Published by The Independent (28th December, 2015) Who will mourn the passing of 2015? It seems such a grim year filled with terrible tales of atrocities, extremism and […]
Africa / Ethiopia
Diplomatic impotence – or disregard for human rights
Published by The Independent (26th October, 2015) The visit of Xi Jinping was deemed a success on both sides. Our royal family ensured China’s president was pampered with immense […]
Economics / Environment / Policy / Politics
There’s outrage over steel, but we should be furious over solar power
Published by The Guardian (23rd October, 2015) The former Tory party chairman Grant Shapps is promoting renewable energy in his new role as minister for Africa. Launching a bid […]
Africa / Arts / Books
A continent trashed by treasure seekers
Published by The Observer (1st March, 2015) The Looting Machine: Warlords, tycoons, smugglers and the systematic theft of Africa’s wealth by Tom Burgis (William Collins) Augustin Katumba Mwanke […]
Africa / Aid / United States / World
When will our politicians realise Africa has changed?
Published by The Independent (4th August, 2014) The dominant headlines out of Africa are as depressing as always in the Western media: a terrifying disease on the rampage, […]
Economics / Film / Technology
Goodbye Hollywood, hello Watford
Published by The Mail on Sunday (20th July, 2014) There was a sprinkling of rain as 250 specially invited guests arrived for the party in the courtyard of […]
Arts / Books / China / United States / World
Sunny side up
Published in The Observer (February 23rd 2014) The Upside of Down by Charles Kenny (Basic Books) During the last United States presidential election, the then-rising Republican star Chris […]
Aid / China / World
World hunger has fallen. Now what do we do about the planet’s expanding waistline?
Published in The Independent (January 11th, 2014) In the year of my birth China was engulfed in the worst famine of modern history. One chronicler remembers rushing home […]
North Korea / World
North Korea is treated like a joke – but the realities are deadly serious
Published in The Guardian (October 29th, 2013) Kim Song-ju sought to escape the living hell of North Korea, but after crossing a freezing river into China was returned, […]
North Korea / World
Breaking Bad in North Korea
Published in the Mail on Sunday (September 22nd, 2013) A small army of women, identical in long yellow dresses and clutching golden fans, enter the vast stadium to […]