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Paul Nugent

@nugybaby.bsky.social

38 followers 24 following 15 posts

Professor of Comparative African History, prone to obsession with borderlands and wine. Proudly internationalist: from Cape Town, living in Edinburgh, worked a lot in West Africa (especially Ghana/Togo) and now creeping towards the Mediterranean. .. more

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Political science 48%

Sociology 16%

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Reposted by Paul Nugent

American Association of Wine Economists AAWE @wineecon.bsky.social · 13d

Global Per Capita Wine, Beer and Spirits Consumption, 1961-2022

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Paul Nugent @nugybaby.bsky.social · 28d

One for Boland Coetzee RIP!

Reposted by Paul Nugent

Guardian Australia @australia.theguardian.com · 29d

All Blacks humiliated by Springboks in record defeat in Rugby Championship

* South Africa thump New Zealand 43-10 at Sky Stadium in Wellington * Tourists score 36 unanswered points in dominant second half Cheslin Kolbe scored a brace of tries as a battered South Africa ran riot in a second half blitz to claim a record 43-10 win over New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday and throw the Rugby Championship wide open. Reeling from backline injuries in a chaotic second half, the Springboks trailed 10-0 after an early try to debutant Leroy Carter but scored 36 unanswered points in an extraordinary onslaught. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Paul Nugent

The Ferret @theferret.scot · 29d

As staff at Edinburgh Uni strike over job cuts, the principal is under pressure to reveal whether he’s being paid for a second job at a company with historic ties to the university.

Our latest: theferret.scot/mathi...

Edinburgh uni boss pressured over outside earnings as job losses mount

The boss of the University of Edinburgh is facing calls to “come clean” over earnings from a second job, amid staff strikes and mounting redundancies.

theferret.scot

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Reposted by Paul Nugent, Maksym Polyakov

American Association of Wine Economists AAWE @wineecon.bsky.social · Sep 12

Call for Papers
18th Annual AAWE Wine Economics Conference
Perth, Australia — July 8–13, 2026. In cooperation with the University of Western Australia.
More at www.wine-economics.org

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Reposted by Paul Nugent

Duncan Money @mininghistory.bsky.social · Sep 11

One unexpected detail in the revelations about Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein is they were involved in a mining deal in Congo-Brazzaville:

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09...

Screenshot of an email.
Email reads:
"FWD From: STALEY, Jes
To: EPSTEIN, Jeffery
Sent: 7 October 2010

From: MANDELSON, Peter
In Congo Brazzaville last week, I talked at length with President Sassou N'Guesso, including about the above new mine. Exploration, he told me, has been undertaken by a consortium of investors backed by JP Morgan. The government is reaching a final decision on whether to issue a full mining licence. I spoke to the Minister of Mines about this, who is favourable to the licence, but the President wanted to discuss it further with me. No obligation but if there is anyone in JPM who might want to talk to me privately about this, please shout. I would be grateful for no approaches to other third parties about this in meantime. Hope you are well. Sorry not to see you in London this week."

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Reposted by Diane Coyle, Paul Nugent, Lesley A. Hall , and 2 more Diane Coyle, Paul Nugent, Lesley A. Hall, Carolyne Larrington, Ian Bruff

Martin Calladine @uglygame.bsky.social · Aug 30

Amazing story: one of the organisers of the group putting Union Flags up around Manchester previously did time for being part of a people smuggling gang.
manchestermill.co.uk/manchester-f...

Manchester’s chief flag-raiser has put his people smuggling days behind him

Flags protesting unchecked immigration have gone up across the city, led by a man caught smuggling migrants into the country in the back of a van

manchestermill.co.uk

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Paul Nugent @nugybaby.bsky.social · Aug 12

Spare a thought for the poor citizens of Roseburn/Murrayfield who are about to be besieged and then subjected to an assault on the senses one more time today 😕

Reposted by Paul Nugent

Arion Xeno @arionxeno.bsky.social · Aug 10

Article here:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Anas al-Sharif: Four Al Jazeera journalists killed in Israeli strike near Al-Shifa hospital

Al Jazeera had condemned a

www.bbc.co.uk

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Paul Nugent @nugybaby.bsky.social · Aug 7

Journals are just waking up to how much of it there is out there

Paul Nugent @nugybaby.bsky.social · Aug 6

Me too. I have zero need to use AI for anything

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Reposted by Paul Nugent

Justin Pearce @justinpearce.bsky.social · Aug 6

Wow, apparently I'm part of a trend, I'm an AI vegan! (To the point where I was shocked to learn that this Guardian columnist for whom I have some respect admits that AI has become part of her daily routine.)
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Meet the AI vegans | Arwa Mahdawi

They are choosing to abstain from using artificial intelligence for environmental, ethical and personal reasons. Maybe they have a point, writes Guardian columnist Arwa Mahdawi

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Paul Nugent

Su Birch @subirch.bsky.social · Aug 6

www.wine-searcher.com/m/2025/08/ka...

Kanonkop's Secret to Perfect Pinotage | Wine-Searcher News & Opinion

Few grape varieties are as contentious as Pinotage. Kanonkop, however, appears to have mastered it. Read the latest wine news & opinion on wine-searcher

www.wine-searcher.com

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Reposted by Paul Nugent, Lesley A. Hall

Joanna Kenty @jokenty.bsky.social · Aug 5

AI can only replace historians in the sense that it can spit out mediocre, plagiarized narrative that vaguely resembles history. It will never replace *good* historians. Unfortunately, many university presidents and CEOs don’t seem to care about the quality of work being done, only the quantity- 1/2

Aparna Nair @disabilitystor1.bsky.social · Aug 4

Just a reminder this list is drawn from a piece written by four researchers for MICROSOFT (data scientists, CS people, economists) who have never stepped foot in an archive/never taken an oral history/studied material culture, by their CVs.
Unlike them, I do my research, and don't talk out my ass.

