Author: damazah@gmail.com

Two new large stick insect species have been identified by Australian researchers, in a discovery they say illustrates how little we still understand about insect diversity.The two species, both found in far north Queensland, are described in a study published in Austral Entomology.One, named Anchiale robusta, was hiding in plain sight: the stick insect has long been popular among enthusiasts and scientists, but analysis has only now revealed that its previous designation was a case of mistaken identity.“When we went out into the field, and we saw a whole bunch of different individuals that looked morphologically different, and they were…

Prime Video looks to have another hit on its hands with Neagley, a new spinoff series set in the same universe as the streaming platform’s critically acclaimed Reacher, now in its fourth season. Both shows are solidly addictive escapist fare, and while Neagley has some uneven elements, it mostly sticks to the successful formula while exploring new ground to give a very different main character her due. (Some spoilers below, but no major reveals.) Reacher fans will already be familiar with Frances Neagley, played to perfection by Maria Sten (Swamp Thing). She’s arguably the most diehard friend of former US…

The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate, Donald Duke, said he is unsure whether Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, is seeking elective office in the 2027 general election, describing the activist as a “voice of conscience.” Duke spoke in an interview with the Naija Unfiltered Podcast while discussing efforts by opposition figures and groups, including G100, to unite against the President Bola Tinubu-led administration ahead of the 2027 presidential election. According to him, Sowore plays a different role in the political space by speaking on issues that some politicians may avoid because of the demands of…

Enugu Air will launch direct international flights between Enugu and Douala, Cameroon, on Wednesday, 23 September, to strengthen regional air connectivity. The airline’s Chief Operating Officer, Ugonna Agubuokwu, confirmed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos. Mr Agubuokwu said the new route would bring businesses, families and opportunities in Nigeria and Cameroon closer together. According to him, the service would operate twice weekly, on Mondays and Wednesdays. He said passengers travelling from Lagos and Abuja could connect to Douala through Enugu. “This is more than the introduction of a new route. It is about creating stronger connections between…

The controversy over the selection of the next Awujale of Ijẹbu Kingdom in Ogun State has deepened after four members of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House filed a lawsuit against 12 family members. The case was instituted at the Ogun State High Court in Ijebu-Ode by Abdulateef Owoyemi, the chairman of the ruling house; his deputy, Dokun Ajidagba; Vice Chairman Fassy Yusuf; and Secretary Jeremiah Salami, the Punch newspaper reported on Sunday. They are challenging allegations that financial inducements and other forms of manipulation influenced the selection process for the next Awujale. In the suit, numbered HCJ/167/2026 and filed on 16…

Apple is paying $250 million to settle claims that it failed to deliver an AI-upgraded Siri — and now, eligible iPhone owners can submit a claim for a payout. If you live in the US and purchased an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 model between June 10th, 2024, and March 29th, 2025, you can file a claim on the settlement’s website, as reported earlier by MacRumors.You can receive an estimated $25 per eligible device, but the settlement’s website notes that this can increase to $95 depending on how many people file claims. To file…

The United States wants a new “notification mechanism” with China to warn each other when an artificial intelligence incident becomes serious enough to threaten national security.The proposal, effectively an “AI hotline”, was discussed on Sunday during talks in New York between US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, ahead of a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington this week.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listThe two leaders are expected to consider establishing a broader US-China dialogue on AI, including the proposed notification system, around which details remain limited.The initiative…

The Lagos State government has disputed claims that only one dialysis machine is functional at the Alimosho General Hospital, Igando. Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, made the clarification in a post on X on Sunday, saying all eight dialysis machines at the hospital’s dialysis centre are functional. PREMIUM TIMES traced the claim to a video posted by Nigerian skit maker and social media influencer Akewusola Oladipupo, popularly known as MC Always, on 17 September. In the video posted on his Facebook and Instagram accounts, Mr Oladipupo raised concerns about the condition of the dialysis centre, describing it as…

The “jaw-dropping” El Niño currently heating up the planet has burst through the highest temperature ever recorded for the phenomenon, several months ahead of its expected peak.The latest data shows the temperature rise at the heart of El Niño in the Pacific ocean has now reached 3.05C. That is higher than the 3.02C set in late November 2015, the previous high set in the 150 years of modern records. This temperature is measured against the average of 1991-2020.The preferred measure of most meteorologists uses a 30-year rolling average as a reference and so takes account of human-caused global heating. This…

Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai Would El-Rufai be treated the same way today if he were still one of President Tinubu’s strongest political allies? That is a question the government cannot simply dismiss. Since leaving the APC political circle, El-Rufai has become increasingly critical of President Tinubu and has aligned himself with opposition forces seeking to challenge Tinubu in the 2027 election. That political reality changes the way Nigerians will naturally view his detention. There is a deep political irony in what is happening today in Nigeria. Nasir El-Rufai, former two-term governor of Kaduna State, former minister of…