Latest news with #Potato
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I ate at McDonald's in Japan and biggest surprise wasn't menu differences'
A British tourist decided to eat at McDonald's while visiting Japan, and while she was blown away by all the differences on the menu, the biggest surprise to her was something else entirely A tourist who visited a McDonald's restaurant in Japan was left gobsmacked by the differences to the ones in the UK. The fast food giant operates in over 100 countries, with over 38,000 locations. In each country they have subtle differences to reflect different tastes and local traditions, but in Japan it wasn't the menu that was the biggest surprise to the tourist. Travel content creator Jessica Jayne Turner has recently been sharing unique insights into her trip to Japan. In one of her recent TikTok clips, Jessica shared what is was like to eat at the fast food chain in Tokyo, Japan, which she said was on a completely "different level". Taking a look at the self service machine, she showed there were quite a few items she'd never seen before. These included the Bai Shrimp File-O, Bai Teriyaki Chicken Filet-O and a Cheese and Bacon Potato Pie. Maccies fans can also order Edamame & Corn as a side, as well as Shaka-Chicki and Garlic & Cheese Sauce. Jessica decided to try some of the "unique" things, and her order came to about £14.42. First she tried the Edamame & Corn, which she was surprised to see on the menu as it seems "healthy". "It actually tastes pretty good but it just feels so strange to eat it at McDonald's. [I'm] not actually sure how I feel about it," Jessica continued. Next, Jessica tried the Shaka Chicken which she said was "basically like a giant chicken nugget". She explained that they give you a sachet of Cheddar Cheese to sprinkle over it, and then you shake it. "It basically turns into a cheesy chicken nugget. It's nice and crispy but I'm going to be honest, the cheese does taste a bit artificial." Jessica said the barbecue sauce was "amazing" and the mustard sauce "tasted great". Then, she tried the Cheese and Bacon Potato Pie, which she said looks similar to the Apple Pies in the UK. "The inside of this tastes identical to a chicken pie. I love the flavour. This is probably one of my favourite things that I got," she added. The content creator also got some standard chicken nuggets, which she admitted tasted similar to the UK, but she "loved" the sauces you could get with them - barbecue and mustard sauce. After also eating some of a Big Mac, which she ordered in case she didn't like the other things she ordered, Jessica finished the meal off with a McFlurry. The one she ordered was "smothered" in strawberries and chocolate, and they didn't "skimp on the toppings". Jessica also admitted that it wasn't the menu that surprised her most about the McDonald's restaurants in Japan - was "how clean" the restaurants were. "The kitchen actually looks spotless," she added. And Jessica isn't the only one to notice this. Posting to the Destination Japan Facebook group, one tourist said: "What stood out even more to me was their attention to hygiene. While I obviously don't know what happens behind the scenes in the kitchen, the way they handle food and maintain cleanliness during serving is very noticeable. Everything from the counters to the packaging felt clean and well-managed, which make the overall experience even better."
Scottish Sun
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
First look at Sam and Billie Faiers new ITV show four years after they QUIT Mummy Diaries
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SAM and Billie Faiers are back on screens with a brand new ITV reality show - four years after they sensationally quit The Mummy Diaries. The sisters have reunited for a fresh series that promises family drama, glamour and plenty of laughs as cameras follow their lives once again. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 7 Sam and Billie's long-awaited new series drops today Credit: ITV 7 Sam & Billie: Sister Act is full of raw moments, family drama and health scares Credit: ITV Sam and Billie Faiers are back — and this time, it's all about sisterhood, sparkle, and a whole lot of real talk. The long-awaited new series drops today, reuniting the famous sisters on our screens for the first time since The Mummy Diaries wrapped up in 2021. With their kids a little older and life throwing new challenges their way, Sam and Billie are turning the spotlight on themselves — juggling motherhood, careers, and that ever-glam celeb lifestyle. Sam & Billie: Sister Act expects raw moments as they open up like never before, facing health scares, family dramas, and some shocking revelations. But through all the tears and laughs, the sisters prove their bond is unbreakable. From emotional heart-to-hearts and healing old wounds, to jet-setting adventures and glitzy nights out, it's all happening — giving fans a backstage pass to the highs, lows, and everything in between. This is sisterhood, up close and personal. Sam quit her ITVBe show The Mummy Diaries to take a break from reality TV. She