Photo: Genevieve Reilly / Hearst Connecticut Media

A group of teens walks down South Benson Road, headed to Jennings Beach. Some residents of the area would like to see a center traffic island installed to slow down motorists. Fairfield,Ct. 6/21/17

A group of teens walks down South Benson Road, headed to Jennings Beach. Some residents of the area would like to see a center traffic island installed to slow down motorists. Fairfield,Ct. 6/21/17

The Police Commission has turned down a request from some residents to remove the island on Beach Road, and install a crosswalk at Judson and East Paulding. Fairfield,CT. 6/21/17

The Police Commission has turned down a request from some residents to remove the island on Beach Road, and install a crosswalk at Judson and East Paulding. Fairfield,CT. 6/21/17

A tale of two (traffic) islands: Remove on Beach Road, add on South Benson?

FAIRFIELD Islands are a hot topic for some local residents, but they arent talking about the tropical ones, where one might book a vacation getaway.

These islands are traffic islands, surrounded by asphalt. One group of beach area residents were hoping to get the island on Beach Road removed, while a block over, residents want an island installed on South Benson Road.

For both groups, safety pedestrian and vehicular was cited as the reason.

The Police Commission has denied the Beach Road request but is waiting on more information on South Benson Road.

Both roads lead to the beach and are considered main arteries, marked with double, yellow center lines and with sidewalks on both sides.

Gateway to Jennings

Ive been here five years, said South Benson resident Sara Ferrizz. I have two small children. South Benson is a very, densely-populated residential area and a thoroughfare to Jennings Beach.

Ferrizz said people are speeding down the road and habitually ignore the stop sign at the Riverside Drive intersection. The last four years, there have been three accidents.

According to Lt. Robert Kalamaras, a speed survey conducted by the department showed the average speed for northbound traffic is 29 mph, while the average speed of vehicles traveling toward the beach is 28 mph. The posted speed limit is 25 mph.

But Deputy Chief Chris Lyddy said while those numbers are accurate, they dont always paint a full picture. For example, he said, during the survey, 157 cars were traveling between 45 to 49 mph.

The average driver is traveling safely, Lyddy said, but added there are some outlier speeds, coupled with the only access to Jennings Beach, a very popular beach in town, especially with families.

South Benson resident Joe Garin said he moved his family to the neighborhood eight years ago. One of the things that attracted me and my family to Fairfield was Jennings Beach. It was a family-oriented area.

Now, Garin, who at times choked back tears while pleading the case for a traffic island, said its all changed.

Now, its the most congested beach, he said. Because of the speeding cars, Garin added, he cant let his children play in the front yard.

Since Superstorm Sandy hit in the fall of 2012, Jennings Beach had taken on some of the beach goers who typically used Penfield Beach. The Penfield Pavilion just reopened this season, meaning there are once again permanent restrooms and a permanent snack bar. The parking lot at Penfield is once again open as well.

Jennings not only has the largest expanse of beach, it also has the largest parking lot. Across the parking lot from the beach is the popular Sandcastle Playground.

While the Parks and Recreation Department does not have counts of the total number of cars coming to the beach, it does keep track of the number of daily parking permits sold. In 2013, Jennings hit a high of 12,595 daily passes. That number in 2014 was 5,617, and in 2015, 6,550 daily passes were sold. For last year, the number was 6,767.

Im scared. I have three very young children, Garin said. Speeding folks, loud mufflers, accidents Im scared for my kids safety.

I want my kids to walk to Jennings, walk to the sandcastle, walk to Sherman, he said. I think the island is a great idea. This is a major issue. Put yourselves in our shoes.

Police Commissioner Arthur Hersh is adamant against the installation of a traffic island. Lets forget the money aspect, I dont think its big enough to take an island. I believe it will do more harm than good, he said.

William Hurley, an engineer with the town, said the road is wide enough to construct a 5-foot-wide, 15-foot-long center island, though that would mean on-street parking would be eliminated.

I would suggest we do a pseudo island with cones or some other material, Hurley said, so everyone could see what the island would look like, and to allow the Fire Department to conduct tests to ensure there is enough room for emergency vehicles.

Public Works Superintendent Scott Bartlett said traffic islands also interfere with snow removal and cause more icing on the road. The cost to install an island on South Benson is about $1,000, Bartlett said, but that does not include labor costs.

Hersh said hes seen firsthand the reason why the crowds at town beaches are growing.

People are coming in from out of town, he said, with carloads dropped off and cars parked at the Bobs Shopping Center on the Post Road. So you have a big increase of traffic on the weekend, Hersh said. Thats where its coming from. Its not from our community, its out-of-towners coming, and I saw it firsthand.

Ferrizz also placed the blame on non-town residents.

It is the out-of-towners, Ferrizz said. Its also the Fairfield (Universtiy) college students. Its people who live in the neighborhood. Ive seen everybody do it. When they go by, it feels like were on the highway. We see havoc on the street everyday.

Any vehicle without a parking sticker is charged $25 to park at Jennings and Penfield beaches on weekdays, and $50 on weekends and holidays. There are no restrictions on anyone walking, or riding a bike, to any of the towns shoreline beaches.

On Tuesday, during the first week of summer vacation for Fairfields public schools, traffic on South Benson was not overwhelming. While there was a relatively steady stream of cars, there were long stretches with no traffic at all.

According to traffic counts from the Police Department, from June 6-8, 2014, there were 1,673 vehicles traveling north on South Benson, and 2,015 traveling southbound on the street.

From June 8-14, 2017, a seven-day period, traffic counts showed 2,181 vehicles northbound and 2,049 southbound.

School zone safety

A block over, on Beach Road, some neighbors were hoping to see the center island near the entrance to the Old Burying Ground removed.

Representative Town Meeting member Jill Vergara, D-7, who lives on the Old Post Road, spearheaded the request for the islands removal, in order to have a crosswalk installed at Judson Road, near the driveway into Sherman School. There is a crosswalk about a block south on Fern Street, that comes with a crossing guard during the school year.

Even if we teach our kids not to cross (at Judson), when they get in the fourth or fifth grade, its hard for kids to come out of school and not go home the most direct route, Vergara said.

But, because of poor sight lines, a crosswalk could not be installed unless the island is removed.

Its nearly impossible to see theres a street or a school there, said Vergara. When I first moved in, I had no idea there was a school there. I know its a really extreme measure, but we have to try and do something.

Ive been on the commission for over nine years, Hersh said. Weve been out to this intersection on two different occasions. If we decide to take out the island, wed have to remove very large, mature trees. And its going to become a drag strip. Youre going to have one straight away.

Turney Road resident Sarah Nuland said shes live here since 2005 and questioned why Beach Road, without an island, would be any different than Rowland or Penfield roads, which she said are straight, and flat, and go right to the beach.

Its a pedestrian paradise in the beach area, Nuland said. Thats why we moved here.

Sherman School Principal Eileen Roxbee also urged the commission to take some action.

That is a blind corner, she said. My big concern, obviously, is for the safety of the children. At least a stop sign at the Fairfield Museum would slow down traffic.

There is a stop sign northbound on Beach at Sunnieholme Drive, across from the entrance to the Fairfield Museum and History Center, but no stop sign southbound. The island itself creates a curve in the road southbound.

Beach Road resident Ken Murphy does not want to see the island removed.

The current curving design around the island works to slow down fast moving cars, Murphy said. Eliminating the island would create a drag strip, with cars screeching to a stop at Judson.

Murphy said the island, with majestic trees, is part of the unique character and beauty of Fairfield and should be protected. It is the only road in this area with this feature, he said. It would be a flagrant misuse of town funds at this time.

He did say, however, he would support a stop sign at the museum driveway, mores signs, and tree and bush trimming to improve sight lines.

To get rid of the Beach Road island would be more costly than adding one a block over on South Benson, Bartlett said, carrying a price tag of about $50,00, which includes removing the island, two oak trees, three cherry trees, 7.412-square-feet of grass, and paving the road.

He said the tree warden would also have to approve the tree removal.

During the school year, parents waiting to pick up or drop off students, line up along Beach Road, waiting to turn into the school driveway. The commission voiced its support of a plan to carve out a pick-up and drop-off lane into school property on Fern Street. Currently the school buses use Fern Street to drop off students.

Hurley said the town did traffic counts at the museum driveway last year. There are pros and cons, he said. It does slow down traffic for about 200 feet, then they speed up. Its not always a cure-all. Were looking at different options.

The commission also agreed to install some school zone signs southbound and improve the existing northbound markings.

