Author: damazah@gmail.com

In October 2025, a storm brewed over the Caribbean Sea. Weather models differed on its trajectory. Would it remain weak and end up in Haiti, or would it intensify and head to Jamaica? Artificial intelligence model WeatherNext, developed by Google’s DeepMind and Google Research, went with the latter. Five days before landfall, it predicted with 80 percent confidence that the storm system would hit Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane.Hurricane Melissa was catastrophic, causing flooding and landslides across Jamaica. But the AI model helped forecasters give an earlier warning to communities in its path, so they could better prepare.In a…

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen disagree on income tax revenue use.

Available for 35 daysLarge parts of Europe are in the grip of drought. According to the UK Meteorological Office, last week was the UK’s driest July on record. Katie Field, professor of plant-soil processes at Sheffield University, joins us to discuss the state of our struggling substrate. Next week, a dramatic solar eclipse will be sweeping down the Atlantic. In the past, eclipses have been vital to astronomers exploring the outer reaches of the Sun. Now though, they can make their own on demand. Esther Bastida-Pertegaz, project engineer at the European Space Agency, discusses the flying formation Proba-3 mission. A…

Barcelona are set to approach Man City for midfielder Rodri and are hopeful they can beat their LaLiga rivals to the signing of the Spain captain, Sky Sports News understands. The Spain World Cup winner is wanted by both Spanish giants and has entered the final year of his contract at City. As reported by Sky Sports News, Real have been in talks with City since last week and indicated they would be prepared to pay £50m. Barcelona are believed to have received encouragement they stand a good chance of signing the midfielder should Rodri move in this window. Their interest…

Backstage at a London festival, on a Sunday afternoon, the Womack Sisters are assembling themselves on a sofa, still clad in the clothes they were wearing on stage a few minutes ago. They look very stylish in their black dresses, tights and high heels, but they are not, it has to be said, dressed appropriately for the weather, which is sweltering. “You don’t feel anything on stage,” says Zeimani with a shrug. “You just feel amazing, like you’re floating.”“And we’re committed,” nods her sister BG. “You know, we were taught by professionals.”Linda and Cecil Womack on stage in 1988. Photograph:…

  Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Enugu A Nigerian philanthropist has pledged to dedicate 90 per cent of his wealth to charity and war against poverty, saying that Africa needed “to be liberated” from the pangs of abject poverty. Engr Chuka Nwokoro, the founder of Mobile Ministry Incorporate, and Charities(MMI Charities), made the vow during an empowerment programme at Enugu, organised by his charity organisation in conjunction with the African Rebirth Vision Foundation(TARVF). “I say it again, 90 percent of my wealth I will give to the poor,” he emphasised. He said that there was no turning back in his mission to liberate people from…

Mexican social media influencer César Gastélum has been killed in a shooting while livestreaming outside a fast food restaurant in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa State. According to the BBC, Gastélum was recording a video with two friends in the Tres Ríos district on Tuesday evening when two men arrived on a motorcycle and one of them opened fire at close range. The content creator, who had more than 500,000 followers on TikTok, was widely known for posting comedy videos. Local media reported that Gastélum and his friends were wearing bright orange jackets and carrying bags commonly associated with delivery…

AIICO Insurance Plc has received a new operational licence from the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), confirming its full compliance with the recapitalisation requirements introduced under the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025. The development comes as the company continues to post strong financial results, reinforcing its position as one of the industry’s most resilient and well-capitalised players. NAICOM confirmed the successful conclusion of the 12-month recapitalisation exercise across the insurance sector, listing AIICO among a select group of insurers that met the new minimum capital threshold, retaining its status as a fully compliant composite insurer across both life and…

We’ve also known for some time that we should expect something the size of a Ford Maverick on the outside—except far more streamlined—with more cabin space than the Toyota RAV4. The Fathom will be capable of bidirectional charging, and Ford’s BlueCruise, hands-free, partially automated driver assist will also be an option. What we didn’t know was the exact starting price, but like the name, we now have that missing puzzle piece: $28,350, plus a $1,595 delivery charge. The Internet loves to create fandoms and then pit them against each other, and for the Slate Auto fanboys out there, that means…

President Bola Tinubu’s second military pay rise is more than a salary adjustment; it is a strategic investment in the morale, fighting spirit and operational effectiveness of the men and women at the forefront of Nigeria’s battle against insurgency and other security threats, writes Linus Aleke. President Bola Tinubu’s approval of a second major pay rise for personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria on Tuesday is more than a routine welfare intervention; it is a strategic investment in the morale, fighting spirit and operational effectiveness of the men and women at the forefront of the nation’s battle against insurgency…