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News from October 28, 2025

1027 articles found

$168M owed to fired FBS head football coaches
Technology

$168M owed to fired FBS head football coaches

Former LSU coach Brian Kelly's $54 million buyout would bring the amount of money owed to FBS head football coaches fired this season to $167.7 million, according to publicly available data and reports. Kelly's buyout, which is still being negotiated with LSU, is the highest of the 2025 season so far, topping the $49 million owed to Penn State's ex-coach James Franklin, who was fired on Oct. 12. Also included in the $167.7 million: $21 million for Billy Napier, fired from Florida Oct. 19.$15 million for Mike Gundy, fired from Oklahoma State Sept 23.$9.8 million owned to Sam Pittman, fired from Arkansas Sept. 28.$6 million for Brent Pry, fired from Virginia Tech Sept. 14.$5 million for DeShaun Foster, fired from UCLA Sept. 14.$4 million for Trent Bray, fired from Oregon State Oct. 12.$2.4 million for Trent Dilfer, fired from UAB Oct. 12.$1.5 million for Jay Norvell, fired from Colorado State Oct. 19. Buyout totals are subject to change in certain circumstances; for example, if Kelly or Franklin land new jobs, the schools that fired them owe them less money. Napier's contract with Florida, on the other hand, did not include offset language, and half of his buyout is owed to him within 30 days of his firing. Kelly's buyout is the second largest in college football history, behind Texas A&M's record $76 million buyout of Jimbo Fisher in 2023. Both coaches were hired by current LSU athletic director Scott Woodward, who ran the Texas A&M athletic department from 2016 to 2019. "We had high hopes that [Kelly] would lead us to multiple SEC and national championships during his time in Baton Rouge," Woodward said when he announced the firing, which came a day after the Tigers' 49-25 loss to Texas A&M. "Ultimately, the success at the level that LSU demands simply did not materialize, and I made the decision to make a change after last night's game. The $168.1 million applies to coaches who have been fired since the start of the 2025 season and does not include coaches who were fired over the offseason.

Paula Lavigne
Trump's granddaughter set to play in LPGA event
Technology

Trump's granddaughter set to play in LPGA event

BELLEAIR, Fla. -- President Donald Trump's granddaughter will be taking a detour on her way to playing college golf at the University of Miami - Kai Trump will make her LPGA Tour debut next month. Kai Trump received a sponsor exemption Tuesday to play in The Annika at Pelican Golf Club on Nov. 13-16, the penultimate event on the LPGA schedule that typically has one of the strongest fields of the year outside the majors. "My dream has been to compete with the best in the world on the LPGA Tour," Trump said in a release. "This event will be an incredible experience. I look forward meeting and competing against so many of my heroes and mentors in golf as I make my LPGA Tour debut." I will be making my LPGA Tour debut in November at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican! See you November 10-16 - at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, FL. Visit https://t.co/iUuh3w1b47 @theannikalpga @ANNIKA59 @LPGA for more information. pic.twitter.com/mmqVfMFukD— Kai Trump (@kaitrump) October 28, 2025 Trump, the eldest daughter of Donald Trump Jr., is a senior at The Benjamin School in Palm Beach County who has committed to play for the Miami Hurricanes next year. She competes in amateur events nationally with the American Junior Golf Association and locally in Florida. She is currently No. 461 in the AJGA Girls ranking, having played three events this year. Trump has more than 6 million combined followers across four social media platforms and recently started an apparel and lifestyle brand aimed at empowering young women in sports. "Sponsor invitations are an important way to spotlight emerging talent and bring new attention to our tournaments and the LPGA," said Ricki Lasky, the chief tour business and operations officer at the LPGA. "Kai's broad following and reach are helping introduce golf to new audiences, especially among younger fans. We're excited to see her take this next step in her journey." The Annika already has announced WNBA star Caitlin Clark will return to play in the pro-am on Nov. 12 for the second straight year. Nelly Korda is the defending champion.

Unknown
Regatta’s £30 kids’ poncho drops to just £6 in huge 80% sale
Technology

Regatta’s £30 kids’ poncho drops to just £6 in huge 80% sale

Snuggling up in front of a movie in a fluffy, cosy poncho has never been so affordable. Because Regatta has knocked the price of this £30 poncho down to a remarkable £6. It's part of the brand's mid-season sale, and there are savings of around 50% to be found quite commonly on the website, but this kids' poncho has been discounted by 80%. Made from 100% polyester Borg fleece with a brushed-back finish, the deliberately oversized poncho gives the perfect relaxed fit for kids to lounge, layer or dash out into the garden in comfort. The grown-on hood adds extra warmth, and the front kangaroo pocket gives them a spot to tuck in warming hands or their favourite snack. The unisex ponchos are available in three colours, and the sizes are obviously quite flexible, but they're grouped into ages 3-5, 5-9, and 9-13. The only snag is that, obviously, these are selling incredibly quickly, and size and colour options are starting to thin out, so click here to see if you can still make up a combination you prefer.

