Author: Ewang Johnson

Alamy(Credit: Alamy)Darren Aronofsky’s radical drug-addiction drama was highly acclaimed and angrily slated when it came out in 2000. Today, this Hubert Selby Jr adaptation is no less contentious.When Requiem for a Dream debuted 25 years ago in May 2000, it drew both rave reviews and a firestorm of controversy. The midnight screening at the Cannes Film Festival culminated in a rapturous standing ovation from the auditorium’s 3000 spectators. When the lights came up on author Hubert Selby Jr – who had written the 1978 novel on which the film was based – tears were streaming down his face. Critical admiration…

Over the course of three days, this specialised trade exhibition will serve as a key platform for business networking and professional engagement within the coatings industry.  Nigeria’s paints and coatings market is estimated to be valued at US$2.7 billion in 2025 and is forecasted to grow at an annual rate of 4%. Driven by rapid construction, urbanisation and increasing demand for eco-friendly products, the industry presents significant opportunities. Decorative paints dominate the market, while demand for protective coatings continues to rise in the oil, gas and infrastructure sectors. (Source: https://www.westafricacoatingsshow.com/market-report-west-africa/) Recognising the growth potential of Nigeria’s paints and coatings industry and its…

Ana de Armas takes on the high-octane stunts as a dancer-turned-assassin in the big-budget action thriller “Ballerina”. Film critic Emma Jones tells us why de Armas’s charisma and talent for physical feats make her a compelling lead for this detour within the John Wick universe. Source link

Eindhoven, Netherlands/ Stefano Boeri ArchitettiIt’s been 10 years since the creation of the first vertical forest, Milan’s Bosco Verticale. How has it inspired other buildings – and affected their residents’ happiness and health?In 2007, Italian architect Stefano Boeri witnessed the frantic construction of a city in the Dubai desert dominated by energy-wasting skyscrapers covered in glass, ceramic and metal. All these materials, he tells the BBC, “reflected sunlight, generating heat in the air and especially on the urban ground, where pedestrians walked”. Three thousand miles away, he had just begun working on his own design for two very tall buildings…

Africa’s first black billionaire, Patrice Motsepe, grew his fortune by $200 million in May, reaching a net worth of $3.2 billion. The uptick is tied to the solid performance of his mining firm, African Rainbow Minerals, which posted a 2% stock gain in May and a 5.37% rise year-to-date. The company remains popular among investors and was traded heavily between February and May. However, Motsepe’s influence extends beyond mining. He’s also a major investor in Tyme Group, a digital banking company that recently became Africa’s ninth unicorn after a major funding round, which saw its valuation rise to $1.5 billion. Motsepe’s…

Chanel, Dior, Saint Laurent – the names that define Parisian chic are French. But did you know that the entire French Haute Couture empire was built by … an Englishman? Join Eve Jackson at the Petit Palais in Paris for a dazzling deep dive into a new exhibition on Charles Frederick Worth, the revolutionary British designer who transformed fashion from mere clothing into high art and big business. Source link

Getty ImagesThe Profumo affair led to a government minister’s resignation on 5 June 1963. In 1983, Christine Keeler talked to the BBC about her part in a story of sex, lies and Cold War paranoia.”For 20 years, I think I’ve just been a newspaper clipping, I’ve never really had my say,” Christine Keeler told the BBC’s Sue Lawley on Nationwide in 1983. She was recalling the notorious political scandal that had engulfed her life and made her a household name: the Profumo Affair.The 21-year-old model found herself thrust into the media spotlight when, on 5 June 1963, John “Jack” Profumo…

Ener-G-Africa (EGA) has opened five retail stores in, Lusaka, Zambia. The stores ensure EGA’s extensive range of energy saving products are more accessible to consumers in Zambia. “Zambia’s heavy reliance on charcoal and firewood for cooking has led to significant environmental degradation, health risks and rising household energy costs. This created a strong demand for cleaner, more efficient and sustainable cooking solutions,” says Richard Bunderson, Chief Commercial Officer at EGA. “Simultaneously, frequent and prolonged load shedding has intensified the need for reliable alternative energy sources, increasing demand for clean cookstoves and solar products.” He says the decision to establish five retail…

Washington, D.C – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced an extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Cameroonians until August 3, 2025. Originally scheduled to end on Saturday, June 7, the extension grants beneficiaries an additional 60 days of protection.The decision the Department stated on its website follows a review of current conditions in Cameroon and consultations with interagency partners. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem concluded that the country no longer meets the legal criteria to warrant continued Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation.TPS holders from Cameroon now have until August to prepare for the program’s termination.…

With music festival season in full swing, we chat to Last Train frontman Jean-Noël Scherrer. His band have just had a sold-out tour here in France and played extensively in Germany, the UK and other European countries. We also speak to Tallulah Sim-Savage of up-and-coming English trio HotWax, whose debut album is a punchy blend of grunge and rock ‘n’ roll. Source link