Author: Ewang Johnson

AlamyOne of show business’s most glamorous – and notorious – images, there’s more to this 1957 snapshot of Sophia Loren and Jayne Mansfield than might first appear.On the night of Sophia Loren’s “Welcome to Hollywood” dinner party in April 1957, Jayne Mansfield walked into the exclusive Romanoff’s restaurant in Beverly Hills with a plan. The swanky soirée being thrown by Paramount Studios was packed with some of the biggest Hollywood stars of the era, from Barbara Stanwyck and Montgomery Clift to Gary Cooper and Shelley Winters. But it would be a candid photograph of Mansfield and Loren that would earn…

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In a first for the continent, Standard Bank Corporate and Investment Banking is the first authorised bank to offer transactions through China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS).  The bank was recently granted license to offer CIPS transactions at this year’s Lujiazui Forum. The Forum was created as a high-level global platform for government officials, world financial leaders and outstanding scholars to discuss and foster international financial cooperation and further the financial reform and market opening in China.  eponymous conference held in Shanghai.  The payment system will allow for interbank payments between Africa and China using Chinese Renminbi (RMB) as the…

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Brook RushtonFrom Superman to I Know What You Did Last Summer – these are the films to watch at the cinema and stream at home this month.A24EddingtonBest known as the horror auteur who chilled audiences with Hereditary and Midsommar, Ari Aster moves on to state-of-the-nation satirical comedy with his latest film, Eddington. The title is the name of a small desert town in New Mexico where the sheriff, Joaquin Phoenix, is at loggerheads with the business-minded mayor, Pedro Pascal. Their feud has something to do with the sheriff’s wife, Emma Stone, but it spirals out of control in 2020 when…

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Award-winning and renowned jazz artist and trumpeter Mandisi Dyantyis is set to headline Saso’s Brunch Marquee at the upcoming Hollywoodbets Durban July on Saturday, 5 July, at Greyville Racecourse. In a grand reprise, the marquee will also feature performances by equally captivating artists including Zee Nxumalo, Scott Maphuma,Oscar Mbo, DJ Merlon, and others soon to be announced. Known for songs such as “NguMama,” “Ndimthanda,” “Cwaka,” and “Molo Sisi,” Dyantyis has earned widespread respect for his ability to fuse jazz, Afro-soul, and traditional isiXhosa music into a distinct and moving sound “We always love playing in Durban, and we’re truly looking…

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Note: This article contains potential spoilers for The Snow Girl.Miren: I’m not a very good journalist, you know.Nacho: [Laughs]…No?Miren: No… The rules, the… technique… I’m not the best at that. But I know how much you suffer when [expletive] your life. Victims don’t have to be perfect. We shouldn’t ask that of them. A victim is a victim. It doesn’t matter if they’re good or bad, a friend or daughter.This quote by investigative journalist Miren Rojo encapsulates The Snow Girl’s overarching theme. Determined to get justice for victims of heinous crimes, Miren does whatever it takes to hold accountable those…

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Her protagonist is a cinematic Sheherazade, captivating viewers with tales of courageous feats and astonishing achievements. Yet Heiny Srour’s “Leila” is not dealing in fiction but in fact: re-telling the story of the Palestinian and Lebanese people with women back in their rightful roles, as active participants in their country’s stories. As the film returns to cinemas 40 years after it was made, the Lebanese director tells us why its themes are still extremely topical today. We also discuss her pioneering documentary, “The Hour of Liberation Has Arrived”, which made Srour the first Arab women to present a feature at…

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Ana Blumenkron/ Netflix(Credit: Ana Blumenkron/ Netflix)From Lena Dunham’s new Netflix rom-com, set in London, to the return of Michael C Hall’s murderous Dexter and a stunning new wildlife series.Greg Gayne/ Amazon Prime Video(Credit: Greg Gayne/ Amazon Prime Video)1. Ballard Long-running series don’t often die; they just give us spinoffs. Seven seasons of Bosch, with Titus Welliver as a Los Angeles police detective, led to three seasons of a sequel series, Bosch: Legacy, and now Ballard. Action star Maggie Q plays Detective Renée Ballard, who was introduced as a homicide detective in the final episode of Legacy. In her own series, which…

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Africa’s history is a vibrant tapestry of ancient kingdoms, bold leaders, and groundbreaking innovations that have shaped the world. From the towering pyramids of Egypt to the revolutionary spirit of modern independence movements, the continent’s past is as dynamic as its present. Ready to challenge your knowledge? Take this engaging quiz to test your African history IQ and discover fascinating facts along the way! Each question comes with a brief explanation to spark your curiosity and deepen your understanding. Why African History Matters Africa’s history isn’t just about the past, it’s a living story that shapes the continent’s vibrant present…

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