Gareth Butterfield
Aroldis Chapman: I'd rather retire than play for Yankees again
Technology

Aroldis Chapman: I'd rather retire than play for Yankees again

Hard-throwing left-handed reliever Aroldis Chapman is dead set against re-signing with the New York Yankees. "No way, not even dead," Chapman said when asked if he'd consider joining the Yankees during an appearance on the "Swing Completo" podcast, as translated from Spanish. "If I were told that I was being traded to New York, I'd pack my things and go home. I'll retire right on the spot if that happens. I'm not crazy. Never again." Chapman, 37, fared well this season while pitching for the Yankees' chief rival: the Boston Red Sox. He posted a 5-3 record with 32 saves while finishing with career bests in ERA (1.17) and WHIP (0.70). The eight-time All-Star signed a one-year, $13.3 million contract for the 2026 season in August. The deal also includes a 2027 vesting option. Chapman played in parts of seven seasons for New York from 2016-22. He was a three-time All-Star with the club, however, his last season ended on a sour note after he lost the closer role to Clay Holmes and missed a team workout ahead of the American League Division Series -- an act that may have contributed to him being left off the Yankees' postseason roster. "I dealt with a lot of disrespect (with the Yankees)," Chapman said. "I put up with a lot of things. I knew that they just wanted to find a way to get rid of me, but they didn't know how. And I just dealt with it quietly, kept playing, and doing what I always do." Chapman said his issues stemmed from the "bosses," not manager Aaron Boone or the players. "I got along well with all the players," he said. "Never had a problem with anybody, even the manager. We're friends and we talk and everything. The bosses are the ones who make those decisions." Chapman is tied with Jeff Reardon for 12th place all-time with 367 career saves while pitching for seven teams since 2010. He won World Series championships with the Chicago Cubs (2016) and Texas Rangers (2023).

Field Level Media
Trump takes New York judge’s lawfare against him to task as he appeals hush money conviction
Technology

Trump takes New York judge’s lawfare against him to task as he appeals hush money conviction

