Wall’s has crafted a major new partnership with Minecraft, the world’s best-selling video game, with the launch of a co-branded ice cream product set to excite fans and deliver real impact in-store, available exclusively at Morrisons.
The new Wall’s x Minecraft ice cream stick reflects a shared spirit of creativity and play between the two brands. It signals a new era of fast, culturally relevant innovation from Unilever Ice Cream, soon to be known as The Magnum Ice Cream Company following the separation of the division later this year.
The launch is a powerful demonstration of the business’ focus on agility and growth through licensing partnerships and emotional brand connection. The idea was developed in response to Minecraft’s surging cultural relevance and took just four months from concept to shelf.
Leyal Eskin Yilmaz, chief marketing officer for Europe, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand and head of global brands Wall’s, Cornetto and Twister at The Magnum Ice Cream Company, “This collaboration is a brilliant example of how the new The Magnum Ice Cream Company can respond quickly to culture, drive relevance and build brand excitement. Minecraft’s global popularity made this a natural fit, and we’re proud to have brought the idea to market at speed and scale.”
Minecraft has become a global cultural force, with over 300 million copies sold and a player base whose average age is 24. Following the record-breaking Minecraft movie launch, which earned over $300 million globally in its opening week, and its weekly active users increased by more than 75% year-over-year the subsequent four weeks, making this moment perfect for a retail-facing activation.
The 75ml ice cream stick is inspired by Minecraft’s iconic mining mechanic. It delivers a layered visual and sensory experience: a green vanilla top layer representing grass blocks, a cocoa middle layer as mud, and a vanilla base with bright blue crunchy inclusions that mimic the game’s hidden gems. At just 73 calories per stick, the product has been crafted to appeal to anyone who loves a sweet treat.
From 1st July, the product will be available exclusively in Morrisons, supported by in-store POS, front-of-store activation, and feature space visibility. The ice cream will also be rolling out across The Netherlands, Italy, Poland and Spain later this year.
Mike Kenny, ice cream buying manager from Morrisons said, “We are excited to be the exclusive UK retailer for this great piece of innovation from Wall’s and Minecraft. It is a great example of how strong licensing and cultural relevance can drive excitement in the category. We expect this product to resonate well with families and younger customers, and it is supported by an engaging activation plan that will bring excitement to our freezers this summer.”
Licensing remains a key growth lever for the new company, enabling it to bring fresh energy and relevance to the category while tapping into fandoms with built-in engagement. By working with beloved, culturally active IP like Minecraft – where videos related to the game have been viewed more than 1.5 trillion times on YouTube – Wall’s is creating the must-try ice cream of the year.
The activation is supported by a TikTok-first influencer campaign, designed to drive natural engagement and desirability across social channels, speaking to Minecraft fans in their own language and sparking conversation around the product, the game and the film, with plans to further expand the campaign in the future.
This is a bold new step for Wall’s, and a clear path for The Magnum Ice Cream Company’s ambition to lead culture with speed, relevance and impact.
The ice cream will come in four-pack multipacks available at Morrisons with a RRP of £3.00.
Narrated by Welsh actor Richard Harrington (The One That Got Away, Hinterland), the nine-part podcast Making of a Fugitive follows the stories of international fugitives who go to great lengths to try and stay hidden from the authorities. We’ll hear stories of stolen identities, drastic plastic surgery and hair transplants, and the families who get left behind.
The podcast starts with Martin Evans, a small town conman turned international fraudster and drug dealer who has been in and out of the headlines for nearly 30 years, named by police as one of the UK’s “most wanted” in 2012. Evans – aka the ostrich man – swindled investors out of almost a million pounds in an ostrich farm fraud in south Wales before going on to run an international drugs and money laundering operation. He fled from justice and even prison for five years until finally being captured.
From one most wanted list to another, American conman Matt Cox came face to face with his own most wanted poster in a police station before making one of his many getaways. Cox evaded capture for almost a decade, committing bank fraud, identity theft and passport fraud, topping the FBI’s most wanted list in the early 2000s. Describing his time on the run as “awesome”, self-proclaimed narcissist Matt Cox provides a first-hand account of his story, giving a unique insight into the extraordinary lengths he went to in order to stay one step ahead of the FBI.