Im ecstatic with the school zone sign on Beach Road, Vergara said, but added that signs are likely needed throughout the neighborhoods all around the school. Sherman is surrounded by residential areas. We have kids coming from all four corners of the school. I dont think approving one sign on Beach Road helps everyone.

greilly@ctpost.com; @GreillyPost

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A tale of two (traffic) islands: Remove on Beach Road, add on South Benson? - Fairfield Citizen

WASHINGTON To small island nations where the land juts just above the rising seas, the U.S. pulling out of the Paris global warming pact makes the future seem as fragile and built on hope as a sand castle.

Top scientists say it was already likely that Earths temperatures and the worlds seas will keep rising to a point where some island states may not survive through the next 100 years. That likelihood increases, they say, if the United States doesnt follow through on promised cuts in heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions.

If we really push into action, we can save some (small islands) but we may not be able save all of them, said Hans-Otto Poertner, a German scientist who chairs the climate impacts study group for the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The chances are even less with the U.S. pulling out of the climate agreement in Paris.

While calling Trumps announcement deeply disappointing, Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine told The Associated Press I cannot give up on my people and my country and my culture. Its very important for us to be optimistic.

Heine and other island leaders are putting their hope in strong pollution curbs by China, other nations, individual American states and cities, as well as improved technology. While visiting Europe, she said its all the more important that Europe takes the lead on climate change.

Palaus environment minister F. Umiich Sengebau said he has no choice but to hope.

Right now some of the islands have disappeared, he said. And so if we continue this trend our very existence as small islands could very well disappear in many instances.

Small islands are the most vulnerable parts of the world, said scientist Jim Skea of the Imperial College in London, who chairs another UN climate panel. Exceeding 1.5 degrees really makes the vulnerability threat for them more acute. Its kind of existential.

Read more:

US exiting climate pact may doom some small islands - The Recorder

To small island nations where the land juts just above the rising seas, the U.S. pulling out of the Paris global warming pact makes the future seem as fragile and built on hope as a sand castle.

Top scientists say it was already likely that Earth's temperatures and the world's seas will keep rising to a point where some island states may not survive through the next 100 years. That likelihood increases, they say, if the United States doesn't follow through on promised cuts in heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions. President Donald Trump this month said he'd withdraw the United States from the climate deal , prompting leaders of vulnerable islands to talk about their future with a mixture of defiance, hope and resignation.

"If we really push into action, we can save some (small islands) but we may not be able save all of them," said Hans-Otto Poertner, a German scientist who chairs the climate impacts study group for the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. "The chances are even less with the U.S. pulling out of the climate agreement in Paris."

While calling Trump's announcement "deeply disappointing," Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine told The Associated Press "I cannot give up on my people and my country and my culture. It's very important for us to be optimistic."

Heine and other island leaders are putting their hope in strong pollution curbs by China, other nations, individual American states and cities, as well as improved technology. While visiting Europe, she said "it's all the more important that Europe takes the lead on climate change."

Palau 's environment minister F. Umiich Sengebau said he has no choice but to cling to hope.

"Right now some of the islands have disappeared," he said. "And so if we continue this trend our very existence as small islands could very well disappear in many instances."

The U.S. State Department said it considers engagement with other counties on climate change important and it will continue, including with small island states. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said after Trump pulled out of the agreement that the U.S. has cut its carbon dioxide emissions "dramatically" even before the Paris pact was reached.

When the Paris pact was being negotiated in 2015, small island nations successfully campaigned for a stricter but secondary target for limiting global heat-trapping emissions.

In 2009, world leaders adopted a goal to prevent 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) of warming since the industrial era started, saying 2 degrees is a dangerous level of warming. The islands' tougher goal would try to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial time.

The world has already warmed about 1 degree Celsius, so the islands are really trying to prevent another half degree of warming Celsius (0.9 degrees Fahrenheit).

When Trump announced he would pull the U.S. out of the Paris treaty, scientists said that made the 2 degree goal close to unachievable and the 1.5 degree goal even more out of reach. Promised American pollution cuts were about one-fifth of the pledged global reductions hoped for in the accord. And even if all the pact's pledges were fully realized, it wouldn't stop warming from hitting 2 degrees without even stricter actions in the future, according to computer simulations.

"We are pushing the 1.5 (as a goal) but realistically I think we have passed the point that it can be achieved," said Kenrick Leslie, executive director of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre . Trump's Paris pull-out, he said, has "thrown it right out the window."

Small islands "are the most vulnerable parts of the world," said scientist Jim Skea of the Imperial College in London, who chairs another UN climate panel. Exceeding 1.5 degrees "really makes the vulnerability threat for them more acute. It's kind of existential."

Scientists and carbon emissions computer modelers at Climate Analytics helped the small islands in their campaign called "1.5 to stay alive", and they say it is still possible, though unlikely, to limit the warming to that much.

That scenario involves overshooting the 1.5 degree goal and then eventually allowing no new carbon dioxide emissions into the air. But even that isn't enough so the world would have to somehow pull huge amounts of carbon dioxide out of the air, which is technically feasible but not practical at the moment, said Climate Analytics scientific adviser Carl-Friedrich Schleussner.

Recent studies have shown that the sea level rise in the past decade or so has accelerated compared to previous decades, said University of Colorado sea level expert Steve Nerem. He estimates a meter of sea level rise by the end of this century and emphasizes it could be worse with ice sheet melts in Greenland and Antarctica.

"Anything over a meter (a yard) is catastrophic for these small islands," Nerem said.

And the islands don't have to be underwater to become uninhabitable, he said, because sea level rise will make them more vulnerable to high tides and extreme storms.

Warming over 1.5 degrees also is likely to be devastating for coral reefs which many of these small islands rely on for their fishing and tourism economies, Schleussner said.

Between rising seas that could swamp population centers and infrastructure like airports and seaports all over the Caribbean, the damage to reefs and fishing with increased warming will hurt Caribbean people in the pocketbooks and in their stomachs, several Caribbean climate officials said.

Ahmed Sareer, the Maldives ambassador to the United Nations and chairman of the Alliance of Small Island States, said the 1.5 goal is harder to achieve without the United States but not yet impossible.

"The island spirit is to never give up," Sareer said. "We are always a resilient people."

Perry reported from Wellington, New Zealand. Edith Lederer in New York and Josh Lederman in Washington contributed to this report.

Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter: @borenbears. His work can be found here. Follow Nick Perry on Twitter at @nickgperry and his work can be found here .

The rest is here:

Experts: US exiting climate pact may doom some small islands - ABC News

Growing up in the GalpagosIslands, tour guide Christopher Naranjo had never been much concerned with the cruise ships that came and went from his remarkable homeland.

Living in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island the second largest in the Galpagosarchipelago he spent much of his time playing football on the beach, with the ebb and flow of ships and tourists from the island nothing more than a backdrop to a carefree childhood.

It was an everyday part of life that, for the most part, went unnoticed. Travelling is an expensive prospect for young islanders, so many never leave their island of birth.

But when he was 15 years old, Naranjo boarded one of those cruise ships and found his true passion. He and a handful of other schoolchildren had been sponsored by a local tour operator to take a voyage of discovery on board the MV Santa Cruz, as part of a then-new programme to give young locals the chance to learn more about their homeland, which squats in the Pacific Ocean some 563 miles off the coast of mainland Ecuador.

During his two days on board, Naranjo experienced for himself the archipelagos rich diversity and the stunning array of unique wildlife that populates its rugged, volcanic landscapes and finally understood what draws the worlds travellers to his home.

The group spent time learning about the Galpagoss incredible natural history, the conservation issues and, not least, the challenges presented by a tourism trade that has become intrinsic to the local economy.

By the time he disembarked, Naranjo knew, with absolute certainty, what he wanted to do next. He spent the next few years dedicating all the time he could to his passion for the local wildlife. This included volunteering with the Galpagos National Park Service during his holidays and working on the giant tortoise breeding programme at the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Center.

It was a natural step that upon leaving school Naranjo immediately began studying to become a naturalist guide and, shortly after qualifying, went to work for Metropolitan Touring, the sponsor of the school trip.

Now 27, he works from the companys cruise ship, Santa Cruz II (which replaced the original ship last year), guiding small groups of travellers around the islands.

My time on MV Santa Cruz made me realise that there was something about the creatures here that presented an opportunity, he said, when I spoke to him during one of his infrequent stints of shore leave.

But also we, as locals, are responsible for preserving this pristine place. Everybody is responsible.