has starred on the ITVBe series with property developer hubby Paul Knightley and their two young kids for seven years. She quit as she planned to focus on new projects away from the cameras. Samantha Faiers slammed after sharing 'dangerous' suncream conspiracy theory and saying kids have 'built up a tolerance' Sam said: 'After many months of consideration, I've decided that now feels like the right time to step away and to focus on new adventures. "I truly have watched all the most defining moments in my adult life play out on The Mummy Diaries - bringing two beautiful children into the world, my relationship with Paul, building my businesses, creating a home together as a family, and of course all the wonderful memories with Billie and my family. "I'm so grateful to ITV and Potato for giving me and my children the best home movies anyone could ask for, I could never have imagined seven years ago that we would still be here today - 9 series on! But more importantly, I will be forever appreciative to our incredible viewers. "There's no family more entertaining than the Shepherds, so I can't wait to sit back as a viewer for a change and watch the fun play out while I have a few adventures of my own away from the cameras.' Billie continued filming her own show, The Family Diaries, with husband Greg Shepherd, focusing on refurbishing her lavish £1.4million Essex mansion. But then she quit in September to give her three children the chance to grow up away from the cameras. Sam recently hit back after coming under fire for revealing that her kids never wear sunscreen. The reality star shared a "dangerous" conspiracy theory, saying her kids have "built up a tolerance" to sunburn. In response to the backlash, Sam admitted she was not a medical expert but was sharing her own experience with sunscreen. She wrote on Instagram: "Wow, I've received so many kind and supportive messages from my sunscreen post. Thank you. "I'd definitely recommend doing a little research into which tallow you'd like to use, there are lots of amazing options out there." She continued: "PS: Just sharing my experience and tips (not an expert)." The reality star then shared a photo of a brand of tallow that she usually relies on as an alternative to sunscreen. Sam's confession came after she decided to do a Q&A with fans. During it, one person asked the former Towie star: 'What suntan lotion do you use as you have a good natural colour?' Sam, who is mum to Paul, 5, Rosie, 5, and three-year-old Edward, shared: 'So this is always a bit of a controversial one, but honestly, me and my whole family don't actually wear sunscreen. 'Over the years, the kids have built up a really good tolerance to being in the sun. Of course, if it's really hot and the sun feels too harsh. 'I'll make sure we head into the shade.. usually around lunchtime we'll go in, have something to eat, and just avoid those peak hours." She went on: 'I'm really careful about sunscreen in general, because a lot of them are actually pretty harmful and full of toxic ingredients. 'If you do want to protect your kids, I think SPF swimwear is such a good and safer option. But also, don't be afraid of the sun! Early in the morning or later in the afternoon when it's not as strong, I love letting the kids run around and soak it up it's so good for them. 'That said, I do always bring a Tallow Zine SPF with me when I go away, just in case. And hats or caps are a must! especially for us ladies, because no one wants extra sun damage (I've had my fair share over the years because I'm such a sun lover!).' Fans have commented on Sam's latest post to share their concern after her suncreen message. One person wrote: 'You need to delete your story about not wearing sunscreen I don't think you understand the damage you can do to your followers by promoting this.' Someone else said: 'absolutely agree - so irresponsible!!' and a third echoed: ' was in shock - 'kids have grown a tolerance to the sun over the years' wtf?! Happy for them to get skin cancer then?' Sam & Billie: Sister Act premieres on 19th August at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX. 7 With their kids a little older and life throwing new challenges their way Credit: ITV 7 Sam and Billie juggle motherhood, careers, and that ever-glam celeb lifestyle Credit: ITV 7 The sisters suddenly pulled the plug on The Mummy Diaries Credit: ITV 7 The sisters wanted to give their children the chance to grow up away from the cameras Credit: ITV
The Irish Sun
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
First look at Sam and Billie Faiers new ITV show four years after they QUIT Mummy Diaries
