Tobias Denskus
@aidnography.de
Associate Professor in Development Studies at Malmö University, Sweden. Global development. Humanitarianism. Communication & Social Change. Chief Blogger at www.aidnography.de since 2010.
More: https://linktr.ee/tobiasdenskus
More: https://linktr.ee/tobiasdenskus
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Tobias Denskus
@aidnography.de
· Jan 27
With new followers & first citations showing up it may seem to be a good time to introduce our "Handbook on Humanitarianism and Inequality" that @silkeroth.bsky.social, Bandana Purkayastha & @aidnography.de edited in a longer 🧵 (1/x)
Reposted by Tobias Denskus
1/ Issue 228 of The Continent is out: Wagner’s info warriors, post-Prigozhin. Leaked docs reveal their influence in 22 African countries. We focus on South Africa, Mali, CAR, Niger & Angola.
February 13, 2026 at 6:49 PM
1/ Issue 228 of The Continent is out: Wagner’s info warriors, post-Prigozhin. Leaked docs reveal their influence in 22 African countries. We focus on South Africa, Mali, CAR, Niger & Angola.
People are wondering why Germany's second most-powerful politician Julia Klöckner agreed to an IDF-guided tour in Gaza without speaking to a single Palestinian or aid organization; for pictures likes this: 100% MAGA-chic, 0% empathy. This is what "conservatives" want to be known for globally
February 12, 2026 at 3:33 PM
People are wondering why Germany's second most-powerful politician Julia Klöckner agreed to an IDF-guided tour in Gaza without speaking to a single Palestinian or aid organization; for pictures likes this: 100% MAGA-chic, 0% empathy. This is what "conservatives" want to be known for globally
Reposted by Tobias Denskus
Amazing a whole story about Eddie Bauer filing for bankruptcy can leave out the fact that it was owned by private equity from 2009 to 2021 www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/b...
Eddie Bauer Files for Bankruptcy
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Amazing a whole story about Eddie Bauer filing for bankruptcy can leave out the fact that it was owned by private equity from 2009 to 2021 www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/b...
The case of Swedish-American Joanna Rubinstein who just stepped down from UNHCR Sweden‘s board is such an illustrative case study of how full of crap „global elites“ are; she visited Epstein‘s island AFTER his conviction…here are highlights from her CV:
February 2, 2026 at 7:59 PM
The case of Swedish-American Joanna Rubinstein who just stepped down from UNHCR Sweden‘s board is such an illustrative case study of how full of crap „global elites“ are; she visited Epstein‘s island AFTER his conviction…here are highlights from her CV:
The impact of the climate crisis in Mozambique, Portugal & Australia does not get the attention it deserves.
January 30, 2026 at 11:54 AM
The impact of the climate crisis in Mozambique, Portugal & Australia does not get the attention it deserves.
Reposted by Tobias Denskus
One of the great tragedies of AI and science is that the proliferation of garbage papers and journals is creating pressure to return to more closed systems based on interpersonal connections and established prestige hierarchies that had only recently been opened up somewhat to greater diversity.
We’re getting so many journal submissions from people who think ‘it kinda works’ is the standard to aim for.
1. The thing about science that these jokers don't understand is that science cannot be vibe-coded.
Whatever its flaws, the point with vibe coding is that you're trying to quickly make something that sorta works, where you can immediately sorta see if it sorta works and then sorta use it.
Whatever its flaws, the point with vibe coding is that you're trying to quickly make something that sorta works, where you can immediately sorta see if it sorta works and then sorta use it.
January 28, 2026 at 7:47 AM
One of the great tragedies of AI and science is that the proliferation of garbage papers and journals is creating pressure to return to more closed systems based on interpersonal connections and established prestige hierarchies that had only recently been opened up somewhat to greater diversity.
There are probably more & more people in Brussels who think "thank God they voted for Brexit & left the EU"
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
‘I feel like I’ve come home’: former Tory home secretary Suella Braverman defects to Reform UK – UK politics live
Her defection comes shortly after Robert Jenrick joined Nigel Farage’s party, meaning there are now eight Reform MPs in the Commons.
www.theguardian.com
January 26, 2026 at 1:42 PM
There are probably more & more people in Brussels who think "thank God they voted for Brexit & left the EU"
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
So WEF will end up in the Gulf because isn’t „where the Modern world is built“ code for autocratic countries like them that would allow Netanyahu to attend???