Its a responsibility he bears readily. Even before he was exposed to the extraordinary biodiversity of the wider archipelago, Naranjo was well acquainted with the special relationship that islanders enjoy with the local wildlife. Even on Santa Cruz Island, which is inhabited by some 12,000 people, the pelicans, gulls, marine iguanas and sea lions co-exist with their human neighbours.

Its an environment unlike any other, and one that requires constant vigilance in order to protect it. By law, all visitors to the Galapagos must be accompanied by a highly trained local guide capable of serving on the front line of preserving the delicate ecosystem that protects the iconic species and brings the visitors the islands rely on. Were rangers as well as guides, says Naranjo.

We have to ensure people do not touch the animals, give them food or disturb them in any way.

A common faux pas made by visitors is wandering off the islands well-marked, authorised paths and into the roped-off areas, and thereby interfering with the creatures breeding habitats. Of course there are some who dont respect the rules, he says. We have to talk to tour leaders, and maybe ships captains, and make sure they dont come back on shore.

Its a crucial role in such a precarious environment, and the schedule is pretty gruelling, too. Naranjos shifts, if you can call them that, last six weeks at a time, punctuated by two-week breaks back at his family home (where he spends much of his time playing guitar in Ecuadorian folk bands).

Although relaxed throughout much of our chat, he becomes increasingly animated as we move on to discuss the topic of conservation. There are more tourists than ever before, he says. There is a cap of 120,000 visitors a year, but it is being raised to 170,000. Were just not prepared for the extra numbers.

The animals dont fear humans and thats something we want to preserve, but with more tourists visiting we have to increase walking areas. It will only get more difficult.

That Metropolitan Touring continues to sponsor young Galapagueos is part of the appeal of working with the company which, in the Sixties, became the first to organise boat tours to the Galapagos and has been pioneering sustainable tourism to the islands ever since.

The MV Santa Cruz, the ship on which Naranjo first ventured, was retired from service in 2015. I was sorry to see it go, he says. It gave me the opportunity to learn so much and I had a real friendship with the other workers. We also had a real connection with the ship.

Naranjo has no desire to seek new horizons. His passion is, and always has been, protecting this remarkable little pocket of the Pacific and showing it to anyone who wants to see these little planets, as he describes them, for themselves.

metropolitan-touring.com

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Meet the tour guide tasked with preserving the most pristine islands on the planet - Telegraph.co.uk

A new wave of king tides has rolled into the islands this week as officials and businesses are bracing for their potential impact.

Coastal flooding associated with king tides will become apossibility each day going into the upcoming weekend, especiallyalong south facing shores due to elevated surf.

The best chance forcoastal flooding impacts will be through the afternoon periodsaround the times of the peak daily tides.

For schedule of the king tide predictions compiled by NOAA and the University of Hawaii, click here.

Impacts will include flooding of beaches that are normally dry, dueto a combination of wave run-up from the surf along south facingshores and higher than normal water levels.

Ocean water could alsoinundate the typically vulnerable low-lying roads, docks, boat rampsand other coastal infrastructure through this time.

Erosion is also possible with steady increase of water to be seen at the end of the week.

The potential for coastal flooding will begin to lower later in theweekend and early next week as the peak daily tides and surfsteadily trend down.

Help officials and researchers document the king tides by taking photos and entering them into our database. Every photo that is entered into a database providing information about how future changes in sea level may impact coastal areas (and some areas more than others). This will ultimately help to plan and prepare.

You can enter photos into our database manually or using the phone app.

Step by step instructions are here.

Watch Up 2day for what to expect and when the king tides are expected to show up to the islands. We speak with an expert from the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program.

Link:

New wave of June 'king tides' rolls into the islands - KHON2

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Sitting inside a cosy old pub on an archipelago somewhere in the North Atlantic, Im beginning to realise that weve just arrived in one of the most bizarre places left on the planet. Outside the window a row of brightly coloured Viking-style huts line the street, with their distinctive grassclad roofs catching the last rays of the day.

Inside the pub, locals chatter excitedly in their strong Nordic accents and the scent of free-flowing all-malt lager fills the air. If it wasnt for our brand new road bikes lying seemingly abandoned on the opposite side of the road youd be forgiven for thinking it was a scene from a recent Vikings episode.

Anywhere else in the world and a couple of unlocked bikes on the side of the road would be gone within a matter of minutes but the dishevelled looking character behind the bar assures us that crime doesnt exist in this part of the world. You can even leave your keys in the car here in the Faroes, he tells us, struggling to hide the pride in his voice. But if youre still worried, you can take them down the road to the hotel.

Having just made the 51-kilometre trip from the airport, hauling a kayak, kiteboard and film gear on our bikes, our bodies have decided that theyre not moving any further until theyve been properly nourished and the foreign smells coming from the kitchen are too good to refuse.

Created by volcanic eruptions some 55 million years ago, the Faroe Islands are an archipelago of 18 spectacularly crafted igneous rocks that rise high above the ocean somewhere between Scotland and Iceland in the North Atlantic. Originally settled by the Vikings in the 9th century, there are now roughly 50,000 of their descendants living on the islands along with 100,000 sheep and one of the most diverse bird populations in the world.

Due to their geographical isolation and relatively small population, the Faroe Islands are arguably one of the most unspoiled landscapes left in the world. For me, it is undoubtedly the most moodily beautiful place I have ever laid eyes on.

Riding into the capital city, Torshavn, on what was apparently one of the more unremarkable roads, it was impossible not to become completely overwhelmed by the huge moss-green landscapes that surrounded us. Emerging from the sea of low-lying mist that seems to perpetually engulf the Faroes, a series of dramatic treeless precipices soared towards the sky and filled us with excitement for the next 14 days that we were going to spend exploring.

Deep ocean tunnels connect some of the 18 islands that make up the Faroes but many of them can only be reached by ferry or helicopter, making a cycling trip around the islands a logistical nightmare. To solve this problem we decided to bring along a kayak and kiteboard that we could use to make the crossings between the islands where and when it suited us weather dependent of course.

Up until the 20th century, the Faroese people could only move around on foot and in small wooden rowboats so it seemed entirely appropriate that we too would be exploring these mystical islands using only human power.

It didnt take long for the strange mix of sporting equipment lying in front of the pub to attract the attention of the locals. Before finishing our meals, we were joined by a couple of local fishermen, curious to know what we were up to. We told them of our plan to bike, kayak and kiteboard around as many of the islands as possible in the next 14 days and asked them if there was anything we should be worried about. The bewildered look on their faces said it all.

I dont think there is anywhere in the world where the people have such a deep and reverential connection with nature than here in the Faroes. Living so far away from the rest of the world, the Faroese people have learned to fend for themselves in some of the most wild and unpredictable environments known to man. They appreciate nature and what it has given them but above all, they respect its power.

Before parting ways with our new friends, we promised that wed pay close attention to the weather forecasts and that we wouldnt tempt fate by going out when the conditions arent favourable.

Apart from the precarious road tunnels that connect the islands and the notoriously unpredictable weather patterns that plague the North Atlantic, the Faroe Islands are actually a near-perfect cycling destination. Picturesque paved roads cover the majority of the islands, snaking through rugged mountain ranges and joining up the hundreds of tiny fishing villages that occupy the coastline. And as we quickly discovered, you can basically ride everywhere in the Faroes with a network of gravel tracks and sheep trails providing access to anywhere that the road doesnt take you.

There arent many places left in the world as wild and as remote as the Faroe Islands and as it turns out, the bike is the perfect tool for exploring them.

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Exploring the Faroe Islands - CyclingTips

Egypt's highest court on Wednesday ordered a temporary suspension of rulings by other courts on a 2016 deal that transfers two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia, deepening the legal wrangling over the issue.

The Supreme Constitutional Court said its decision was made upon a government request and that the other tribunals may have infringed on the prerogatives of the government's legislative and executive branches.

Since the agreement was announced 14 months ago, two administrative courts have ruled to annul the deal, arguing that the islands of Tiran and Sanafir at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba belong to Egypt. A third court, however, ruled that it should be implemented and contended the other two tribunals had no jurisdiction over the issue.

Wednesday's decision open possibilities for new judicial moves that may or may not back the islands handover.

The government has insisted the islands were always Saudi but placed under Egyptian protection in the early 1950s amid Arab-Israeli tension. Parliament, a 596-seat chamber packed with government supporters, ratified the agreement last week. President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has to sign off on the deal before it goes into effect.

The Supreme Constitutional Court is scheduled to open hearings next month on a request filed by the government seeking a ruling on whether the administrative courts that ruled against the agreement had jurisdiction.