SAM and Billie Faiers are back on screens with a brand new ITV reality show - four years after they sensationally quit The Mummy Diaries. The sisters have reunited for a fresh series that promises family drama, glamour and plenty of laughs as cameras follow their lives once again. 7 Sam and Billie's long-awaited new series drops today Credit: ITV 7 Sam & Billie: Sister Act is full of raw moments, family drama and health scares Credit: ITV Sam and Billie Faiers are back — and this time, it's all about sisterhood, sparkle, and a whole lot of real talk. The long-awaited new series drops today, reuniting the famous sisters on our screens for the first time since The Mummy Diaries wrapped up in 2021. With their kids a little older and life throwing new challenges their way, Sam and Billie are turning the spotlight on themselves — juggling motherhood, careers, and that ever-glam celeb lifestyle. Sam & Billie: Sister Act expects raw moments as they open up like never before, facing health scares, family dramas, and some shocking revelations. But through all the tears and laughs, the sisters prove their bond is unbreakable. From emotional heart-to-hearts and healing old wounds, to jet-setting adventures and glitzy nights out, it's all happening — giving fans a backstage pass to the highs, lows, and everything in between. This is sisterhood, up close and personal. Sam quit her ITVBe show The Mummy Diaries to take a break from reality TV. She has starred on the ITVBe series with property developer hubby Paul Knightley and their two young kids for seven years. She quit as she planned to focus on new projects away from the cameras. Samantha Faiers slammed after sharing 'dangerous' suncream conspiracy theory and saying kids have 'built up a tolerance' Sam said: 'After many months of consideration, I've decided that now feels like the right time to step away and to focus on new adventures. "I truly have watched all the most defining moments in my adult life play out on The Mummy Diaries - bringing two beautiful children into the world, my relationship with Paul, building my businesses, creating a home together as a family, and of course all the wonderful memories with Billie and my family. "I'm so grateful to ITV and Potato for giving me and my children the best home movies anyone could ask for, I could never have imagined seven years ago that we would still be here today - 9 series on! But more importantly, I will be forever appreciative to our incredible viewers. "There's no family more entertaining than the Shepherds, so I can't wait to sit back as a viewer for a change and watch the fun play out while I have a few adventures of my own away from the cameras.' Billie continued filming her own show, The Family Diaries, with husband Greg Shepherd, focusing on refurbishing her lavish £1.4million Essex mansion. But then she quit in September to give her three children the chance to grow up away from the cameras. Sam recently hit back after coming under fire for revealing that her kids never wear sunscreen. The reality star shared a "dangerous" conspiracy theory, saying her kids have "built up a tolerance" to sunburn. In response to the backlash, Sam admitted she was not a medical expert but was sharing her own experience with sunscreen. She wrote on Instagram: "Wow, I've received so many kind and supportive messages from my sunscreen post. Thank you. "I'd definitely recommend doing a little research into which tallow you'd like to use, there are lots of amazing options out there." She continued: "PS: Just sharing my experience and tips (not an expert)." The reality star then shared a photo of a brand of tallow that she usually relies on as an alternative to sunscreen. Sam's confession came after she decided to do a Q&A with fans. During it, one person asked the former Towie star: 'What suntan lotion do you use as you have a good natural colour?' Sam, who is mum to Paul, 5, Rosie, 5, and three-year-old Edward, shared: 'So this is always a bit of a controversial one, but honestly, me and my whole family don't actually wear sunscreen. 'Over the years, the kids have built up a really good tolerance to being in the sun. Of course, if it's really hot and the sun feels too harsh. 'I'll make sure we head into the shade.. usually around lunchtime we'll go in, have something to eat, and just avoid those peak hours." She went on: 'I'm really careful about sunscreen in general, because a lot of them are actually pretty harmful and full of toxic ingredients. 'If you do want to protect your kids, I think SPF swimwear is such a good and safer option. But also, don't be afraid of the sun! Early in the morning or later in the afternoon when it's not as strong, I love letting the kids run around and soak it up it's so good for them. 'That said, I do always bring a Tallow Zine SPF with me when I go away, just in case. And hats or caps are a must! especially for us ladies, because no one wants extra sun damage (I've had my fair share over the years because I'm such a sun lover!).' Fans have commented on Sam's latest post to share their concern after her suncreen message. One person wrote: 'You need to delete your story about not wearing sunscreen I don't think you understand the damage you can do to your followers by promoting this.' Someone else said: 'absolutely agree - so irresponsible!!' and a third echoed: ' was in shock - 'kids have grown a tolerance to the sun over the years' wtf?! Happy for them to get skin cancer then?' Sam & Billie: Sister Act premieres on 19th August at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX. 7 With their kids a little older and life throwing new challenges their way Credit: ITV 7 Sam and Billie juggle motherhood, careers, and that ever-glam celeb lifestyle Credit: ITV 7 The sisters suddenly pulled the plug on The Mummy Diaries Credit: ITV 7 The sisters wanted to give their children the chance to grow up away from the cameras Credit: ITV
