Author: Ewang Johnson

The harsh conditions were totally alien to most people there. “The crew complained a lot about the heat, humidity, hotel rooms, bugs, mosquitoes,” he says. “The mud – sometimes knee-deep – was a real challenge.” Damien Leake, who played a machine gunner in the film, was on set for three weeks and similarly remembers the physical as being unlike anything he had encountered. “The first thing I remember is getting off the plane and the humidity hits you like a wet mop,” he tells the BBC. “Having been from New York, I know humidity, but this was unbelievable.” The water…

As businesses grapple with escalating electricity costs and a shifting energy landscape, IMPOWER Solar & Storage, a leading renewable energy provider, issued a guide outlining the costs and considerations for companies and industrial clients looking to transition off-grid. This comes at a time of public debate surrounding Eskom’s 2025/26 tariff increases and their impact on operational expenses. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa recently approved average tariff increases of 12.74% for Eskom direct customers (effective April 1, 2025) and 11.32% for municipalities (effective July 1, 2025).  These adjustments, coupled with structural changes to tariffs, including an overall increase in fixed…

In this edition of our arts24 music show, Jennifer Ben Brahim chats with Franco-Egyptian-Iranian singer KUKII about her new EP “Rare Baby”. The artist been part of France’s avant-garde music scene for more than a decade, using the stage name Lafawndah. A recent trip to Cairo was more than just a homecoming; it was a transformative experience and the creation of a new musical identity – that of KUKII. “Rare Baby” is inspired by music from North Africa and the Middle East, mixed with her trademark blend of emboldened pop. The EP also feels like a battle cry or manifesto, and…

Getty ImagesThe Championships have begun, and the quintessentially British tennis tournament has some very particular codes for attendees to follow. How are spectators expected to behave, and what should they – or should they definitely not – wear?Afternoon tea, a stiff upper lip and Wimbledon – all so deeply “British” that they’ve become part of the nation’s international brand; the things that seem to make Britain, Britain, and tempt tourists from far and wide to observe them for themselves. The optics of the annual tennis tournament in south London – the strawberries and cream, the Pimm’s, the ball girls and boys…

© PAHOA Malaria Service Deliverer uses a rapid diagnostic test to test a man for malaria at a mining community in Suriname as part of the country’s malaria elimination strategy. GENEVA, Switzerland – July 01st, 2025 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/- Today, Suriname became the first country in the Amazon region to receive malaria-free certification from the World Health Organization (WHO). This historic milestone follows nearly 70 years of commitment by the government and people of Suriname to eliminate the disease across its vast rainforests and diverse communities. “WHO congratulates Suriname on this remarkable achievement,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This certification is…

New romantic comedy “Materialists” dives into the world of high-end dating in Manhattan, where luxury, status and desire blur the lines of love. Dakota Johnson stars as a professional matchmaker, caught between Pedro Pascal’s millionaire dreamboat and Chris Evans as her idealistic ex. Oscar-nominated director Celine Song describes the film as a “Victorian romance for 2025”, showing how dating today can feel like a game of social value and transactions. Eve Jackson meets Celine in Paris – and hits the streets – to ask: is love still about connection, or has it become a carefully calculated deal? Source link

Universal StudiosStarring Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey, the latest in the dinosaur blockbuster series follows the template created by the original Jurassic Park – but it’s no match for it.Eww. There is a definite whiff of staleness about the latest Jurassic film, which strains to come up with a fresh take on a formula – outrun those dinosaurs – that has made billions of dollars and clearly can’t be messed with too much. It turns out the film-makers should have messed with it a little more. Jurassic World Rebirth has major stars in Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey, and better-designed…

Google today announced the selection of 15 promising tech startups for its Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa Class 9 program. These innovative startups, hailing from Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa, are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to address significant challenges across diverse sectors, including fintech, agritech, healthtech, and professional services. In an era where startups are at the forefront of solving critical challenges across Africa, these innovators often face significant hurdles to scale their operations, particularly in securing essential support, mentorship, and funding. Programs like the Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa play a crucial role in providing…

In uncertain times, clarity is leadership. And across Africa, too many governments still underestimate just how vital it has become to speak clearly, consistently, and with purpose. Public trust is eroding. Misinformation spreads in seconds. Confusion, once a political inconvenience, is now a direct threat to stability. The way African governments speak to their people must change. Traditional methods no longer work. Speeches delivered late at night. Statements issued days after the crisis. Ministries hiding behind technical language or scripted silence. This model fails to meet the demands of modern governance. People want clarity. They want honesty. They want to…

There has been quite a bit of discussion recently about how much (some) men apparently think about ancient Rome. Whether it’s the history of battles, the togas, the architectural feats survived by ruins spread throughout the Mediterranean basin, or the array of films from Ben-Hur and Spartacus to Gladiator and Gladiator II, some people seem particularly fascinated with ancient Rome. But recent and forthcoming films suggest that we might all benefit from spending more time thinking about ancient Greece. The Return is a 2024 film adaptation of Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, directed by Uberto Pasolini and starring Ralph Fiennes as…