Ministry says animals fitted with sensors by foreign agencies collect sensitive sea data, in ‘invisible secret war’
China’s ministry of state security has claimed that foreign espionage and intelligence agencies are using innovative new methods to monitor the country’s waters, including deploying “spy” animals fitted with sensors.
In a post on the Chinese platform WeChat on Friday, the ministry warned that an “invisible secret war” was quietly playing out in the seas around China as foreign agencies were collecting sensitive data “through a variety of new spying devices” to produce underwater maps that pose a “serious threat to our national security”.
Continue reading...
© Photograph: Aman Rochman/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
© Photograph: Aman Rochman/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
© Photograph: Aman Rochman/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
More than 20,000 votes cast in Butterfly Conservation’s poll of 60 native species to find nation’s favourite for first time
The votes are in on Britain’s favourite butterfly, and it is one of the most ubiquitous yet spectacular backyard beauties that has flown to victory.
With its lavender, yellow and maroon eye spots and luscious rusty red and black colouration, the peacock butterfly is both beautiful and commonplace, flying throughout spring, summer and autumn in all corners of the British Isles.
Continue reading...
© Photograph: Mark Seal/Butterfly Conservation/PA
© Photograph: Mark Seal/Butterfly Conservation/PA
© Photograph: Mark Seal/Butterfly Conservation/PA
A luxury resort backed by the US president’s family may be built on a wildlife-rich nature reserve in one of Europe’s poorest nations
If the real estate dreams of a billionaire political family come true, an island in one of Europe’s poorest countries will become a luxury hotel complex, sweeping up stretches of the wildlife-rich nature reserve that sits across the water.
No public consultation has taken place, but there are signs the idea is on the way to becoming reality. Albania has been rocked by nearly two weeks of fierce protests after fences and heavy machinery came to a sensitive wetland and preparatory work began on the tourism vision of Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner.
Continue reading...
© Photograph: Fedja Grulovic/Reuters
© Photograph: Fedja Grulovic/Reuters
© Photograph: Fedja Grulovic/Reuters
Long-awaited course to examine human effects on natural world and explore everyday ways to aid biodiversity
School pupils will learn how to plant a wildflower-friendly garden, according to long-awaited plans announced on Thursday for a natural history GCSE in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Campaigners have for more than a decade called for the study of biodiversity loss and global heating to be introduced as a dedicated subject in classrooms across the country, but despite a curriculum being previously drawn up, its launch has faced repeated delays.
Continue reading...
© Photograph: enviromantic/Getty Images
© Photograph: enviromantic/Getty Images
© Photograph: enviromantic/Getty Images
WhatsApp founder Jan Koum’s superyacht, Moonrise, has been spotted off Mykonos, drawing attention to the waters around one of Greece’s busiest summer destinations.
The nearly 100-meter (328-ft) vessel belongs to Koum, the Ukrainian-born American billionaire who co-founded WhatsApp. Its presence off Mykonos adds to the island’s long record of attracting large private yachts during the summer season.
Moonrise was built by the Dutch shipyard Feadship and delivered in 2020. The yacht is among the largest vessels produced by the shipbuilder.
At the time of its launch, Feadship said Moonrise was the largest superyacht ever built in the Netherlands by waterline length. The vessel has a gray hull, long horizontal windows, a vertical bow, and a multi-deck exterior design.
Koum became one of the most renowned technology entrepreneurs after co-founding WhatsApp. Facebook, now Meta, acquired the messaging app in 2014 in a deal valued at about $19 billion to $22 billion, depending on the calculation.
Koum, now 50, remains among the wealthiest figures in the technology sector, with his fortune estimated at roughly $17 billion. Earlier yacht market estimates placed the value of Moonrise at around $220 million. More recently, Burgess listed the yacht for sale at €325 million ($380 million).
Moonrise can accommodate up to sixteen guests in eight cabins, while thirty-two crew members handle operations and service on board. The yacht includes a private owner’s deck, movie theater, gym, massage area, hair salon, sundeck, and outdoor guest areas. It also features a beach club, a swimming platform, tenders, water sports equipment, and a helipad.
Feadship designed the superyacht with a focus on reducing noise and vibration. Its engineers worked on the propeller, stabilizers, and anchoring system to limit sound and movement while the yacht operates or remains anchored.
