In their research paper, the two scientists say that using a mixture of archived news reports and real-time data, they were able to see links between droughts and storms in parts of Africa and cholera outbreaks.

BBC: News headlines used to predict future events

Meanwhile Ipsos Markinor, a market-research firm, has published a poll taken in November, before the global economic storms had fully affected South Africa.

ECONOMIST: South Africa

These satellites help provide better weather coverage and short-range forecasts for Europe and Africa, especially in the case of rapidly developing storms or fog.

MSN: Satellite's first photo of Earth is an impressive one