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Mission to boldly grow food in space labs blasts off

ESA is funding the research to explore new ways of reducing the cost of feeding an astronaut, which can cost up to £20,000 per day.

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Artwork: The experiment will orbit the Earth for three hours before returning to Earth and splashing down off the coast of Portugal.

(BBC): Steak, mashed potatoes and deserts for astronauts could soon be grown from individual cells in space if an experiment launched into orbit today is successful.

A European Space Agency (ESA) project is assessing the viability of growing so-called lab-grown food in the low gravity and higher radiation in orbit and on other worlds.

ESA is funding the research to explore new ways of reducing the cost of feeding an astronaut, which can cost up to £20,000 per day.

The team involved say the experiment is a first step to developing a small pilot food production plant on the International Space Station in two years’ time.

Lab-grown food will be essential if Nasa’s objective of making humanity a multi-planetary species were to be realised, claims Dr Aqeel Shamsul, CEO and founder of Bedford-based Frontier Space, which is developing the concept with researchers at Imperial College, London.

“Our dream is to have factories in orbit and on the Moon,” he told BBC News.

“We need to build manufacturing facilities off world if we are to provide the infrastructure to enable humans to live and work in space”.

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Billionaire Dangote to donate one-third of wealth to philanthropy,says daughter

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Dangote’s net worth is estimated at $35.1 billion, meaning one-third of his current fortune would amount to about $11.7 billion if maintained at that level.

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[File photo): Aliko Dangote and his daughters

Halima Dangote, the daughter of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has revealed plans by her father to donate one-third of his wealth to charity.

Halima, a trustee of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, disclosed the arrangement in an interview with Bloomberg published on Tuesday.

According to her, the billionaire had secured his family’s support to dedicate 33 percent of his estate to philanthropy.

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Dangote’s net worth is estimated at $35.1 billion, meaning one-third of his current fortune would amount to about $11.7 billion if maintained at that level.

Explaining the decision, Halima said her father considers philanthropy central to his legacy and has embedded it into the family’s long-term succession plans.

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BREAKING: Two-Storey Building Collapses in Ajuwon, Residents Feared Trapped

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A two-storey residential building has collapsed along Baale Road (also referred to as Baale Street) near Ajuwon Bus Stop in Ajuwon/Akute, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, on Monday, 27 July 2026, leaving several occupants feared trapped under the rubble.

The incident, which occurred in the Lagos-Ogun border community, triggered panic among residents and passers-by as the structure gave way unexpectedly. Crowds quickly gathered at the scene while waiting for emergency responders. Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes of people attempting to dig through the debris by hand.

According to one eyewitness identified as Anthony, only a single male occupant managed to escape before the building became completely inaccessible. The survivor reportedly told those at the scene that his wife and children remained trapped inside.

Preliminary reports indicate that at least three people — including a grandmother, her toddler grandchild, and another man — have been rescued from the rubble and taken to hospital. Several others are still feared trapped. The exact number of people affected, including any injuries or fatalities, has not been officially confirmed by authorities at the time of reporting.

The Executive Chairman of Ifo Local Government, Hon. Idris Kusimo, has arrived at the scene and is coordinating with residents and responders. Rescue operations involving locals and emergency personnel are ongoing.

Urgent Appeal
An urgent call has gone out to the Ogun State Government, Ogun State Emergency Management Agency, relevant state fire and rescue services, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and all other emergency responders to immediately mobilise fully equipped teams to the location to rescue those still trapped beneath the debris.

Further updates will follow as official information becomes available. Residents in the area are advised to stay clear of the site to allow unhindered access for rescue teams.

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TCN Foils Theft Attempt, Recovers Tower Members at Bauchi Substation

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The Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, foiled an attempted theft at its 330/132kV transmission substation in Bauchi on Friday, July 24, 2026, at about 9:34pm.

Security personnel at the substation intercepted suspected vandals attempting to remove critical tower members. The suspects fled the scene on sighting the guards.

An inspection of the area led to the recovery of 12 transmission tower angle irons, one heavy-duty metal measuring scale, and a white pickup truck believed to have been used for the operation.

The recovered items and the vehicle have been handed over to the Railway Division Police Station, Bauchi, for further investigation.

No equipment was carted away and no injuries were recorded during the incident.

TCN commends the prompt response of its security team, whose vigilance prevented the theft of or damage to critical transmission infrastructure.

TCN reiterates the need for host communities to report suspicious activities around power installations to security agencies or the nearest TCN office.

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