Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

16th January 2019 Geneva, Switzerland

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by Aidan Liddle

UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament

Disarmament Blog: Disarmament In 2019

After a good break over Christmas and the New Year, I’m back in Geneva feeling refreshed for what will be a busy year in disarmament. Here’s a flavour of some the issues that will be on my mind in 2019. (I’ll look at some of them in more detail in future blog posts.) 2019 marks […]

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16th January 2019 King Charles Street, London

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by Alexandra Abbot

Strategic Communications and Engagement Officer

Science over Brexit: UK-Romanian Policy Dialogue on Continued Cooperation in Science and Innovation.

Last month I attended the last in a series of round-tables events about the opportunities for UK and EU collaboration in science after Brexit. UK Embassies across Central and Eastern Europe hosted academics and policy-makers to discuss the future of UK and EU collaboration on science after we leave the EU. Through my internship at […]

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15th January 2019 King Charles Street, London

Daphna Frucht

Daphna Frucht

From the Einstein Archives to the Scientists of the Future – Lord Winston visits Israel

Last month the UK Science & Innovation Network in Israel (SIN) hosted the Lord Professor Robert Winston, a passionate advocate for UK-Israel cooperation in Science. Lord Winston is co-chairing the UK-Israel Science Council – a body of 25 leading scientists from the UK and Israel, who help guide our efforts to use science, research and […]

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11th January 2019 Auckland, New Zealand

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by Alasdair Hamilton

Consul General & Deputy Governor to the Pitcairn Islands

The Far Side

That term has practically slipped away into the ether since the retirement of the wonderful cartoonist Gary Larsson in 1995. But as all space watchers will be only too acutely aware it is a term that has dominated the electronic and print media since the landing of the Chang’e 4 Rover on the South Pole-Aitken […]

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7th January 2019 Geneva, Switzerland

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by Verity Robson

Legal Counsellor, UK Mission to the United Nations, Geneva

Identifying Fallen Soldiers

It is fair to say that the UK and Argentina have had their differences.  Yet at the end of 2018 the Permanent Missions of the Argentine Republic and the United Kingdom came together, with the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), to commemorate the completion of a joint humanitarian project to […]

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7th January 2019 Port Louis, Mauritius

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by Keith Allan

British High Commissioner to Mauritius

Armistice 100 – Remembrance Day in Mauritius

It’s been quite some time since my last blog. Twitter seems to have taken over! Remembrance Day and that important opportunity to honour and remember those who gave so much seemed like a very good occasion to get started again. Honouring those who served in the Arctic Convoys of the Second World War was a […]

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27th December 2018 Vientiane, Laos

Martin Couch

Interim Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Laos

A long road ahead for girls’ education

Guest blog by Martin Couch, Acting Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Laos: A surprise visit to Nongdeng village in Xamnue district, Huaphan province (remote northern Laos) Thank you Ambassador Hugh Evans for letting me post a blog about my short time here in Laos. As someone who works in the Foreign and […]

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24th December 2018

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by Matt Field

British Diplomat

Saying goodbye to Paddy

This weekend the UK and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) lost a dear friend, with the passing of Lord Ashdown. ‘Paddy’ was a nickname from childhood, but one he continued to use throughout his life, and by which he will be remembered across BiH. Much has already been written about his powerful contribution to British politics, […]

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20th December 2018 Toronto, Canada

Kat Bodkin

by Kat Bodkin

Head of Science, Innovation & Policy

Our Science and Innovation Relationship with Canada: Revamped!

Spotify, Shopify, Shazam, Hootsuite. The United Kingdom (UK) and Canada are home to some of the most innovative and successful companies in the world thanks to vibrant ecosystems of world leading incubators and universities, strong government support and highly skilled talent in both countries. I am a science and innovation diplomat for the UK government […]

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20th December 2018 Skopje, North Macedonia

Rachel Galloway

Rachel Galloway

British Ambassador to Macedonia

Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much

I spend much of my time in meetings in offices with people who are involved in politics in Macedonia, or who work on research in civil society, organise public debates, draft legislation, or advise on official strategies. More rarely do I get to meet the every-day youth of Macedonia. So I was thrilled when a few […]

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