1st October 2026
A Year Too Big for Two Suitcases: Notes From a Chevening Scholar
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
11th May 2026
The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill: turning a global ocean agreement into UK law
9th April 2026
The Gulf, Berlin and the Commission on the Status of Women: building global alliances to advance women’s progress
25th August 2011 Toronto, Canada
Mapping government research centres
Today, we talk about an interesting release from science.gc.ca. Have you ever wondered whether that funny-looking building on your way into work is actually a government research laboratory? Well, now you can confirm it – the Canadian government has released a map showing the locations of all 230+ research facilities it administers. You can also […]
25th August 2011 Windhoek, Namibia
Taking care in Namibia
One of the more marvellous traits of human kind is how communities pull together to support each other during times of crisis. We have seen wonderful examples of this in the aftermath of the recent vandalism and arson attacks in London and elsewhere in the UK. Whole communities have mobilised themselves using the same social […]
25th August 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Three years and still like that only
In the following guest blog, Collette Weston, Deputy Head – UK Trade and Investment (Western India), bids a fond farewell to her Mumbai team, Mumbai and India. I got caught in a traffic jam on my way home from work the other day. I am sure most of the other bloggers on the FCO platform […]
25th August 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The Libyans have spoken
Like many people in Jordan and elsewhere I have been glued to the TV reporting and the Twitter feeds coming from Libya. Although there are pockets of resistance, the end of the Libyan people’s nightmare is not far away. The sooner Qadhafi is captured the better. We have watched, fascinated, as history was made in […]
24th August 2011 Ottawa, Canada
Condolences
Canada lost a remarkable public figure this week. I would like to offer my most sincere condolences on behalf of myself, the staff at the British High Commission and the British people to Mr. Layton’s family and friends as well as Canadians across this country that have been touched by his passing.
22nd August 2011 Ottawa, Canada
Visite du Centre McEwen de recherche sur la médecine régénérative
This is Lara Kaute guestblogging (in French!) about a visit to the McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine (John Preece has also written an English-language account). Read on to hear about the first research centre to develop beating heart cells from induced pluripotent stem cells. Lara Kaute, interne au département des sciences et de l’innovation du […]
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22nd August 2011 Toronto, Canada
The McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine
I was recently fortunate enough to visit to the McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine, based at the renowned MaRS Discovery District here in Toronto. This visit was part of our ongoing follow-up from ISSCR 2011, and included our Consul-General, Mr. Jonathan Dart. SIN intern Lara Kaute also wrote about her experiences last week. The McEwen […]
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22nd August 2011 Nairobi, Kenya
Somalia: Guest Blog by James Hooley – Letter from Mogadishu
My name is James Hooley and I’m currently part of the British Office for Somalia team in Nairobi. My boss, Matt Baugh, has very kindly lent me his blog so I can tell you a little bit more about our trip to Mogadishu on Wednesday with Andrew Mitchell, the UK Secretary of State for International […]
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18th August 2011
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
An Iftar dinner in Canberra
Last night, I was pleased to be invited by the Blue Star Intercultural Centre to celebrate the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, over a traditional Iftar dinner in a Muslim family home in the Canberra suburbs. Having lived for the last four years in Singapore where a sixth of the population are Muslim, I knew […]
17th August 2011 New York, USA
New York Welcomes Susan Haird, Acting Chief Executive of UK Trade & Investment
Guest blog by Amita Randhawa, UKTI Regional Director, North-East USAThough August is traditionally a quiet month, New York has been positively buzzing over the past few weeks. Following the exciting arrival on 1 August of our new Consul-General, Danny Lopez, we welcomed Susan Haird, acting Chief Executive of UK Trade & Investment, last week for […]
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