January 25, 2026 at 1:33 PM
So WEF will end up in the Gulf because isn’t „where the Modern world is built“ code for autocratic countries like them that would allow Netanyahu to attend???
This is probably bigger news than the previous announcement to withdraw from 60 more UN entities
abcnews.go.com/Health/us-of...
abcnews.go.com/Health/us-of...
US officially exits World Health Organization, accusing agency of straying 'from its core mission'
The U.S. has officially completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, HHS and the Department of State announced on Thursday.
abcnews.go.com
January 23, 2026 at 7:48 AM
This is probably bigger news than the previous announcement to withdraw from 60 more UN entities
abcnews.go.com/Health/us-of...
abcnews.go.com/Health/us-of...
Action Aid is ending child sponsorship, a controversial aid model that many orgs tried to tweak for many years. But will the future really see "a feminist, anti-racist organisation that focuses more on fundraising through partnerships with civil society groups"?
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
ActionAid to rethink child sponsorship as part of plan to ‘decolonise’ its work
Development charity’s new co-chief executives signal shift from controversial sponsor a child scheme launched in 1972 to long-term grassroots funding
www.theguardian.com
January 22, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Action Aid is ending child sponsorship, a controversial aid model that many orgs tried to tweak for many years. But will the future really see "a feminist, anti-racist organisation that focuses more on fundraising through partnerships with civil society groups"?
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
A reminder that only grifters launch new products in Davos-especially when it is a new social network
New European social network, being launched at Davos, owned by corporate-aligned climate group We Don't Have Time and helmed by a former eBay executive.
Tried to find out if it's compatible with any open protocol but no info
Tried to find out if it's compatible with any open protocol but no info
January 21, 2026 at 2:43 PM
A reminder that only grifters launch new products in Davos-especially when it is a new social network
It’s another example of BBC „journalism“ how they merely describe this unqualified train wreck of white male Trump cronies rather than calling out this „board of peace“ nonsense for what it is
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Who is on Trump's 'Board of Peace' for Gaza?
The White House has released the names of those who will oversee the next phase of the US president's peace plan for Gaza.
www.bbc.com
January 17, 2026 at 6:25 AM
It’s another example of BBC „journalism“ how they merely describe this unqualified train wreck of white male Trump cronies rather than calling out this „board of peace“ nonsense for what it is
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
"Let's go through with Brexit-we will just export all our stuff to our friends in the USA"
Meanwhile, on X a US Congresswoman is calling for full sanctions against the UK in case of further action against X.
Although I estimate both the UK outright banning X and full US sanctions as unlikely, this shows how the mood even towards the 'special relationship' closest ally is changing.
Although I estimate both the UK outright banning X and full US sanctions as unlikely, this shows how the mood even towards the 'special relationship' closest ally is changing.
January 9, 2026 at 9:34 AM
"Let's go through with Brexit-we will just export all our stuff to our friends in the USA"
Reposted by Tobias Denskus
I don't engage in frame-by-frame analysis because it doesn't impact my or anyone else's views. An armed violence worker shot someone. The chattering class will dissect, oh the foot was there, and the gun was there, and the whatever whatever. Most of the media will say "it's a close case."
January 8, 2026 at 2:15 PM
I don't engage in frame-by-frame analysis because it doesn't impact my or anyone else's views. An armed violence worker shot someone. The chattering class will dissect, oh the foot was there, and the gun was there, and the whatever whatever. Most of the media will say "it's a close case."
Reposted by Tobias Denskus
Captain it's Wednesday
January 7, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Captain it's Wednesday
Reposted by Tobias Denskus
Nicolás Maduro Charged With Felony Oil Possession
January 5, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Nicolás Maduro Charged With Felony Oil Possession
Reposted by Tobias Denskus
Reposted by Tobias Denskus
🧵1/6 After the El Fasher massacre, I identified a large UAE-aligned influence operation on X promoting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Around 19,000 accounts showed strong indicators of automation - bots marcowenjones.substack.com/p/i-found-19... #Sudan #Dysinfluence
December 31, 2025 at 2:26 PM
🧵1/6 After the El Fasher massacre, I identified a large UAE-aligned influence operation on X promoting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Around 19,000 accounts showed strong indicators of automation - bots marcowenjones.substack.com/p/i-found-19... #Sudan #Dysinfluence
No amount of UN managerial plastic language around a „humanitarian reset“ will be able to absorb c. 15bn dollars of cuts; the UN system is doing itself a huge disservice by pretending it can absorb these cuts as some of the worst crises in the 21st century need urgent attention.