When the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, accused President Donald Trump of felonies in a so-called hush money case, the judge, Juan Merchan, censored Trump’s statements about the case. He allowed prosecutors to leave a vague “secondary” crime claim in place without any specifics. He delivered pro-prosecution jury instructions which seemed to allow a verdict without unanimity. And all the while, Merchan’s daughter was making money advising Democrats on issues that could include her father’s courtroom rulings. Now the president is appealing, with his lawyers explaining the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling means prosecutors should not have been allowed to say some of the things they claimed about Trump. The Washington Examiner reports Trump’s legal team confirmed the Supreme Court’s decision on immunity “means prosecutors should have been barred from using evidence connected to Trump’s ‘official’ acts as president in the case against him.” “Trump also urged a federal appeals court to transfer the New York state criminal case to federal court. It’s similar to the president’s move over the summer, when his lawyers urged a federal appeals panel to move the hush money case. Such a change could open up the pathway for the Supreme Court to hear the case, which could be friendlier territory for the president, as the court has ruled largely in his favor on presidential immunity,” the report explained. It was in 2024 that a jury in leftist-majority Manhattan said he was guilty of falsifying records dealing with a payment to onetime porn star Stormy Daniels, 34 counts total. The errors made in the trial court, however, mean the conviction should be scrapped, the report said. Merchan, a donor to a Democrat cause, in fact, barred some of Trump’s defense evidence, including statements that appeared to exonerate him from Daniels herself, censored Trump’s speech, delivered pro-prosecution instructions, and more. President Donald Trump asked an appeals court on Monday to overturn his conviction in the New York hush money case, marking his latest attempt to erase his felon status. https://t.co/aFVNJATPBx — Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) October 28, 2025 Trump appeals historic Manhattan hush money conviction that branded him a felon https://t.co/rpILKON6Kd pic.twitter.com/bvEU6aKQvT — New York Post (@nypost) October 28, 2025 JUST IN: President Trump’s attorneys appealed his criminal conviction Monday, arguing the New York trial was “fatally marred” by evidence they say was protected by the Supreme Court’s immunity decision. pic.twitter.com/FLpFkvFRTp — Melissa Hallman (@dotconnectinga) October 28, 2025 “One of the mistakes some legal critics believe was committed during the trial involved allegations that the New York district attorney’s office, led by Alvin Bragg, never committed itself to what the second crime was. Rather, his office theorized that the crime could have been a New York tax violation, a federal campaign finance violation, or a New York election law violation,” the report explained. The law violation brought by Bragg is a two-part crime, meaning it depends on violation of another statute, and the prosecution never clarified that. That means some members of the jury may have assumed one law, or another, leaving their verdict not unanimous. “The court permitted the jury to convict if some jurors believed only that President Trump had conspired to violate FECA, while others believed only that he had conspired to help others commit tax fraud, and still others believed only that he had conspired to help others make false statements to a bank,” appeals court filings said. “Due process and Section 17-152 do not permit a conviction based on such a haphazard ‘combination of jury findings.'” At sentencing, Merchan spent seven minutes complaining that he was limited in his sentencing, then gave Trump an unconditional discharge, allowing for no fines, jail or probation while continuing the felony convictions. Merchan, whose daughter is a consultant who was making money off of her father’s multiple rulings against Trump, claimed “extraordinary” legal protections handed to the president of the United States required him to hand down a minor sentence that Trump would allegedly not have received without being reelected. “While one can argue that the trial itself was in many respects somewhat ordinary, the same cannot be said about the circumstances surrounding this sentencing and that is because of the office [Trump] once occupied, and which you will soon occupy again,” Merchan told the president-elect. “To be sure, it is the legal protections afforded to the office of the president of the United States that are extraordinary, not the occupant of the office. The legal protections, especially within the context of a criminal prosecution, afforded to the office of the president have been laid out by our founders, the Constitution and most recently interpreted by the United States Supreme Court in the matter of Trump versus the United States, which was decided on July 1, 2024. “As with every other defendant in your position, it is my obligation to consider any and all aggravating and mitigating factors to inform my decision … The considerable, indeed, extraordinary legal protections afforded by the office of the chief executive, is a factor that overrides all others,” the judge continued. Merchan, in extraordinary fashion, allowed a wide range of inflammatory testimony to come into his courtroom against Trump. The substance of the complaint was that Bragg claimed a $130,000 non-disclosure agreement with former porn actress Stormy Daniels, paid through Trump’s then-lawyer as legal fees, were not legal fees. Bragg claimed that calling legal fees legal fees was “falsifying business records.” A long list of legal experts charged that the case never should have been created by Bragg. Merchan, in fact, inexplicably told the jurors their verdict didn’t have to be unanimous. The payment was for Daniels’ silence about an alleged affair, which Trump has confirmed never happened. Trump said the payments were part of a standard legal retainer and denied knowing of any unlawful scheme. The “offenses” actually were misdemeanors until Bragg theorized they were part of the furtherance of another, unidentified, crime, and that made them felonies. Experts called Bragg’s machinations “legally creative.”

Bob Unruh
'Shreyas Didn't Undergo Surgery But...': BCCI Confirms Iyer's Recovery Details
Technology

'Shreyas Didn't Undergo Surgery But...': BCCI Confirms Iyer's Recovery Details

Star India batter Shreyas Iyer is recovering much faster than expected and might be back on the field sooner than the doctors predicted after the extent of his injury was revealed, according to a report in The Times of India. On Tuesday, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told TOI that Iyer ‘recovered faster than the doctors had anticipated’. Iyer, who sustained a spleen laceration while taking a catch during the third and final ODI against Australia at the SCG last week, is now stable and has been moved out of the ICU. “Shreyas is much, much, much better. His recovery has been much faster than the doctor expected. I am in regular touch with Dr Rizwan (Khan, Indian team doctor who stayed back with Iyer to assist with his treatment at the Sydney hospital),” Saikia said while speaking to The Times of India. “Normally, he should take six to eight weeks (to recover completely), but you can expect a surprise from him because he may recover much earlier. The doctors are very satisfied with his progress,” Saikia added. According to the report, on Tuesday, Iyer was in fine shape, eating solid food, walking in the Sydney hospital without support and taking phone calls. Saikia said that Iyer did not undergo surgery but a ‘different procedure’. “Shreyas didn’t undergo surgery but underwent a different procedure, which is why he recovered so early,” Saikia said. According to the report, the so-called procedure was needed to stop the internal bleeding. “The usual hospital stay for this injury is 7–10 days. So, Iyer is likely to be in the hospital for that long,” a source told The Times of India. Iyer suffered a lower left rib cage injury while attempting a challenging running catch to dismiss Alex Carey off Harshit Rana’s bowling. Although he walked off the field with the physio’s help, his condition later worsened as his vital signs dropped, necessitating urgent hospitalisation.

