Page 8 - Nahlah Ayed News Today

Alaa Al Aswany is one of Egypt’s most important authors. While his work is banned in his country, including his latest novel about a fictionalized account of the failed Egyptian revolution of 2011, the writer believes it’s only a matter of time before the revolution prevails.

It's time once again for Canada Reads! This year's panellists and the books they choose to champion will be revealed on Jan. 26.

When stories are left out of the historical record, we are all the poorer for that, says 2021 CBC Massey Lecturer Esi Edugyan. Her six-part series will air on IDEAS beginning January 24. The acclaimed novelist joined Nahlah Ayed to talk about the importance of origin stories and the factors that shaped her as a writer.

The Cundill History Prize is the most prestigious of its kind. Its award of $75,000USD goes this year to Marjoleine Kars for her book Blood on the River: A Chronicle of Mutiny and Freedom on the Wild Coast. The author speaks with host Nahlah Ayed about how she discovered a forgotten slave rebellion.

During his 40-year career, Edward Burtynsky has photographed the planet's changing landscape, everything from large-scale mining operations in Sudbury to plastic landfills in Nairobi. The renowned photographer recently delivered a virtual talk for the Ontario Heritage Trust and spoke with IDEAS host Nahlah Ayed about what he's seen, where he's been, and what comes next.

Marjoleine Kars has been named winner of the 2021 Cundill History Prize for Blood on the River: a Chronicle of Mutiny and Freedom on the Wild Coast (The New Press). Kars accessed a previously untapped Dutch archive to reveal the little-known story of

Marjoleine Kars wins the 2021 Cundill History Prize for her book 'Blood on the River' about a 1763 slave rebellion in present-day Guyana.

CNN's Senior International Correspondent Nima Elbagir has reported from the frontlines of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and in Chibok, the Nigerian village from which over 250 schoolgirls were kidnapped by Boko Haram. The foreign correspondent is the 2021 Peter Stursberg Lecturer.

Some new studies that look at natural immunity — a degree of protection against COVID-19 that a person develops after being infected — have triggered discussion within the scientific community about the strength of such immunity. However, scientists tell CBC News it is no substitute for vaccination.

With the COVID-19 death toll in the United States having surpassed 730,000, Dr. Anthony Fauci tells IDEAS host Nahlah Ayed that he finds it "mind-boggling" that partisanship and skepticism of science continue to fuel the pandemic.