Author: damazah@gmail.com

Travelling to the United States with food from Nigeria may seem harmless, but some items that are common in Nigerian homes are either restricted or completely prohibited at U.S. ports of entry. The rules are designed to protect the country’s agriculture, livestock and public health from pests, diseases and contaminated food products. While commercially packaged foods may be allowed after inspection, fresh produce, certain animal products and homemade foods are subject to stricter regulations and can be confiscated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). In some cases, travellers who fail to declare restricted food items may face delays, fines…

Hot dogs, beach days, and iced tea on the porch are some of the rites of summer. But in an era of global warming, a new rite has emerged: choking down smoke from wildfires burning hundreds of miles or more away.The Midwest, Northeast, and parts of Canada have been blitzed with thick smoke that turned skies an eerie shade of orange and triggered widespread air quality alerts. The source? Fires burning in Minnesota as well as western Ontario.Canada is where the bulk of the fires are burning, with 119 out-of-control blazes across the country as of Friday afternoon. The fires…

As Nigeria grapples with governance challenges, weak public communication and declining public trust in institutions, former Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry and Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Otunba Bimbola Ashiru, believes the country must return to the fundamentals of leadership: integrity, reputation and effective communication. In this interview with Sunday Ehigiator, the Convener of the Duke’s Masterclass speaks on why the initiative was conceived, why decision-makers must embrace global best practices, the importance of strategic crisis management, and why he believes ministers should do more to communicate government policies and achievements. Excerpts. You have worked in banking,…

Imagine playing the game “20 Questions” with the opening question: “Animal, vegetable, or mineral?” For the ancient sea worm Perinereis cultrifera (which is still around to this day), the answer is surprisingly complicated. Like other predatory bristle worms, this species has jaws built from structural proteins and ions. The animals use these hard mouthparts to bite, crush, and consume their food. The unusual composition and behavior of these jaws have led researchers to describe them using a new term: bio-metals. The concept is now becoming an emerging area of biophysical research. What Makes a Bio-Metal Different? Scientists have previously used…

The thick smoke that has engulfed New York and much of the eastern seaboard over the past few days has drawn wry smiles in Dallas and Los Angeles, where locals will watch on with a sense of schadenfreude when the World Cup final takes place in the New York New Jersey Stadium (usually known as the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey) on Sunday.The Dallas and Los Angeles stadiums, which were passed over when Fifa awarded the final in February 2024, are more impressive venues without the same climatic risks as New York, which was chosen because of its global appeal…

John Kirby, the longtime acting coach and son to Bruce Kirby, has died. He was 75. Kirby died Wednesday three years after being diagnosed with ALS. His associate, Nathan Besbitt, confirmed his death on Instagram. “I am here to officially, with a broken heart, announce the passing of our beloved John on the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 15, and it has been devastating for all of us, and we’re trying to just find a way to cope,” Besbitt said. Kirby lent his talents as an acting coach to a number of projects across his career, and was a…

1Good dog taken short in wood? (5) 1 down. Good dog taken short in wood? 5 letters.2The French g-girl deemed attractive – rude boy may be this (7) 2 down. The French g-girl deemed attractive – rude boy may be this. 7 letters.3European inventor not in the same league as American one, reportedly (5) 3 down. European inventor not in the same league as American one, reportedly. 5 letters.4Trendy, endlessly tired, somehow having a disinclination to move (7) 4 down. Trendy, endlessly tired, somehow having a disinclination to move. 7 letters.5No longer wanting inept cluing, engaging editor – that’s advantageous…

Gallup poll indicates Americans share Utahns’ mixed feelings about their confidence in higher education.Republican respondents are more distrustful of U.S. colleges and universities than Democrats.Utah’s higher education system receives national honor for its governance and innovation.So how much confidence does your next-door neighbor, or the woman at church, or maybe the guy at work have in higher education?The answers likely vary if they live in Utah or if they’re college graduates or Republicans or Democrats.Earlier this year, a Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics survey revealed a sizable majority of Utahns — 67% — reported “a great deal” or “a fair…

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has coordinated the successful reception of 1,516 vulnerable Nigerians voluntarily repatriated from the Republic of South Africa between 11 June 11 and 15 July. The agency disclosed this in a statement on Friday, saying the Federal Government coordinated the exercise in collaboration with relevant agencies and partners. It said the repatriation involved the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, and Nigerians in Diaspora Commission. Others include the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the National Identity Management Commission, Port Health Services, security agencies, and…

More than a thousand people rallied for Justin Pearson, a Democratic state representative running for Congress, in the wake of four fatal shootings by members of the Memphis Safe Task Force over the last two months.Crowds packed New Direction Christian Church in the city’s Hickory Hill neighborhood in support of Pearson, who is running in the now-fractured ninth congressional district’s Democratic primary.“Today we are in the fight of our lives to make this district, our state, and this nation better for ourselves and for those who will come after us,” Pearson said.“If God be for us, it doesn’t matter if…