In his first public comments on the issue since parliament's June 14 ratification, el-Sissi late Tuesday said the issue of the islands has been "concluded" and that his government has nothing to hide an allusion to charges that Egypt was giving up the islands in return for billions of dollars in Saudi aid.

"The rights of others must be restored," el-Sissi said, referring to the islands being Saudi territory.

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Legal wrangling deepens over Egypt transfer of islands - ABC News

The Lonely Islands Andy Samberg has interviewed Future Islands for a new cover feature in Magnet. Samberg, a longtime fan, asked them about life on the road, how The Wire goes down in their native Baltimore, and singer Samuel T. Herrings longstanding obsession with rap music. In return, the bands William Cashion grilled Samberg on what its like to live in a home with Joanna Newsom, Sambergs wife, and her collection of harps. (Its kind of like a weird music fan dream come true that we have been so in love, Samberg says, because I get to hear her play harp all the time.) Read the full interview here.

At one point, Cashion asks about the origins of the Lonely Island and Justin Timberlakes Dick in a Box:

Cashion: Is that the question you get asked all the time? Samberg: Not the most, but definitely people say dick in a box to me as much as anything. Im very comfortable with it. I love it. The joke is that thats gonna be my epitaph: Made Dick In A Box. Theres worse epitaphs to have. Herring: Thats also a shitty thing to put on somebodys gravestone. Samberg: This guy was alive, now hes just a dick in a box. Herring: Works on many levels.

After reflecting on whether The Wire is Baltimores Dick in a Box, they continue:

Herring: Our Dick In A Box is probably the Letterman (performance of Seasons in 2014). Samberg: Are you guys sick to death of talking about that? You must be. Herring: Nah, its cool. Samberg: There you go, cause its your Dick In A Box.

Watch Future Islands recent performance at Ottobar via Pitchfork.tv:

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Andy Samberg and Future Islands Talk Joanna Newsom, Dick in a ... - Pitchfork

Business Insider

Jun 20th 2017 7:01AM

You've probably heard of Ibiza, Corsica, and Santorini. But are you familiar with Formentera, Juist, or Saaremaa? Flying well under the tourist radar, these islands are a must-visit for anyone who feels that they have exhausted Europe's typical destinations.

Even if you haven't done much traveling in Europe, though, these breathtaking islands are well worth the detour.

They boast laid-back cultures, quiet charm, and an unspoiled nature that simply cannot be matched by the European mainland.

So pack your best camera and get ready for an adventure:

18 PHOTOS

Under the radar islands in Europe

See Gallery

Juist, Germany

Juist is one of seven inhabited East Frisian islands at the edge of Germany's Wadden Sea. Its miles of natural, windswept beach have earned it the nickname "Twerland" (meaning "magic land") in the local dialect. Although the Wadden Sea can be chilly, activities like hiking the mudflats and soaking in thalassotherapy spas make for a different kind of island experience.

Photo Credit: Getty

Formentera, Spain

If Ibiza is the older brother who throws the craziest parties, Formentera is the chilled-out, hippie younger sister. Even though the two are only an hour's ferry ride apart, they differ completely in atmosphere. Go to Formentera to have pristine Spanish beaches all to yourself. Experience local wildlife, go for a sail on turquoise waters, or swim over to Espalmador, a tiny neighboring island where you can slather yourself in revitalizing sulfurous mud.

Photo Credit: Getty

Sardinia, Italy

Just below Corsica, Sardinia mixes the best of Italian food and culture with an island paradise. Snorkel pastancient Roman shipwrecks, hike to crumbling lighthouses, or take in the sapphire ocean framed by dramatic hills. When you're done, eat top-notch seafood with your toes in the sand at a beachside restaurant, and wash it all down with some local Limoncello.

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Colonsay, Scotland

If you're looking for peace and solitude, the island of Colonsay in the Scottish Inner Hebrides might be just the place for you. At only eight miles long and three miles wide, it's a remote outpost where nature reigns supreme. Listen to the waves as they crash on its long stretches of golden sand, or hike some of the "McPhies" little peaks of about 300 feet. You'll forget about the modern world altogether.

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Saaremaa, Estonia

The largest of Estonia's islands, Saaremaa takes visitors back to the time of the pirates and Vikings who once called it home. It's easy to imagine them as the dense pine forests, thatched-roof houses, and little fairy-tale villages provide a window into the past. And don't forget to visit the beach Estonia's temperate climate means the water is perfect for swimming in the summer.

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Hydra, Greece

Although it's easily reachable from Athens, Hydra feels like a world away. Cars and bikes are banned on the island, so donkeys carry tourists' luggage up the winding cobblestone streets. Beyond cute, pebbly beaches full of bars and restaurants, Hydra boasts upscale shops and numerous nautical museums.

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Mljet, Croatia

With just barely 1,100 inhabitants, sleepy Mljet is a place of serenity and tranquility. Almost 90% of the island is covered in forest, and a huge national park offers miles of scenic walking trails. Fun fact: the island'sonly hotelis named after Homer's Odysseus, who is said to have lingered there, bewitched, for seven years.

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Graciosa, Canary Islands

Home to mostly fishermen, tiny Graciosa in Spain's Canary Islands is a far cry from its bustling neighbor Lanzarote. Caleta del Sebo is the island's only village, where whitewashed houses and roads of sand seem untouched by modern life. Go for a dive in crystal-clear waters that border a marine reserve, and take in Spanish culture at an even slower pace than usual.

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Mykines, Faroe Islands

Mykines is the place to go if you are seeking a complete escape. Besides the flocks of puffins, fewer than 20 people live here year-round. Sights to see include colorful, turf-roofed houses and sheer cliffs with impressive views across the Atlantic to Iceland. Mykines is reachable by ferry or helicopter from nearby Vgar.

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Fayal, Portugal

Lush Fayal Island is the westernmost point in Europe. Its volcanic origins make for an alluring terrain of hills and craters, and there are many opportunities for hiking, biking, canyoning, and horseback-riding. Visit in the summer months for a special treat: thousands of hydrangea plants bloom, turning the island blue.

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Gozo, Malta

Scenic Gozo, found right next to the main island of Malta, is an enchanting rural destination that's about the same size as Manhattan. Its selection of ancient temples are some of the world's oldest, and it's also considered to be one of the best diving spots in the Mediterranean. Don't miss the Azure Window, a geological formation that wasused as a backdropin Game of Thrones.

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Trna, Norway

For a slightly chillier island retreat, head to Trna: a collection of over 1,000 tiny Norwegian islands, of which only four are inhabited. See majestic caves and grottoes, and visit in July to attendTrna's famous music festivalin the full glow of the midnight sun.

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Belle-le-en-Mer, France

Belle-le-en-Mer literally means "Beautiful Island in the Sea," and this delightful haven off the coast of Brittany lives up to its name. Known for its pastel-painted buildings and 60 gorgeous beaches, the island also holds theFestival Lyrique en Mer: an internationally-renowned opera festival featuring some of the world's best emerging singers.

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Alderney, (Guernsey) Britain

Only 40 minutes from the UK, this most northerly of the Channel Islands offers a British experience with a laid-back, French flair. Explore green pastures, rugged cliffs, and snaking cobblestone streets if you get lost, the island is only 3.5 miles long and 1.5 miles wide.

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Vis, Croatia

Vis, the furthest island from the Croatian mainland, is known for fabulous local wine, fresh seafood, and exciting nightlife activities. Its dramatic scenery evokes an aura of mystery that would fit a James Bond hideaway. Kayak through caves, sail the bays and lagoons, and take it all in from the top ofHum mountain.

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Stromboli, Italy

Flirt with danger on Italy's Stromboli: the island is home to one of themost active volcanoes on Earth,and it erupts almost continuously. Don't worry too much, though the explosions are small and barely faze the locals. Enjoy unique black-sand beaches by day, and look out for bursts of golden lava at night.

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Inishmore, Ireland

The appeal of Inishmore lies in its towering cliffs and eerie, blustery landscapes. Breathe in salty air on weathered bluffs, take a tour with a"pony and trap"(horse and buggy), and feast on fresh-caught mackerel. Look out for the seal colony that also calls the island home.

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Brittany Kriegstein contributed reporting to an earlier version of this article.

More from AOL.com: The top 20 most popular summer destinations in America, based on TripAdvisor's hotel pricing report 10 amazing honeymoon destinations in North America Summer's hottest European destinations revealed

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17 of the best under-the-radar islands to visit in Europe - AOL

Chagossians protest in London. Most of inhabitants of the Chagos Islands were deported and the largest island, Diego Garcia, leased to the US as a strategic airbase in 1971. Photograph: Pacific Pres/REX/Shutterstock

The UK is in danger of losing a vote at the UN on the fate of the Chagos Islands, an Indian Ocean archipelago that has been at the centre of a long-running dispute between Britain and Mauritius.