Two MTU engines power the vessel. Moonrise reaches a top speed of 18.5 knots, while specialist yacht listings place its cruising speed at around 16 knots. Moonrise received international recognition in 2021, when it won at the BOAT International World Superyacht Awards in the category Displacement Motor Yachts 3,000GT and Above.
Environmental groups say exchange between US government and SpaceX would worsen ecological risks
Environmental groups on Wednesday sued in an attempt to stop the Trump administration from giving SpaceX more than 700 acres (280 hectares) of wildlife refuge in Texas, claiming it would worsen ecological risks to a Gulf coast region already transformed by billionaire Elon Musk’s rocket operations.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service this month approved moving forward with the deal with SpaceX, which would surrender 683 acres (276 hectares) the company owns in exchange for federal land in the Lower Rio Grande Valley national wildlife refuge. The 103,000-acre (41,700-hectare) refuge spans four counties along the Texas border and is home to animal habitats and historical landmarks.
Continue reading...
© Photograph: Eric Gay/AP
© Photograph: Eric Gay/AP
© Photograph: Eric Gay/AP
O Ministério do Turismo de Angola formalizou um acordo com a Visa para reforçar a rede de pagamentos internacionais no país, apostando em soluções digitais e convenientes enquanto promove a redução do numerário em circulação.
A tutela liderada por Márcio Daniel enquadra a parceria na estratégia de implementação da “Visit Angola – The Rhythm of Life”, marca central da agenda do Turismo angolano lançada em outubro do ano passado, tendo em vista desenvolver o mercado interno, melhorar a experiência dos visitantes nacionais e internacionais, capacitar os operadores turísticos e ampliar o acesso a soluções modernas, seguras e convenientes de pagamento
“A parceria tem como objetivo promover a aceitação de pagamentos com cartões Visa em canais físicos e digitais dos hotéis, restaurantes, agências de viagens, e outros operadores turísticos, bem como plataformas online e outros serviços associados à cadeia de valor do turismo”, explica o Ministério em comunicado.
Segundo Augusto Kalikemal, Secretário de Estado para o Turismo, a iniciativa “representa mais um passo” nos esforços do Ministério rumo a um setor “mais fácil de consumir, mais moderno na operação e mais alinhado com os padrões internacionais de conveniência e segurança”.
Do lado da Visa, Kátia Conceição, nomeada country manager da multinacional para Angola, Moçambique e Santa Helena em março, sublinhou o papel da empresa na introdução de “soluções inovadoras e ferramentas que contribuam para melhorar a experiência dos visitantes e apoiar o crescimento dos negócios locais”.
No âmbito do acordo, o Ministério e o novo parceiro tecnológico irão trabalhar em conjunto com instituições financeiras, adquirentes e prestadores de serviços de pagamento para apoiar a expansão dos pagamentos digitais no turismo, estando previstas ações de capacitação dos operadores do setor turístico na utilização de soluções digitais, aceitação de pagamentos electrónicos, educação financeira, segurança nas transações e melhoria da gestão das receitas.
O Memorando de Entendimento foi assinado o dia 9 de Junho, no Auditório Saidy Mingas do Museu da Moeda, em Luanda.
O acordo é concretizado um anos depois de o Governo de Angola ter tornado público que estava a estudar a integração de novos meios de pagamentos internacionais para turistas estrangeiros através de uma parceria com a Visa.
Conservationists say cherished creatures such as whales, dolphins and seabirds are being killed in large numbers by fishing tackle
Thousands of Britain’s most charismatic and protected marine wildlife, including whales, porpoises, dolphins, seals and seabirds are being killed as “collateral damage” by fishing vessels every year, according to the first-ever analysis of bycatch data.
The analysis, by the Wildlife and Countryside Link, a coalition of voluntary conservation groups, reveals the devastating toll bycatch, the accidental capture and killing of non-target species by fishing vessels, is having on marine species.
Continue reading...
© Photograph: Marco Kesseler/Alamy
© Photograph: Marco Kesseler/Alamy
© Photograph: Marco Kesseler/Alamy
Targeted vaccination and improved testing planned as part of drive to eradicate disease by 2038
Cattle will be vaccinated against tuberculosis from 2030 as a “gamechanging” part of a new strategy to drive eradication of the disease in England by 2038. In parallel, the last badger culls are expected to end by 2029, with vaccination of badgers expanded.
