Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

23rd December 2013 New Delhi, India

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by Swati Saxena

Senior Science and Innovation Adviser

A Nobel week in New Delhi

The festive season has begun on a brilliant note with Dr Venki Ramakrishnan and Sir Paul Nurse, both UK based Nobel Laureates visiting Delhi last week. Dr Ramakrishnan delivered his public lecture on ‘Antibiotics and the Cell’s Protein Factory’ on Monday in AIIMS had a spell bound audience. The account of his lab’s work on […]

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20th December 2013 Brasilia, Brazil

by Thais Oliveira

Political Intern

Internship is GREAT!

  The British Diplomatic Mission has one of the highest number of interns among other missions  in Brazil. The partnership with Brazilian higher education institutions started in 2006. Currently there are 36 interns working in our different posts across the country. This is one of the best internship programmes available in the field of International Relations, my area […]

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20th December 2013 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

by Nikesh Mehta

Counsellor for Foreign Policy and Security

A Year That Did Justice To The Bilateral Relationship

2012 was by any measure an extraordinary year with historic visits by the British Prime Minister and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. I asked in my end of year blog whether we could maintain the same level of ambition in 2013. Looking back on this year, I can emphatically say that we have! Over […]

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19th December 2013 Washington DC, USA

by Jessica Jennings

Head of Strategic Communications

Making all voices count online and “IRL”

In my lifetime, the rise of digital communications has changed nearly every aspect of our daily activities. And in foreign policy, the world is changing as a result of digital’s ability to give a voice to so many. We have seen social media play a huge role in regime change in the Arab world, we have […]

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18th December 2013

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by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

The Ashes: the rivalry that unites us

So, Australia has won back the Ashes. I was always wary of hubris: I didn’t expect Australia to lightly concede a fourth series defeat in a row. But I don’t think many people anticipated England would perform quite so disappointingly, particularly with the bat. All credit to an Australian team who played outstandingly well. And […]

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18th December 2013

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by Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Christians in the Middle East: A Royal and Government Response

The Religious Freedom Project of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown University organised an important conference in Rome last week on the theme of ‘Christianity and Freedom’. A number of distinguished British academics took part. One of the questions asked was what more are governments doing to stop religious persecution […]

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18th December 2013 Science and Innovation Network

Indo-UK Design Escapades

I have been a ‘SIN’ner for merely two months but I am consciously    obligated to say that I have had the most enriching experience in this short span of time.  Just as I finished ‘Innovation’ week it was time to prepare for and welcome the Design Delegation team i.e. Mr John Mathers, CEO, Design Council, Mr […]

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