Cox said: “I became infamous by committing bank fraud, I stole identities and created synthetic identities in order to borrow money from dozens of US banks. Ultimately the FBI came to arrest me and I went on the run. What I decided to do was start a much larger scam, I convinced the social security administration in the US to start issuing me social security numbers to children who don’t exist. I would then order credit cards and build a false credit profile in those names. I think the amount ended up at $11.5 million.”
And we discover what led to a businessman, Mohammed Ali Ege, becoming an international fugitive following the mistaken identity murder of a teenager in Cardiff 15 years ago. In an exclusive new interview, the podcast speaks to the family of murdered Aamir Siddiqi, who are still waiting for Wales’ most wanted man to be brought to justice.
Across nine episodes, Making of a Fugitive hears from the people involved and asks what happens when a fugitive is finally cornered? Are they sorry for what they’ve done, or just for getting caught?
Series writer and producer for BBC Cymru Wales, Jayne Morgan, said: “We thought we knew these stories having worked on them over the years but this podcast gives new insights and reveals the extraordinary lengths some go to in order to stay hidden.”
Making of a Fugitive is a BBC Cymru Wales production for BBC Sounds. The first two episodes are available now, with the remaining seven episodes launching weekly.
Led by Robin Wordsworth, the Gordon McKay Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering and Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences in the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), the team demonstrated that they can grow green algae inside shelters made out of bioplastics in Mars-like conditions.
“If you have a habitat that is composed of bioplastic, and it grows algae within it, that algae could produce more bioplastic,” Wordsworth said in a statement. “So you start to have a closed-loop system that can sustain itself and even grow through time.”
The research is published in Science Advances.
Algae and Bioplastics: A Blueprint for Mars Habitats
In lab experiments that recreated the thin atmosphere of Mars, Wordsworth’s team grew Dunaliella tertiolecta, a common type of green algae. The algae is said to have thrived inside a 3D-printed growth chamber made from polylactic acid, a biodegradable and bio-based thermoplastic polyester that blocked UV radiation while transmitting enough light to allow the algae to photosynthesise.
The algae was kept under a Mars-like 600 Pascals of atmospheric pressure and in a carbon dioxide-rich environment. Liquid water cannot exist at such low pressures, but the bioplastic chamber created a pressure gradient that stabilised water within it.
Lunar and Deep-Space Applications on the Horizon
Wordsworth’s team previously demonstrated a type of local Martian terraforming using sheets of silica aerogels that mimic the Earth’s greenhouse warming effect to allow for biological growth. A combination of the algae experiments with the aerogels would solve both temperature and pressure issues for supporting plant and algae growth, Wordsworth said, and could open a clearer path toward extraterrestrial existence.
Next, Wordsworth said the researchers want to demonstrate that their habitats also work in vacuum conditions, which would be relevant for lunar or deep-space applications. His team also has plans to design a working closed-loop system for habitat production.
“The concept of biomaterial habitats is fundamentally interesting and can support humans living in space,” said Wordsworth. “As this type of technology develops, it’s going to have spinoff benefits for sustainability technology here on Earth as well.”
The duo will represent the team behind the wheel of the Maserati Tipo Folgore in the one-day test that immediately follows the double-header Berlin race weekend, 12 & 13 July. Berlin marks the penultimate race weekend of the season ahead of the double-header finale in London later in the month.
French 2023 Formula 2 Champion Pourchaire previously impressed during the FP0 session in Jeddah and now returns to the Maserati MSG Racing fold with further opportunity to demonstrate his skill and gain experience behind the wheel of the GEN3 Evo.
WATCH: Follow all the action from Berlin live
“I’m really excited to be back with Maserati MSG Racing for the Rookie Test in Berlin,” said Pourchaire. “Driving the GEN3 Evo in Diriyah was an incredible experience, and I learned a lot from the team. Formula E is such a unique and challenging championship, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to get more seat time and continue learning in this environment.”
Monégasque native Leclerc, meanwhile, rejoins the team with strong historic ties, having been part of the family during the team’s time as Venturi Racing. Leclerc originally joined the team as a Development Driver in 2017, progressing to Test and Reserve Driver roles for the 2019-2020 season. He also participated in the Rookie Test in Marrakesh in 2019.
“It feels good to be back in Formula E, especially with my home team,” says Leclerc. “It will be the first time that I will drive the Gen3 Evo so I am looking forward to seeing the evolution compared to the previous generation that I tested a few years ago. I want to give a big thank you to Maserati MSG Racing for the opportunity and I can’t wait to start working with the team in Berlin!”
