11th May 2026
The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill: turning a global ocean agreement into UK law
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
9th April 2026
The Gulf, Berlin and the Commission on the Status of Women: building global alliances to advance women’s progress
26th February 2026
Different Memories, Shared Futures: Why Inclusive Remembrance Matters for Serbia and the Region
1st October 2015 Colombo, Sri Lanka
A Maldivian experience of Chevening
In the latest in our series of guest blogs to promote the UK’s Chevening Scholarship programme, Alieen Niyaz recounts her experience of studying in the UK as a Maldivian Chevening Scholar. On the very week I arrived in London as a Chevening Scholar, I received an invitation on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen and […]
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1st October 2015 Dublin, Ireland
Trade and Investment – It’s all about innovation based partnerships – here’s a starter for 10
It was great to host our Minister for Trade and Investment in Poland last week – excellent timing and lot’s of focus on fundamentals aimed at driving a strong business growth agenda. Let’s consider three cornerstones for leadership in trade and investment: Inward investment as we look at it or using the UK as a […]
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30th September 2015 London, UK
Finding the time for some digital learning
Most communications professionals want to sharpen their digital communication skills, but we all know it’s hard to find the time to learn new skills and practice them. September was digital learning month for the Communication Directorate at the FCO. Our digital team offered up their creative skills and time to run training sessions and demos […]
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30th September 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The Story of SMURD
SMURD might sound to the British ear like one of those evil syndicates aiming to take over the world in a sixties spy caper. Or possibly a new brand of detergent. But the acronym actually stands for “Serviciul Mobil de Urgenta, Reanimare si Descarcerare”. It is a Romanian mobile emergency service, which began life in […]
29th September 2015 Toronto, Canada
Canadian science news: 14-27 September 2015
Want to receive this newsletter in your inbox as soon as it’s compiled? Join our mailing list here: http://eepurl.com/30qLH Our weekly wrap-up of science news in Canada, 14-27 September 2015: https://storify.com/SINCanada/canadian-science-news-14-27-september-2015
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29th September 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The Jubilee of Mercy: a guide for British pilgrims
What does Pope Francis’s announcement of the Jubilee Year of Mercy mean for an embassy accredited to the Holy See? Above all, it means many more people coming to Rome, and specifically to the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica, not as tourists but as pilgrims. Our role, together with the British Embassy to Italy, […]
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29th September 2015 Mumbai, India
Antimicrobial resistance: UK-India collaborating to beat the superbugs
You might recall the UK Science and Innovation Network in India put together an excellent workshop on infectious diseases last year, where we explored various potential UK-India collaborative areas to help tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Top experts from the UK and India discussed important issues like open innovation and drug discovery; and the many associated […]
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29th September 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Social Media & Ethiopia: a discussion with some top ‘influencers’
Digital Diplomacy is a key part of our work in the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. We are encouraged to use social media and become closer to our audiences, to engage with and listen to them – it helps us reach a much wider range of stakeholders than through traditional methods of diplomacy. I started […]
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28th September 2015 Moscow, Russia
Russia to give robotic technologies a boost
Even for someone who has not been following developments too closely over the past 4 years, it’s clear that momentum is building to make robotics an integral component of STEM work in Russia. A recent message from the Education and Science Minister that “robotics should be made part of Russia’s educational curriculum” certainly brings the […]
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28th September 2015 Geneva, Switzerland
Difficult Deliveries
However it happens, giving birth to a resolution at the UN is always difficult. In olden times, when the Human Rights Council was but a twinkle in the eye of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the process remained unchanged down the generations. Drafts were put together in foetal form by aspiring parent delegations, and then discussed […]