Author: damazah@gmail.com

A number of companies, betting on various architectural approaches, are trying to build the first commercially viable quantum computer capable of significantly outperforming current systems. Oratomic, which entered the race earlier this year with the goal of developing the first utility-scale quantum computer by the end of the decade, said this week that it has raised $300 million. The massive Series A round was co-led by ARCH Venture Partners, Spark Capital, and Khosla Ventures, with participation from Bezos Expeditions, Index Ventures, General Catalyst, Lowercarbon Capital, Bain Capital, and others. Founded by Caltech physicists, Oratomic uses lasers, which act as optical…

Live coverage and text updates as Lamine Yamal's Spain face Belgium for the right to meet France in the semifinals.

By Okey Akpa Few aspects of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform programme have attracted more public attention than the economy. Debate has centred on fiscal policy, exchange-rate reforms, inflation, taxation, investment and the cost of living. These are the measures by which governments are usually judged because they shape economic confidence and influence the daily lives of citizens. Healthcare has occupied a different place in that conversation. Discussion has focused on access to care, the condition of public hospitals, maternal and child health, health insurance, the availability of medicines and the performance of primary healthcare. Those remain the principal measures…

The US government published a fourth instalment of declassified UFO files, promising to release more files on “a rolling basis”.

We’ve had a few weeks to digest the Brandon Bussi and the Carolina Hurricanes raising the Stanley Cup over their heads, Gavin McKenna going first overall in the 2026 NHL Draft, and seeing many of the league’s best change teams this offseason. Now it’s time to think about what comes next, like where every player fits into your fantasy hockey strategy.Editor’s Picks1 RelatedThe top of the rankings should look familiar from where we left off, with Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid and Hart Trophy-winner Nikita Kucherov leading the pack. Norris Trophy-winner Zach Werenski leads all defenseman and Tampa Bay Lightning goalie…

Top Boy star Micheal Ward reportedly broke down in tears after being cleared of raping a woman in a London court on Friday. The 28-year-old, who won BAFTA’s rising star award in 2020, had denied two charges of rape and three charges of sexual assault. The allegations came from a woman whom he met at an east London nightclub in January 2023. She claimed the star had attacked her in the back of a car. A jury acquitted him on all counts after a two-week trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court, according to BBC News. Ward, also known for roles in…

You must have noticed that portable fans are everywhere right now: on sweaty commutes, in stuffy meetings, and at shadeless sporting events. As the hot weather continues, neck fans, handheld electronic fans, and fans that spritz water are selling out fast.The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more.But even if you can get your hands on one, they come with drawbacks: electric designs consume energy; they can run out of battery. And most are made from plastic, with concerns over how many poor-quality models will end up in landfill…

A murder investigation has been launched after the suspicious death of the former MP Ann Widdecombe at her home on Dartmoor, in Devon, police have said.Officers were called to an address at Haytor by the ambulance service at around 11.40am on Thursday.Widdecombe, 78, was found deceased within the property and had “sustained serious injuries”, Devon and Cornwall police said.Her next-of-kin had been informed and were being supported by specially trained officers, the force added.Detectives from the Force Major Crime Investigation Team had launched a murder investigation and were conducting extensive inquiries into the circumstances surrounding Widdecombe’s death.Roads were closed around…

The police command in Edo State has announced a statewide restriction of movement from midnight to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday as part of security measures for the local government elections in the state. Eno Ikoedem, the police spokesperson in Edo, said this in a statement on Friday in Benin. She said the restriction was part of comprehensive security arrangements put in place in collaboration with other security agencies to ensure a peaceful, orderly and secure electoral process. According to her, the measure aims to protect voters, election officials and sensitive materials while preventing any breakdown of law and order during…

The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed the powers of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate consumer complaints over airline ticket pricing, delivering a judgment that reinforces the Commission’s oversight role while drawing a clear distinction between market investigations and price regulation. The decision, delivered by Justice B.F.M. Nyako on June 29, dismissed a suit filed by Air Peace Limited seeking to restrain the FCCPC from investigating complaints over alleged exploitative airfares, a ruling expected to strengthen the Commission’s ability to scrutinise pricing practices across sectors where consumers raise credible concerns. In a statement issued…