The beastly dilemma facing Europe's zoos — to cull or not to cull
The killing of 12 primates last month, which were judged to be surplus to requirements at Nuremberg Zoo in southern Germany, prompted a wave of online anguish and protests in the street.
The episode, however, was far from unique. Two healthy lion cubs that had been rejected by their mother were put down in Cologne only days earlier and, this week, three baby tigers in Leipzig suffered the same fate.
The German zoo directors are well aware of how all this slaughter of charismatic megafauna looks to the general public.
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The Guardian
4 hours ago
- The Guardian
‘A nostalgic 1980s-style chip': the best supermarket oven chips, tasted and rated
I'm not sure I've ever bought a bag of oven chips. My mum bought them in the 1980s and 90s, but they were never nice, and sometimes resembled cardboard. I've always assumed they were among the most processed foods on the planet, so I was pleasantly surprised by the quality, taste and even health scores of the brands tested here, which I assessed using the Yuka app. Most are low in salt, sugar and saturated fat, and had relatively simple recipe formulas. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. While a few brands included concerning ingredients – such as disodium diphosphate and artificial flavourings – most use a blend of sunflower and rapeseed oil, with no hazardous additives. However, nearly all contained a small amount of dextrose, a sugar that feels unnecessary here, not least because potatoes already have a natural sweetness. Just two brands were dextrose-free, earning them an extra point. To improve crunch and texture, many brands coat their chips in a mix of flours and starches, typically wheat, rice, maize or pea flour, and sometimes with raising agents. Though not essential, these coatings contribute to golden, crisp exteriors that, when done well, enhance the chip; done badly, however, they bring a slightly processed edge. Overall, the results of this test were genuinely impressive, so much so, in fact, that I'm now planning to develop my own version of oven chips at home. There wasn't much to go on regarding sustainability, although I awarded a point where products disclosed the variety and origin of the potatoes used. Some highlighted their use of maris pipers – a classic chip variety prized for its high starch and low moisture content, creating that ideal fluffy interior and crunchy exterior. Every bag I tested was packaged in LDPE 4 plastic or similar, which is recyclable only in-store, so a missed opportunity for more accessible recycling. ★★★★★ Rich, savoury flavour with a crisp, golden, skin-on exterior and fluffy interior. Excellent texture and thick cut. Coated in maize, rice, pea flour and dextrose. Made with British potatoes. Gluten-free. Remarkable value. ★★★☆☆ Golden brown and very long, which is quite fun. A chewy yet crunchy exterior and sweet, earthy flavour with hints of baked potato. British potatoes coated in rice and maize flour with modified starches. Gluten-free and outstanding value. ★★★★☆ A perfectly even, golden exterior and lovely, chunky shape. Really tasty, with rich, umami-laden notes from the beef fat. The coating includes potato, maize starch, and rice and pea flours, but it's well-executed and contributes to a satisfying crunch. Gluten-free. Pricey, but still reasonable value. ★★★★☆ Skin-on and beautifully browned with a chunky cut. Fluffy and delicious with a clean, simple flavour because of the refreshingly short ingredients list – these are just maris piper potatoes and sunflower oil, so they are gluten- and dextrose-free. The only chip to earn an extra sustainability point due to Strong Roots' B Corp status. More expensive than many others, but fair value given the ethical credentials. ★★★★☆ Fresh-tasting, homemade feel and a clean flavour. Smooth, creamy interior with a crisp, skin-on exterior and chunky round cut. Coated with rice flour, potato starch, dextrin and turmeric. Gluten-free, though no provenance details. 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 ★★★☆☆ A nostalgic 1980s-style oven chip with decent crunch, though the interior was moist and smooth, rather than fluffy. Remarkable to see just two ingredients (potatoes and oil), not least because at this price point processed foods often have more complex formulas. Gluten-free and dextrose-free, too. Incredible for the money. ★★★☆☆ Golden, thanks to the addition of turmeric and pepper extract. A moreish, savoury-sweet flavour with enjoyable crunch (because of the bicarb, potato starch and rice flour coating). Closer to a french fry than a classic chip. Contains disodium diphosphate, a phosphate additive that some may wish to avoid. Gluten-free. ★★☆☆☆ Classic golden chip shop-style chip with a clean, vegetal flavour, crunchy coating and moist centre. British potatoes coated in wheat, corn and rice flour batter. Not my favourite, but excellent value and one of the rare dextrose-free products. ★★☆☆☆ Thick-cut and well-browned with a soft, slightly oily interior. Sweet but not especially flavourful. Dusted with flours for added crunch. One of the only products detailing origin and potato variety (these are made with British maris pipers). Good value but not as tasty as I'd expected. Contain gluten, too. ★★☆☆☆ Beautiful colour and long cut with a welcome crunchy and fluffy texture. However, the flavour feels a little artificial and less natural than many of the others, and these contain artificial flavourings, too, so with superior products at lower prices, I'd shop elsewhere. Gluten-free.