Megha Mallick,News18
India to emerge as global refining and energy hub: Hardeep Singh Puri
Technology

India to emerge as global refining and energy hub: Hardeep Singh Puri

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], October 28 (ANI): India’s petroleum and energy sector is undergoing a transformative expansion, poised to play a defining role in shaping the global energy future, said Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, on Tuesday.Addressing the inaugural session of the Energy Technology Meet in Hyderabad today, he stated that India’s energy journey reflects remarkable progress, driven by visionary policy frameworks, rapid innovation, and sustained investment across refining, biofuels, and green energy.According to a release by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, the Minister noted that while the global energy market is expected to grow at a slow pace–with several refineries worldwide facing closure–India stands out as a bright spot, projected to contribute nearly 30-33 per cent of global energy demand growth in the coming decades.He pointed out that India’s refining capacity currently stands at about 258 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) and is on track to reach around 310 MMTPA by 2030, with long-term plans to scale further to 400-450 MMTPA.This expansion, he said, will consolidate India’s position among the top three refining hubs globally as around 20 per cent of existing global refining capacity–over 100 refineries–faces potential closure by 2035.Highlighting India’s achievements in biofuel blending, Puri said that the country had advanced from a 5 per cent target in 2006 to achieving 10 per cent ethanol blending five months ahead of schedule in 2022. Building on this success, the Government preponed the target for 20 per cent blending from 2030 to 2025-26. The Minister underlined that well-designed policies and robust support systems have enabled such accelerated achievements, demonstrating India’s capability to set and meet ambitious energy goals.Puri also observed that India’s refineries are world-class, globally integrated, and export-ready. India is already the fourth-largest refining nation and among the top seven exporters of petroleum products, exporting to more than 50 countries worth over USD 45 billion in FY 2024-25.The refining sector, he added, contributes nearly one-fifth of the country’s revenue, with both public and private entities showing strong financial and operational performance. Domestic petroleum consumption has increased from around 5 million barrels per day in 2021 to about 5.6 million barrels per day currently and is expected to touch 6 million barrels per day soon, supported by India’s robust economic growth and rising per capita income.Referring to the growing integration of petrochemicals with refining, Puri said that India’s petrochemical utilisation is still only about one-third of the global average, offering significant potential for growth. The petrochemical intensity index has already risen from 7.7 per cent to 13%, reflecting the sector’s upward trajectory. He emphasised that new refinery expansions are being planned as integrated petrochemical complexes to enhance efficiency, value addition, and export competitiveness.The Minister also underlined the importance of innovation and indigenisation in the energy ecosystem. He said that India has achieved nearly 80 per cent import substitution across the energy value chain. While acknowledging that certain critical components, such as catalysts and specialised equipment, continue to be imported, he emphasised the need for a balanced approach to Atmanirbharata, focusing on efficiency and global competitiveness rather than complete self-containment.He added that the government has initiated the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and established a National Centre for Catalyst Research to promote R&D and domestic manufacturing in key energy technologies.Speaking about green energy, Puri noted that India’s progress in green hydrogen has been particularly promising. Recent tenders by IOCL and HPCL have reduced the price of green hydrogen from around USD 5.5/kg to nearly USD 4/kg, marking a major step toward commercial viability. He said that green hydrogen, natural gas, and biofuels will be central to India’s energy transition, with the Global Biofuels Alliance expected to catalyse international trade and adoption of biofuels, including Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).Puri stressed that India’s energy strategy encompasses both fuel and petrochemical growth as part of a calibrated transition toward sustainability. He said that while the share of traditional fuels will gradually reduce, they will continue to play a major role for decades as India moves toward its 2047 goals. Simultaneously, the share of natural gas in the energy mix is being raised from 6 per cent to 15 per cent, green hydrogen is being scaled up, and renewables are expanding rapidly–all underlining India’s commitment to meeting its climate goals without compromising energy security.Recalling India’s historic refining legacy, from the first refinery at Digboi in 1901 to today’s global-scale facilities, the Minister said that post-2014 reforms and ecosystem strengthening have unlocked a new era of growth and innovation.He highlighted ongoing projects such as the Barmer Refinery and Andhra Refinery as key examples of the sector’s forward momentum. With over 100 biogas plants operational and 70 more in the pipeline, he said that India is building an ecosystem that connects technology, investment, and sustainability.Puri concluded that as India advances toward becoming a USD 10 trillion economy, its energy sector will not only meet domestic requirements but also serve global markets.The Minister expressed confidence that by 2035, India will move from being the world’s fourth-largest to possibly the second-largest refining power.He emphasised that India’s young demography, rising energy demand, and proactive policy environment will ensure that the country not only participates in but actively shapes the global energy future. (ANI)