The UN is voting on Thursday on a Mauritian resolution to refer the matter of the islands to the international court of justice (ICJ) in The Hague.

The vote will be seen as a test of the diplomatic influence wielded at the UN by the British foreign secretary, Boris Johnson. If the UK fails to get backing from EU countries and loses the vote it may be portrayed as a blow to the UKs prestige.

In 1965, three years before Mauritius was granted independence, the UK decided to separate the Chagos Islands from the rest of its then Indian Ocean colony. The Mauritian government claims this was in breach of UN resolution 1514, passed in 1960, which specifically banned the breakup of colonies before independence.

Most of the 1,500 islanders were deported so that the largest island, Diego Garcia, could be leased to the US for a strategic airbase in 1971. Only the US has publicly backed the UK over the islands fate. The islanders have never been allowed to return home.

A letter sent on 8 June by Matthew Rycroft, the UK permanent representative at the UN, and circulated around diplomats in New York, warns that a vote to send the matter to the ICJ would set a dangerous precedent for international justice which would affect us all.

His letter suggests that the row is over sovereignty and that the dispute should be dealt with as a bilateral issue between the UK and Mauritius.

The UK has promised to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius when they are no longer needed for defence purposes, but has refused to give a date.

Two years ago Mauritius won a ruling at the permanent court of arbitration at The Hague that Britain had acted illegally in the way it has exercised territorial control over the Chagos Islands. The court criticised the UK for failing to consult over establishing a marine protection zone around what is now the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Since then Mauritius has been been more forthright in pursuing its demands on behalf of the native Chagossians who were expelled. It is also pressing for a firm date for an eventual handover of sovereignty.

Mauritius claims it has the support of all the African group of nations at the UN, as well as many states in the non-aligned movement, for its UN motion. Its UN representative also believes that some EU countries, on whom the UK can normally rely, are planning to abstain in the vote.

A document circulated by Mauritius at the UN accuses the UK of adopting a a regrettably disingenuous position, blames Britain for dismembering Mauritius in 1965 contrary to international law and says that it has refused to discuss decolonisation.

If EU countries do not back the UK and Mauritius wins the vote, it may suggest that Brexit has undermined Britains international status, moving it towards a position of relative diplomatic isolation.

Spain, which resents the UKs occupation of Gibraltar, is thought unlikely to vote against the Mauritian motion. Germany, it has been suggested, could also abstain.

Some observers pointed out that the UK often loses votes at the UN general assembly and that defeat would not represent a significant change in Britains international standing.

Johnsons appointment as foreign secretary last year was not welcomed by many countries, suggesting he may have few favours he can call in. His journalism, which has included references to flag-waving piccaninnies, has not endeared him towards diplomats around the world.

Diego Garcia was used by the CIA after 9/11 in rendition and interrogation operations, which is expected to further alienate many states from the UKs cause.

Jagdish Koonjul, the Mauritian representative at the UN, said: Its going well We hope we should be able to carry the vote. For the EU its a very difficult choice they have to make A number of EU countries are torn between supporting issues of principle and their alliance with the UK. Im expecting there would be abstentions.

Advisory opinions at the ICJ are normally triggered by a formal request from the UN secretary general. The court can request submissions from member states and those involved in a dispute.

Although its findings are normally non-binding, the ICJs advisory opinions carry some legal influence and moral authority.

Prof Philippe Sands QC, who is acting as a legal counsel to Mauritius and will be in New York for the vote, said: The only international judges who have addressed the matter have concluded without ambiguity that Britains actions are not consistent with international law, including the obligation to complete the process of decolonisation and Mauritius right to self-determination.

Britains continuing occupation of Chagos, and its unwillingness to allow the matter to proceed to the ICJ, are hardly compatible with the countrys avowed commitment to the rule of law.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: We are disappointed that a resolution challenging the sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory is being put to a vote in the UN general assembly. This is an inappropriate use of the international court of justice mechanism.

While we do not recognise the Republic of Mauritius claim to sovereignty over the islands, we have a longstanding position that we will cede it to Mauritius when no longer required for defence purposes, and we maintain that commitment.

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Britain in danger of losing vote in UN over fate of Chagos Islands - The Guardian

ITiana Taylors transition from NCAA to professional volleyball was far from seamless at first, but she relied on her excellent leaping ability, and the tenacity and intensity she mainly honed while playing basketball at East Carolina to guide her through her first pro volleyball season in Dubai.

It was in Dubai where Taylor, who played two seasons of hoops for the Pirates and one year of volleyball, progressed on the court with the Sharjah Ladies Club and that helped her recently land a spot on the U.S. Virgin Islands national team. She is in the Virgin Islands to practice with the squad, which will travel to Jamaica in July for international competition, as Taylor and her agent also look at options for a second pro season somewhere.

You learn (how to be a pro) day by day and practice by practice, Taylor said during a phone interview a few days before Mondays trip from Texas to the Virgin Islands. Thats what Ive been doing, and I still have my mental toughness from basketball and thats never going to go away.

I think that helps me out a little bit with the volleyball IQ, because if you are aggressive then its all right.

Taylor played in Dubai for two months this spring, ending in May, and it was during her trek back home to Pflugerville, Texas, when she got an invite to play for the Virgin Islands team. That invitation means Taylor will soon get to explore another part of the world while representing the Virgin Islands in Jamaica.

Her dad and two grandparents were born in the Virgin Islands, and Taylor said she has been there a handful of times.

In Dubai, her team first asked her to play in the middle before eventually switching her back to her more natural position as an outside hitter. Taylor said going through that brought about some of her learning curve.

It was very different than the U.S. and I was kind of shocked a little bit, but I had a great time and it made me realize that you have to do whatever it takes, she said. I still communicate with the girls and made so many friends out there. It also helped me make a lot of connections with other countries and everything, so it was kind of like a blessing.

It has been an eventful few years for Taylor, who said she hopes to play pro volleyball as long as possible and enjoy the experience.

She was the Pirates best post player in basketball from 2014-16, including averaging a double-double of 14.1 points and 10.0 rebounds per game in her final season. She then joined the volleyball team in the offseason and led the Pirates with 292 kills last year as ECU finished 15-15 for its first non-losing season since 2006.

With her pro career now beginning to hit full stride, Taylor said she is thankful for all of the coaches who helped her at ECU and set her up for success.

I wouldnt be able to travel the world like I just did in two months, so I am very grateful for it and thankful and happy, Taylor said. Especially at a young age. Its been like a dream come true.

Contact Ronnie Woodward at rwoodward@reflector.com, 252-329-9592 and follow @RonnieW11 on Twitter.

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Traveling Taylor back in Virgin Islands - Greenville Daily Reflector

When many U.S. travelers think of the Cayman Islands, they likely think of wealthy offshore bank accounts, beaches, and luxurious resorts.

But the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism says the destination also has some of the Caribbeans best restaurants and most delicious recipes something its capitalizing on in a new marketing campaign thats sending meal kits to U.S. travelers.

Last week, the destination launched a partnership with Los Angeles-based meal kit delivery company Chefdthat lets U.S. travelers order meal kits containing ingredients of Cayman Island recipes.

This is one of the first examples of a tourism board working with a meal delivery service as part of a marketing campaign. Unless you try something, you dont know how successful itll be, said Rosa Harris, director of tourism for the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism. We were more specifically concentrated on a luxury, millennial, young professional clientele who is cooking at home and open to different kinds of cuisines.

Chefd said its customer base skews slightly female but ranges from ages 18 to 65 and older. Consumers dont need a subscription or membership to order from Chefd and can place a one-time order for a meal kit, for example.

The meal kits are available through September 15. The Cayman Islands is trying to leverage Chefdswest coast footholds to help it reach more travelers from large markets such as California.

Texas and northeast U.S. markets such as New York, which are already large source markets for the Cayman Islands, are also targets for the campaign.

The tourism board worked with four Cayman Islands-based chefs to develop the five meal-kit recipes for selections such as pina colada chicken or chocolate bread pudding. Chefd sources all ingredients in the promotion in the United States and will ship the kits from either its headquarters in Los Angeles or from a shipping facility in Brooklyn, New York, depending on a consumers location.

The Cayman Islands food scene also attracts plenty of star power that many travelers probably werent aware of. World-renowned chefs and food personalities such as Eric Ripert, Daniel Humm, Anthony Bourdain and Emeril Lagrasse descend on the Cayman Islands regularly for the Cayman Cookout.