More than 20,000 infected cattle are slaughtered each year, costing taxpayers £100m and inflicting a heavy toll on affected farmers’ livelihoods and mental health. Mass culling of badgers began in 2013 and has killed about 250,000 animals, at a cost of about £60m.
Continue reading...
© Photograph: Artur Widak/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock
© Photograph: Artur Widak/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock
© Photograph: Artur Widak/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock
Researchers believe the same pair of birds has been mating and nesting in the unusual spot in the Daintree Rainforest for 15 consecutive years
Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast
It started by chance – but it should have come as no surprise that two ospreys would pick a hi-tech research facility to make their home.
James Cook University’s 47-metre tall crane towers over the far-north Queensland rainforest canopy, making it the perfect nesting place for the seabird.
Continue reading...
© Photograph: JCU Daintree Rainforest Observatory
© Photograph: JCU Daintree Rainforest Observatory
© Photograph: JCU Daintree Rainforest Observatory
Greece is a goldmine for souvenirs because the best things to bring home are deeply rooted in centuries of culinary, agricultural, and artistic traditions. Skipping the generic plastic keychains, here are the top 10 authentic souvenirs to bring back.
1. Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
Greece consumes more olive oil per capita than any other country, and its liquid gold is world-renowned. Look for oils from Crete, Kalamata, or Mani. For easier travel packing, skip the glass bottles and buy the tightly sealed tin canisters found in local supermarkets or specialty shops.
2. Greek Thyme Honey
Because Greek bees feed on wild herbs under intense sunshine, the honey here is thick, rich, and distinctly aromatic. Thyme honey (particularly from Crete or the Aegean islands) is considered the gold standard.
3. The Mati (Evil Eye) Amulet
The distinctive blue-and-white eye charm is designed to ward off bad energy or jealousy (to mati). You can find it on beautifully crafted silver jewelry, ceramic wall hangings, or simple glass beads. It’s light, cheap, and undeniably Greek.
4. Ouzo, Tsipouro, or Mastiha
Bring the taste of a Greek summer back home:
5. Dried Greek Oregano & Mountain Tea
Greek oregano (rigani) grows wild on rocky hillsides, giving it a much more intense, peppery flavor than supermarket varieties back home. Pair it with a bunch of Greek Mountain Tea (tsai tou vounou), a dried herb brewed for centuries to boost the immune system and soothe digestion.
6. Olive Wood Kitchenware
From salad bowls and cutting boards to honey dippers, items made from Greek olive wood are gorgeous and incredibly durable. The tight grain of the wood means it doesn’t absorb odors or bacteria easily, and each piece features entirely unique natural patterns.
7. Handmade Leather Sandals
If you pass through Athens (especially the Monastiraki neighborhood) or certain islands such as Crete and Rhodes, you can buy genuine, handmade leather sandals. They are styled according to Ancient Greek designs, crafted to last for years, and mold comfortably to your feet over time.
8. Greek Ceramics & Pottery
From museum-quality replicas of ancient black-and-figure vases to modern, minimalist, blue-and-white tableware handmade on islands such as Sifnos, Greek pottery is a beautiful addition to any home.
9. Natural Sea Sponges
Harvested for generations by traditional divers (most famously on the island of Kalymnos), genuine Greek sea sponges are entirely natural, hypoallergenic, and far softer and longer-lasting than synthetic alternatives. They are fantastic for skincare and bathing.
10. Spoon Sweets (Glyka tou Koutaliou)
These are traditional fruit preserves served on a small spoon alongside Greek coffee or dolloped over Greek yogurt. They are made by boiling wild fruits (like sour cherries, figs, or bitter oranges) in sugar syrup, preserving the firm texture and vibrant flavor of the fruit.
10+1. The Komboloi
The Komboloi, or worry beads, may be one of the most typical symbols of Greece’s easy-going mentality that has been widely established in Greece since the middle of the 20th century. Whether on the street, on an airplane, or in a busy kafeneion downtown, you will find people playing with their worry beads in various manners, even doing flips and tricks with them, letting go of their stress and worries as one bead moves deliberately towards the other. The repetitive action and clicking of the beads turn this pastime into an easy motion reported to help ease tension.
