Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

9th June 2016 London, UK

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by Steven Hardy

Social Media Manager

Promoting Human Rights

As the Foreign Office’s Social Media Manager I spend much of my time distilling the intentionally nuanced and traditionally multilayered world of diplomacy into something engaging and consumable. Case in point: The Foreign Office’s (FCO) annual flagship Human Rights and Democracy Report comprises around 50 pages of expert analysis of the issues the world and […]

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9th June 2016 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

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by Edmund Fitton-Brown

British Ambassador to Yemen

Ramadan: An opportunity for peace

This week saw the start of the holy month of Ramadan. A time for reflection, for spending time with family and friends and for peace. However, this year many Yemenis will be spending Ramadan without adequate food, water, shelter, electricity and healthcare and fearing for the safety of their loved ones. This month, like the […]

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8th June 2016

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by Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Celebrating The Queen at the Holy See

Like other embassies and high commissions around the world, the British Embassy to the Holy See took the opportunity this week to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th birthday. In traditional British fashion, our garden party was accompanied by a downpour of rain, but it didn’t appear to dampen the spirits of the many guests […]

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8th June 2016 Minsk, Belarus

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by Fionna Gibb

Former British Ambassador to Belarus

Celebrating children

I wanted to talk to you today about a great event that we had yesterday which was Queen Birthday Party for children. It’s an idea that I had in March when I was finishing my Russian lesson. And at the school where I learned Russian at the weekend they mostly teach English to children here, […]

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7th June 2016

Paul Brummell, British Ambassador to Romania

by Paul Brummell

Head of Soft Power and External Affairs Department, Communication Directorate

Barbara Knowles MBE

I attended a moving event on 31 May at the top of the hill in the eastern Carpathians named Pogany-Havas, the Pagan Snow Cap. Friends and villagers had walked up from the pass below to commemorate the life of British environmentalist Barbara Knowles, who sadly passed away earlier this year. Barbara was one of the […]

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7th June 2016 Chennai, India

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by Bharat Joshi

British Deputy High Commissioner, Chennai

But I love it……

I know it’s been too long since a wrote a blog. It’s hard to think of subjects any readers might be interested in (as always, feedback welcome!) and to prioritise the time. But I’m very conscious that I’m halfway through my posting (sorry, you’re stuck with me to Summer 2018), which is a real driver […]

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7th June 2016 New Delhi, India

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by Swati Saxena

Senior Science and Innovation Adviser

UK-Punjab research helping produce green fuel from rice waste

I recently visited Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), which is India’s second oldest agricultural university, and saw how a partnership with a UK university is helping converting rice crop wastage into a sustainable energy source. Rice is widely grown crop in India and on harvest it leaves behind a substantial amount of straw in the field. […]

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7th June 2016 Mumbai, India

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by Uma Patil

Science & Innovation Adviser

Potential UK – India collaborations in precision medicine

Earlier this month, I joined the UK Science & Innovation Network as Adviser. I’m based in the British Deputy High Commission, Mumbai. It’s been a few weeks now since I started and I’ve already made peace with Mumbai’s hectic pace. One of the themes I will be exploring this year is precision medicine. It’s an […]

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6th June 2016 Geneva, Switzerland

by Julian Braithwaite

Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN and other international organisations in Geneva

Humanity’s Great Project

Each of the three annual sessions of the UN’s Human Rights Council has its own character. This reflects the issues that everyone knows will dominate the session. But each member of the Council also has their own priorities, too. The June session of the Council starts on 13 June and runs to Friday 1 July. […]

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6th June 2016 Khartoum

Kate Rudd

Chargé d’Affaires

Ramadan Reflections

Ramadan Kareem! On behalf of the British Embassy, and all the British people, I would like to wish all those observing the holy month a very happy and peaceful Ramadan.  The central themes of Ramadan – where many take time to reflect on their own behaviours and give goodwill to others – are universal.  Here […]

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