News18
US strikes on alleged drug-running boats in eastern Pacific kill 14
Technology

US strikes on alleged drug-running boats in eastern Pacific kill 14

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday that the US military has carried out three strikes in the eastern Pacific Ocean against boats accused of carrying drugs, killing 14 people and leaving one survivor. This was the first time multiple strikes were announced in a single day. Carried out Monday, the strikes mark a continued escalation in the pace of the attacks in South American waters, which began in early September and had been spaced weeks apart. A statement provided by a Pentagon official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to freely discuss the operation, said the strikes were conducted off the coast of Colombia. Following one attack on a boat, the military spotted a person in the water clinging to some wreckage. The military passed the survivor’s precise location to the US Coast Guard and a Mexican military aircraft that was operating in the area. Read moreUS warship docks in Trinidad and Tobago as Trump steps up military pressure on Venezuela Hegseth said Mexican search and rescue authorities “assumed responsibility for coordinating the rescue” of the sole survivor but didn’t say if that person was successfully rescued or would stay in Mexico's custody or be handed over to the US. In a strike earlier this month with two survivors, the US military rescued the pair and repatriated them to Colombia and Ecuador. Authorities released the Ecuadorian man after prosecutors said they had no evidence he committed a crime in Ecuador. Hegseth posted footage of the latest strikes to social media in which two boats can be seen moving through the water in separate clips. One is visibly laden with a large amount of parcels or bundles. Both then suddenly explode and are seen in flames. The third strike appears to have been conducted on a pair of boats that were stationary in the water alongside each other. They appear to be largely empty, with at least two people seen moving before an explosion engulfs both boats. Hegseth said “the four vessels were known by our intelligence apparatus, transiting along known narco-trafficking routes, and carrying narcotics.” The Trump administration has shown no evidence to support its claims about the boats, their connection to drug cartels, or even the identity of the people killed in these strikes. At least 57 people have been killed in 13 disclosed strikes since early September. In his announcement of the latest strikes, Hegseth also continued to draw parallels between the military’s actions against drug trafficking and the war on terrorism following the September 11, 2001, attacks. He claimed that cartels “have killed more Americans than Al-Qaeda, and they will be treated the same". US President Donald Trump has also justified the strikes by asserting that the United States is engaged in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels and proclaiming the criminal organisations to be unlawful combatants, relying on the same legal authority used by former president George W. Bush’s administration for the war on terrorism. (FRANCE 24 with AP)

FRANCE 24
From Forecast To Fact: What 1990s Climate Models Got Exactly Right
Technology

