Author: damazah@gmail.com

The late queen was the only person in history to have ever eaten a chocolate bar made with 100% British ingredients, after she was given one as a six-year-old in 1932 by the confectioner Rowntree’s.The bar was created from a glasshouse-grown cocoa plant, at Rowntree’s headquarters in York.But now, others could have the same experience after scientists at the University of Reading created a bar with cocoa beans grown in Berkshire.Raw cacao beans are coated in a white flesh ‘that tastes like lychee’. Photograph: University of ReadingThe bar was crafted to celebrate the university’s 100th anniversary, made with cocoa grown…

The VLCC Mobassa B (previously named Front Forth), one of the two tankers which the UAE defence ministry said was struck by Iranian cruise missiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, August 18, 2024, in this picture obtained by Reuters on July 14, 2026.Edwin van Werd | via ReutersOil prices rose on Wednesday after deadly attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Oman heightened concerns over risks to global shipping routes, even as diplomats signaled progress toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz.Brent crude futures, the international benchmark, gained about 1.24% to $90 per barrel.…

After a former lead writer claimed Saber “replaced me with ChatGPT,” CEO Matthew Karch now claims, “Neither Saber nor Unigine have replaced any writers with AI,” for the Rideshare “Stimulator” game announced last month, developed by Unigine.The writer, Stella Sacco, says differently, however, posting on Bluesky that “I was lead writer on this one! And Saber replaced me with ChatGPT midway through development. All the passenger voices were AI too. Either they changed direction at some point or they’re not disclosing it on Steam.”Saber describes Rideshare “Stimulator” as an “immersive driving simulation game that puts you behind the wheel as…

Repeated debilitating heatwaves this summer are likely to have cost the UK economy more than £4bn in lost economic output by the end of July, new analysis shows.Green thinktank Verdant had suggested June’s unseasonally hot weather had an economic cost of £2.36bn. Updating its assessment to include last month’s high temperatures, it finds a £4.4bn hit to output.As temperatures soar once again this week, Verdant’s director, James Meadway, said: “The economic costs of climate change are already with us, and set to worsen in future years. Action by the government to protect workers and businesses from the severe effects of…

Osun East Senator Francis Fadahunsi has issued death threat to members of the Accord Party found in Ilesa ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election. He made the threat in a viral video that has heightened concerns over escalating political violence in the state. Mr Fadahunsi spoke in Yoruba while addressing supporters during a protest at the palace of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland over what he described as incessant killings of the APC members in Ijesaland. In the video circulating online, the senator, who was accompanied by other All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders accused Accord Party members of killing…

Guardian writers’ predicted position: 9th (NB: this is not necessarily John Brewin’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)Last season’s position: 8thProspectsLast season’s final day in May featured Brighton fans and players united in celebrating qualification for the Europa Conference League despite losing 3-0 to Manchester United. Considering West Ham and Crystal Palace have won the competition since its inception, lifting that trophy becomes a target to aim for.How realistic is that? Beyond the Thursday-Sunday schedule playing in the Conference League demands, it has been a summer of change within the ranks. James Milner did not celebrate as Europe…

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele is set to return to cinemas in December with her latest feature film, The Four: No One Fights Alone. The film is scheduled for a cinema release on 11 December, with FilmOne Entertainment handling its theatrical distribution. It is produced by Funke Akindele Network (FAAN TV). Akindele, who wrote, directed and produced the film, unveiled its cast on Monday, with the project featuring Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD), Bisola Aiyeola, Chioma Akpotha, Waje, Timini Egbuson, Lateef Adedimeji, Ali Nuhu, Uzor Arukwe and Wunmi Toriola, among others. Other members of the ensemble include John Ekanem, Ireoluwa Olaniyan,…

A former worker of the Anglican Diocese of Jos and two security operatives (names withheld) are helping the police over an alleged plot to kidnap the wives of the incumbent and immediate-past bishops, the diocese has revealed in a statement. The diocese announced that security agencies had intervened before the suspects executed the plot. It rejected reports portraying the principal suspect as a serving clergyman under the current Bishop of Jos, Ephraim Gongden. The church said the suspect worked with the diocese but had been dismissed in 2022 by the former bishop and had never been reinstated by Mr Gongden.…

Osun State was created from the old Oyo State in August 1991 by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida. Since then, the state has been ruled by appointed military administrators and elected civilian governors, each leaving a distinct imprint on its political and developmental trajectory. The state’s first administrator was Leo Ajiborisha, a colonel, who oversaw the establishment of some of the institutions required to run the newly created state before handing over to its first elected governor, late Isiaka Adeleke, in January 1992. The return to civilian rule in 1999 ushered in a succession of elected administrations led…

Russia has released former US marine Robert Gilman, who had been jailed since 2022 for attacking a police officer. US President Donald Trump says he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin who agreed to release Gilman because of his poor health.Published On 12 Aug 202612 Aug 2026Click here to share on social mediashare-nodesSharegoogleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo