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stevencurtis.bsky.social
The fruits of small-group decision making led by “a very stable genius” #GI4059 #GI4055 #Gi5051
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
March 14, 2026 at 1:19 PM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
Lovely #embassyprotests #GI5051 #GI7037
militarynewsua.bsky.social 🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 @militarynewsua.bsky.social · Aug 23
❗️In 🇵🇱Warsaw, activists painted the asphalt near the 🇷🇺Russian embassy in the colors of the 🇺🇦Ukrainian flag
August 23, 2025 at 5:48 PM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
Accommodation and procedural issues at the #multilateral negotiations leading to the Treaty of Westphalia
#GI5051 #GI5052 #GI7037
oddthisday.bsky.social Odd This Day @oddthisday.bsky.social · Mar 10
Now reading Paul Strathern’s Dark Brilliance, and loving the tone, especially these bits about the makeshift chaos and fragile egos of the Peace of Westphalia in the 1640s
Neither of the small cities of Münster and Osnabrück was equipped to play host to a conference of any size, let alone the large delegations which continued to pour in from all over Europe - some unaccompanied by interpreters, others considering it beneath their dignity to pay for accommodation at such an event. Consequently, the Swiss envoy was 'lodged above a wool weaver's shop in a room that stank of sausage and fish oil', and the twenty-nine-strong delegation from Bavaria was only able to obtain eighteen beds. When official meetings did actually take place between senior delegations in the larger municipal buildings in Osnabrück and Münster, a strict protocol soon had to be devised. Delegates refused to mingle or leave themselves open to any slights which might be seen as diminishing their status, such as the late (or early) arrival of their opposite negotiators, the occupancy of the highest chairs at the conference table, and so forth. Thus, prior to an arranged meeting, each delegation would enter the hall through a different doorway, and proceed at the same slow pace so as to take their allotted seats at the conference table at precisely the same time.
March 15, 2026 at 7:58 AM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
#China ‘planned car collision’ during Taiwan vice-president’s visit to Prague
#GI5051 #GI7037 #espionage
China ‘planned car collision’ during Taiwan vice-president’s visit to Prague
Czech intelligence revealed Chinese diplomats allegedly planned staged incident during Hsiao Bi-khim’s 2024 visit
www.theguardian.com
June 28, 2025 at 7:35 PM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
Hundreds of US diplomats decry dismantling of USAid in letter to Rubio #GI5051 #dissent #diplomaticreporting
Hundreds of US diplomats decry dismantling of USAid in letter to Rubio
Officials say slashing of US Department for International Development leaves power vacuum for adversaries
www.theguardian.com
March 6, 2025 at 12:26 AM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
Trump diplomacy: Carry a big stick and drag your knuckles
www.seattletimes.com/opinion/trum...
#GI5051 #GI5052 #GI7037
David Horsey cartoon in Seattle Times
February 8, 2025 at 10:34 AM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
Peace through corruption
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
The ‘enormous conflict of interest’ at centre of Jared Kushner’s Gaza ceasefire deal #GI4059 #GI5051 #backchannel
“Of course there’s an enormous conflict of interest here,” said Matt Duss, the executive vice-president at the Center for International Policy, who described the influence-peddling in the administration as open corruption. But, he added: “Part of what’s bizarre is that the Trump organisation is so deeply leveraged in the Middle East that the corruption could sustain the ceasefire. Because they all stand to make so much money there is an interest and an incentive to kind of stop the war.”
October 19, 2025 at 7:11 AM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
Tower Hamlets refuses Chipperfield’s Chinese #Embassy #GI5051
Tower Hamlets refuses Chipperfield’s Chinese Embassy following Rayner call in
Eight-day public inquiry into transformation of former Royal Mint to start in February
www.bdonline.co.uk
December 13, 2024 at 2:37 AM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
Bahar Rumelili and Rahime Süleymanoğlu-Kürüm discuss their new article, 'Feminising diplomatic work: Driving devaluation?' courtesy of @mybisa.bsky.social
#GI5051 #GI5052 #GI7037
Feminising diplomatic work: Driving devaluation?
Bahar Rumelili and Rahime Süleymanoğlu-Kürüm discuss the key points from their new RIS article.
www.bisa.ac.uk
February 9, 2026 at 12:30 PM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
Israel to close Dublin #embassy after Ireland supports ICJ genocide petition #GI5051
Israel to close Dublin embassy after Ireland supports ICJ genocide petition
Israeli foreign minister says move was prompted by Irish government’s ‘extreme anti-Israeli policies’
www.theguardian.com
December 15, 2024 at 7:00 PM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
‘Really cautious’: why the ICJ is delaying a Gaza genocide verdict
#GI4059 #GI5051
‘Really cautious’: why the ICJ is delaying a Gaza genocide verdict
While civilians starve and global opinion hardens, judgment from international court may not come until 2027 – or later
www.theguardian.com
July 27, 2025 at 12:06 PM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
Foreign Office staff told to consider resigning after challenging UK policy on Gaza #GI5051 #GI7037
Foreign Office staff told to consider resigning after challenging UK policy on Gaza
Department’s top officials respond to last month’s letter from more than 300 civil servants who raised concerns
www.theguardian.com
June 10, 2025 at 8:49 AM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
Who are the diplomats Russia and Ukraine are sending to peace talks in Istanbul?
#GI5051 #GI5052
Who are the diplomats Russia and Ukraine are sending to peace talks in Istanbul?
The delegations – not due to include Zelenskyy or Putin – are comprised of a mix of high-profile Ukrainians and lesser-known Russians
www.theguardian.com
May 15, 2025 at 9:10 PM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
A text, a Telegram link, then an offer of money: how Iran sought to recruit spies in Israel #GI5051 #espionage
A text, a Telegram link, then an offer of money: how Iran sought to recruit spies in Israel
Court documents suggest Israelis were asked to carry out missions that were at first modest but quickly escalated
www.theguardian.com
July 6, 2025 at 6:53 AM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
‘[M]odern technology and the nature of the Chinese threat means that, in the words of one former British intelligence officer, “embassies are less and less relevant”.’
#GI5051 #GI7037 #GI7100 #china #espionage #transnationalrepression
Why a Chinese ‘mega embassy’ is not such a worry for British spies
Politicians are raising the alarm, while MI5 quietly welcomes the prospect of Beijing’s new London facility
www.theguardian.com
January 18, 2026 at 6:08 PM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
Yeah, I’m sure that will fix it #GI5051 #GI7037 www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
The government has set out new guidance for politically appointed ambassadors intended to avoid a repeat of the Mandelson scandal. The updated guidelines state that candidates directly appointed by ministers outside the civil service system should undergo a pre-appointment interview with a senior official and an informal “fireside chat” with the minister in charge.
November 3, 2025 at 9:32 PM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
"A former convict, a Broadway producer, a few billionaires and his son’s one-time fiancée": Trump's ambassador nominees extraordinaire #GI5051 #GI7037 (I missed this two-week old story over the Xmas break)
Trump’s 7 most eye-opening European ambassador picks
A former convict, a Broadway producer, a few billionaires and his son’s one-time fiancée. Meet the U.S. president-elect’s eclectic transatlantic envoys.
www.politico.eu
January 4, 2025 at 10:54 AM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
"Her diplomatic career has been unaffected. She is now serving as Sri Lanka’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, where she is also accredited to the International Labor Organisation"

You couldn't make this shit up!

#GI5051
Himalee Arunatilaka: former Sri Lankan diplomat in Australia fined more than $100,000 for ‘entrapping’ domestic worker
Judge finds Himalee Arunatilaka’s treatment of worker from 2015 to 2018 in ‘egregious and exploitative’ after diplomat fails to engage court
www.theguardian.com
December 13, 2024 at 1:55 AM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
Trump’s draft plan to trash the State Department. Farewell to Africa and using AI for policy development!
#GI5051 #GI7037 #MFA
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/20/u...
The draft executive order calls for ending the foreign service exam for aspiring diplomats, and it lays out new criteria for hiring, including “alignment with the president’s foreign policy vision.” The draft says the department must greatly expand its use of artificial intelligence to help draft documents, and to undertake “policy development and review” and “operational planning.” The department would eliminate a bureau overseeing democracy and human rights issues; one that handles refugees and migration; and another that works with international organizations. The under secretary position overseeing the first two bureaus would be cut. So would the office of the under secretary of public diplomacy and public affairs. The department would also get rid of the position of the special envoy for climate. One of the most drastic proposed changes would be eliminating the bureau of African affairs, which oversees policy in sub-Saharan Africa. It would be replaced by a much smaller special envoy office for African affairs that would report to the White House National Security Council. The office would focus on a handful of issues, including “coordinated counterterrorism operations.” The draft also said all “nonessential” embassies and consulates in sub-Saharan Africa would be closed by Oct. 1. Diplomats would be sent to Africa on “targeted, mission-driven deployments,” the document said.
April 20, 2025 at 11:37 AM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
How not to become a double agent!

‘Khalife had faked some documents and edited others to make them seem more significant, including by changing “official” classifications to “secret” – or, as Khalife wrote, “secert”.’
#GI5051 #espionage
Daniel Khalife: the spy who blew his own cover – and exposed gaping holes in UK security
When the ex-British army soldier was found guilty last week of passing secrets to Iran, it set off alarm bells over the military’s vulnerability to the threat of infiltration
www.theguardian.com
November 30, 2024 at 6:05 PM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
#GI5051 #MFA
lordrickettsp.bsky.social Peter Ricketts @lordrickettsp.bsky.social · Jul 25
The Resident Clerks were a Foreign Office institution. Four young bachelors lived in a flat in the FO, and did a roster of nights and weekends, fielding urgent calls and telegrams and waking people up when action was needed. I’ve just come across this fun story about Ernie Bevin. 1/2
July 25, 2026 at 1:47 PM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
Trump’s Iran deal is result of unrealistic ambitions for an untenable war #GI5051
Trump’s Iran deal is result of unrealistic ambitions for an untenable war
US entered war with maximalist goals and exits it with pragmatic decision to end conflict despite political cost
www.theguardian.com
June 18, 2026 at 8:07 AM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
Russia’s top secret spy school teaching hacking and election meddling
#GI7037 #GI5051 #espionage
Revealed: Russia’s top secret spy school teaching hacking and election meddling
Exclusive: Documents obtained by journalists show the role of ‘Department 4’ within a Moscow University in training operatives for the military
www.theguardian.com
May 7, 2026 at 9:10 PM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
“Give us a ring”: Charles gives Trump a submarine bell
#GI5052 #GI5051 #GI7037
‘Give us a ring’: King Charles III gifts Trump WWII-era Submarine Bell
YouTube video by Sky News Australia
youtu.be
April 29, 2026 at 12:31 PM
stevencurtis.bsky.social
Iran's #ambassador to UK summoned over 'unacceptable' and 'inflammatory' social media remarks
#GI5051 #GI7037 #embassy
Government summons Iran's ambassador to UK over 'unacceptable' and 'inflammatory' social media remarks | LBC
The Iranian Embassy has been told to “cease any form of communications that could be interpreted as encouraging violence in the UK or internationally.”
www.lbc.co.uk
April 29, 2026 at 6:39 AM