From Forecast To Fact: What 1990s Climate Models Got Exactly Right

Satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Hurricane Melissa churning northwest through the Caribbean Sea. The Category 5 hurricane is a recent example of rapid intensification due to warmer sea surface temperatures. Getty Images I often tell people that the atmosphere doesn’t lie. It records everything we do, long after we forget. And today, it’s telling a clear, measurable story. Last week, the World Meteorological Organization issued their 2025 Greenhouse Gas report. It showed that global carbon dioxide levels surged by 3.5 ppm between 2023 and 2024, marking the largest annual jump since modern measurements began in 1957. For those of us who have tracked the atmosphere over decades, that number speaks volumes. It’s not just another data point, but a milestone in the steady rise of greenhouse gases that scientists projected long ago would reshape weather, sea levels, and storm behavior. When I first began following climate research in early 1990, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and other leading scientists made three core projections: carbon dioxide levels would surpass 400 ppm early in the 21st century, global temperatures would rise by roughly 0.2 to 0.3 °C per decade, and heavier rain, higher seas, and stronger storms would follow. Those forecasts seemed bold at the time, yet today’s measurements show just how accurate they were. That consistency led me to revisit other foundational projections from the 1990s and early 2000s to see how those early forecasts compare with the realities we observe today. Atmospheric CO₂ Levels Remain On Target Let’s start with CO₂ because it’s the most fundamental signal of how human activity is altering the climate. In the early-1980s, climate models projected that if global emissions continued their current path, atmospheric CO₂ would reach about 405 ppm by the mid-2010s. MORE FOR YOU That forecast was impressively accurate. By 2016, CO₂ measured 404 ppm, and by 2023, it exceeded 420 ppm. The daily reading at the Mauna Loa Observatory, the baseline station for the long-term monitoring of atmospheric gases, aligns almost perfectly with these predictions. Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations from 1980 to 2024. The steady climb past 400 ppm in the early 21st century confirms one of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s earliest forecasts. The projections are right on schedule, though not in a good way. The rise in CO₂ is the driver behind nearly every other change we’re experiencing. Global Temperatures Hold True To The Science Looking back at early IPCC reports, scientists noted that if emissions continued to rise, the planet would likely warm by the early 21st century, and that outcome has largely occurred. The World Meteorological Organization confirmed that 2024 was the warmest year on record, Global surface temperature data shows a rise of roughly 0.5 °C since the early 1990s, placing current global temperatures about 2°C above pre-industrial levels. As a meteorologist, I see that warming is not just in annual averages but also in the behavior of the atmosphere . Heat waves are longer. Winters are milder and ocean temperatures are shattering records. The pattern isn’t random. It is cumulative. Heavier Rainfall And Flooding Reflect A Wetter Atmosphere One of the more profound, and increasingly visible, outcomes of a warmer planet is a wetter atmosphere. Warmer air can hold about 7% more water vapor for every 1°C of warming, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing play out. Back in 1989, researchers warned that rising global temperatures would lead to heavier and more frequent extreme rainfall events. Across much of North America and Europe, the frequency of the heaviest rainfall days has increased markedly compared to mid-20th-century levels, with U.S. data showing a clear rise in the frequency and intensity of extreme single-day precipitation events since the 1980s. For those of us in weather and risk management, this shift has moved from a scientific discussion to an operational reality. Flooding isn’t just a seasonal concern anymore. It’s a recurring variable in planning. Municipalities are straining to modernize drainage systems designed for a different era. Logistics managers are re-evaluating routes and schedules around storm frequency, and insurance providers are recalculating flood exposure maps that once seemed reliable. What’s changing isn’t necessarily how often it rains, but how much falls at once. As the atmosphere holds more moisture, each storm has the potential to deliver heavier downpours, overwhelming systems built for lower extremes. Sea Level Rise Matches Early Predictions The global mean sea level in mid-1990 was projected to rise by roughly 8 centimeters by 2020. Modern satellite altimetry and tide-gauge data show a rise of about 9 centimeters over that same period — a near-perfect match. Global mean sea level rise (centimeters) based on satellite data, 1993–2024. The observed increase of roughly 9 cm since 1990 closely matches early projections from the 1990s, with recent acceleration driven by continued ocean warming and ice-sheet melt The main surprise was how quickly ice loss from Greenland and Antarctica accelerated. The original projections captured the effect of thermal expansion in warming oceans accurately but underestimated how much additional rise would come from melting ice sheets. Even so, the total increase in sea level remains close to what scientists projected, though for slightly different reasons. For business leaders, the implications are immediate and tangible. Real estate values in coastal zones are adjusting as buyers increasingly factor flood exposure and elevation into their purchasing decisions. Infrastructure planners are accounting for “sunny day” tidal flooding, something once considered a fringe risk. Insurers, port operators, and supply-chain managers are all recalibrating around a higher baseline of sea-level risk. Hurricanes And Extreme Storms: Not More Storms, But More Power When climate scientists first examined the potential effects of warming oceans on tropical cyclones, their conclusion was cautious: the total number of storms might not rise, but the strongest ones would get stronger. The data has since borne that out. Over recent decades we’ve observed an increase in the proportion of tropical cyclones reaching Categories 4 and 5 and more frequent rapid intensification events, where storms ramp up from mild to catastrophic much faster. For example, Hurricane Milton’s rapid intensification to Category 5 in October 2024 saw wind speeds jump 95 mph in just 24 hours, more than twice the conventional threshold for rapid intensification. We are seeing a more recent example of this with the rapid intensification of Hurricane Melissa. Predicted to be the strongest storm on Earth in 2025, the Category 5 storm expected to impact Jamaica and other Caribbean islands. Forbes contributor Marshall Shepherd does an excellent job explaining how Melissa evolved into a super storm. Energy producers, insurers, and logistics providers are recalibrating exposure not just to “storm frequency” but to storm velocity; how fast risk escalates once conditions align. The operational window for response is shrinking, and resilience planning now hinges on anticipation, not reaction. Moving From Prediction To Preparation When I think back to the skepticism in the early days, myself included, it’s hard not to be impressed by how close those early projections came. These scientists were working with limited computing power, incomplete datasets, and models that had to make many assumptions. Yet they accurately captured the direction and magnitude of the changes we’re now experiencing. This is a proven warning that today’s business and policy leaders should treat today’s verified climate trends as tomorrow’s planning inputs. The same predictive frameworks that anticipated CO₂ and temperature increases can now be harnessed to anticipate where, when, and how climate volatility will reshape markets, infrastructure, and supply chains. Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions

Contributor,Jim Foerster

Flyers make surprising lineup changes before Penguins matchup

The Philadelphia Flyers are in action for the first time this week and are facing the archrival Pittsburgh Penguins for the first time this season, as well. Ahead of this Pennsylvanian collision, Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet decided to shakeup the lineup a little bit and take out a fan favorite from the game.Reported through multiple sources as skaters started to take the ice at Tuesday’s morning skate and later confirmed by the team, the Flyers are making several changes and we will be seeing a somewhat different-looking team on the ice. Forward Nic Deslauriers and defenseman Egor...

