Author: Ewang Johnson

Miller’s headstrong creativity is evoked by her wry quotes; she once explained of her work: “It was a matter of getting out on a damn limb, and sawing it off behind you.” The urgency, audaciousness, and unexpected compassion that defines so much of her photography is also inextricably linked to her personal experience.She was born in 1907 in Poughkeepsie, New York State; she began her global adventures in her youth, though her ultimate home was Farleys House in the East Sussex countryside, where she moved in 1949 with her husband, British painter and curator Roland Penrose, and their infant son…

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“Carbon markets can unlock billions in finance for the continent”“How is it possible that in 2025, when we are able to send people to the moon, when we are able to create driverless vehicles, we’ve not been able to solve the problem of cooking energy in Africa’s rural areas?” asks Maxwell Gomera, Resident Representative of UNDP South Africa and Director of the Africa Sustainable Finance Hub.He continues: “This is something that is within our means. And as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Africa Sustainable Finance Hub, we are now working with governments across Africa on how to solve such…

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The future of the UN is at stake. For it to remain relevant and survive, it must cast off dogma and embrace a results-oriented approach. In the corridors of the United Nations as it celebrates its 80th anniversary, anxious diplomats speak of a new ‘darkest hour’. Conflicts rage in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and beyond. Climate shocks intensify. Human displacement has reached record levels. Humanitarian budgets shrink. It is no wonder that the President of the General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock has warned that “there are some people out there saying…we don’t need this institution anymore.” The causes are known to us…

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“For death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.” (Eccl. 7:2)A few weeks ago, I was getting ice from our freezer when a cube fell to the floor somewhere out of sight. I looked for it in vain as it was clear that the errant icicle had disappeared somewhere in the unexplored regions beneath my kitchen cabinets and appliances. I grabbed the drink that would have been the cube’s final destination and turned to leave when I felt the shift in the air around me, and I realized death was close at hand.We do our…

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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,…

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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…

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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…

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