Kristof Decoster

Professor internationaal recht: “Theo Francken begrijpt niet hoe internationaal recht werkt” Volgens professor internationaal recht Dimitri Van Den Meerssche blijken uit de uitspraken van minister van Defensie Theo Francken twee zaken. Ten eerste: "een totaal gebrek aan inzicht in hoe interna...

www.dewereldmorgen.be/artikel/2026... Of hij wil het niet begrijpen, ik wil er vanaf zijn. Conclusie: we hebben een radicaal-rechtse minister van defensie. T is eraan te zien.

State Department eyes tuberculosis breakthroughs Jeffrey Graham, the head of the State Department's Global Health Security and Diplomacy Bureau, emphasized how the "America First" approach is refocusing U.S. efforts on tuberculosis and beyond.

State Department eyes tuberculosis breakthroughs www.devex.com/news/state-d... Via Devex.

What Alexis de Tocqueville taught me about recovering from a brain injury When we are ill, we need expertise more than ever, yet our agency feels fragile. The best clinicians recognize this, a patient writes.

Via Stat: www.statnews.com/2026/03/04/m...

very cool new layout!

Can the 2026 FIFA World Cup still be a force for global unity? The current U.S. political climate does not provide an encouraging model to move the FIFA World Cup toward peace and solidarity currently, but the world is in desperate need for it to do so.

theconversation.com/can-the-2026... Good piece. With the title being efficient clickbait.

Disorientation Is the Point: How Permanent Unpredictability Broke Democratic Politics Chronic uncertainty does not mobilise democratic publics — it paralyses them, and that paralysis is itself a tool of power.

Via Social Europe: www.socialeurope.eu/disorientati... @willemvandeput.bsky.social @gorikooms.bsky.social

late capitalism embodied.

kill, let live // make live, let die.

@rravinetto.bsky.social @belentarrafeta.bsky.social @gorikooms.bsky.social

Measurement matters: implications of the newly revised Sustainable Development Goal 3.8.2 financial protection indicator for global monitoring In December, 2025, the latest Universal Health Coverage Global Monitoring Report (GMR) was launched. Like previous GMRs, it reaffirmed that the world is off track to achieve the financial protection c...

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan... by Bingqing Guo & Karen Grepin (in the Lancet Global Health).

journals.plos.org/plosmedicine... by Eberere Okereke (in Plos Med).

Tracking the "America First" Bilateral Health Agreements | Think Global Health Think Global Health's analysis found gaps between country needs and new cofinancing commitments with the United States

Via Think Global Health: www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/trac...

More than 220m children will be obese by 2040 without drastic action, report warns World Obesity Federation says half a billion children will be overweight and calls on governments to act to create healthier environments

Via the Guardian: www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Wat wil de Vlaamse regering leren van de Verenigde Arabische Emiraten? De Vlaamse Adviesraad voor Innoveren en Ondernemen ondernam een studiereis naar de Verenigde Arabische Emiraten en loofde in haar verslag het pragmatisch bestuur en visionair leiderschap van het dicta...

www.dewereldmorgen.be/artikel/2026... via DWM.

New!! The case for Regional Development Goals (RDGs): Unmet aspirations of #SDGs, breakdowns in global cooperation, erratic ODA cuts & coercive nationalism show the need to think & act differently. We posit that countries would be better served by #RDGs. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

‘A viable alternative’: UN rapporteur outlines plan for redistributive global economy Olivier De Schutter says ‘frivolous and destructive demands’ of ultra-rich restrict fight against inequality

Via the Guardian: www.theguardian.com/environment/...

"US warn for escalation of the war in the Middle East". Honestly, the news is beyond me the past few years.

Now that's a relief :)

Feeling slightly nostalgic for the days we could still read about a fairytale "Grand Global health convergence by 2035" in a top medical journal.

Bernie Sanders and Ro Khanna propose bill to impose wealth tax on billionaires Make billionaires pay their fair share act would apply to those with a net worth of $1bn or more

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

US strikes on Iran triggered by Israel’s plan to launch attack, Rubio says Democrats disturbed by rationale that Trump ordered pre-emptive strikes out of concern about Tehran retaliation

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026... That old Obama mantra comes up, 'Leading from Behind' : ( #gosh #bananasuperpower

Iran war: America’s shame and the continuing ruination of a region There’s not one axis of evil but two, and countless people – and their hopes, dreams, and aspirations for better lives – have been crushed in between.

Via the New Humanitarian: www.thenewhumanitarian.org/editors-take...

Always the first to flee while everyone else suffers the consequences.

Merzsplaining: the chancellor’s overconfidence is unpopular in Germany. But could it be what Europe needs? | Joseph de Weck Unlike his predecessors, Friedrich Merz projects certainty, even when he’s wrong. Now he must turn words into a deliverable plan, says Foreign Policy Research Institute fellow Joseph de Weck

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... Surely one of the dumbest op-eds of the day. Though i will remember the term 'Merzsplaining' : )

Devex Pro Insider: When philanthropy becomes the crisis Philanthropy positions itself as the solution in times of crisis. But what happens when philanthropy becomes the crisis?

Devex Pro Insider: When philanthropy becomes the crisis www.devex.com/news/devex-p... If all these 'Global Health Reimaginers' take themselves a bit seriously, they'll also 'reimagine' a future "beyond billion-dollar philanthropy". For, euhm, ... a billion reasons. Long overdue moreover.

Insights on global health reform discussions, trends and perspectives: March 2026 The third in our ongoing series of Insights papers on global health reform discussions, trends and perspectives is now available.

Worth checking out: www.globalhealthdiplomacy.se/insights-on-... Even if most of us have a hard time 'reimagining' things these days.

I think it's more like, 'hey this feels like the kind of disgusting situation that is going to trigger Harmer, wonder whether he already wrote about it."

I had a hunch already :)

As the financial crisis deepens, UN faces growing pressure to cut salaries - Geneva Solutions The US is pressing the UN to cut staff pay to ease its budget crisis. Unions in Geneva say compensation is being misrepresented, but other states are also warming to the idea.

Via Geneva Solutions: genevasolutions.news/global-news/...

By A Bummel www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/02/03/2... Including an interesting proposal for a World Parliament.

Building a Realistic Utopia: Richard Horton on Collaborating for Planetary Health The Lancet’s Richard Horton discusses the field of Planetary Health, the importance of collaboration & what makes him hopeful for the future.

www.rockefellerfoundation.org/bellagio-bre... Worth a read. Among others on the origins of 'planetary health' and how it evolved over the past 10 years.