For a small island country in the western Caribbean, Cayman Islands boasts more than 230 restaurants such as Riperts Blue, the Caribbeans only AAA Five Diamond restaurant.

Weve been promoting ourselves as a culinary capital of the Caribbean for quite some time, said Harris. Outside of other Caribbean destinations where you have a property thats all-inclusive, our country offers the option of dining out and having a different kind of experience.

But while the islands have earned awards and distinctions for its dining scene, its a challenge to translate that to meal kits thousands of miles away through packaging and shipping facilities before they reach consumers kitchens.There are concerns therefore about quality and freshness with the meal kits.

The meal kits range from $13 to $16 each and take between 40 to 90 minutes to prepare and cook.

Since the Cayman Islands hopes to reach many consumers who have never visited the destination, first impressions will come through the meal kits and destination-infused recipes.

Chefd will handle the logistics while the Cayman Islands provides the inspiration for the recipes, said Harris. We liked Chefds approach to screening our recipes and they tested well in their kitchens, she said. We felt the authenticity of our recipes would be upheld through ingredientsourcing, delivery method and portioning.

Harris said the tourism board doesnt have any preconceived expectations for how the campaign will perform. The recipes were testing well in the kitchen but how they perform for the consumer is yet to be determined, she said. Only then will we learn, should we have added more dessert options, for example?

With Chefd leading the end-user experience, well be able to get the feedback, she said.

The Cayman Islands is trying to break away from traditional kinds of marketing campaigns that do more telling than showing. With the meal kits, consumers can directly engage with island recipes albeit, possibly from thousands of miles away and out of the context of island life.

Many destinations are marketing their food and beverage offerings but are also struggling with how best to do it. A recent United Nations World Tourism Organization survey found that more than 65 percent of tourism boards feel their food tourism marketing efforts have been insufficient, for example.

Wed definitely like to have another food type festival or event, said Harris. We also know that our product has to grow and we just welcomed the Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa and Margaritaville Resort this past year. As we get more rooms online, well strategically choose how much additional food marketing well have.

The question remains whether consumers will be inspired to actually book travel after enjoying a meal kit recipe. Still, tapping into food delivery gives the Cayman Islands a leg up in its U.S. marketing efforts in a region as intensely competitive as the Caribbean.

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Photo Credit: The Cayman Islands has partnered with meal delivery service Chef'd to promote its food and beverage offerings to U.S. travelers. Pictured is the curried chicken recipe from a prepared meal kit. Chef'd

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Cayman Islands Tests US Meal-Kit Service to Boost Its Food Tourism Marketing - Skift

Some stories can be buried for centuries; history we would rather forget, but the marks of human progress are hard to wear away.

The Abandoned Islands project aims to throw some light on these forgotten histories through an interactive map which shows 12 land masses that have been depopulated - whether by environmental disaster, violence, or scientific breakthrough. Economies crumble, technology comes into being and while people move, they leave behind unmistakable traces of life. From animal reclamation to islands ravaged by illness, the Abandoned Islands map allows you to travel across the world in search of these forgotten stories, complete with lesser-known facts and satellite images. Explore the map by clicking the image at the top of this article. Below, we have selected six of the fascinating stories from this project. Each location has a brief description of its history alongside satellite images of how they look today.

Abandoned Islands

Poveglia lies off the coast of the idyll of Venetian waterways, a divided island haunted by a long legacy of death and suffering. A canal runs through its heart, splitting the land into two parts, each used throughout the Middle Ages as lazaretto, quarantine stations for carriers of the black plague. The sick were taken by gondola across the water to Poveglia's shores, not to be treated, but to be contained. Nearing the end of the plague years, their numbers swelled to 160,000.

In the 1800s the island took on another grisly purpose; with the epidemic of the plague gone, those who were declared mentally ill would be sent to the island. By the 1970's, Poveglia had been abandoned and remains one of the most mysterious and disturbing sites in Italy.

Abandoned Islands

Today, plague pits litter the island; mass graves where bodies were discarded. Dig your hands into the topsoil, and you are likely to come away with remnants of human ash. While most avoid the island, some travellers who have visited the island in recent years have claimed Poveglia is home to sinister spirits and paranormal events.

Another site of illness is the island of Spinalonga in Greece. From 1903 to 1957, it served as one of the last leper colonies in Europe. Having been separated from their families and the outside world, its inhabitants would commit suicide by leaping from the forts high walls onto the rocks below. However, unlike Poveglia, this illness was soon eradicated with the discovery of a cure for leprosy in the mid-20th Century. While the island is deserted, it is due to the fact the residents were no longer forced to shut themselves away - the last resident left the island in 1962.

Abandoned Islands

On the other side of the world, Bikini Atoll should stand as a contrast to Poveglia's dark history. With a name so cheerful, how could it possibly be anything less? But this South Pacific Island was home to some of the first nuclear tests carried out by the US government from 1946 to 1958. These nuclear tests were so toxic that the island's original inhabitants were forced to permanently relocate to the island of Kili. When they tried to return in the 1970's, many residents quickly became sick, forcing them to flee the island for the foreseeable future. Now uninhabited, it remains a stark reminder of the devastation caused by nuclear weapons.

Abandoned Islands

Another abandoned island left desolate not by the destruction of nature, but by its resurgence, is Ilha da Queimada Grande in Brasil. More than 90 miles from Sao Paolo, Ilha da Queimada Grande is a literal den of snakes.

Thousands of years ago, when the island became separated from the mainland by rising sea levels, it left animals trapped. Now, it is home to between 2,000 to 4,000 golden lancehead pit vipers all poisonous. While they typically feast on birds and lizards, they have reportedly developed cannibalistic tendencies. People have tried to live here amongst the vipers, but they didn't succeed. The last known inhabitants of the island operated its lone lighthouse until the 1920s when their bodies were discovered riddled with snakebites. Since then, nobody has dared venture back.

With no natural predators left to compete with, this island of snakes looks set to continue to grow as the years pass.

Abandoned Islands

While snakes flourish in Brasil, Okunoshima, Japan is home to an unlikely swarm of rabbits. During the Second World War, Okunoshima was transformed into a secret research facility for the development of toxic gas since this was forbidden by international law, the Imperial Japanese Army attempted to hide its existence by omitting it from any maps.

After the war, when Allied forces arrived at Okunoshima, they discovered hundreds of unsupervised rabbits, all of which had been used for testing. These rabbits were released to run free on the island, and their population rapidly grew. Today, they are so revered that it is illegal for tourists to hunt them, or even for them to bring animals to the island that could risk their safety.

Abandoned Islands

Clipperton Island, under French dominion, is an island without a dominant animal but acts as a horrific reminder of the brutality of humans. In 1897, Mexico deployed a warship to annexe the island and establish a colony, and by 1914, at least 100 inhabitants lived on the island. But this habitation was soon thrown into discord when the Mexican Revolution erupted a few years later with regular food shipments halted, leading to starvation and scurvy to run rampant. It also led to the tyrannical rule of Victoriano Alvarez, the island's reclusive lighthouse keeper.

Alvarez soon revealed his violence reportedly crowning himself king of the island and enslaving, abusing, and executing the remaining colonists over a period of two years. The survivors whittled down to less than ten eventually overpowering and killing Alvarez. After they were rescued, none attempted to return.

With such lurid and unnerving histories, after travelling across the world's abandoned islands you may be left with a choice. Continue further into their mysteries, or allow them to be forgotten?

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Plague, leprosy and 'toxic' rabbits: the unforgettable stories of the world's abandoned islands - Wired.co.uk

Patch.com

'Women's Uber' CEO Arrested As Fugitive From Virgin Islands Patch.com BOSTON, MA The Women only ride hailing service (think Uber or Lift for just the ladies) hit a roadblock today when news broke that its CEO was arrested last week for defrauding the Virgin Islands government out of more than $2 million. The Boston ... Ride-Hailing Service CEO Faces Virgin Islands Fraud Charges ...U.S. News & World Report Ride-hailing service CEO faces Virgin Islands fraud chargesWashington Post all 6 news articles »

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'Women's Uber' CEO Arrested As Fugitive From Virgin Islands - Patch.com

The shocking ritual turned the sea completely red off the Danish islands' shores

THE sea was turned red with the blood of whales during a gruesome ritual whale massacre on the Faroe Islands.

Hundreds of animals were slaughtered with lances by locals for the shameful Grindadrap festival after being forced towards the shore.

