This England: White-van Manx
BBC News (Amanda Welles)
So long, suckers
A 'Holy Grail' Lego octopus has been found by a stunned beachcomber decades after falling into the sea. The black octopus was one of millions
of items lost on the Tokio Express cargo ship off Land's End in 1997. A freak wave knocked 62 containers and about 4,200 Lego octopuses into the sea. Only a handful have been found since,
many of which washed up in Cornwall. Jenny Smith, 43, came across the latest one while out on the beach at
Ginst Point. 'I squealed with excitement, shouted at my husband, and the kids and sat in complete shock,' she said.
Cornwall Live (Adam Robertson)
Guzzly bears
Two young bears escaped from their Wildwood Trust enclosure in Devon – and devoured a week's worth of honey. In a tale straight out of Winnie-the-Pooh, Mish and Lucy immediately dashed for the food store during their hour of freedom. Visitors were 'promptly escorted to a secure building'.
Sidmouth Herald (Steve Morley)
[See also: Britain is growing old disgracefully]
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Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Several dead and seriously injured with passengers left trapped after train derails in Germany
TRAIN HORROR Several dead and seriously injured with passengers left trapped after train derails in Germany Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SEVERAL people have been killed and others injured after a train with 100 passengers derailed in southwestern Germany. The tragic incident took place in the town of Biberach - near the border with France - on Sunday evening. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 A train derailed in southwestern Germany Credit: 3 Several people have been killed, German media reports Credit: 3 Rescue workers search for passengers in the derailed train Credit: The train derailed in Baden-Württemberg at around 6.10pm near Zwiefaltendorf in the Biberach district, reports German newspaper Bild. A spokesperson for the Federal Police Stuttgart told Bild: 'Two carriages of the Deutsche Bahn regional express have derailed.' 'At least three are injured. The severity of their injuries cannot be confirmed at this time,' the spokesperson added. More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
The Guardian
a day ago
- The Guardian
‘Astonishingly good value' – the best supermarket tofu, tasted and rated
This test helped me realise just how much I truly love tofu, even cold. Like all deceptively simple products, such as wine, coffee and chocolate, tofu's character is rooted in its terroir: the soil, biodiversity, climate, plant species and production process. Most tofu is made by curdling soy milk with nigari, a coagulant made from magnesium chloride, which is naturally derived from seawater. It's an ancient method still used across Japan and south-east Asia. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. To keep things fair, I tasted each tofu cold, straight from the packet, then boiled and fried (without pressing or seasoning) each one to observe its flavour, structure and performance. Boiling showed that all the tofus held their shape, while frying brought out major differences in colouring, crust and bite: some crisped up beautifully, others stayed soft and chewy, so if you mainly fry your tofu, that's worth bearing in mind. It's also worth noting that organic tofus are GMO-free by definition. 89p for 180g at Aldi (49p/100g)★★★★★ A small, beige block with rounded edges and a sweet, familiar soya aroma. It's a super-firm tofu with a dense, satisfying bite that holds up brilliantly to cooking, especially frying. Made with 57% EU-grown organic soya, it's very high in protein (14g a serving) and astonishingly good value. A real standout. £1.34 for 300g at Sainsbury's (45p/100g)★★★★☆ A great blank canvas with a subtle aroma and gentle, sweet taste. Firm but moist, and transformed by frying to a golden-crusted, deep flavour. Made from organic, non-EU soya (34%), it's high in protein and excellent value. Though a little lower in soya content, it delivers fantastic performance in the pan and at an incredible price. £2.90 for 396g at Ocado (73p/100g)£3 for 396g at Waitrose (76p/100g)★★★★★ Distinctively marbled and off-white/grey, this has a subtle aroma and a clean, complex flavour. Very firm and reacts well to frying, forming a satisfyingly thick crust. Made with 35.8% organic soya, using a mix of EU and non-EU beans, it's high in protein and has strong sustainability credentials. A well-rounded option that's a very close runner-up to the best overall. £2.30 for 280g at Sainsbury's (82p/100g)£2.30 for 280g at Tesco (82p/100g)★★★★☆ An irregularly marbled block with a deep umami, almost smoky aroma and a lovely firm bounce. One of the densest, less traditional tofus tested, with a chewy bite. When fried, it forms a good golden crust with loads of flavour. Made in Yorkshire using organic soya from EU and non-EU farms. Great Taste Award-winning, very high in protein (16.5g per 100g) and a bold, characterful choice. £2.50 for 300g at Ocado (83p/100g)★★★★☆ A uniform block with a sweet, subtle aroma, a soft bite and a gentle soya flavour. Holding its shape and forming a delicate, uniform golden crust when fried, this has one of the best textures in the whole test group. Made from organic, non-EU soya, it has 34% soya content and a respectable protein level. Strikes a solid balance between taste and texture. Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion £2 for 300g at Morrisons (67p/100g)£2.55 for 300g at Ocado (85p/100g)★★★★☆ A uniform block with a sweet, neutral aroma, a soft bite and a creamy mouthfeel. Flavourful and pleasantly sweet, it's perfectly crunchy and delicious when fried, with a consistent golden crust – perhaps the best overall for frying. Certified organic with non-EU soya, it's been handmade in Devon since 1984 and holds a Taste of the West Gold award. £1.95 for 399g at Tesco (49p/100g)★★★☆☆ A uniform, cream block with a sweet, clean smell and a gentle flavour. Its soft texture makes it satisfying to eat raw, though it doesn't crisp up easily when fried, hence the lower score (instead, it develops a chewy, caramelised edge with a spongy interior). Made from organic, non-EU soya (34%), it's a good source of protein and exceptional value for organic tofu. £1.95 for 300g at Waitrose (65p/100g)★★★☆☆ A gentle, savoury aroma and a soft bite with a slight sweetness. The texture is on the delicate side, especially when boiled, and it doesn't fry especially well (pressing first will help). Made with 34% organic, non-EU-grown soya, it's certified organic, but lacks firmness. Decent value, but there are more versatile options at a lower price point. £3 for 400g at Ocado (75p/100g)★★★☆☆ A white block with a soft bite, this has a sweet, subtle aroma and a clean soya taste. Despite being one of the softest in the test, it crisps up surprisingly well when fried, forming a light but satisfying crust. However, it's the only non-organic product tested, and made with just 16% soya – far lower than the others. Limited provenance or sustainability information, so with such strong competition, it offers less value for money. £5 for 500g at Ocado (£1/100g)£29.94 for 6 x 500g at Amazon (£1/100g)★★★☆☆ An irregular, mottled, off-white block that looks hand-shaped, and that's full of bubbles. One of the firmest to bite with a complex, soya-forward flavour. Fries very well, forming a great crust. Certified organic with non-EU soya, it's the only product tested with a fully reusable and recyclable container. Owned by Windmill Organics, a great company committed to organic farming, which earns it a bonus point.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Stop weeds from taking over garden using 2 ingredients that 'actually work'
The Mediterranean Gardener recently showed his followers just how easy it is to rustle up a homemade solution to combat pesky weeds in the garden A savvy gardener has revealed a brilliant DIY weed killer recipe that requires just two household staples you're likely to have in your kitchen. Michael, who goes by The Mediterranean Gardener on TikTok, shared with his followers a simple yet effective concoction for tackling those unwelcome garden invaders. This homemade remedy is perfect for those who prefer to steer clear of chemical-laden and commercial products in their green spaces. The original recipe hails from Gardeners World, but Michael vouched for its efficacy, saying the solution "actually works". Here's how to whip it up. You'll need two popular cleaning agents that are often used in DIY cleaning hacks: distilled vinegar and baking soda, reports the Express. How to make homemade weed killer Michael recommends a 2:1 ratio for the mixture – two parts vinegar to one part baking soda – and cautions against adding too much baking soda at once to prevent an overflow reminiscent of a science experiment volcano. The trick is to add the baking soda gradually, stirring continuously, until the solution is transparent and not milky. Michael advises: "This will create a more effective weed destroyer. Make sure it's all mixed together and add it to a spray bottle." Once you've transferred the mixture into a spray bottle, douse the weeds liberally with your homemade potion. According to the gardening guru, this solution shows the best results when used on young weeds. Vinegar is a powerful liquid that can effectively eliminate weeds, making their removal a breeze. Better Homes & Gardens noted that a vinegar-based mixture works most effectively on smaller, annual weeds. Vinegar can serve as an efficient household remedy thanks to its acidic properties. It contains acetic acid, which functions as a natural herbicide. The acetic acid destroys the plant's cell walls, causing the weeds to wither and ultimately perish. Vinegar will harm any plant it comes into contact with, though it leaves no lasting impact on the soil, meaning fresh weeds can still emerge. Several avid gardeners highlighted that combining these two components might cancel out each other's effectiveness. Michael commented: "If you're going to say mixing the two neutralises itself (I know lol) read below- This is a Gardeners world recipe who are saying councils are trailing this as a weed killer - the only reason I can think of is this. The outcome of a 1:1 mix would create a neutralised solution. Becoming sodium acetate, Co2 and water. I imagine a 2:1 mix means you're left with a distilled vinegar, sodium acetate and water mix. "Sodium acetate has a much lower impact on soil than sodium chloride. It has a minimal impact on soil structure and degrades in the soil quickly. So what you have is a salty, acidic mixture that doesn't have long term effects on the soil as if you were using vinegar and sodium chloride (edible salt)."