Packer’s Tip: If you’re traveling with carry-on luggage only, you won’t be able to take liquid souvenirs such as honey, olive oil, or alcohol past airport security. Buy these items at the airport duty-free shops after security—the quality is still highly authentic, and the prices are surprisingly fair!
La Coppa del Mondo 2026 attraverserà Canada, Messico e Stati Uniti con sedici impianti diversi. Si parte dall’Azteca di Città del Messico, stadio di Pelé e Maradona, e si chiude al MetLife Stadium nel New Jersey, dove sarà assegnato il titolo.
Il Mondiale 2026 avrà sedici stadi e tre Paesi ospitanti. La Coppa del Mondo, in programma dall’11 giugno al 19 luglio tra Canada, Messico e Stati Uniti, userà il numero più alto di impianti dai tempi di Corea-Giappone 2002, quando gli stadi furono venti.
La partenza sarà in uno dei luoghi simbolo del calcio mondiale. L’Azteca di Città del Messico, inaugurato nel 1966, ospiterà la gara inaugurale tra Messico e Sudafrica. È lo stadio di Pelé e Maradona, delle immagini entrate nella memoria collettiva, e nel 2026 diventerà il primo impianto della storia ad accogliere partite di tre diverse edizioni della Coppa del Mondo. Nel suo calendario ci saranno tre gare della fase a gironi, un sedicesimo e un ottavo di finale.
La finale si giocherà invece nel MetLife Stadium, casa dei New York Giants e dei New York Jets. Per Leo Messi non è un luogo qualunque: lì perse la finale della Copa America Centenario 2016 contro il Cile, dopo i calci di rigore. A Miami, nell’Hard Rock Stadium, sono previste la finale per il terzo posto e una partita dei quarti di finale.
Il programma tiene insieme stadi storici, impianti da football americano e arene di nuova generazione. Lo stadio Akron di Guadalajara è tra i più riconoscibili per la sua struttura su terreno rialzato. Il primato di capienza spetta all’AT&T Stadium di Arlington, con 94.000 posti, già sede del Super Bowl XLV e destinato a ospitare una semifinale.
A Boston, il Gillette Stadium può contare sul più grande tabellone ad alta definizione degli Stati Uniti. A Kansas City, l’Arrowhead Stadium porta in dote un primato diverso: è certificato dal Guinness dei Primati come l’impianto sportivo all’aperto più rumoroso al mondo. Nel suo calendario ci sono quattro partite della fase a gironi, un sedicesimo e un quarto di finale.
Tra gli stadi più moderni c’è il Mercedes-Benz Stadium di Atlanta, indicato come uno degli impianti più sostenibili al mondo. Ha un tetto retrattile, un display video a 360 gradi e ospiterà una delle semifinali.
La mappa si completa con il BMO Field di Toronto, il BC Place di Vancouver, l’Estadio BBVA di Monterrey, l’NRG Stadium di Houston, il SoFi Stadium di Los Angeles, il Lincoln Financial Field di Philadelphia, il Levi’s Stadium di San Francisco e il Lumen Field di Seattle.
Nel lungo elenco manca il Rose Bowl di Pasadena, teatro della finale del Mondiale 1994 persa dall’Italia contro il Brasile ai rigori. Un assente di lusso, come gli azzurri.
L'articolo Mondiali 2026, il giro del mondo in sedici stadi. Dall’Azteca della “Mano de Dios” di Maradona alla finale al MetLife nel New Jersey proviene da Affaritaliani.it.
Annual killing of infant gannets has been carried out on a remote Scottish island for at least 400 years
Animal welfare campaigners have called for talks on phasing out the “inhumane” hunt for infant gannets known as guga, which are killed by hunters on a remote Scottish island once a year.
OneKind and the League Against Cruel Sports said it should be slowly phased out in dialogue with the Hebridean islanders who see the hunt, which has been carried out for at least 400 years, as a cultural pursuit and as sustainable food harvesting.
Continue reading...
© Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian
© Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian
© Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian
Wildlife department says drought conditions and water released from dam led to ‘major fish kill’ at San Carlos Lake
Arizona officials have indefinitely closed a popular lake to visitors after its entire population of fish died recently.