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
We live on a newbuild estate and we love our pigeon pen identical gardens... builders mocking them are two-faced
Homeowners on a newbuild estate have hit back at a TikTok-posting builder for calling their identikit gardens 'absolutely diabolical'. Outspoken Dan Hinton's videos of 'awful' homes and gardens have gone viral, clocking up millions of views and comments. He told the Daily Mail: 'They are very boggy, they do not drain properly, and I hear a lot of stories from people saying they put the rubbish under the bloody grass. 'Do not get me started on who the hell designs them because the shapes I see and the size of some is madness.' But the newbuild nemises has upset and angered people living on the estates he worked on and they have accused him of being 'two-faced' and 'offensive'. One man, who moved into his home only six weeks ago, said: 'He's just nitpicking. 'Yes, the gardens might look a bit like pigeon pens being small and enclosed by high fences but they serve a purpose, offering us privacy and security, and that matters.' The grandad, who declined to be named, but invited the Daily Mail into his garden to view his six-feet high fence and surrounding properties, said: 'I think he is being unfair. 'How can he have the audacity to criticise new builds that developers have designed and he has been working on but not living in himself. He has no right and he's not a resident. 'It is poor judgement but maybe he is doing it for clicks online.' The row has ensued after married father-of-two Mr Hinton, 33, recently sent out a warning to families after sharing pictures of identikit gardens on TikTok. He blasted the state of new build homes and accusing developers of 'throwing them up' and vowed he was on a mission to 'show people what they are like.' He has worked worked on new builds across the West Midlands in Lawley, Priorslee, Crudgington, Alscot, and Donnington. We visited one of the half dozen sites he spotlighted in Piroslee on the outskirts of Telford, Shropshire. The grandfather living happily on Avant Homes Monkswood estate told how he and his wife enjoyed living in the community, which is still under development. He said: 'We love it to bits. We only moved oil six weeks ago and we think we've got one of the best plots. It's the one we wanted. The three-bed redbrick semi, costing £230,000, is on the top of a slight hill and overlooks on one side trees and greener. Pointing to the view, the happy home owner said: 'We're on a bit of a hill up here, which does get a bit windy, but we have lovely scenery at the front. 'There is going to build a phase two development but it will be in fields across the other side of the trees so we'll not even see.' He felt it was unfair and rude of Mr Hinton slamming some new builds for having 'sub standard gardens' with too high and same coloured fences - with captions on his video stating: 'Can't believe they do this.' The man said: 'Yes, they're all very similar but that's the look of a new build estate. 'The fences are high and dividing all the gardens but it gives us total privacy. 'We have a six feet high fence at the back which has a retaining wall below, and we look down on the other homes and gardens. The husband, 69, and his retired primary school teaching assistant wife, 60, who moved from Wales, are busily doing up their garden which is still just rubble. They said they have experiences a 'few little snagging problems' which the developer Avant was sorting out. He said: 'The estate's a great location, near Telford and not far from Shrewsbury, and is convenient for the shops and motorway.' His wife added: 'It's a lovely spacious house and the neighbours are very nice. 'The fences are high which gives you privacy and security but the only downside is there's no chatting to your neighbour over the garden wall. 'You lose the friendly banter. 'I think that TikTok builder is being unwise over his scaremongering and it will given some people trying to buy a house here the wrong impression. 'What is he complaining about? He's being offensive. 'He's moaning that it offers buyers very little privacy but it gives us lots of privacy. 