Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

3rd November 2015 Beijing, China

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by Karen Maddocks

First Secretary and Head of the Beijing Science and Innovation Network

Catching future Nobel winners early

Much of what we do in the Science and Innovation Network in China (and perhaps globally) produces short and medium term eye-catching results: our tech partnering missions generate collaborations and multi-million pound contracts ; our GREAT promotional events attract large audiences from across China; we’re racking up the number of joint centres and joint laboratories […]

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2nd November 2015 USA

Priya Guha

Priya Guha

British Consul General to San Francisco

Having It All

Identity is complicated. As a British-Indian representing the UK overseas I had spent more time spelling my name than talking about gender.   But that changed in 2011 when I became the first female British Consul General to San Francisco. A year later, I had the privilege of joining some of the brightest young Americans at […]

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2nd November 2015 Havana, Cuba

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by Tim Cole

Former British Ambassador to Cuba

Starting from Scratch

This excellent blog was written by Chevening scholar Osmel Barreto who arrived in London just one month ago to study for an MSc in IT and Strategic Innovation. Osmel tells us about his experience of cultural change and having to learn how to do so many new things all at the same time. Thanks for […]

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2nd November 2015 Havana, Cuba

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by Tim Cole

Former British Ambassador to Cuba

Cuba & FIHAV; Trade and Investment in a Tough Neighbourhood

This week sees FIHAV take place. As in previous years, hundreds of companies from all around the world will converge on Havana, brandishing their wares and exhibiting their widgets. This year though FIHAV will be even bigger and even better. The rapprochement between the US and Cuba, the new investment law and the launch of […]

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2nd November 2015 Skopje, North Macedonia

Ilina Mangova and Ana Meshkovska

Ilina Mangova and Ana Meshkovska

Chevening scholars

Conquering Civil Liberties: From Magna Carta to Carta Macedonia

“The human right to freedom is irrevocable. No person’s freedom can be restricted except by a court decision or in cases and procedures determined by law” is one of the guarantees of the Macedonian constitution of 1991. Unlike British history, Macedonian history does not have its own historical declarations of human and civil rights, however […]

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2nd November 2015

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by Leigh Turner

Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna

Crimes against journalists

Today, 2 November, is ‘International Day to end impunity for crimes against journalists.’ This really matters, for Turkey as for every country. As I wrote in my blog of 2 October about Ahmet Hakan, Turkey: media freedom, stability, security, ‘democracy, human rights and the rule of law are essential to peaceful, resillient and prosperous societies. […]

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2nd November 2015

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by Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Nostra Aetate: An appeal for our times

Nostra aetate (trans. “In our Time”) was the shortest of the many official documents that emerged from the Second Vatican Council. It was sub-titled “Declaration on the Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions”. Passed by an overwhelming majority of the bishops present, and promulgated by Pope Paul VI on 28 October 1965, the Holy […]

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2nd November 2015 London, UK

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by Phil Buckley

Digital Transformation Manager

Digitising the emergency travel documents application process

British middle manager Tom heads to the sports bar

One of the biggest and most important transactions which the FCO runs is emergency travel documents. An emergency travel document can help you get back home if you don’t have your passport for one reason or another. It has all sorts of users including: People who have lost their passport when travelling Expatriates who have […]

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2nd November 2015 Geneva, Switzerland

by Julian Braithwaite

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

What can the United Nations learn from the women who’ve made it?

Last week was the Week of Women in Britain. A British news magazine went as far as running a front page saying that the battle for feminism had been won, and it it was time to move on. But has it, really? I was good at biology at school. But I kept on coming second […]

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