Their selection reflects Maserati MSG Racing’s ongoing commitment to nurturing talent, reinforcing the team’s vision for future competitiveness. As a former Formula E rookie, current Maserati MSG Racing driver, Jake Hughes is proof that these opportunities have a genuine role to play in promoting the next generation of racing drivers.
This season, Maserati MSG Racing has demonstrated front-running pace, with Hughes securing the third spot on the podium in Saudi Arabia and teammate Stoffel Vandoorne claiming a memorable victory in Tokyo.
“We’re delighted to welcome both Théo and Arthur back to the team for the Berlin Rookie Test,” addsCyril Blais, Team Principal, Maserati MSG Racing.
“Théo made a strong impression during the FP0 session in Diriyah, and Arthur’s past involvement with the team during our time as Venturi Racing gives him a great foundation to build on.
Rookie tests are a vital part of Formula E – not just for showcasing the next wave of talent, but also for gathering valuable data to support our development ahead of the season finale in London. We’re looking forward to seeing what both drivers can deliver.”
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Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday stressed the crucial role of religious scholars in ensuring peace during the month of Muharram.
Stringent security measures are being taken across the country, such as army deployment as well as a crackdown on sectarian content and hate mongers, ahead of Ashura (Muharram 10), which will be observed on Sunday.
“It is not enough how much we thank you for your role — the heads and ulema of all sects — in Muharram, as everyone has a role in this,” Naqvi said as he met with scholars from various schools of thought in Islamabad.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry and Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad, chairman of the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee, were also present during the meeting.
Naqvi highlighted that the efforts of law enforcement agencies during Muharram were as important as those of religious scholars, according to a post on X by the interior ministry.
The minister noted that the ulema remained in “constant communication” with the administration during Muharram and “solved minor disputes”.
He requested Maulana Azad, as well as other scholars, to collectively offer Zuhr prayers at Islamabad’s Faisal Mosque on August 14. “This will give a message to the whole world that we are all united, and there is no better day than the 14th of August.”
Chaudhry also credited religious scholars for dealing with terrorism, sectarianism, and maintaining peace during the month of Muharram.
On his part, Maulana Azad affirmed that they all were united for the country’s security.
For Muharram, Islamabad police have identified 13 points as potential trouble spots, banned the entry of 17 “firebrand” ulema and increased intelligence operations.
While the Punjab government has imposed certain restrictions under Section 144 across the province till Sunday, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration has limited it to sensitive districts. In Karachi, over 20,000 officers and personnel have been deployed till Ashura.
Speaking about the uptick in terrorism in KP, Naqvi called on the ulema to engage with religious scholars in the province, offering his cooperation in the matter.
“This terrorism will only end on the condition that the locals there do not help them,” he said.
The interior minister’s remarks come just a day after an assistant commissioner and four others were martyred, while policemen were among 17 others injured as an official vehicle was targeted in Bajaur’s Sadiqabad area.
During the meeting, Naqvi also highlighted the role of the armed forces in the recent Iran-Israel ceasefire, saying Pakistan should be proud of “convincing world leaders” and of playing its role as a Muslim country.
Last month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif noted that Iran openly thanked the people of Pakistan, its political parties, military, and political leadership for their role in ensuring the ceasefire between the two countries.
That dream demanded even more when she moved clubs to play in England for Reading, travelling a 300-mile round trip from Swansea three times a week after a full day’s work.
The sacrifices paid off when Reading won promotion to the top-tier Women’s Super League (WSL) in 2015 and offered her a life-changing professional deal.
Ten years on, the 32-year-old Southampton forward is set to play a pivotal role for Wales at their first major tournament. Her emotional arrival in Switzerland, seeing the team bus decked with Euro branding, brought tears she fought hard to hold back.
“It hasn’t been easy,” Rowe says. “But I carry all those experiences with me.”
Wales face the Netherlands in their opening Group D game on Saturday, 5 July, 2025 in Lucerne.
It is our understanding Arsenal came into the summer with two primary striker targets – RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres.
Well, there was a third – but the chances of securing Alexander Isak from Newcastle were deemed largely unrealistic.
A move for Slovenia international Sesko has substantial backing from key figures at the Emirates – including Arteta.
