Author: Ewang Johnson

UNESCO is set to appoint Egypt’s Khaled El-Enany as its new director general, according to diplomatic sources. The cultural agency’s executive board on Monday voted 55 to 2 in favor of Egypt’s former tourism and antiquities minister, whose name will be put forward for approval to UNESCO’s members in November.  Source link

The most famous image appeared in 1934 at the height of Nessie-mania: a slender, serpent-like neck rising from the loch. For decades, the photo baffled Nessieologists. In 1979, Californian naturalist Dennis Power suggested the “monster” it depicted was an elephant swimming with its trunk above water. Elephants, he noted, could swim up to 30 miles. While admitting the idea of an elephant in the Scottish Highlands was almost as unlikely as a real monster, he said: “We’d love to apply for a government grant for four round-trip tickets to Scotland and 40 tonnes of peanuts to try and trap it,…

Nigeria is turning the spotlight on its mining sector as part of a broader effort to diversify its economy beyond oil. Between January and August 2025, the nation’s non-oil revenue surged 40.5%, reaching $13.8 billion, highlighting the potential of non-oil sectors, especially solid minerals. Despite vast deposits of gold, limestone, coal, and bitumen, structural bottlenecks, poor infrastructure, and illegal mining have hindered growth. The government is addressing these challenges by cracking down on illicit activity, improving security, revoking dormant licenses, and creating a state-owned solid minerals corporation with private-sector participation. The government is also streamlining licensing processes and launching a digital…

US President Donald Trump announces a peace plan for the Gaza Strip, Manchester’s Jewish community is devastated after a deadly anti-Semitic attack and Moroccan youth continue to mobilise in the face of government repression. FRANCE 24 takes a look at the week’s most striking images.  Source link

African stock markets are capturing the global spotlight with a spectacular rally, with several now ranking among the world’s top performers. Ghana tops the list of best-performing markets in dollar terms this year, followed by Zambia, while Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa also show strong gains. This impressive performance is driven by a powerful combination of factors, including significant economic reforms and interest rate cuts within these nations. Simultaneously, a weakening US dollar and booming commodity prices are enhancing the appeal of these markets for international investors seeking high returns. The collective momentum underscores a growing confidence in Africa’s economic trajectory…

Taylor Swift released her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl”, on Friday, marking a return to glittering pop. The 35-year-old teamed up again with Swedish producers Max Martin and Shellback, whose signature beats and hooks drive the hotly anticipated record of love, success and revenge. Source link

A bold new short film series, Nya Uriri (Pek Chi Liel) – The Widow’s Burden, has been released and is already generating a buzz across Kenyan social media. Blending satire, humor, and hard-hitting truths, the project tackles the controversial subject of widow inheritance and women’s economic empowerment in African culture.The story unfolds during the funeral of a young man where grief quickly gives way to chaos as brothers, uncles, and mourners fight openly over the future of the widow and her children. Inheritance, gender roles, and cultural traditions clash in a heated mix of drama and comedy that has left audiences…

The seaside town of Dinard in Brittany is rolling out the red carpet for stars from Ireland and the UK as it hosts its annual film festival. Culture editor Eve Jackson tells us about the dramas, documentaries and horror stories screening there this year, and catches up with actress and director Kristin Scott Thomas as she presents the very personal “My Mother’s Wedding”. We also weigh up Leonardo DiCaprio’s prospects as Oscar buzz surrounds the actor’s latest performance. Plus: Swifties, rejoice! Taylor Swift releases her 12th album, “The Life of a Showgirl”, and reflects upon a life spent on stage.  Source…

Zuckerberg may have a point, but it’s hardly the first time that a film has twisted the truth for dramatic and thematic purposes. “As a historian and someone who believes very strongly in media literacy, I always approach and encourage others to approach a film based on real events as still a dramatisation,” Jason Steinhauer, the author of History, Disrupted: How Social Media and the World Wide Web Have Changed the Past, tells the BBC. “Every Hollywood film takes liberties, removes elements from the story, heightens the drama, and accentuates certain characters, all in the name of storytelling. I would…

Africa and its diaspora took center stage in New York City during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) as Culturally Bound and SpiralH presented Amazing Grace: YorubaWorlds, powered by the Afreximbank’s Global Africa Gateway at The Africa Center. Hosted by the Future Africa Forum 2025, the private screening and discussion formed part of a global gathering that champions Africa’s cultural power, policy innovation, and investment strength as engines of shared prosperity.The program began with a powerful welcome from Ambassador Martin Kimani, President & CEO of The Africa Center, who spoke of Africa’s future as inseparable from its global diaspora. “At…