Rex Features

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Pilot whales swimming close to the islands during migration each year are herded towards the coast by fisherman where locals wade into shallow water and hack them to death.

The cruel practice dates back to 1584, with whales pelted by stones to terrify them into beaching themselves.

Grindadrap is the Faroese term for whale killing, and the ritual can happen several times a year depending on how close whales get to the islands.

Slaughtering the animals is banned in Denmark, and across the EU, as they are a protected species.

But despite being a protectorate of Denmark, the Faroes are not a member of the EU creating a legal grey area, according to the charity Sea Shepherd.

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Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us attips@the-sun.co.ukor call 0207 782 4368

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Hundreds of whales slaughtered in horrifying gruesome photos of ... - The Sun

by Jeffrey Beradelli and Gary Detman

Tracking the Tropics. WPEC.

UPDATE:

The CBS12 Weather Team is tracking 2 areas in the tropics.

At 5pm today the National Hurricane Center named the 2nd tropical storm of the season nearing the Leeward Islands. This storm is named Bret. (The first storm of the year was Alex and that was way back in January.) Bret has winds of 40 mph located south of Barbados, near Brazil, and is moving WNW at 30 mph. This storm is forecast to maintain its tropical storm status through midweek but then run into some high wind shear across the central Caribbean. At that point it is forecast to weaken and potentially dissipate.

The other system we are watching is much closer to home. A large but disorganized area of convection is located in the Southern Gulf near Cancun. This system may gradually get better formed and become a subtropical or tropical storm over the next 1-2 days. The system is forecast to move NW towards the Louisiana coast. As it moves away from South Florida it will steal our moisture and give us more sun and a lot less rain over the next few days. But for the northern Gulf coast from eastern Texas to the western FL Panhandle they will see increasing heavy rain. Some isolated areas may see a foot or more of flooding rain through the end of the week.

Neither system is a threat for South Florida.

Original Story:

Tropical Storm Bret has formed near the Leeward Islands.

Bret is moving WNW at 30 miles per hour.

There are tropical storm warnings up for Trinidad, Tobago, Grenada and a portion of Venezuela. Tropical storm watches are in place for Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba.

Bret is one of two systems being tracked in the tropics right now.

There is another system moving in the Gulf that has triggered tropical storm warnings for a portion of the Louisiana coast.

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Tropical Storm Bret forms by Leeward Islands - WPEC

By Associated Press By Associated Press June 20 at 11:51 AM

In either direction, the waiting line is stuck.

On World Refugee Day, more than 60,000 refugees and migrants are stranded in Greece. Theyre eventually supposed to go forward to other countries in Europe or be sent back to Turkey, but the process is barely moving.

On the mainland, children take after-hours classes at Greek schools, while their families are moving out of tent camps and into trailers and apartments. Most will eventually be relocated to European Union (E.U.) countries, but the process is slow. Out of the total 63,000 places promised, just over 14,000 refugees have been moved out of Greece to 23 countries.

On the islands, where migrants are sent to wait for possible expulsion to Turkey, conditions for many have worsened as daily arrivals continue, though in smaller numbers than before. Another 14,000 people are waiting there.

Its all part of a refugee deal launched 15 months ago after more than a million people, most fleeing war and poverty in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, crossed into Europe in 2015 and 2016. Greece was a key transit point on that route, as refugees traveled from Turkey to nearby Greek islands, often using unsafe boats.

At first they were able to travel freely on to wealthier countries in northern and western Europe, but tens of thousands were stranded last year when the European Union began reintroducing border controls. Those who arrived before March 20, 2016, were allowed to move on to mainland Greece to seek relocation in an E.U. country. Those who arrived after are stuck on the islands. They can apply for asylum, or protection from being sent back but many are supposed to be sent back to Turkey. In practice, thats not really happening.

Shelters on Khos, a Greek island about five miles from the coast of Turkey, are filled beyond capacity. Many new arrivals, including infants, now sleep in tents on the beach.

Jill Biden, wife of former U.S. vice president Joe Biden, visited refugees in Khos earlier this month as part of work by the aid organization Save the Children. She traveled with Nitzia Logothetis, a therapist and aid organizer, who said she was horrified by the conditions she saw.

There were over 100 unaccompanied minors on the island, between the ages of 8 and 17, and over 1,300 refugees in total, Logothetis told a conference in Athens, the Greek capital, after returning from the visit.

I saw parents, children, and people who looked so hopeless, she said. Some of the children are so stressed out. ... The longer they stay, the more severe their symptoms.

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On Greek islands, refugees and migrants find themselves stuck - Washington Post

I had booked at the Floreana Lava Lodge beforehand ($138 per night), as it was the only lodging on the island for which I could find contact information. The lodge consists of luxury cabins complete with air conditioning (however the electricity is unreliable it is run on local pine nut oil). I was the only one staying there, mimicking my protagonist Frances isolation in a way I wasnt altogether comfortable with, but the next morning Claudio Cruz, who manages the property, sat down with me to a wonderful breakfast of fresh fruit grown on the island and local yogurt and cheese, to talk about his life.

Mr. Cruz is a native of Floreana, the son of 1940s settlers. He and his wife also own a guesthouse, the Casa Santa Maria. Besides Mr. Cruzs properties there are five other lodging establishments; the most famous is the Hotel Wittmer, right on Black Beach (named for its black volcanic sand), which heats up to infernal temperatures and is overrun twice a day with groups of tourists who come and snorkel and then go back to their boats. Each room at the Wittmer has a balcony with a hammock. The other guesthouses are clean and comfortable, with bathrooms en suite. Some have air conditioning and include breakfast, at $30 to $40 a night. There is usually a vacancy, unless there is a school group or a large scientific research community. Each guesthouse consists of two or three rooms atop the proprietors house.

Floreana, with a small population of about 200, is not for the easily lonely. There are no stores and no real restaurants, and you are not allowed to bring any produce to the island (though granola bars, instant oatmeal and other packaged foods are fine), for fear of contamination. Erika Wittmer and her mother Floreanita will make dinner for $10 and, if you sweet talk them into it, lunch ($6). Oddly, if only because the Fruleins Wittmer have never lived there, it is German food: pork, spaetzle, overcooked vegetables, a bit heavy for a tropical island. Claudio Cruzs sister, Aura, cooks tastier food out of her home and restaurant youll see the sign marking La Canchalagua. She will serve you at one of the two tables on her front porch if arrangements are made with her in advance. Meals are local fish and simple grilled meats, rice and vegetables (lunch $6, dinner $10 to $12). Nowhere on Floreana do you get to choose your meal (though accommodations may be possible for vegetarians and others with dietary restrictions).

The main attraction is Asilo de la Paz (Haven of Peace), site of the first human settlements on Floreana, in a cave near the only source of fresh water on the island. Its about five miles up the only road. You can take the workers bus, which leaves at 7 a.m., and ask to be dropped off ($2). Technically its national parkland, so youre not allowed there without a guide, but I went several times and was questioned only once. The cave is empty now, and just big enough for five people to stand its hard to believe an entire family once lived there. Also at the summit is an abandoned resort that the Wittmers built but never actually used, as well as the Floreana tortoise breeding corral, where you can commune with (and get close enough to touch) giant tortoises, cousins of the originals.

Better still: Attach yourself to a group. One day I caught a ride with a class of Ecuadorean fifth graders and listened as their guide explained the site while we shared lollipops. Another day I was invited to join a German group, and we stopped at a farm to examine the plants that provide the food to islanders. A third day, I asked Mr. Cruz to show me his farm, and the site of some of the human settlements that provide Floreanas historical lore (I paid him $20 for his time).

Floreana has some of the most interesting human history in the Galpagos, and was the site of the possible murder of three flamboyant characters, entertainingly chronicled in the 2013 documentary The Galpagos Affair: Satan Came to Eden. (I fictionalized them in my novel.) Originally occupied mostly by marauding pirates and buccaneers (who are said to have eaten all the tortoises, and released goats and rats), consistent human settlement on Floreana only dates back to 1929, when a German doctor, Friedrich Ritter, and his companion, Dore Strauch, decided to follow his nativist philosophy by leaving their respective spouses (who conveniently moved in together), pulling out all their teeth to seal their commitment to vegetarianism, and moving there. Their solitude was disturbed by the arrival of the Wittmer family in 1932. Relations between the two German families were tense, and the discord was further fueled when Eloise Wehrborn de Wagner-Bosquet, an Austrian baroness, arrived to stake her claim to the island. Competing narratives can be compared in Margaret Wittmers memoir, Floreana, and Strauchs memoir, Satan Came to Eden.