'They are still building lots of houses down the hill.' A construction worker on site told our website: 'All the properties here are built with 1.8 meter, six feet high fences which is standard. Another resident, who stands six feet five inches tall, said the high fences were a 'perfect height', adding: 'I can't see over them.' The man admitted there were 'lots of fences' across the development but said they are a 'good idea.' He said: 'They're all the same colour, a pleasant mid brown, and all look identical but I have noticed a few people are painting them greys and blacks. 'But we like ours as it is, there's nothing wrong with it, and a builder shouldn't start slating it online.' Mum-of-two Inder Kaur who moved from London nine months ago with her husband and daughters, aged ten and eight, said: 'We love the house.' She added: 'Of course they need to divide the properties and the tall fences work well. 'We're not sure about the colour so we're in the process of waiting ours grey. The neighbours have painted theirs black. 'It doesn't seem fair for a builder to use social media to criticise the style of fences on developments he has worked on. It is very mean spirited because the residents living here like them, and that's all that matters.' Mrs Kaur did point out that they had an issue with an uneven back garden which is makes it difficult fo her children to play on. She said: 'We want to level if somehow because it id very bumpy and dips in places but the developer says we can't alter anything outside for five years, only change the colour of fencing, and have to keep the structure outside as it is.' Another resident, a mother and a carer, who moved onto her new home in January, said: 'We have no issues with the fencing and it gives us privacy when the kids are out playing. 'We love the estate and they'll be building moire and more hime over the next two or three years so there will be many more high brown fences.' She said her family had had a a 'really good experience with developer Avant', adding: 'We can't fault them and have no grumbles. 'The location is great and from our house you have wonderful views over the Wrekin, a hill and well known local landmark.' One householder has allegedly run into trouble with the developer for altering their garden between May and June. A notice pinned outside their property in George Lees Avenue states: 'Warm reminder.' 'Is states that the owner illegally raised the ground soil and fence height and 'violated planning controls.' It continues: 'In July you promised to resolve the issue and reset the garden to its normal height but the problem persists to this day.' Avant Homes welcomes people to Monkswood and offers two, three and four bedroom homes. The developer advertises on its website: 'If you're looking for a new build home in Priorslee, Telford, then Monkswood is the place for you. 'A Rightmove survey, conducted in 2014, found that Telford was one of the ten happiest places to live in the UK! 'The town has also earned acclaim for its parks, with their Town Park being voted the UK's best park in 2015.' After his post, which went viral, Mr Hinton said: 'Ninety per cent of them are absolutely diabolical. 'I know people have opinions but my opinion is that they are awful. He added: 'For some reason a lot of them slope towards the house so when they build the tiny patio with horrid yellow slabs it all puddles right outside the patio doors. His clips captioned 'Can't believe they do this' and 'State of this!' have notched up millions of views. His videos depict tens of rows of immaculate wooden-fenced, astro-turf laid builds with yellow paving patios slabs backing onto one another, with the captions 'What's gone through their head here?' and 'Another new build - shame about the gardens!'
The Independent
7 hours ago
- The Independent
Warning over ‘chronic' under-performance of boys at GCSEs
Professor Alan Smithers has labelled the under- performance of boys at GCSE as "chronic" and a "major issue", warning it could hinder the nation's economic competitiveness. He highlighted that girls consistently achieve higher grades, with 24.7 per cent of female entries receiving top marks last year compared to 19.0 per cent of male entries. Smithers called for an urgent review of "soul-destroying" compulsory GCSE resits and suggested scrapping the English Baccalaureate due to low language take-up. Ahead of GCSE results day, he predicted that top grades this year would remain high compared to pre-pandemic levels, despite grading standards returning to normal. The Department for Education stated its commitment to ensuring all young people succeed, noting ongoing reviews and reforms to the education system.
