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The result is that no one outside of the dominant companies, not even the US government, knows which economically crucial crops, most of which are grown from patented seeds, might be vulnerable to emerging pests and pathogens. For years, plant breeders have been calling for genetic assessments of these seeds and the crops they grow; to date, no such studies have been conducted. A shift in direction But the May 2026 Justice Department court filing saying seed patents are blocking agricultural competition and research indicates the tide may be turning. In 2023, multinational agrochemical company Corteva sued a genetic engineering…

More than 4.5 billion years ago, a huge world, potentially as large as the moon or even Mars, traveled around the young Sun before a violent collision shattered it into pieces. Scientists now say they have found the first direct evidence that this long-lost planetary embryo, known as a protoplanet, once existed. The discovery, described in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters, points to a type of planetary evolution unlike anything previously recognized. “It’s incredible to think there was once a world this large,” said Aaron Bell, an assistant research professor in the Department of Earth Science at the…

Ajla Tomljanovic has described the lengthy doping ban administered to Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon singles champion, as a disgrace and she has accused the tennis anti-doping authorities of being out to get players even when they have done nothing wrong.The International Tennis Integrity Agency announced on Monday that Vondrousova had been handed a four-year suspension by an independent tribunal after the Czech player had refused to provide a sample to a doping control officer at her home last December at around 8pm.“I wouldn’t be comfortable if I’m living alone and someone comes at 8 or whenever,” Tomljanovic said. “Overall,…

In 1986, an exhibition called Chambres d’Amis took contemporary art beyond the confines of the museum setting and into the homes of 58 residents in Ghent. Forty years on, a similar experiment is taking place, but on a small street in Peckham, south-east London.Rooms of Neighbours is the brainchild of curator Ben Broome, who came across Chambres d’Amis when he was between institutional jobs. With time on his hands and an urge to get to know his neighbours better, he began to wonder how he could apply the idea to his own community, but with a broader focus. Unlike the…

Xiaomi today unveiled the latest additions to its T Series smartphone lineup with the brand new Xiaomi 17T Series, including Xiaomi 17T and Xiaomi 17T Pro in Nigeria. Combining an advanced Leica 5x telephoto camera and eye-care display with an ultra-large capacity battery, Xiaomi 17T Series comes as an imaging flagship encased in a refined design. Introducing dual sizes to the T Series for the first time, this lineup is set to deliver an exceptional experience, crafted for modern users. Transform moments into living stories with The Telephoto Master and Leica Live Moment Combining Leica optics with Xiaomi’s cutting-edge imaging…

Follow live updates as Portugal face Uzbekistan in Group K, including the build-up, analysis and live text commentary.

Kenya stops constructing US-run Ebola site amid public outcry; $13.5m US funding is criticised as masking health risks.Published On 23 Jun 202623 Jun 2026Kenya has ordered a halt to preparations for a United States-run Ebola quarantine facility, the health minister has told a court after being held in contempt for ignoring a previous stop-work order.The announcement on Tuesday comes amid strong opposition to the plan in Kenya. Deadly protests have taken place since the government confirmed plans to build the facility for potential US citizens evacuated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), which is grappling with a…

By Henry Obetta  Wema Bank has secured  a Euro 50 million (N78.5 billion) financing facility from the European Investment Bank’s development arm, EIB Global, to expand access to credit for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a strong focus on women- and youth-owned businesses. The agreement, signed in Lagos, marks the first transaction between EIB Global and Wema Bank. Under the arrangement, at least 50 per cent of the loans will be directed at youth-owned enterprises, while the balance will support businesses owned, managed, employing, or primarily serving women. Speaking at the signing ceremony, EIB Vice President, Ambroise Fayolle, said:…

Hi and welcome to TechScape. Nick Robins-Early and Dara Kerr here, filling in for your usual host Blake Montgomery who is out on vacation. We’ll be talking about the fight over a proposed billionaire tax in California, the UK’s social media ban and SpaceX making a big buy in the AI arms race.Big week for the California ‘billionaire tax’The California wealth tax showdown comes to a head this week. After gathering more than double the necessary number of signatures to qualify for the November ballot, there’s still uncertainty that the proposal for a one-time tax on billionaires will make it…

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has described his re-election for a second term as a humbling vote of confidence from the people, pledging In a statement issued after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him winner of Saturday’s governorship election, Oyebanji said the people of Ekiti had overwhelmingly endorsed continuity, stability and development. He expressed gratitude to residents for delivering what he described as a historic mandate, noting that the outcome reflected the collective aspirations of the people. “The voice of the people has reverberated from every part of our great state, and the message is clear. “I am…