The recreation and wildlife department that maintains San Carlos Lake said in a Facebook statement on Friday that drought conditions as well as water released from a dam there “resulted in a major fish kill affecting approximately 100% of the fish population”.
Continue reading...
© Photograph: San Carlos Recreation and Wildlife Department
© Photograph: San Carlos Recreation and Wildlife Department
© Photograph: San Carlos Recreation and Wildlife Department
Record numbers linked to warming waters is mixed news for fishers, with shellfish catches down but octopus catches booming
Record numbers of octopuses found off the south-west coast of England last year have now spread as far as Scotland and Wales and are transforming the fishing industry and the marine ecosystem, according to a study.
The surge in sightings of one of the world’s most intelligent invertebrates was first recorded in 2025 off the south coast of Devon and Cornwall.
Continue reading...
© Photograph: Kirsty Andrews
© Photograph: Kirsty Andrews
© Photograph: Kirsty Andrews
On the remote island of Kastellorizo, the Near & Far Festival, the world’s only cultural event dedicated entirely to the Greek diaspora, returns for its second edition from June 25 to 28, 2026, transforming this historic island into a vibrant crossroads of cultures, people, and experiences.
Spanning four days, this multi-themed festival bridges the “Near” and the “Far,” connecting Greece with its global diaspora, the local community with international audiences, and art with society. The festival is the brainchild of Pericles Kanaris, a New York-based artist with an acclaimed international career. Driven by his vision to create a platform for Greek artists excelling worldwide, Kanaris has turned this ambitious concept into a reality.
Following its spectacular 2025 debut, which local authorities recorded as the highest-attended cultural event in Kastellorizo’s history, the festival returns even stronger, boasting a distinct identity and an expanded program.
Last year’s inaugural event was defined by the exceptional caliber of its performers, the blending of diverse musical traditions, and, most movingly, the active participation of the island’s children—a beautiful legacy that continues this year. Furthermore, a global radio broadcast via ERT’s “Voice of Greece” shattered geographical boundaries, amplifying the festival’s international reach.
In 2026, Near & Far is aiming even higher. This year, the festival aspires to livestream the entire Kastellorizo experience via real-time video to global audiences, forging new bonds with the Greek diaspora and international communities. The event proudly continues its collaboration with the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy).
Thursday, June 25 | 21:00 Bridges — ERINI “Fos: An Asia Minor Story”
ERINI, based in the United States with roots from Crete and Asia Minor, presents a musical journey blending traditions and contemporary influences, in collaboration with musicians from Greece.
Friday, June 26 | 21:00 Far Voices — Mario’s Toumbas Jazz Trio “East of the Sun”
Pianist Mario Toumbas and his trio present original compositions and jazz standards in an evening that resonates with the global sound of jazz.
Saturday, June 27 | 21:00 Together — Pericles Kanaris Quartet featuring Andriana Babali, George Karavelatzis & Kastellorizo Kids
Original compositions and arrangements by Pericles Kanaris in a special collaboration with the island’s children. Joining them are beloved singer Andriana Babali and oud player George Karavelatzis, a specialist in the local musical tradition of Kastellorizo.
Sunday, June 28 | 21:00 Near Roots — Costa Latsos “Pappou’s Grammophone”
Tenor Costa Latso, born in Australia to Kastellorizian parents and based in Berlin, presents a program moving between opera, Broadway, and crossover, accompanied by accordionist Thanos Stavridis.
The Near & Far 2026 festival expands beyond concerts, incorporating educational, experiential, and participatory activities for all ages.
Educational & Creative Workshops (Children)
Visual arts workshop with Heike Kummer (June 25, 11:00–13:00)
Music workshop with Mario Toumbas (June 26, 13:30–15:00)
Meditation and sound healing sessions for adults (June 27 & 28, 11:00–13:00)
Talk by Alexandros Kitroeff on the Greek Diaspora (June 27, 20:00–21:00)
Near & Far is more than just a festival. It is an open platform for connection, where art becomes a catalyst for bringing people, places, and generations together. A space where Kastellorizo is not on the edge, but at the center of a global cultural dialogue.
With the participation of artists from Greece and the diaspora, and with the active involvement of the local community, Near & Far continues to build a new cultural tradition—vibrant, participatory, and outward-looking.
Login