they believe international collaboration is key to overcoming the pandemic.Tell us about your first few months working on coronavirus and the ground-breaking discoveries at the University of Bristol..