CNN
31-07-2025
- Science
- CNN
The potato evolved from an ancient tomato encounter, scientists say
Genetics AgricultureFacebookTweetLink Follow The humble modern-day potato, first domesticated about 10,000 years ago, got its start in the Andes mountains before becoming a key crop the world depends on. But because plants don't preserve well in the fossil record, its lineage has remained largely a mystery. Now, a team of evolutionary biologists and genomic scientists has traced the origins of this starchy staple to a chance encounter millions of years ago involving an unlikely plant relative: the tomato. The researchers analyzed 450 genomes from cultivated and wild potato species, and the genes revealed that an ancient wild tomato plant ancestor naturally bred with a potato-like plant called Etuberosum 9 million years ago — or interbred, as both plants had originally split off from a common ancestor plant about 14 million years ago, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Cell. While neither tomatoes or Etuberosums had the ability to grow tubers — the enlarged, edible part of domesticated plants such as potatoes, yams and taros that grow underground — the resulting hybrid plant did. Tubers evolved as an innovative way for the potato plant to store nutrients underground as the climate and environment in the Andes became colder — and once cultivated, resulted in a dietary mainstay for humans. There are now more than 100 wild potato species that also grow tubers, although not all are edible because some contain toxins. 'Evolving a tuber gave potatoes a huge advantage in harsh environments, fueling an explosion of new species and contributing to the rich diversity of potatoes we see and rely on today,' study coauthor Sanwen Huang, president of the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences and a professor at the Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said in a statement. 'We've finally solved the mystery of where potatoes came from.' The scientists have also decoded which genes were supplied by each plant to create tubers in the first place. Understanding how potatoes originated and evolved could ultimately help scientists breed more resilient potatoes that are resistant to disease and shifting climate conditions. Potatoes, tomatoes and Etuberosums all belong to the genus Solanum, which includes about 1,500 species and is the largest genus in the nightshade family of flowering plants. At first glance, potato plants look nearly identical to Etuberosum, which initially led scientists to think that the two were sisters that came from a common ancestor, said study coauthor JianQuan Liu, a professor in the college of ecology at Lanzhou University in Gansu, China. Etuberosums include just three species, and while the plants have flowers and leaves similar to those of potato plants, they don't produce tubers. 'Etuberosums are a special thing,' Dr. Sandy Knapp, study coauthor and research botanist at the Natural History Museum in London, told CNN. 'They're things that you probably would never see unless you went to the Juan Fernandes islands, the Robinson Crusoe islands in the middle of the Pacific, or if you were in the temple rainforest of Chile.' But charting out the lineage of potatoes, tomatoes and Etuberosums revealed an unexpected wrinkle that seemed to indicate that potatoes were more closely related to tomatoes on a genetic level, Knapp said. The team used phylogenetic analyses —a process similar to determining in humans a parent-daughter or sister-sister relationship on a genetic level — to determine the relationships among the different plants, Liu said. The analysis showed a contradiction: Potatoes could be a sister to Etuberosums or tomatoes, depending on different genetic markers, Liu said. The 14 million-year-old common ancestor of tomatoes and Etuberosums, and the plants that diverged from it, don't exist anymore and 'are lost in the mists of geological time,' Knapp said. Instead, the researchers looked for genetic markers within the plants to determine their origins. 'What we use is a signal that's come through from the past, which is still there in the plants that we have today, to try to reconstruct the past,' Knapp said. To track that signal through time, the researchers compiled a genetic database for potatoes, including looking at museum specimens and even retrieving data from rare wild potatoes that are hard to find, some of them occurring in just a single valley in the Andes, Knapp said. 