Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

1st August 2016 Guatemala City

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by Thomas Carter

British Ambassador to Guatemala

Britain in the World

On 23 June, the British people voted to leave the European Union (EU) and British Prime Minister Theresa May has been clear that Brexit means Brexit. But does this mean that the UK will be taking a single step from the centre of the international stage? The answer is a resounding no.  Instead, the UK […]

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1st August 2016 London, UK

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by Boris Johnson

Former Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs

From London to Rio

Four years ago tonight I watched in awe as Danny Boyle’s opening ceremony in Stratford launched the start of what would become the most amazing Olympic Games the world had ever seen. London 2012 proved a defining moment for our country. The inevitable pre Games gloom – problems with the M4 corridor from Heathrow into […]

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1st August 2016 Delhi, India

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by Anshika Jha

UK Intellectual Property Office’s (UK IPO) Attaché

Dismantling India’s National IP Policy

India’s first National Intellectual Property Policy is a comprehensive vision document that aspires for an India where “creativity and innovation are stimulated by IP for the benefit of all”.  Not enforceable in courts of law in itself, it will guide future policy-making on everything intellectual property related in India. It sets out 7 objectives, and […]

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1st August 2016 Mumbai, India

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by Vijay Iyer

Senior Science & Innovation Adviser

Coming soon: UK-India workshop on industrial biotechnology

Enzymes, fermentation, biocatalysis, and bioprocesses are oft-discussed topics under the umbrella of industrial biotechnology. The UK has a lot to offer in this increasingly relevant area for emerging economies such as India which has heightened interest in efficient manufacturing processes. The UK has several centres of excellence in industrial biotech. For instance, consider the Industrial […]

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1st August 2016 Holy See

Stephen Townsend

Stephen Townsend

Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy to the Holy See

Time of transition

“There can be only one” – not only the tag-line from the “Highlander” movies, but also the rules about Ambassadors accredited to each State. There can only be one official Ambassador in a country at a time.  So there is always a gap between one leaving and the next arriving – which is another opportunity […]

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1st August 2016 Bangalore, India

Arika Ahluwalia

Arika Ahluwalia

Science and Innovation Administrator

AMR: New seed funding to help teams enter the Longitude Prize

On 25 July I attended a workshop and ideathon on the Longitude Prize and Discovery Awards at Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms(C-CAMP), Bangalore . The Discovery Awards are a new seed fund to help teams progress ideas for a transformative diagnostic test that will help combat Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) by significantly reducing inappropriate use […]

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1st August 2016 Canberra, Australia

Menna Rawlings CMG

by Menna Rawlings

British High Commissioner to Australia

Race and a Fair Go

Last week, we hosted David Lammy MP on a visit to Australia. He came here as part of his review into possible racial bias against BAME (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic) people in the British criminal justice system. This work was commissioned by former PM David Cameron, and has the full endorsement of our new PM […]

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31st July 2016 Havana, Cuba

Anthony Henderson

Anthony Henderson

Head of Press, Projects and Politics, British Embassy, Havana

Chevening Scholarships in Cuba – our 23rd year

Around this time of year, I get to work on one of my favourite parts of the job – Chevening Scholarships. These provide fantastic opportunities for professionals from over 160 countries and territories, including Cuba, to go to the UK for a year to study a master’s course, fully funded by the UK Government and […]

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29th July 2016 London, UK

Alex Ellis

Alex Ellis

Ambassador to Brazil

Rio 2016: one week to go!

Yes, one week to the Opening Ceremony. Readers who were in London during 2012 will remember what this means: a strange mix of public anxiety – worries about public transport, traffic, readiness of the city been questioned, problems, problems and problems; and also private excitement as the event gets closer. Rio is no different – […]

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29th July 2016

Dave Britton

Dave Britton

Head of International Development and Principal Advisor to FCO & DFID, Met Office

Collaboration on a global stage

As well as being the UK’s national weather and climate service, the Met Office works internationally in support of the delivery of UK government policy and as part of our commitment to improving global weather and climate provision. Collaboration is integral to achieving these aims and includes working with other parts of UK government. As […]

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