Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

8th November 2024

Berlin, Germany

Ecolabels: A Catalyst for Sustainable Food Choices?

by Kate Robinson

Science and Innovation Advisor, British Embassy Berlin

17th October 2024

Belgrade, Serbia

OSLOBOĐENJE BEOGRADA

by Edward Ferguson

British Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia

11th October 2024

Vienna

Busting the gender myths – women and organised crime

by Corinne Kitsell

Ambassador and UK Permanent Representative to IAEA and CTBTO

16th September 2013 Montreal, Canada

by Mario Rivero-Huguet

I’ve noticed a fascinating trend in my neighbourhood. The streets are home to more and more sidewalk containers branding the logo – Free Food – (“Nourriture à Partager, Servez-vous!”) where fresh vegetables, fine herbs and small fruits are free for the taking…

16th September 2013 Geneva, Switzerland

by Bob Last

Head, UK Mission Political and Human Rights Team

No room at the UN

September didn’t used to be like this. It was the session which could be relied upon for a genteel beginning as delegates eased themselves in after the summer, meeting new colleagues and renewing old acquaintances before getting down to some serious Council business. But not any more. This session has got off to a blistering […]

16th September 2013 Warsaw, Poland

by Martin Oxley

Director of UKTI Warsaw

GREAT Mini and a GREAT Company

We’ve been on tour all week with the GREAT Mini and Bus Team across the western part of Poland promoting Emerging Europe as a GREAT business destination and for those internationally minded Polish companies pointing out that the UK is a GREAT place to do business. On Thursday GREAT Mini Cooper had the GREATEST of […]

16th September 2013

by Martin Harris

British Ambassador to Ukraine

This post was published when the author was in a previous role

Începe anul şcolar: mult succes elevilor din Podari

Am răspuns invitaţiei elevilor şi profesorilor din Podari de a deschide anul şcolar împreună. Am dorit să fac acest lucru pentru a marca succesul acestei instituţii în aducerea copiilor la şcoală şi păstrarea lor în programele educaţionale. Deoarece agenda nu îmi permite să merg la Podari, am ales să transmit mesajul meu online. ‘Am fost […]

14th September 2013 Sana’a, Yemen

by Jane Marriott

British Ambassador to Yemen

اليوم العالمي للديمقراطية – واليمن

تحتفي الجمعية العمومية للأمم المتحدة بيوم الديمقراطية لهذا العام، في (15 سبتمبر) ويتزامن هذا مع نهاية الفترة المحددة للحوار الوطني في اليمن الذي كان نتاج للمبادرة الخليجية وذلك لتوفير إطار عمل عام لليمنيين لحل القضايا التي أدت إلى ثورة الشباب في اليمن منذ عامين. إنه إنجاز رائع أن تمكنت اليمن من تنفيذ الحوار بشكل جيد […]

14th September 2013 Sana’a, Yemen

by Jane Marriott

British Ambassador to Yemen

International Day for Democracy – what does it mean for Yemen?

This year’s UNGA-led International Day for Democracy (15 September) falls close to the scheduled end of Yemen’s National Dialogue, set up under the GCC Initiative to provide a framework for Yemenis to resolve the issues that led to the Youth Revolution in Yemen two years ago. It is a remarkable achievement that Yemen has managed […]

14th September 2013 Harare, Zimbabwe

by Catriona Laing

British Ambassador to Zimbabwe

My Final Blog as Head of the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team

Eighteen months ago I flew into Helmand Province pondering on what lay ahead for me. I was excited and daunted at the same time. I knew then that it would be a life changing experience and so it has proved to be. It has been challenging, inspiring, fun, and of course frustrating at times – […]

13th September 2013 Ottawa, Canada

by Commander Mike O’Sullivan

Naval Adviser at the British High Commission in Ottawa

Operation NANOOK – firefighting in the Yukon

So what brings a Royal Navy Commander to the Canadian Yukon in the middle of summer? The answer is Operation NANOOK – an annual cross-government operation which supports Canada’s commitment to ‘The True North Strong and Free’…

13th September 2013

by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

This post was published when the author was in a previous role

Remembering the Battle of Britain

The “light blue” uniforms were on full display at the High Commission’s annual Battle of Britain Day commemoration this week. Two Royal Australian Air Force Air Marshals were present – Vice Chief of the Defence Force Mark Binskin and Chief of Air Force Geoff Brown – together with a range of serving military personnel and […]

12th September 2013 British High Commission, Kingston, Jamaica

by Syranno Baines

Digital and Communications Officer

COMMUNITY OUTREACH THROUGH SPORTS

When you think of SPORTS , what often comes to mind is a favorite team, players or a game. Not uncommon, would be thoughts of physical activity and possibly leisure time. However, sports has far outgrown such limiting boundaries, and is now widely accepted as possibly one of the strongest agents of community development