'Wild potatoes are very difficult to sample, so this dataset represents the most comprehensive collection of wild potato genomic data ever analyzed,' study coauthor Zhiyang Zhang, a researcher for the Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said in a statement. The research revealed that the first potato, and every subsequent potato species, included a combination of genetic material that derived from Etuberosums and tomatoes. Climatic or geological changes likely caused an ancient Etuberosum and a tomato ancestor to coexist in the same place, Liu said. Given that both species are bee-pollinated, the likely scenario is that a bee moved pollen between the two plants and led to the creation of the potato, said Amy Charkowski, research associate dean of Colorado State University's College of Agricultural Sciences. Charkowski was not involved in the new research. The tomato side supplied a 'master switch' SP6A gene, which told the potato plant to start making tubers, while a IT1 gene from the Etuberosum side controlled the growth of the underground stems that formed the starchy tubers, Liu said. If either gene were missing or didn't work in concert, potatoes never would have formed tubers, according to the researchers. 'One of the things that happens in hybridization is that genes get mixed up,' Knapp said. 'It's like shuffling a deck of cards again, and different cards come up in different combinations. And fortunately for this particular hybridization event, two sorts of genes came together, which created the ability to tuberize, and that's a chance event.' The evolution of tuberous potatoes coincided with a time when the Andes mountains were rapidly rising due to interactions among tectonic plates, which created a huge spine down the western side of South America, Knapp said. The Andes are a complex mountain range with numerous valleys and a range of ecosystems. Modern tomatoes like dry, hot environments, while Etuberosums prefer a temperate space. But the ancestor of the potato plant evolved to thrive in the dry, cold, high-altitude habitats that sprang up across the Andes, with the tuber enabling its ultimate survival, Knapp said. Potatoes could reproduce without the need for seeds or pollination. The growth of new tubers led to new plants, and they could flourish across diverse environments. The cultivated potato we consume today is currently the world's third most important staple crop, and with wheat, rice and maize, is responsible for 80% of human caloric intake, according to the study. Understanding the potato's origin story could be the key to breeding more innovation into future potatoes; reintroducing key tomato genes could lead to fast-breeding potatoes reproduced by seeds, something with which Huang and his team at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences are experimenting. Modern crops face pressures from environmental change, the climate crisis and new pests and diseases, Knapp said. Seed potatoes are of interest because they may be more genetically diverse and resistant to disease and other agricultural risks, Knapp said. Vegetatively reproducing potatoes — cutting a potato into pieces and planting them to create a crop — results in genetically identical potatoes that can be wiped out if a new disease comes along. Studying wild species that have come up against and evolved in response to such challenges could also be crucial, she added. Charkowski's lab is interested in how wild potatoes resist disease, and why some plant pests and diseases only affect potatoes or tomatoes. 'In addition to helping us understand potato evolution and potato tuber development, the methods used (in this study) can also help researchers learn about other traits, such as disease and insect resistance, nutrition, drought tolerance, and many other important plant traits in potato and tomato,' Charkowski said. Potatoes remain an important crop in arid regions or areas with short summers and high altitudes — places where other major crops don't grow, she said. The findings also show potatoes in a different light: the result of a chance encounter of two very different individuals, said study coauthor Dr. Tiina Särkinen, a nightshade expert at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. 'That's actually quite romantic,' she said. 'The origin of many of our species isn't a simple story, and it's very exciting that we can now discover these tangled, complex origins thanks to the wealth of genomic data.' Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.
New Indian Express
31-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Congress slams PM Modi over US tariffs, handling of foreign relations
After US President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on all goods imported from India, the Congress party slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of failing to safeguard India's strategic and economic interests. Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, ridiculed the Prime Minister's earlier focus on inflation in essential vegetables, famously encapsulated in the acronym TOP (Tomato, Onion, Potato). "Now, the real challenge for India comes from CAP, China, America, and Pakistan," Jairam Ramesh said, pointing to what he described as a worsening geopolitical scenario under Modi's leadership. Ramesh accused President Trump of "piling it on India" and outlined a series of hostile actions taken by the US administration.