The top 40 most affected occupations by generative AI:

Interpreters and Translators
Historians
Passenger Attendants
Sales Representatives of Services
Writers and Authors
Customer Service Representatives
CNC Tool Programmers
Telephone Operators
Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks
Broadcast Announcers and Radio DJs
Brokerage Clerks
Farm and Home Management Educators
Telemarketers
Concierges
Political Scientists
News Analysts, Reporters, Journalists
Mathematicians
Technical Writers
Proofreaders and Copy Markers
Hosts and Hostesses
Editors
Business Teachers, Postsecondary
Public Relations Specialists
Demonstrators and Product Promoters
Advertising Sales Agents
New Accounts Clerks

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Reposted by Paul Nugent

Review of African Political Economy @roapejournal.bsky.social · Jul 30

The editorial from the latest issue of ROAPE journal, including links to freely access all the listed articles:

Caught in the fishers’ net? The colonial plunder of Western Sahara’s natural resources, by Blanca Camps-Febrer & Enrique Bengochea Tirado

roape.net/2025/07/30/c...

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Paul Nugent @nugybaby.bsky.social · Jul 25

bbc.com/news/article...

Togo protests: Faure Gnassingbé's dynastic power play sparks youth anger

Faure Gnassingbé may no longer be president but he still pulls the strings - and no longer has to face elections.

bbc.com

Reposted by Paul Nugent, Henning Melber

Melissa Chemam @melissaontheroad.bsky.social · Jul 23

Israel Waging “Fastest Starvation Campaign” in Modern History, says U.N. Special Rapporteur on Food, Michael Fakhri, to @democracynow.org

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV3U...

Israel Waging “Fastest Starvation Campaign” in Modern History: U.N. Special Rapporteur on Food

YouTube video by Democracy Now!

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Paul Nugent, Peter Gatrell

The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · Jul 22

In her first act as the new President of The British Academy, Professor Susan J Smith FBA has today written to the Prime Minister to warn that cuts and contractions are damaging the UK’s higher education system www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/new-aca...

New Academy President urges Prime Minister to strengthen and champion UK’s world-leading universities as higher education crisis deepens

In her first act as the new President of The British Academy, Professor Susan J Smith FBA has written to the Prime Minister to warn that cuts and contractions are damaging the UK’s higher education sy...

www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk

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Reposted by Paul Nugent

Su Birch @subirch.bsky.social · Jul 22

www.vinetur.com/en/202507218...

South Africa tops global wine tourism destinations for 2025 as affordability and immersive experiences drive surge in interest

Portugal and Italy follow closely in new ranking while France remains most searched despite higher costs for wine travelers

www.vinetur.com

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Paul Nugent @nugybaby.bsky.social · Jul 21

Strongly-worded, but effectively hand-wringing unless it is backed up with sanctions

Reposted by Paul Nugent

Gillian Mathys @gillianmathys.bsky.social · May 20

My book Fractured Pasts in Lake Kivu's Borderlands can now be pre-ordered with a 20% discount

www.cambridge.org/be/universit...

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Paul Nugent @nugybaby.bsky.social · Jul 20

Highlight of Sardinia trip for wine/climate project was bringing South Africa's esteemed viticulturist, Rosa Kruger, to Mamoiada. Luca Gungui gave tour and answered questions. Cannonau's different flavour profile to Grenache underlines how cultivars adapt to environment www.lucagungui.it/en/home-2/

Paul Nugent @nugybaby.bsky.social · Jul 10

Why am I not surprised?

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Reposted by Paul Nugent

Jess Calarco @jessicacalarco.com · Jul 5

Here's the full article:
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

‘The vehicle suddenly accelerated with our baby in it’: the terrifying truth about why Tesla’s cars keep crashing

Elon Musk is obsessive about the design of his supercars, right down to the disappearing door handles. But a series of shocking incidents – from drivers trapped in burning vehicles to dramatic stops o...

www.theguardian.com

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Paul Nugent @nugybaby.bsky.social · Jul 1

ABORNE (the African Borderlands Research Network) will host its next conference at Lagos State University in 2026. The Cfp is now open. Its not one borderland scholars want to miss
static1.squarespace.com/static/5a44f...

static1.squarespace.com

Reposted by Paul Nugent

American Association of Wine Economists AAWE @wineecon.bsky.social · Jun 28

New data for 2024 are in.
A long-term view on the meteoric rise and unabated dramatic fall of China's wine consumption and production. China's wine consumption peaked in 2017 and fell by 71%. China's wine production peaked in 2012 (!) and fell by 84%

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Reposted by Paul Nugent, Caroline Brown

The Edinburgh Reporter @edinreporter.bsky.social · Jun 12

It is very sad to hear of the death of Professor Sir Geoff Palmer. He was always a delight to speak to and a true pioneer.

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Paul Nugent @nugybaby.bsky.social · Jun 3

A completely spineless decision rewarding Moroccan aggression. Not impressed

Reposted by Paul Nugent

Joe Powell MP @joepowell.bsky.social · Jun 1

As Chair of Labour Friends of Morocco, I am really pleased to see this significant step forward in the UK-Morocco partnership, including supporting Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, economic growth, energy and of course the 2030 World Cup 🇬🇧🇲🇦

www.gov.uk/government/n...

UK-Morocco Joint Communiqué: Strategic Dialogue 2025

The Kingdom of Morocco and the United Kingdom enter an Enhanced Strategic Partnership and sign a series of agreements driving mutual growth and security.

www.gov.uk

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Paul Nugent @nugybaby.bsky.social · May 9

Will do!