Author: Ewang Johnson
In this episode, we talk about a powerful moment at the Cannes Film festival as acclaimed Iranian director Jafar Panahi presents “A Simple Accident” – a film impossible to separate from his own harrowing story. Long targeted by Iran’s regime with censorship, house arrest, and imprisonment, Panahi has defied the odds to attend the festival in person. His latest work offers a stark, unflinching portrait of Iranian society and a bold critique of the ruling powers. As buzz builds around his chances for the Palme d’Or, Panahi sits down for an interview with Louise Dupont from the French channel of…
BBCFormer US President Bill Clinton and best-selling author James Patterson sat down with the BBC to discuss how real life informed their new political thriller, The First Gentleman.What happens when the president’s husband is put on trial for murder? That’s the conundrum at the heart of former US President Bill Clinton and thriller maestro James Patterson’s latest collaboration, The First Gentleman. It’s a novel that only those two could conjure up, after the huge success of their earlier books, 2018’s The President Is Missing (three million copies sold) and The President’s Daughter (2021). Patterson is as big as they come…
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has secured a record-breaking $11.1 billion in new investments for 2024–2025, the highest in its history. Half of this, $5.5 billion, will fund climate-related projects, reinforcing the bank’s role in driving sustainable and inclusive growth across Africa. According to the bank’s Annual Development Effectiveness Review, the AfDB made major progress across its “High 5s” agenda, spanning energy, agriculture, industry, integration, and quality of life. Results include 14 million people accessing better healthcare, 5 million receiving clean water, 1 million gaining electricity, and 3.5 million benefiting from improved regional integration via the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).…
The race for the Palme d’Or wound up with a return for two-time winners the Dardenne brothers, adding a slice of Belgian social realism to a politically charged 78th Cannes Film Festival that delivered strong contenders for the top prize but no outright favourite ahead of Saturday’s closing ceremony. Source link
Nigeria has established an AfCFTA air corridor to Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa, slashing export logistics costs by up to 75% for local businesses. Announced by Trade Minister Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, the corridor—operated by Uganda Airlines—aims to boost trade in products like textiles, cosmetics, and agricultural products by removing transport bottlenecks. This move coincides with Nigeria’s official gazetting of AfCFTA tariffs, which will unlock lower rates for local exporters and expand market access. Under a phased strategy, Nigeria has implemented major tariff cuts, positioning its exporters for enhanced competitiveness across Africa. With digital trade and SME support also in focus, the corridor…
The Cannes Film Festival might be over but we’ve got one last treat in store for you. Viola Davis is not only an Oscar, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning actress, but also an author, advocate, and now, a L’Oréal Paris ambassador. Source link
Guerrilla GirlsIt’s been 40 years since the controversial activist group Guerrilla Girls formed. Their most powerful campaign, the “naked poster”, broke new ground – and has had a lasting influence.On a Sunday morning in New York in 1989, a few women perused the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Hidden among the regular punters, the anonymous feminist art collective, the Guerrilla Girls, went unnoticed as they carefully counted the number of female artists versus the number of naked women depicted in the artworks. They were on a secret mission to make people care about the racial and gender…
By: Mladen Čolić, Sales Vice President: Fintech Africa at TransUnion The FinTech industry has come a long way in Africa. Once a fringe disruptor, it is now a powerful force shaping how people borrow, pay, and manage their financial lives. Yet, behind every digital wallet, instant loan, or cross-border transaction lies an ecosystem built on trust, data, and scalability. Historically, credit scores and formal financial histories determined access to financial services. Yet, in Africa’s dynamic markets, these conventional indicators do not serve the vast majority who operate outside the formal economy. The conversation has moved far beyond credit scores. Today,…
Mauritanian Dr Sidi Ould Tah emerged as the clear winner among a strong field vying to become next President of the African Development Bank. The election was held during the Bank’s AGM in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. He obtained 70% of the votes from both the regional and non-regional member countries of Africa’s premier development institution. He replaces Dr Akinwumi Adesina who had completed his 10 year tenure. Based on Dr Tah’s record as head of the Arab Bank for Economic Development of Africa, (BADEA), Chinedu Moghalu predicts the new course of the AFDB based on what he calls the ‘Tah…
Note: This article contains potential spoilers for Black Doves.As anti-hero characters such as Deadpool, John Wick, and Jack Sparrow have become increasingly popular in comic books, films, and TV series in recent decades, they’ve introduced a sort of no-holds-barred protagonist. Beholden to no one or nothing except their own desires, these individuals are characterized by a snarky brand of selfishness, a team-of-one mentality, and a disdain for the rules of the natural world.At first glance, the spies and assassins in Netflix’s popular new Black Doves series appear no different. However, even these ruthless killers are not entirely free of the…