BREAKING: The United States announced a $2 billion pledge for U.N. humanitarian aid as President Donald Trump’s administration continues to slash U.S. foreign assistance and warns United Nations agencies to “adapt, shrink or die” in a time of new financial realities.
US pledges $2B for UN humanitarian aid as Trump slashes funding and warns agencies to 'adapt or die'
The United States has announced a $2 billion pledge for U.N. humanitarian aid as President Donald Trump continues to slash U.S. foreign assistance funding.
bit.ly
December 29, 2025 at 6:40 AM
No amount of UN managerial plastic language around a „humanitarian reset“ will be able to absorb c. 15bn dollars of cuts; the UN system is doing itself a huge disservice by pretending it can absorb these cuts as some of the worst crises in the 21st century need urgent attention.
Always remember that government spending is a political choice; there is no fixed amount of aid. You can support Ukraine *AND* increase humanitarian assistance or aid to Africa, but increasingly right-leaning governments in Europe are presenting dangerous binary choices for their global engagement
The notion of humanitarian aid being used to combat poverty and hunger is being replaced in Europe with geopolitical “games” as states redirect aid to Ukraine and to defence spending, analysts warn after recent announcements by Sweden and Germany.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Sweden and Germany slash aid budgets to focus on Ukraine and defence spending
Echoing the dismantling of USAID, other countries are changing funding priorities and health and hunger programmes in Africa will lose out
www.theguardian.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Always remember that government spending is a political choice; there is no fixed amount of aid. You can support Ukraine *AND* increase humanitarian assistance or aid to Africa, but increasingly right-leaning governments in Europe are presenting dangerous binary choices for their global engagement
When a military dictatorship sells valuable natural resources ordinary people will not benefit, exhibit 952: "Fewer than 15,000 people will be needed to run the mines, the ports, and the 670 km railway specially built to allow exports"; Rio Tinto is happy, though...
Good Reuters deep dive on the Simandou mega iron ore mine in Guinea.
The IMF "found it could boost the country's real GDP by 26% by 2030, but it also said the reduction in poverty could be... just 0.6 percentage points without active policies to manage the transition."
The IMF "found it could boost the country's real GDP by 26% by 2030, but it also said the reduction in poverty could be... just 0.6 percentage points without active policies to manage the transition."
Mass layoffs overshadow Guinea's Simandou mega mine as output accelerates
Guinea's Simandou mega mining project, promoted by the military government as a symbol of the country's economic transformation, is laying off thousands of workers just as it begins exporting iron ore...
www.reuters.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:30 PM
When a military dictatorship sells valuable natural resources ordinary people will not benefit, exhibit 952: "Fewer than 15,000 people will be needed to run the mines, the ports, and the 670 km railway specially built to allow exports"; Rio Tinto is happy, though...
Reposted by Tobias Denskus
FRANCE 24 and Mother Jones have won a UN journalism award for their reporting on the testimony of #Gaza Humanitarian Foundation contractor Anthony Aguilar.
www.france24.com/en/americas/...
www.france24.com/en/americas/...
FRANCE 24 and Mother Jones report on Gaza aid whistleblower wins UN award
FRANCE 24 and Mother Jones have won a UN journalism award for their reporting on the testimony of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation contractor Anthony Aguilar. In their report he describes the "war crimes"...
www.france24.com
December 18, 2025 at 7:40 AM
FRANCE 24 and Mother Jones have won a UN journalism award for their reporting on the testimony of #Gaza Humanitarian Foundation contractor Anthony Aguilar.
www.france24.com/en/americas/...
www.france24.com/en/americas/...
The next UNHCR commissioner will most likely not be a European! Exciting news!!
December 12, 2025 at 5:50 PM
The next UNHCR commissioner will most likely not be a European! Exciting news!!
The body of USAID is barely cold, but the academic dissection already begins ;)...on a more serious note: This sounds like an excellent project with a great team (limited to 2 years, but at least a 100% position (not always the norm at German universities...).
Job: 2 years Post-Doc Fellowship at the University of Bayreuth, on the history and sociology of USAID
December 12, 2025 at 10:16 AM
The body of USAID is barely cold, but the academic dissection already begins ;)...on a more serious note: This sounds like an excellent project with a great team (limited to 2 years, but at least a 100% position (not always the norm at German universities...).