Colin Wrafter
@wraftercolin.bsky.social
Retired Irish diplomat, occasional lecturer and seminar chair. Interests include foreign policy, Northern Ireland , human rights, philosophy, history. I enjoy golf but rarely win!
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Alemania y España solemnizan juntos la petición de perdón de Gernika. El presidente alemán y el rey Felipe VI asisten junto al lehendakari a un homenaje a las víctimas del bombardeo de 1937, que destruyó la villa foral
Alemania y España solemnizan juntos la petición de perdón de Gernika
El presidente alemán y el rey Felipe VI asisten junto al lehendakari a un homenaje a las víctimas del bombardeo de 1937, que destruyó la villa foral
elpais.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Alemania y España solemnizan juntos la petición de perdón de Gernika. El presidente alemán y el rey Felipe VI asisten junto al lehendakari a un homenaje a las víctimas del bombardeo de 1937, que destruyó la villa foral
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
New figures released to Parliament show a clear upward trend in detected break-ins at several UK military sites, prompting assurances from ministers that security across the Defence estate is being tightened.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/?p=64434
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/?p=64434
UK faces rising trespass incidents at RAF and Army bases
New figures released to Parliament show a clear upward trend in detected break-ins at several UK military sites, prompting assurances from ministers that security across the Defence estate is being tightened.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk
November 28, 2025 at 6:31 PM
New figures released to Parliament show a clear upward trend in detected break-ins at several UK military sites, prompting assurances from ministers that security across the Defence estate is being tightened.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/?p=64434
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/?p=64434
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
What a great headline
November 28, 2025 at 3:49 PM
What a great headline
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Experts say it’s highly unusual for the White House to tell agents to give up custody of potential evidence in an investigation, as it did with the Tates.
“I’ve never heard of anything like that in my 30 years working,” an ex-DHS official said.
“I’ve never heard of anything like that in my 30 years working,” an ex-DHS official said.
The White House Intervened on Behalf of Accused Sex Trafficker Andrew Tate During a Federal Investigation
Federal authorities were chided for seizing electronic devices from Tate and his brother, and told to return them, records and interviews show. Experts said the intervention was highly inappropriate.
www.propublica.org
November 28, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Experts say it’s highly unusual for the White House to tell agents to give up custody of potential evidence in an investigation, as it did with the Tates.
“I’ve never heard of anything like that in my 30 years working,” an ex-DHS official said.
“I’ve never heard of anything like that in my 30 years working,” an ex-DHS official said.
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
In @nytopinion.nytimes.com
“If Trump uses the considerable economic, military and diplomatic power of the United States to coerce Ukraine into risking its independence, a cease-fire wouldn’t be a diplomatic achievement — it would be a national shame,” our columnist David French writes.
“If Trump uses the considerable economic, military and diplomatic power of the United States to coerce Ukraine into risking its independence, a cease-fire wouldn’t be a diplomatic achievement — it would be a national shame,” our columnist David French writes.
Opinion | ‘We Are Going to Have to Fight Three Wars’
How much will Trump ask Zelensky to pay for peace in Ukraine?
nyti.ms
November 28, 2025 at 4:10 AM
In @nytopinion.nytimes.com
“If Trump uses the considerable economic, military and diplomatic power of the United States to coerce Ukraine into risking its independence, a cease-fire wouldn’t be a diplomatic achievement — it would be a national shame,” our columnist David French writes.
“If Trump uses the considerable economic, military and diplomatic power of the United States to coerce Ukraine into risking its independence, a cease-fire wouldn’t be a diplomatic achievement — it would be a national shame,” our columnist David French writes.
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
“This cozy idea that somehow Maduro falls and the next day María Corina Machado walks into the presidential palace and everybody lives happily ever after is fantastical," said Phil Gunson, who is based in Caracas for the International Crisis Group. "That won't happen.”
As Washington escalates pressure on Venezuela, any push for regime change risks becoming a costly, dangerous gamble — not the quick fix President Trump might hope for. n.pr/48aVmHq
'A giant game of chicken': Trump's Venezuela standoff edges toward conflict
As Washington escalates pressure on Venezuela, any push for regime change risks becoming a costly, dangerous gamble — not the quick fix President Trump might hope for.
n.pr
November 27, 2025 at 2:18 PM
“This cozy idea that somehow Maduro falls and the next day María Corina Machado walks into the presidential palace and everybody lives happily ever after is fantastical," said Phil Gunson, who is based in Caracas for the International Crisis Group. "That won't happen.”
