Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

23rd September 2014

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by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

All eyes on New York this week

British and Australian leaders will no doubt be seeing each other around New York this week, amidst the frenzied activity which comprises the annual UN General Assembly (UNGA) Ministerial Week. Tony Abbott, David Cameron, Julie Bishop and Philip Hammond will be there, together with ministerial colleagues and around 130 Heads of State or Government. Inevitably countering extremism and the threat […]

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22nd September 2014 Brasilia, Brazil

by Kate Thornley

Ukraine Crisis: New EU Sanctions against Russia  

For the last nine months Europe has been gripped by the crisis in Ukraine. For years Europe and Russia have enjoyed increasing economic and political co-operation, but in March 2014 Russia illegally annexed Crimea, breaching the sovereignty of Ukraine and escalating tensions in the region. This represents a loss of 4,5% of territory – the equivalent […]

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22nd September 2014 Madrid, Spain

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by Daniel Pruce

British Ambassador to the Philippines and to Palau

Flexible working: it’s not unusual

Logo courtesy of www.workingfamilies.org.uk

Joint blog with Peter Abbott, DHM Lisbon This week in the UK it is National Work/Life Balance Week. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and its global network of posts, is committed to helping ensure its staff achieve a good balance between work and life outside of work. Something that can help people achieve that is flexible […]

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22nd September 2014

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by Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Christian unity and good causes: small steps, big results

As ambassador to the Holy See, it is quite rare that I get out of Rome for professional purposes. Most of the key contacts and institutions with which the embassy works are, naturally, based in Rome. Although I plug into the global Holy See network, I do that through the hub. So I have had […]

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22nd September 2014 Mumbai, India

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by Vijay Iyer

Senior Science & Innovation Adviser

UK-India dialogue on advanced manufacturing in Bengaluru

The grand finale of the series of UK-India manufacturing events held this year unfolded in Bengaluru from 10-12 September. I worked with my colleagues Gagan, Leena, Tom, Bincy, Priyanka, and Venkatesh to deliver this 3-day programme, which was jointly organised by the UK Science & Innovation Network and UK Trade and Investment. A 9-member UK delegation […]

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19th September 2014 Havana, Cuba

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by Tim Cole

Former British Ambassador to Cuba

We need to fight Ebola together

The Cuban government’s decision to send 165 medical staff to West Africa to fight Ebola is very welcome. Working alongside national health workers, international NGO staff, epidemiologists and military staff from a number of countries including the UK, these Cuban doctors and nurses will play a crucial role in the world’s response to this terrible […]

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19th September 2014

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by Bruce Bucknell

Former British Deputy High Commissioner Kolkata

Dress to impress

I recently received an invitation to talk about dress. A business club wanted to hear my views about how to dress for business meetings. I’m always happy to speak in public, but I wasn’t sure that I was the best person to give advice on this subject. I probed for more detail. Apparently, some business […]

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