Author: damazah@gmail.com

Smog and Sunshine Ann Carlson Univ. California Press (2026)From the 1940s to the 1990s, smoggy Los Angeles, California, had “stunningly unhealthy air”, writes environmental lawyer Ann Carlson. Now, it is “remarkably clean”. Her powerful book details how scientists, lawyers and residents collaborated with public officials to reduce pollution, especially from vehicles, beginning with the state’s first Clean Air Act in 1963. Today, however, air pollution is growing again as a result of wildfires driven by climate change.Ignorance George Szpiro Columbia Univ. Press (2026)Unlike knowledge, ignorance receives little systematic study and is often regarded negatively, observes journalist George Szpiro. But ignorance…

Hosts Morocco and Senegal boosted their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarter-final hopes with crucial victories on Thursday, setting up a thrilling conclusion to Group A. Morocco claimed derby bragging rights with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Algeria, while Senegal returned to winning ways by edging Kenya by the same scoreline to keep qualification firmly within their grasp. Senegal revive quarter-final hopes Seynabou Mbengue’s first-half strike proved decisive as Senegal defeated Kenya 1-0 in a fiercely contested encounter. The victory marked a strong response from the Lionesses of Teranga after their defeat to Algeria and leaves them well placed…

The opening night of Lollapalooza proved too hot to handle for some as audience members reportedly passed out from the heat during Lorde‘s headlining set. On Thursday night, the 2x Grammy winner briefly paused her performance to check on fans near the stage who were losing consciousness, calling security over to help them, according to multiple outlets. “You look hot from up here,” said Lorde as she greeted the packed audience at her opening night set in Chicago, Rolling Stone reported. During her set on Thursday, Lorde performed “Royals”, “Supercut”, “Greenlight”, “Ribs” and more, including “Girl, So Confusing” with a…

By Kingsley Omonobi Troops of the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, under the 2 Division, have rescued 14 kidnapped victims following a kidnap incident along the Lagos–Benin Expressway in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State. The operation, conducted under Operation Whirl Stroke, followed credible intelligence received by troops on routine patrol at about 9:30 p.m. on July 30, according to the spokesman for the 4 Brigade, Capt. Kennedy Anyanwu. He said the troops immediately pursued the kidnappers along their escape route, forcing them to abandon 11 of the victims before fleeing into a nearby forest. Anyanwu added that during…

Femi Akintunde-Johnson It began, as these things often do nowadays, with a concert. South African music sensation Tyla was billed to perform in Lagos. Within hours, social media erupted. Some Nigerians demanded an outright boycott. Others insisted the performance should be cancelled in protest against the recurring xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa. A third group counselled restraint, arguing that many law-abiding Nigerians still live and work in South Africa, and that culture should not become another casualty of political failure. All legitimate positions. Yet, beneath the noise over one artiste lies a much…

Aradel Holdings reported a dramatically higher turnover for January to June but saw no commensurate boost in earnings. Within the period, global oil drillers generally cashed in on the sweeping supply chain disruption induced by the US-Israeli War against Iran. The oil and gas corporation, which last year completed a majority stake purchase in ND Western, an oil drilling firm where it previously held a non-controlling interest, expanded revenue nearly seven times to ₦2.5 trillion from ₦368.1 billion. That sharp pace of growth could not be matched by after-tax profit, which climbed to ₦191 billion from ₦146.4 billion as exploding…

It is the end of an era for the Diamond family. For 20 years, there have been five of us living together. It has not been easy. Militant vegan daughters, sons who have inherited Scottish tempers, and a youngest child who attracts trouble like an industrial magnet, have meant our house has been conflict-laden at times. Throw in the fact that we are beset with all manner of mental health bobbins and chronic illnesses that resulted in two of our three kids almost dying in hospitals and you get a family that is combustible – but extremely close.Through it all,…

Voters should determine outcomes of elections, not the courts, writes JOSHUA J. OMOJUWA On Tuesday, five political parties returned from the dead. The African Democratic Congress, the Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, the Accord Party and the Zenith Labour Party were restored to legal existence by a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja. This was via a unanimous decision. Six weeks earlier, a Federal High Court had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister all five, to reject any candidates they nominated, and to shut them out of the 2027 general elections. The appellate court did…

Across many high-income societies, anxiety about demographic decline has become commonplace. Fertility rates have fallen below replacement level, populations are aging rapidly, and governments worry about labor shortages, pension sustainability, and the future of welfare systems. These concerns are legitimate. Yet the conventional narrative does not always capture another important consequence of declining birth rates: dejuvenation, the progressive reduction of the demographic, economic, cultural and political weight of younger generations in society. Although low fertility alone does not immediately transform institutions, the cumulative effect of decades of low births combined with rising longevity does. The result is a thinner presence…

Giants center fielder Harrison Bader, who has been on the injured list due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot since May 30, further injured the same foot in a scooter incident, the team announced earlier this week. Amid an investigation, the Giants said late Friday that they are temporarily withholding Bader’s pay.”Over the weekend, Harrison Bader was involved in an accident that has delayed Harrison’s prior treatment timeline for plantar fasciitis and, unfortunately, his return to the field,” Giants president Buster Posey said in a statement on Friday. “We are still investigating the circumstances of the accident, but will…