Author: Ewang Johnson
Reed Brody, former New York Assistant Attorney General, and renowned human rights lawyer known for holding dictators accountable, is now sounding the alarm at home. He describes what he sees as an “unprecedented attack on freedom of expression” in the United States: A broad, systematic effort to silence any dissent (in the media, at law firms, NGOs, universities) using all of the levers of government. And this goes far beyond censorship, Brody tells us. “It’s a litmus test of obedience to Donald Trump”, enforced through corporate pressure and regulatory threats. He points to recent cases like the suspension of Jimmy…
Elsewhere, if you’re a fan of domestic thrillers featuring expensive furnishings, then two shows should be for you: Netflix’s The Beast in Me (November), in which Claire Danes becomes suspicious of her new neighbour, and Peacock’s All Her Fault (November), in which Succession’s Sarah Snook plays a woman going through every mother’s worst nightmare. The ever-prolific super-producer Ryan Murphy has two shows coming up: the latest in his Monster franchise (October), focusing on serial killer Ed Gein, and legal drama All’s Fair (November), starring Kim Kardashian. And to top things off, the final season of Stranger Things is set to…
Africa is stepping boldly into a future where innovation fuels prosperity. The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has unveiled the African Research and Innovation Hub (ARIH), a transformative platform designed to unlock up to US$70 billion in annual economic gains by turning research into real-world impact.Turning intellectual capital into trade powerFor too long, Africa has underinvested in research and development, spending less than one per cent of its GDP and contributing less than three per cent of global research output. ARIH aims to change that narrative. By connecting academia, industry, and policymakers, the hub will double R&D spending and push African…
I’ve been following Bruce Springsteen for fifty years, since I first saw him in concert in Norfolk, Virginia, one August night in 1975. I was sixteen, looking for something transcendent, something that would rock my soul. It was the Born to Run tour, promoting the album that is his magnum opus. Three jaw-dropping hours later, I left that venue feeling more alive than ever.Since then, I’ve seen the Boss twenty-five times. I own every album, a few concert DVDs, and a bunch of bootlegs. I’ve read several biographies, including his memoir, and hundreds of articles.Until the recent release of Faithless,…
Our guest today is Eric Heinze, Professor of Law and Humanities at Queen Mary, University of London. A specialist in free speech and constitutional theory, Professor Heinze brings a global perspective to the crisis unfolding in American public life. From late-night television to the Federal Reserve, Heinze argues that we’re witnessing not just isolated incidents but a systematic shift in how democratic norms are being undermined from within. What does it mean when a government elected on promises to shrink federal government size and power ends up expanding executive authority to the detriment of the Constitution and individual liberties? And…
Apple TV+The show is headlined by Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, both of whose characters have experienced major plot twists and turns (Credit: Apple TV+)”I like it because it’s pacy and there is always a lot going on,” she adds. “It’s definitely a ‘no-scroll’ show. And this probably makes me a terrible person, but it just looks so nice. Everyone is beautiful and slick and smart and dressed like your dreams, and sometimes that’s exactly what you want in your one hour of free time between getting the kids to bed and passing out.”Despite the show’s grounding in current affairs,…
LAGOS, Nigeria, September 18th, 2025-/ West African business leaders, technology partners and SAP experts met in Lagos this week to explore a bold new vision for business to thrive in an increasingly competitive technology environment. Shiraz Khota, Managing Director: Emerging Africa at SAP, said: “Organisations across the region are leveraging the latest technologies to build a trusted foundation for AI and amplify their insights and processes to transform the way they work. From harnessing collaborative AI agents to solve complex problems and accelerate decision-making, to seamlessly connecting their entire business value chain, West Africa’s business community is gearing up to unleash…
Tonight’s special guest for Top Story is Terry Moran, former veteran correspondent and anchor for ABC News. Following nearly three decades of service at the Disney company, he was abruptly let go after sharing a scathing critique on social media of the highly controversial policies of Donald Trump and Stephen Miller that he asserted were fuelled and driven by hate. And now Mr. Moran weighs in on why ABC has indefinitely suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! amid political pressure and blowback from the FCC, all the while facing the wrath of two very powerful media companies, Nexstar and Sinclair, the owners of dozens…
Presented to the French court as a peace offering after years of hostility with Austria, Marie Antoinette had split allegiances that mired her in suspicions − not all unfounded − that she shared military secrets with Austria. She was deemed indifferent to the French people, and derogatory references to her as “L’Autri-chienne” (a wordplay on the French for both Austrian and bitch) exemplify the distrust that fuelled public feeling.Château de Versailles, Dist. Grand Palais RMN / Christophe FouinMarie Antoinette has been much maligned over the centuries – portrait by Élisabeth-Louise Vigée Le Brun (Credit: Château de Versailles, Dist. Grand Palais RMN / Christophe Fouin)Unlike a king,…
● Join over 500 scientists, researchers, and changemakers uniting to drive real solutions for gender equality in food, land and water systems. ● A call to co-create solutions that accelerate gender equality in agri-food and water systems. Register before 26 September 2025. 2023 CGIAR Gender Conference held in India (1)CGIAR, through the Accelerator on Gender Equality and Inclusion, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and Western Cape Government’s Department of Agriculture, will co host the Gender in Food, Land and Water Systems conference 2025 from 7 to 9 October 2025 at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town, South Africa. Under the…