The critical pathway for introduction of new TB diagnostics in African countries can be expedited if dossiers are complete, if local vendors are appointed, and with WHO PQ. Our health systems lead & managing director are at @theunion.org presenting our work, available here: www.tbdxcriticalpath.org

Great to be here at @theunion.org conference on Lung Health in #Copenhagen, particularly at this session on real-world strategies on TB diagnostics. @stoptb.bsky.social’s Suvanand Sahu highlights upcoming new diagnostics and says “this is a great time to replace microscopy.”

Nurse LaCrista Vaughn of TX sat on her ass as a Black woman screamed in pain while in labor. She should lose her license and never, ever work in healthcare again. But even if that happens we are left with the fact that structural racism is widespread across U.S. healthcare.

"Faustian bargain: Fifa A. Rahman, a lawyer who has advised developing countries in the negotiations, told Rory the U.S. agreement would enshrine the inequity countries protested during and after the Covid-19 pandemic." @fifarahman.bsky.social

The United States has proposed a template that requires aid-receiving countries to share pathogen data within 5 days, with no guarantee of benefits. In this @devex.com article, I comment that this is “exploitative, neocolonial…” www.devex.com/news/us-temp...

Also really perturbed by Trump’s claims that he’ll send troops to Nigeria, and MAGA claims that Christians are being killed left and right. The meeting had both Christians and Muslims and I assure everyone that NO ONE got killed.

Really grateful for the expertise, energy, and collaboration from the Nigerian National TB Programme, State Ministries of Health, private laboratories, regulatory agencies, CSOs, and communities in our work meetings in Abuja this week on the critical path analysis for novel TB diagnostics.

The US funds the bulk of biomedical research globally by far. It's not like other countries can simply take up the slack. The more likely: people leave research, new people don't become researchers. There is no happy ending. www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...

I just read this @apnews.com investigation about Lesotho and it blew my mind. For those who’ve never heard of it 😉: Lesotho is a tiny, mountainous country in southern Africa. And what’s happening there right now says everything about how fragile #globalhealth really is. apnews.com/projects/Les...

On 10th October 2025, Western leaders held a masturbatory ceasefire event, after which the Israeli regime continued killing Palestinians. It has been discovered that the veterinarian Dr Muath Abu Rukba who had been treating animals at Sulala Animal Rescue in Gaza, has also been killed.

I have long forsaken Western media, but reading posts here I gather that it is Israelis that have suffered, that Israelis have heartbroken families. Palestinians have none of that. If you haven’t yet made the switch to @aljazeera.com, TRT World, @thecontinent.org, it is time.

It was an absolute pleasure chairing this session on public health emergencies in South East Asia. Quite clear that there needs to be better coordination with ASEAN, an increased biosecurity focus, and greater insistence over national/regional sovereignty over genetic resources.

Israel raped orthopaedic surgeon Dr Adnan Al-Bursh to death. We must ensure that they do not do the same thing to Dr Hussam Abu Safiya. Please pressure your MPs in the UK and congresspeople in the United States to ensure he is released.

This is beyond bad. All of our disease defenses are down now. We are sitting ducks. This is #RussellVought #DonaldTrump #RFKJr. They are endangering American lives with their insane crusade. These men are hazardous to your health and dangerous to the republic. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...

Looking forward to moderating the panel on Governance, Equity, and Political Commitment in ASEAN, today at @monashuniversity.bsky.social Malaysia.

Great to hear journalists Al-Jazeera unpacking the trends in American media, including that they are reporting that bombing has stopped in Gaza. At least 20 people have been killed by bombing in Gaza today, so this is obviously deliberately/negligently inaccurate.

Anyone else got that grotesque Michael Froman email in their inboxes this morning?

Super excited to be delivering a course on the Pandemic Agreement: critical issues and negotiation tactics for the Executive Course on Global Health Diplomacy for the Catholic University of Guinea-Bissau. Honoured to be asked by the venerable Magda Robalo, who I admire so much.

While the announcement of recognition of a State of Palestine by the UK is welcome, the assertions that Palestine demilitarise is not. Are only Western countries allowed to defend themselves against being genocided? The Israeli Occupation Forces themselves said that 200K have been killed.

What an absolute car crash. May we guard against such stupidity in all of our countries.

Next generation TB tests return results much quicker and are easier to use. But complex regulatory systems may delay introduction. Our health systems lead Marguerite Massinga Loembé will be presenting the results from our critical path analysis project at The Union World Conference in Copenhagen. 👇🏽

Finally put my finger on something bothering me this week: the subtle reinforcement of the idea that it was brave and good for Americans to go to Vietnam and kill people. Imperial thinking is so pervasive and sinister. It will find a way to position Epstein survivors against Vietnamese villagers.