Thomas Williams
I can't believe Doctor Who is back so soon
Technology

I can't believe Doctor Who is back so soon

The BBC has today announced Doctor Who will return for a Christmas Special in 2026, with news of the next series to be revealed “in due course.” The broadcaster says the special will be written by current executive producer Russell T. Davies, putting to rest more than a year’s worth of doubt.For the unaware, Doctor Who has been a mainstay in the BBC schedules since its 2005 revival, but the BBC felt it couldn’t sustain the show’s budget alone. In 2022, it partnered with Disney, which bankrolled the show in exchange for the right to stream it globally on Disney+.The Disney deal lasted...

Daniel Cooper
Venezuela halts energy deal with Trinidad and Tobago over U.S. warship
Technology

Venezuela halts energy deal with Trinidad and Tobago over U.S. warship

Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced the suspension of an energy agreement with Trinidad and Tobago for the joint development of offshore gas fields in response to the island nation's support for a U.S. military operation in the Caribbean. Maduro made the announcement during his weekly televised program. He said he decided to suspend the agreement after the board of state-owned Petróleos de Venezuela and the Ministry of Hydrocarbons recommended ending it. "Faced with Prime Minister [Kamla Persad-Bissessar]'s threat to turn Trinidad and Tobago into the aircraft carrier of the U.S. empire against Venezuela, there is only one option left. ... I have approved the precautionary measure of immediately suspending all effects of the energy agreement and everything related to it," Maduro said. He added that the matter will be reviewed by higher authorities for a final decision. "I am referring the issue to the Council of State, the Supreme Court of Justice and the National Assembly for their recommendations, as head of state, before adopting a structural measure on this matter," he said. The agreement, which allows both countries to carry out joint natural gas projects, was signed in 2015 and renewed earlier this year. Its suspension is expected to deal a heavy blow to Trinidad and Tobago, which depends on Venezuelan gas to sustain its industrial production and exports. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez posted a statement on her Telegram account Sunday condemning "military exercises carried out by the government of Trinidad and Tobago under the coordination, financing and control of the U.S. Southern Command, an action that constitutes a hostile provocation against Venezuela and a serious threat to peace in the Caribbean." The U.S. warship USS Gravely arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Oct. 26 to conduct joint exercises with local forces, NTV24 reported. The guided-missile destroyer is to remain docked in Port of Spain, the island's capital, about 6 miles off Venezuela's coast, until Thursday. The Trump administration has carried out several attacks on vessels in the Caribbean that, according to the president, were involved in drug trafficking. On Friday, the administration announced it would intensify its military deployment in the Caribbean with the Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, the largest in the world, and its strike group of destroyers, frigates and possibly other vessels.

Macarena Hermosilla
JDF Calls Out Reserves in Preparation for Hurricane Melissa
Technology

JDF Calls Out Reserves in Preparation for Hurricane Melissa

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) has initiated a call-out of the Jamaica National Reserve (JNR) in response to the threat posed by Hurricane Melissa which has been impacting the island. The move forms part of the JDF’s wider operational response plan to support the national disaster preparedness and humanitarian assistance efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. With the storm system already bringing sustained winds, flash flooding, and storm surges across most of the country, JNR personnel are being mobilized to assist in relief operations, search and rescue, logistics support, and the security of high-risk areas in coordination with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and other government agencies. In response to the official call-out, Commander of the JNR, Brigadier Ricardo Blidgen, has urged all Reserve personnel to first ensure the safety and security of their homes and families, and then stand ready to assist in securing the nation. “Your service matters now more than ever” he said, adding that “this is a national mission and all of you are essential to the JDF’s ability to protect lives, restore stability, and support our fellow Jamaicans in their time of need.” According to Acting Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Oneil Bogle who is overseeing the JDF’s response operations, “the JDF is committed to providing a rapid, disciplined, and compassionate response. Our troops, including the Jamaica National Reserve, will be on the ground to support relief operations, safeguard communities, and restore critical services as quickly as possible”. The JDF’s mobilization is being coordinated in full alignment with national disaster management protocols and JDF troops have already been pre-positoned in some of the areas that are expected to be hit hardest. Brigadier Bogle is urging the public to remain calm, stay informed through official updates, and to cooperate with authorities as emergency teams are deployed across the island. He also asked that the public follows all guidance issued by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, and to avoid unnecessary movement during and after the storm. In the meantime, the JDF invites persons to follow its social media accounts @jdfsoldier for further updates as the situation develops.