BBC Sport has learned the player’s agent, Elvis Basanovic, was invited to Arsenal’s final home game of the season against Newcastle as a guest of the club.
But a deal to sign Sesko has proved difficult. Sources have indicated there is still no agreement between the 22-year-old and Arsenal, let alone the two clubs.
Of course, a breakthrough could come at any moment – but the suggestion is that striking a deal for Sesko has proved significantly harder than expected.
Part of that may be down to changes towards the top of the club in recent months.
With the Gunners’ interest in Sesko well established, Basanovic is understood to have developed a strong relationship with former sporting directors Edu and Jason Ayto.
But with both gone and Berta leading the negotiations, those nurtured relationships are no longer relevant.
And there have been indications in recent days that Arsenal have focused attention on other targets.
The impasse with Sesko could, of course, be a strategic ploy from the Gunners to see if he will accept what to them would be more favourable terms.
Either way, Arsenal are understood to have made headway with a potential move for Gyokeres in recent days.
Significantly, the signing of the Sweden international is understood to have Berta’s backing.
Gyokeres was not a strong target for Arsenal prior to Berta’s arrival earlier this year, but he believes the 27-year-old could make an instant impact.
And the striker, who is at odds with Sporting over his valuation, is understood to be very keen to join Arsenal.
Should Arsenal sign Sesko or Gyokeres, it is likely to cost them in excess of £70m.
Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins, who Arsenal tried to sign in January, would be a cheaper option – allowing them to spend more elsewhere.
The 29-year-old is open to joining Arsenal – the club he supported as a boy – and it is understood that he and Gyokeres are the two players they have explored moves for in recent days.
A video about re-enacting a Stone Age voyage from Taiwan to the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan, provided by the University of Tokyo.
Scientists re-enacted a 30,000-year-old sea voyage from Taiwan to southern Japan using a dugout canoe made with replica Stone Age tools.
The canoe crew paddled 140 miles in 45 hours, crossing a strong ocean current, navigating by the sun, stars and ocean swells.
Numerical simulations of the journey showed ancient seafarers likely had a deep knowledge of ocean conditions and effective travel strategies.
Stone Age seafarers braved rough waters from Taiwan to Japan
About 30,000 years ago, ancient seafarers traveled from Taiwan to the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan. They navigated through rough conditions with no landmarks or maps and had to cross one of the most powerful ocean currents in the world. Indeed, they could only rely on the sun, stars, ocean swells and their instincts to find their bearings. On June 26, 2025, scientists from Taiwan and Japan said they re-enacted that ancient voyage using a canoe made from replica tools of the period. In addition, they also used numerical simulations to study different scenarios for successfully undertaking such a challenging journey.
Yousuke Kaifu of the University of Tokyo led the studies. He said:
We initiated this project with simple questions: How did Paleolithic [Stone Age] people arrive at such remote islands as Okinawa? How difficult was their journey? And what tools and strategies did they use?
Archaeological evidence, such as remains and artifacts, can’t paint a full picture because the nature of the sea is that it washes such things away. So, we turned to the idea of experimental archaeology, in a similar vein to the Kon-Tiki expedition of 1947 by Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl.
The researchers published two papers about their findings in the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances on June 25, 2025. One paper described a re-enactment of the Paleolithic voyage. Another paper detailed numerical simulations to identify conditions needed for a successful voyage.
The crew of the dugout canoe, a few hours after leaving Taiwan for Yonaguni Island in southern Japan. They were re-enacting a journey by Stone Age seafarers, from 30,000 years ago. Image via Yousuke Kaifu/ University of Tokyo.
Humans settled in southern Japan about 30,000 years ago
Modern humans first appeared in southern Japan, specifically the Ryukyu islands, about 35,000 to 30,000 years ago. They were early seafarers, likely traveling from Taiwan. To make that journey, they had to cross a formidable barrier, the Kuroshio, one of the most powerful ocean currents in the world.
There was an additional challenge, however. The southern Ryukyu Islands are small and low. Therefore, they are not visible from Taiwan and could not be used as navigational landmarks.
This map shows Taiwan and the Ryuku Islands of southern Japan. The blue ribbon is the Kuroshio Current. The circles and dates indicate when humans settled those islands. At lower left is Wushibi in Taiwan and Yonaguni Island. Those are the departure and arrival locations of the canoe re-enactment. Image via Kaifu, Y., et. al/ Science Advances. (CC BY-NC 4.0).
