Stephen Chan

youtu.be/FV144bfscK8?si… An independent view of the Zimbabwean economy still lurching from crisis management to crisis.

theguardian.com/world/2025/jul… It gets increasingly bizarre. Palau only has 7000 inhabitants. It's tiny. Or is the attraction to the Trump people that it is surrounded by the Pacific and deportees have no way of getting off?

theguardian.com/world/2025/jul… The opposition is basically powerless in Eswatini but here makes a strong and cogent point.

Nigeria’s economy 30% bigger after GDP recalculation ft.com/content/38b06d… via @ft A convenient outcome, especially in terms of debt ratios, but it also reveals real structural change in the Nigerian economy. More than just oil now, with the rise of agriculture.

Landslide Traps Gold Miners in Eastern Congo nytimes.com/video/world/af… Thousands were working at this informal mine, but there is no indication how many were underground at the time of the collapse.

theguardian.com/world/2025/jul… State recognition by the West would be doing SOME thing - although the US would not join in. But there needs also to be a recognised Palestinian government that is not a weak & corrupt nepotistic gang.

bbc.co.uk/news/articles/… It's taken endless bodies in Israel's killing fields - and that is what Gaza has become - before finally nations were forced, or shamed into SAYING something. No action as yet.

Iran’s Leaders Turn to a New Brand of Nationalism After Israeli & US Attacks nytimes.com/2025/07/22/wor… For goodness sake it's not a 'new' brand. The Iranian/Persian history is richer than ANYthing the West has to offer. Decadent days now, perhaps. But once it brokered civilisation.

My book on Zambia is published today. link.springer.com/book/10.1007/9… Palgrave did a rush job with an excellent production team. I wrote 7 chapters and there are 3 specialist chapters by fine collaborators.

bbc.co.uk/news/articles/… They've reduced the charges. Not terrorism anymore. And he's out on bail. Slow realisation that making a martyr out of someone only increases unrest.

theguardian.com/world/2025/jul… Finally people are recognising how diplomacy makes one a superpower. It's been building for quite some time. I am proud to have been a small part of the early years.

theguardian.com/us-news/2025/j… Trumps' hope is that there will be enough 'dirt' in Martin Luther King's life to deflect attention on the dirt surrounding him, Epstein and the use of children.