Astha Prendergast,Hurricane Melissa
Trump tells Japan’s first woman Prime Minister she has a ‘very strong handshake’ in Tokyo meeting
Technology

Trump tells Japan’s first woman Prime Minister she has a ‘very strong handshake’ in Tokyo meeting

Sanae Takaichi, who became the country’s first female prime minister only days ago, solidified her relationship with Trump while defending her country’s economic interests. She talked baseball, stationed a Ford F-150 truck outside their meeting and greeted Trump with, by his estimation, a firm handshake. By the end of the day, Trump — by his administration’s count — came close to nailing down the goal of $550 billion in Japanese investment as part of a trade framework. At a dinner for business leaders in Tokyo, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced up to $490 billion in commitments, including $100 billion each for nuclear projects involving Westinghouse and GE Vernova. “You’re great business people,” Trump told the gathered executives before the dinner. “Our country will not let you down.” It was not immediately clear how the investments would operate and how they compared with previous plans, but Trump declared a win as he capped off a day of bonding with Takaichi. Trump and Japanese PM swap warm words The compliments started as soon as the two leaders met on Tuesday morning. “That’s a very strong handshake,” Trump said to Takaichi. She talked about watching the third game of the U.S. World Series before the event, and said Japan would give Washington 250 cherry trees and fireworks for July 4 celebrations to honor America’s 250th anniversary next year. Takaichi emphasized her ties to the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, her archconservative mentor who had forged a friendship with Trump during his first term through their shared interest of golf. “As a matter of fact, Prime Minister Abe often told me about your dynamic diplomacy,” she said, later gifting Trump a putter used by Abe. Trump told her it was a “big deal” that she is Japan’s first woman prime minister, and said the U.S. is committed to Japan. While the president is known for not shying away from publicly scolding his foreign counterparts, he had nothing but praise for Takaichi. “Anything I can do to help Japan, we will be there,” Trump said. “We are an ally at the strongest level.” Takaichi laid out a charm offensive, serving American beef and rice mixed with Japanese ingredients during a working lunch, where the two leaders also discussed efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Takaichi would be nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. The two leaders signed black “Japan is Back” baseball caps that resembled Trump’s own red “Make America Great Again” caps. Reporters arriving for the meeting were hustled past a gold-hued Ford F-150 outside the Akasaka Palace, which is Tokyo’s guest house for visiting foreign leaders. Trump has often complained that Japan doesn’t buy American vehicles, which are often too wide to be practical on narrow Japanese streets. But the Japanese government is considering buying a fleet of Ford trucks for road and infrastructure inspection. They vow a ‘golden age’ for alliance and cooperation on critical minerals Both leaders signed the implementation of an agreement for the “golden age” of their nations’ alliance, a short affirmation of a framework under which the U.S. will tax goods imported from Japan at 15% while Japan creates a $550 billion fund of investments in the U.S. Later, at a dinner at the U.S. embassy in Tokyo packed with CEOs including Apple’s Tim Cook, Trump reveled in the deals. Trump and Takaichi also signed an agreement to cooperate on critical minerals and rare earths. Trump has focused his foreign policy toward Asia around tariffs and trade, but on Tuesday he also spoke aboard the USS George Washington, an aircraft carrier docked at an American naval base near Tokyo. The president brought Takaichi with him and she also spoke as Japan plans to increase its military spending. The president talked about individual units on the aircraft carrier, his political opponents, national security and the U.S. economy, saying that Takaichi had told him that Toyota would be investing $10 billion in auto plants in America. Trump arrived in Tokyo on Monday, meeting the emperor in a ceremonial visit after a brief trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Trump is scheduled to leave Japan on Wednesday for South Korea, which is hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Trump plans to meet with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. On Thursday, Trump is expected to cap off his Asia trip with a highly anticipated meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. There were signs that tensions between the U.S. and China were cooling off before the planned meeting in South Korea. Top negotiators from each country said a trade deal was coming together, which could prevent a potentially damaging confrontation between the world’s two largest economies. Megerian reported from Seoul, South Korea. Mayuko Ono and Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report.

Chris Megerian,Josh Boak,The Associated Press
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