What vessels did Stone Age seafarers use?
There are no remains of the vessels used 30,000 years ago. Therefore, scientists tested some likely candidates: reed-bundled rafts and bamboo rafts. However, those rafts, despite being well-designed and carefully constructed, could not withstand the rough waters of the Kuroshio Current. The researchers also ruled out a sailing vessel because sails appeared much later in history, about 5,000 years ago in Egypt.
Next, they tried dugout canoes, built from Japanese cedar trunks and carved using replica Paleolithic stone tools. To be sure, after some testing, the researchers came up with a canoe that could withstand the rough waters of the Kuroshio Current.
One of the researchers cuts down a Japanese cedar tree that will be used to create a dugout canoe. He is using a replica Paleolithic axe. Image via Yousuke Kaifu/ University of Tokyo.
Re-enacting an ancient voyage from 30,000 years ago
On July 7, 2019, five highly skilled canoe paddlers set out in a 25-foot dugout canoe from Wushibi in eastern Taiwan. They had no modern navigation aids, such as a GPS or compass. Instead, they depended on the sun, stars and swells to navigate in the open ocean. (For safety, they were monitored by a boat that also provided some food and water.)
Their destination was the small island of Yonaguni, a part of Japan’s Ryukyu Island group. The crew paddled 140 miles (225 km) from their starting point in Wushibi, Taiwan, to Yonaguni.
Later, about two hours into the trip, the water became choppy as they entered the Kuroshio Current. The crew had to constantly watch for large waves, because they had to steer directly toward them, to ride the waves and keep water from inundating the vessel. The crew exited the main Kuroshio Current about 17 hours after leaving Taiwan.
This photo shows the canoe and its crew about 4 hours after leaving Taiwan. Here, they are in the Kuroshio Current, surrounded by choppy surface ocean waters. Image via Yousuke Kaifu/ University of Tokyo.
At night, when the sky was clear, the crew used the stars to find their bearings. Likewise, in the morning and evening, they used the sun to navigate. A detailed timeline of their grueling journey is available in the paper about the expedition.
In all, they spent 45 hours paddling to Yonaguni Island, arriving there on July 9, 2019.
About 40 hours after leaving Taiwan, Yonaguni Island appears in the distance, about 12 miles (19 km) away. Image via Yousuke Kaifu/ University of Tokyo.
Numerical simulations reconstruct possible ancient voyages
The 2019 re-enactment was a one-time experiment under specific weather and ocean conditions. It’s not sufficient, however, to understand how Stone Age seafarers traveled from Taiwan to the Ryukyu Islands.
So, what circumstances allowed them to successfully complete their journey? The researchers used numerical simulations to explore various travel scenarios. Likewise, they tested different seasons, departure locations and paddling strategies using modern and Paleolithic ocean conditions.
Ultimately, the simulations revealed that these ancient humans had a deep knowledge of seafaring strategy. For instance, they might have departed from northern Taiwan because it provided the best chances for completing their journey. They also knew about the Kuroshio Current, perhaps from fishing expeditions. Therefore, they paddled slightly southeast in their canoes to counteract the powerful northward current.
A one-way journey
In addition, simulations showed that once they entered the powerful northward Kuroshio Current, they could not paddle back to Taiwan.
Kaifu remarked:
We now know that these canoes are fast and durable enough to make the crossing, but that’s only half the story. Those male and female pioneers must have all been experienced paddlers with effective strategies and a strong will to explore the unknown. We do not think a return journey was possible. If you have a map and know the flow pattern of the Kuroshio, you can plan a return journey, but such things probably did not take place until much later in history.
Bottom line: Scientists re-enacted a Stone Age voyage from Taiwan to the Ryuku Islands of southern Japan using a canoe made from replica tools of that period. In addition, they also ran numerical simulations to study the conditions for successfully completing the journey.
Source: Traversing the Kuroshio: Paleolithic migration across one of the world’s strongest ocean currents
Source: Palaeolithic seafaring in East Asia: an experimental test of the dugout canoe hypothesis
Via University of Tokyo
Watch: SUGIME – Documentary film of the “Holistic reenactment project of voyages 30,000 years ago” (in Japanese with English subtitles)
Read more: Prehistoric cave art suggests ancient use of complex astronomy
