6 d. ago ‘The ocean is spitting our rubbish back’: Italy’s museum of plastic pollution

Faded items dating back to 1950s have been found on Italian beaches, underscoring plastic’s problematic longevityEnzo Suma, a naturalist guide, has always picked up rubbish during his walks along Carovigno beach, a stretch of coastline lapped by clear blue waters close to his home in Salento, an area of Puglia in the heel of Italy’s boot.During one walk, Suma, 44, spotted a washed-up bottle of Ambre Solaire sunscreen. He was about to throw it away when he noticed something unusual: the price printed on the bottle was in lire, meaning it must have been produced before the euro replaced the lira in Italy. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Tranquil beach is like a 'Caribbean paradise' with white sands and blue waters

This secluded beach in the Cíes archipelago is often likened to the Caribbean because of its white sands, but its cooling Atlantic waters and lush forests are ideal to beat the heat

Events

7 d. ago ‘Who needs the scorching Med?’ Readers’ tips for cooler European coastal holidays

From the deserted Danish Riviera to the unspoilt beaches of Poland, our readers share their favourite, more chilled European coastlines• Tell us about your favourite rail holiday – the best tip wins a £200 holiday voucherSpend some time on Rügen, Germany’s largest island, on its Baltic coast. White sandy beaches and darker history await. Visit Lauterbach, by the sea. From there, catch the coastal ferry to the tiny fishing village of Baabe, a near three-mile (5km) walk/cycle through rolling countryside and catch the “Raging Roland” steam train back again. Not far away, you can walk the cliffs that inspired Caspar David Friedrich. For a very different day, visit Prora and its massive beachside concrete apartment blocks, originally planned as a Nazi holiday complex, before becoming a Soviet army barracks, and now a part ruin, part reunification commercial and residential redevelopment.Richard Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Still throwing shrimp on the barbie: Tourism Australia’s advertising is stuck in a 1980s time warp | Anita Manfreda and Simon Pawson

Our tourism ads return again and again to familiar themes: white sandy beaches, red desert landscapes, barbecues and blokey humour. It’s time for deeper, more inclusive storytellingGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailTourism Australia has just launched its latest global A$130m campaign, “Come and Say G’day”. It’s a sequel to the 2022 ad featuring brand ambassador Ruby the Roo.The ad is a feast of sweeping drone shots, saturated colours, iconic landmarks and feel-good energy. Friendly animals, iconic landscapes and a familiar message: come and say g’day. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Best beach in the world with 'whitest sand' is 'paradise' for travellers

It has been named the best beach in the world for those looking to enjoy the warm weather and relax on the white sands, according to a new study

Events

1 week ago Deserted Scottish beach that looks like Caribbean paradise is a superb hidden gem

Achmelvich Bay's beautiful little-known beach is tucked away on the northwest coast of Scotland - and it's a hidden gem for those in the know who say it could be in the Caribbean

Politics

1 week ago White sandy beach in Scotland so 'stunning' it'll save you a plane trip to Australia

A UK beach has been likened to a beach in Australia, with its crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches, meaning you won't have to travel far to see something spectacular.

Events

2 w. ago Helen Goh’s recipe for black forest crepe cake | The sweet spot

A fridge cake with layer upon layer of chocolate crepes sandwiching smooth white chocolate cream and cherry jamThis is a take on the classic black forest gateau, with layers of delicate chocolate crepes, silky white chocolate cream and sour cherry jam. (Use a good-quality store-bought jam if making your own is a step too far.) All the components can be made ahead of time, ready to be assembled, but be aware that the finished cake needs to be refrigerated for at least three hours, and preferably overnight. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Gorgeous Welsh 'smuggler's beach' with white sands is a 'hidden paradise'

Slade Bay in South West Wales is a sandy beach that is so hidden it was used by smugglers - but nowadays it's a haven away from the crowds for tourists, and it's dog-friendly

Events

3 w. ago I found a seaside oasis just 1 hour away from 'world's most liveable city'

Discovering a tranquil beach town without masses of tourists felt like stumbling across a true hidden gem.

Politics

3 w. ago Stunning hidden gem Scottish beach 'some of best wildlife on the planet'

The lesser-known beach gem in the UK has white sandy shores and sparkling turquoise sea - and is a haven for nature lovers with eagles and otters and other wildlife

Politics

4 w. ago British islands where royals holiday with crystal clear seas and white sands

The Isles of Scilly are just 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall and have some of the warmest weather in the UK. There are five main islands and hundreds of beaches to explore

Events

4 w. ago Scottish beach 'just like Caribbean' with crystal clear waters and white sands

Hushinish Beach in the Outer Hebrides is the UK's hidden gem of a Caribbean beach - it boasts clear turquoise water and white sands, but do not be fooled by the scorching hot appearance

Events

4 w. ago Marco Pierre White says you're making bacon sandwiches 'wrong' as ingredient is 'missing'

TV chef Marco Pierre White has shared a simple trick to making the "perfect" bacon sandwich, and it's all down to one simple ingredient that many people have in their cupboards

Events

4 w. ago Inside Elon Musk’s plan to rain SpaceX’s rocket debris over Hawaii’s pristine waters

Texas has long been under threat from the launches and explosions of SpaceX rockets. Now Hawaii is emerging as another possible victimThe north-west Hawaiian island of Mokumanamana is said to be touched by the gods. Bisected by the Tropic of Cancer latitude line, it is deep in the Pacific Ocean, about 400 miles from Honolulu. The island’s steep rocky cliffs give way to indigo blue waters dotted with monk seals and stony coral. No humans have lived on Mokumanamana, but it has the world’s highest density of ancient Hawaiian religious sites.“It sits as a boundary between what Native Hawaiians refer to as ‘pō’, the darkness, and ‘au’, the light,” said William Aila, the former chair of Hawaii’s department of land and natural resources. “When a Hawaiian passes, their soul makes its way from wherever it is in the main Hawaiian Islands, up to the North-western Hawaiian Islands. And at that juncture, at pō, they’re met by their ancestors.” As Aila tells it, if a person has been good, they ca...

Technology