Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

18th July 2012 New Delhi, India

Innovation Redefined – India’s story

Science and Innovation history in India dates back to the Stone Age and continues to flourish today passing through generations of scientists. From Aryabhatta to C V Raman to the new brigade of scientists; the outlook of science has constantly changed to align itself with the ever changing domestic and global environment. Governments, businesses, civil society […]

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17th July 2012 Washington DC, USA

by Peter Westmacott

Former Ambassador to the United States of America

An Ambassador’s perspective: Boston knows innovation

The Boston area is home to many of the most famous sites of America’s break from Britain – the Old State House, where the royal governors sat; the Old North Church that launched Paul Revere’s famous ride; the harbour where the first tea party took place; and battlefields like Bunker Hill, Lexington and Concord where […]

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17th July 2012 Budapest, Hungary

by Jonathan Knott

Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

The honour of being an Olympic Torch Bearer

Guest blog by Olympic Torch Bearer Andrea Snow It is magical being one of those 8,000 inspirational people, who carry the Olympic Flame as it journeys across UK before the Olympic Games begin on 27 July, 2012. Weymouth, 13 July 2012 I had several minutes of “flame” and a truly wonderful “moment to shine”; a […]

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16th July 2012 Nairobi, Kenya

by Matt Baugh

Ambassador to Somalia

Olympic dreams

There are days when you realise just how much of a privilege it is to be an Ambassador. Growing up in the UK, I vividly remember watching Daley Thompson, Seb Coe and Steve Redgrave achieving Olympic glory. This year, our hopes rest on the likes of Jessica Ennis, Tom Daley, and, of course, Mo Farah […]

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13th July 2012 Washington DC, USA

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by Amy English

Congressional Liaison for the Foreign and Security Policy Group

A trip to 51 degrees south

In Washington DC, the summer climate has reached its miserable peak of 100+ degrees. While my colleagues are packing their swimsuits into their backpacks and heading off to the beach, I am scouring my closets for a warm winter coat to face the cold winds of the South Atlantic with a visit to the Falkland […]

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13th July 2012

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by James Dauris

British Ambassador, Panama

Hats Off to Good Government in Peru

This year, for the second year running, I have had the honour of sitting on the Technical Team that considers the applications to be considered in the “Good Practices in Public Management Prize”, a competition organised each year by Ciudadanos al Dia (CAD).   As CAD explain on their website (www.ciudadanosaldia.org), the organisation is a private, […]

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13th July 2012

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by Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Religion against Poverty and Injustice

I take my title from the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, which on 3 July published a report on an important new development initiative in the United Kingdom, called “Faith Partnership Principles”. On 26 June, the Faith Partnership Principles paper was launched at an inter-faith event at Lambeth Palace, convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury and […]

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13th July 2012

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by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

Iron awe in the Pilbara

Anglo Australian giant Rio Tinto earns $21bn a year from mining in Western Australia. They took me to visit their vast iron-ore mining operation in the remote Pilbara region, some 1000 km north of Perth. As I lined up at the airport with hundreds of miners in their hi-vis jackets, at 4.30 am, I reflected […]

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12th July 2012 Guatemala City, Guatemala

by David McNaught

Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy, Guatemala

Guatemala: Crimebusters!

Security and justice have been prominent themes this week in Guatemala. On 9 July the International Commission Against Impunity (CICIG) launched their new work-plan for 2012/13, its Head, Francisco Dall’Anese, flanked by Guatemala’s heads of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial powers, as he described how CICIG intends to continue tackling impunity. Then a day later, […]

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12th July 2012 Ottawa, Canada

Getting outside is GREAT

In celebration of summer and getting outside, another guest blog posting by our British High Commission Ottawa, Climate and Prosperity Advisor, Adrienne Yuen:  Last week, I came across this eye-popping infographic on nature and us.  Apparently, nature is good for you.  It can make you healthier, smarter, fitter, and nicer.  Just two minutes outside can […]

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