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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
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Lost and Found (but mostly lost)
8th March 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Romania, country of choice for British investors
Today I opened the new service centre of Stanleybet, one of the most established British investors in Romania and one that is now expanding its operations here. Stanleybet has chosen Romania from the eight countries in which it operates as the location for its service centre, dealing with customers in Italy, Germany and Cyprus. Why? […]
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8th March 2012 USA
Entrepreneurs—the modern gold rush
I had the pleasure of visiting Nicaragua for a short holiday recently. I loved the scenery, friendly people and, unexpectedly, learning about Nicaragua’s role in the California gold rush. Back in the 1850s Nicaragua was a key route for those dashing to the west coast as it was quicker and cheaper to sail from New […]
8th March 2012 Washington DC, USA
Helmand on International Women’s Day
I’d like to draw your attention to the latest blog by our Head of Mission in Helmand, Michael O’Neill. The post covers Helmand Province on today, International Women’s Day. Helmand Province offers a microcosm of the wide range of conditions facing women and girls in Afghanistan. In many rural areas it’s hard for girls to […]
8th March 2012 Ottawa, Canada
In the name of equality
Today is International Women’s Day – a day that has been observed since the early 1900’s – a time that saw great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world, and women’s inequality and oppression was starting to spark debate and active campaigning for change. The day has now become recognised globally – across developed and […]
8th March 2012 Warsaw, Poland
The British Polish salmon, whisky and tea run!
Great job guys! I’ve just got home, put my feet up and am tucking into a great salmon sandwich, a cup of Harrogate green tea and you know what, I’m going to try some of my best single malt this evening. It’s been a great day. Let me tell you why. My expert colleague in […]
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8th March 2012 Dublin, Ireland
International Women’s Day – female guest bloggers
Today is a very important day. It is my birthday. More seriously, it is International Women’s Day. The role of woman in European society has evolved a lot in recent years, mostly in a positive direction. However, there is a great deal still to do. Women are still under represented at the top levels in […]
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8th March 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Girl Power
Today is International Women’s Day, with the theme of “Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures”. The focus is on events that involve, educate and inspire girls to reach their full potential and enjoy equal and empowered futures. Many British diplomatic colleagues around the world will be blogging about this subject from different angles, not least the economic […]
7th March 2012 Washington DC, USA
Investing in the Olympic Legacy
London is probably the coolest city on earth. As a native Londoner I may be biased, but this week I’m back home for work and taking some time off to catch up with friends and family. I’m staying with my fashion fabulous friend, a stylist and dress-designer who has recently expanded her business into several […]
7th March 2012 Budapest, Hungary
Completing the free market
I’ll be spending a lot of my time on bilateral Hungary-UK issues over the next few years. But of course another important feature of my work will be our countries’ relationship with the EU and how the EU will develop. With that in mind I went to a well attended seminar on the EU’s future […]
7th March 2012 Washington DC, USA
An unconventional flapper lives the American Dream
My mother’s mother was born early in the 20th century in a small Welsh mining village. She was the third of 11 children and she left school – illegally – at 12 to work in a factory. This was not uncommon – indeed only her very youngest sister finished school. Married at 17, to avoid […]
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