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Trump says land action to stop alleged Venezuelan drug cartels to start ‘soon’ trib.al/5QJV9ug
Trump says land action to stop alleged Venezuelan drug cartels to start 'soon'
The US president has been weighing up whether to take military action over suspected drug trafficking
inews.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Trump says land action to stop alleged Venezuelan drug cartels to start ‘soon’ trib.al/5QJV9ug
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Partnership model a good fit for Irish and Chinese companies
Partnership model a good fit for Irish and Chinese companies
IDA’s MD for China pointed to a map of Europe: `That place that looks like a teddy bear ... that’s Ireland’
www.irishtimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Partnership model a good fit for Irish and Chinese companies
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
There is literally no reason for the military to be in D.C.
November 28, 2025 at 4:13 AM
There is literally no reason for the military to be in D.C.
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Europe has raced to rearm since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. In The World Ahead, we explain why 2026 will be a big year for the continent’s defence industry
European governments are fuelling a rearmament boom
Europe is rearming at its fastest pace since the end of the cold war. Defence spending is set to rise by €700bn-800bn between 2022 and 2028
econ.st
November 28, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Europe has raced to rearm since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. In The World Ahead, we explain why 2026 will be a big year for the continent’s defence industry
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
🚨🚨"Whatever the reason Witkoff is prolonging the conflict. He is not promoting peace. If this were a normal American administration, he would be fired immediately. But nothing about this negotiation, or this administration, is normal at all." @anneapplebaum.bsky.social's damning verdict on #witkoff.
November 27, 2025 at 8:50 AM
🚨🚨"Whatever the reason Witkoff is prolonging the conflict. He is not promoting peace. If this were a normal American administration, he would be fired immediately. But nothing about this negotiation, or this administration, is normal at all." @anneapplebaum.bsky.social's damning verdict on #witkoff.
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Stephen Collins: Simon Harris is facing his first big test. Can he shake off TikTok Tánaiste image?
Stephen Collins: Simon Harris is facing his first big test. Can he shake off TikTok Tánaiste image?
New Minister for Finance and his colleague Jack Chambers will need to channel a bit of Ray MacSharry
www.irishtimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Stephen Collins: Simon Harris is facing his first big test. Can he shake off TikTok Tánaiste image?
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Fascism isn’t populism; it fuses leader-worship with organised violence to crush opposition entirely and decisively at roots | Prof Paul Kenny
The nature of fascism and why it differs from populism
Fascism isn’t populism; it fuses leader-worship with organised violence to crush opposition entirely and decisively at roots
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Fascism isn’t populism; it fuses leader-worship with organised violence to crush opposition entirely and decisively at roots | Prof Paul Kenny
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Timeline cleanser
Today is the 56th anniversary of the first performance of Mahna Mahna on Sesame Street. You’re familiar with it by now, of course, but... well, it never hurts to be reminded, does it?
Sesame Street - Mahna Mahna (1969)
YouTube video by Tiny Dancer
youtu.be
November 27, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Timeline cleanser
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Guinée-Bissau : l'armée annonce avoir pris le "contrôle total" du pays
Guinée-Bissau : l'armée annonce avoir pris le "contrôle total" du pays
Ce mercredi, trois jours après le second tour de l'élection présidentielle et à la veille de la publication des résultats, le président sortant a été arrêté par des militaires, qui ont annoncé avoir pris le contrôle du pays.
fr.euronews.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Guinée-Bissau : l'armée annonce avoir pris le "contrôle total" du pays
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Le Parlement européen en faveur d’un âge minimal de 16 ans pour les réseaux sociaux et les outils d’IA
Le Parlement européen en faveur d’un âge minimal de 16 ans pour les réseaux sociaux et les outils d’IA
www.lemonde.fr
November 27, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Le Parlement européen en faveur d’un âge minimal de 16 ans pour les réseaux sociaux et les outils d’IA
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Writing for @juristnews.bsky.social, Dr Alexus McNally warns that the UN's new Gang Suppression Force risks replicating the failures of the Multinational Security Support Mission unless Haiti's governance crisis & the influx of US firearms are addressed.
Read the full article here ⬇️
bit.ly/4pxMlzp
Read the full article here ⬇️
bit.ly/4pxMlzp
Haiti Needs Governance, Not Guns: New UN Haiti Force Risks Repeating Old Failures
It has been almost two years now since my father and his wife fled from Haiti. Men and boys, armed with assault rifles, descended upon their home in the middle of the night and riddled it with bullets...
www.jurist.org
November 27, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Writing for @juristnews.bsky.social, Dr Alexus McNally warns that the UN's new Gang Suppression Force risks replicating the failures of the Multinational Security Support Mission unless Haiti's governance crisis & the influx of US firearms are addressed.