“We are no longer in the muzzle velocity stage of this presidency. We are in the authoritarian consolidation stage of this presidency.” Must-read 👇

@who.int calls for protection of public health excellence in the US CDC

At Vaccine, our editorial team is united to defend and support immunization and vaccine science around the world. I am so proud & honored to stand alongside these outstanding scientists & clinicians to prevent disease & save lives with integrity & courage.

It’s not just that there is no legality here. The Israeli state is at war with the very concept of legality. The idea that there is such a thing as a baseline, fundamental notions such as a human rights etc. - these are to be destroyed to reduce the cost of the genocide on Israel.

Why is it ok for Westerners to level entire residential buildings in Gaza?

Check out The Diplomat’s flagship podcast, Asia Geopolitics, on Spotify now:

In February this year I gave a talk at Uni of Maryland and I said that American health will get worse. As we see CDC directors resign and RFK continue to peddle dangerous information - everything we feared is materialising.

Well done on both Nigeria and Brazil for pulling this together. Given the backwards trajectory of the United States, we need more South-South collaboration than ever.

Loved teaching health law and governance to these African Epidemic Service fellows Africa CDC. So interesting to also learn from them. From Bayelsa State in Nigeria to the Likouala Department in the Republic of Congo, there are so many service gaps that need rights lenses!

Excellent presentation by Catherine Villegas at the @msfaccess.org event on the sidelines of TICAD in Yokohama. Labs which are far away mean samples get degraded, meaning results can’t be returned to patients. As a result people die of preventable diseases.

A transgender Malaysian GP with an Irish Medical Council Registration, is looking for a job in Ireland, and has reached out to ask for support in securing one. Does anyone know what’s the best way to go about this?

Last week I wrote to Katie White MP calling her to make clear to Keir Starmer that his position on Gaza is untenable. While I appreciate my MP’s response (below), Israel is not a rational actor. Negotiations will not deter Israel. There must be military action and sanctions on Israel.

Thanks @roneilll.bsky.social for this: ““Tweets don’t feed people,” said Bushra Khalidi, policy lead at Oxfam. “Statements don’t open aid crossings.” It’s “baffling” the EU chose “hollow” social media posts instead of pressuring Israel to act, she said.” www.politico.eu/article/eu-g...

Malaria cases surge in Zimbabwe largely due to abrupt cut in USAID that affected mosquito net provision and surveillance measures. The Zimbabwean government trying to step up but can’t make up for the damage the sudden cessation. Climate change further increases mosquito burden too

Food is running out in Gaza - if no aid comes in we will witness a mass starvation event.

Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) Article 4 states that countries can refuse agrément (approval) to an ambassadorial appointment and “not obliged to give reasons” as to the refusal. As a Malaysian citizen and voter I would like Malaysia to refuse agrément to Nick Adams.

“Today, middle powers will have to make a choice. Without collective advocacy rooted in shared values, middle powers cannot present a credible alternative to remake the global order. Without shared norms, the glue binding these countries together is weak, and consequently, so is their influence.”

Excellent by @galipdalay.bsky.social et al. in @foreignpolicy.com: “Today, middle powers are again demanding a greater voice in global politics. But they have put less emphasis on the principles that were central to the (Bandung) conference’s global vision.“ foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/11/b...

"The U.S. commitment to international law, along each of these four dimensions, was neither neutral nor disinterested. The United States promoted international law to achieve its own goals, and its policy preferences came to define much of the field." www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Israel’s systematic system of starvation is resulting in these prices for groceries. Annette Gaudino and I are raising money for a young dentistry student in Gaza who is struggling to survive. Please consider donating even £10 for his survival: chuffed.org/project/1353...

I’m really not sure what we as a people did to deserve such a buffoon even step on our shores.

🤡

It hurts my global south heart to see the way African leaders are being treated in the White House today. We need a South-South strategy so global south leaders don’t need to debase themselves in this way. The world can move on from America.

This is an excellent initiative by France, Kenya, Barbados, Spain, Somalia, Benin, Sierra Leone and Antigua & Barbuda to place levies on premium flyers, with the objective of supporting work on development challenges. solidaritylevies.org/eight-countr...

USG should really remove the question in their visa applications about whether you’ve committed genocide.

“International trade ties look set to strengthen in the Southeast Asian region and beyond, independent of the fate of the United States’ reciprocal tariffs.”