Read the full article here ⬇️
bit.ly/4pxMlzp
Read the full article here ⬇️
bit.ly/4pxMlzp
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Children being exploited on gaming platforms at ‘an alarming scale’, senior garda tells RTÉ in Roblox investigation
Senior garda warns of 'alarming' scale of child grooming in games
Amid growing concerns over child safety on Roblox, one of the most popular gaming platforms among primary school pupils, Prime Time set up test accounts and spent roughly 12 hours playing on the platf...
www.rte.ie
November 27, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Children being exploited on gaming platforms at ‘an alarming scale’, senior garda tells RTÉ in Roblox investigation
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
No less than €180 billion in frozen Russian assets are dispersed across the European Union.
The EU plan would be to deploy €140 billion (£122bn) of these assets as a zero-interest “reparations loan” to Ukraine, providing Ukraine with urgently needed resources.
The EU plan would be to deploy €140 billion (£122bn) of these assets as a zero-interest “reparations loan” to Ukraine, providing Ukraine with urgently needed resources.
Making Russia pay: the EU’s plan to rebuild Ukraine
A proposal to loan Ukraine billions in frozen Russian assets has split members of the EU on the right course of action
kentandsurreybylines.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 7:08 AM
No less than €180 billion in frozen Russian assets are dispersed across the European Union.
The EU plan would be to deploy €140 billion (£122bn) of these assets as a zero-interest “reparations loan” to Ukraine, providing Ukraine with urgently needed resources.
The EU plan would be to deploy €140 billion (£122bn) of these assets as a zero-interest “reparations loan” to Ukraine, providing Ukraine with urgently needed resources.
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
November 26, 2025
November 26, 2025
Thanksgiving is the quintessential American holiday…but not for the reasons we generally remember.
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:04 AM
November 26, 2025
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Volume I of the Journal for New Narratives in the History of Philosophy is now published.
#philsky
journal.lib.uoguelph.ca/index.php/nn...
#philsky
journal.lib.uoguelph.ca/index.php/nn...
Journal for New Narratives in the History of Philosophy
journal.lib.uoguelph.ca
November 26, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Volume I of the Journal for New Narratives in the History of Philosophy is now published.
#philsky
journal.lib.uoguelph.ca/index.php/nn...
#philsky
journal.lib.uoguelph.ca/index.php/nn...
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Very interesting piece by Michael McNair.
medium.com/@mcnai002/gl...
medium.com/@mcnai002/gl...
Global Public Goods and the Miran Doctrine
Global Public Goods and the Miran Doctrine In his Hudson Institute speech this spring, Stephen Miran, then chair of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers and now a Federal Reserve Governor …
medium.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Very interesting piece by Michael McNair.
medium.com/@mcnai002/gl...
medium.com/@mcnai002/gl...
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
In many repressive countries, simply using a VPN is considered suspicious or even illegal, which can draw unwanted attention from authorities or hostile groups.
X's new “About this account is less accurate because it uses aggregated IP addresses, at least [that's] what they’re saying they’re doing, to share with the public where your account is based,” says @philipmai.com www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
New location feature on X sheds light on accounts — but also has errors | CBC News
Canadian researchers who track online misinformation and foreign interference are welcoming a new feature that reveals the location of an X account but warn that it still has glitches and its results ...
www.cbc.ca
November 26, 2025 at 4:39 PM
In many repressive countries, simply using a VPN is considered suspicious or even illegal, which can draw unwanted attention from authorities or hostile groups.
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
big late breaking news: the market monitor for the largest energy grid in the u.s., covering much of the midwest and mid-atlantic, has called to block new data centers connections to the grid, saying current course of growth assures regular blackouts
No more PJM data centers unless they can be reliably served: market monitor
The PJM Interconnection’s market monitor urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to rule that large data centers can only come online if the grid operator can still meet reliability metrics.
www.utilitydive.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:17 AM
big late breaking news: the market monitor for the largest energy grid in the u.s., covering much of the midwest and mid-atlantic, has called to block new data centers connections to the grid, saying current course of growth assures regular blackouts
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Foreign interference or opportunistic grifting: why are so many pro-Trump X accounts based in Asia?
Foreign interference or opportunistic grifting: why are so many pro-Trump X accounts based in Asia?
A new feature on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter allows users to see the location of other accounts. It has resulted in a firestorm of recriminations
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Foreign interference or opportunistic grifting: why are so many pro-Trump X accounts based in Asia?