Arriving with two German lovers, the self-proclaimed baroness antagonized both families by stealing provisions and otherwise attracting attention. After a split in the mnage trois, the baroness and one of her partners vanished. Everyone on the island would seem to have had motive and opportunity for their disappearance, but accidents can also happen on volcanic islands. In the wake of her disappearance the spurned lover caught the next boat. His desiccated body was found on a deserted island nearby, six months later. Not long afterward, Dr. Ritter died from eating spoiled potted meat (despite his professed vegetarianism). Amid rumors that she had poisoned him, Dore Strauch returned to Germany, leaving the Wittmers briefly alone on the island. The Floreanita mentioned earlier is Margarets daughter.

If the murder stories dont scare you off, the snorkeling is terrific around Floreana. Its best to bring your own equipment, though there is usually some knocking about that you can borrow at hotels. There were five foreigners staying on the island the week I was there, and two Argentine girls negotiated a snorkeling trip with a local resident. The American couple who joined us were avid snorkelers, and they pointed out manta and eagle rays, small sharks and different kinds of colorful fish as well as spectacular underwater volcanic rocks.

In addition to the road that goes to the top of the island, there is a second one that runs parallel to the shore and ends in La Loberia, a sea lion nursery. I had been warned that the 800-pound bull that lives there is territorial, and when he barked at me angrily I knew Id gotten too close.

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In the Footsteps of Charles Darwin - New York Times

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is proposing numerous changes to the Saranac Lake Islands Campground, located just outside of Saranac Lake. In one form or another, the state has regulated camping on Middle and Lower Saranac lakes, as well as on Weller Pond and First and Second ponds, for just over a century. (Enterprise photo Justin A. Levine)

SARANAC LAKE Little more than a century after camping first opened on Lower and Middle Saranac lakes, the state Department of Environmental Conservation is proposing changes to both the regulations governing the campground and the locations of some of its sites.

Officially sanctioned state camping began on the lakes in 1916 and eventually expanded to include 300 wooden tent platforms scattered around the lakes, islands and connected ponds. The popularity of the platforms led to unsustainable use, and the state removed the platforms and created the Saranac Lake Administrative Camping Area, which opened in 1977.

The camping area, now known as the Saranac Lake Islands Campground, initially opened with 62 sites, all located on Lower Saranac Lake. In 1992, the DEC reorganized the campground, adding another 25 sites on Middle Saranac Lake and Weller Pond to bring the campground to its current total of 87 sites.

However, the DEC failed to change its rules and regulations to reflect the expansion of the campground, and is now proposing to do so through the recently released Saranac Lakes Wild Forest Unit Management Plan.

The Saranac Lake Islands Campground is operated by the DEC, one of more than a dozen such campgrounds throughout the Adirondacks. From the middle of May to the middle of October each year, sites in the campground are available to rent, and can be reserved up to nine months in advance.

However, while the state-owned shoreline of Lower Saranac Lake is administered under the campground rules, Middle Saranac Lake and Weller Pond shorelines are considered wild forest. This means that while there is no camping on Lower Saranac Lake except at the campground sites, there could be camping along the shoreline of Weller Pond and Middle Saranac Lake in places that are not official campground sites.

The DEC is proposing to expand the campground regulations to the shoreline of Weller Pond and Middle Saranac Lake so that no camping within 1,000 feet of shore would be allowed, except at the existing campground sites.

In addition to the regulations change, the DEC is also proposing to relocate 14 of the campground sites over three years to meet separation guidelines. Many DEC campgrounds are classified as intensive use areas, which means that campsites can be close together. But due to the administrative classification of the islands campground, sites need to be about 500 feet apart. Therefore, DEC plans to close some current sites and move them to other locations where the separation requirements will be met. Twelve of these sites are on Lower Saranac Lake, while the other two are on Middle Saranac Lake.

The DEC is also proposing to build four new sites and says it will work with the state Adirondack Park Agency to develop several new group camping sites, which allow more than six people. DEC campgrounds limit most sites to a maximum of six.

The DEC has put presentations and fact sheets about various aspects of the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest UMP on its website and will take public comments on the proposals until Aug. 11. For the fact sheets, presentations and the full UMP, along with public meeting dates and information on how to submit comments, go to http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/22593.html.

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DEC would change islands camping - The Adirondack Daily Enterprise

Just two years after ambitious efforts by a team of international conservation organisations to rid French Polynesias Acteon & Gambier island groups of invasive mammals began, five of six targeted islands are now confirmed as predator-freea ground-breaking one thousand hectares in total. Early signs already indicate that rare birds found nowhere else in the world (endemic) and other native plants and animals are recovering as the remote islands return to their former glory.

The Polynesian Ground-dove Alopecoenas erythropterus (locally known as Tutururu) is one of the rarest birds on the planet with fewer than 200 individuals left. Predation and competition by destructive, non-native (invasive) mammals in French Polynesia have driven this and other rare, endemic bird species to the brink of extinction. The species is listed by BirdLife International as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red Lista category that signals an extremely high risk of extinction within our lifetimes.

The Acteon Gambier island group is home to the last viable population of Polynesian Ground-dove, a species once much more widespread in the Pacific, said Steve Cranwell, BirdLife Internationals Invasive Species Manager. This birds remaining predator-free habitat was so small that without this intervention, a cyclone, prolonged drought, or accidental rat or avian disease introduction could trigger extinction.

Introduced mammalian species alone are believed to be responsible for 90% of all bird extinctions since 1500. Early human explorers introduced invasive species such as rats to the remote Acteon & Gambier islands (and thousands more around the world), upsetting the natural balances of the islands and threatening the native plants and wildlife that evolved without defences against land predators.

Operation Restoration

Combining resources, expertise, equipment, and logistical skills, a coalition of NGOs, BirdLife International, SOP Manu (BirdLife Partner, French Polynesia) and Island Conservationtogether with the support of the government of French Polynesia, landowners, other partners and local volunteersvoyaged over 1,500 km to six of French Polynesias remote islandsVahanga , Tenarunga, Temoe, Kamaka, Makaroa and Manui to complete the challenging project in 2015.

The project required years of planning and fundraising (including a cooperation with Rovio, the maker ofAngry Birds), involved nine permits, 165 helicopter flight hours, three ships transporting hundreds of tonnes of equipment and donated bait from key partners Bell Laboratories and Tomcat, as well as 31 personnel from six countries (from three continents) who endured extraordinary weather and sea conditions during 12-day journeys to and from the islands. The prospect of a brighter future for the Tutururu and other native island species made the operations well-worth the effort.

After extensive monitoring, a survey in April has confirmed great success on five of the six islands, reported Dr David Beaune, Director SOP Manu. This is a tremendous achievement that will provide a permanent solution to the alarming declines of native species on these islands due to predation and competition from invasive species.

Double benefits: safe habitat and local coconut production

The project has more than doubled the secure habitat for both the Polynesian Ground-dove and the Tuamotu Sandpiper Prosobonia parvirostris (locally: Titi), a globally Endangered landbird, said Cranwell. The islands look vibrant with new native vegetation, and both bird species have now established and are increasing on the island of Tenarungasomething that has not been possible for decades.

The benefits extend beyond nature alone. Without rats, local land managers reported a doubling of their copra (coconut kernel) production in 2016a major source of income for these isolated communities, said Pere Joel Aumeran Vicar General for the Catholic Church. Safeguarding our islands natural value is a foundation of Polynesian culture and important to the Catholic Church. This tremendous contribution to the lives of local people ensures these islands fully recover and remain predator-free; a legacy the Puamotu people leave for generations to come.

While the success of this project is vital to securing the future for these globally threatened birds, it also provides important safe habitat for other endemic species in a region where there is very little invasive-predator-free habitat, explained Richard Griffiths, Island Conservations Project Director. The success also serves as an indicator that invasive-species-driven extinctions on other remote islands can be avoided if this operation is replicated at scale.

Next steps

We now need to increase the habitat range of these species by translocating small populations to islands where they were previously founda conservation technique proven highly effective in Polynesia, said Dr. Beaune. Plans are underway to re-introduce the Tutururu and Titi to Temoe, and to attract other Endangered seabirds such as the Polynesian Storm-petrel Nesofregetta fuliginosa to these predator-free islands.

To inform future restoration efforts for complex islands with challenging terrain, the team is conducting an analysis of the Kamaka effort, which did not succeed. With invasive mammals now eradicated from the five islands, the coalitions attention is shifting to biosecuritypreventing re-invasion through monitoring, education (brochures and signs for tourists), and stringent inspections of incoming vessels.

French Polynesia can be immensely proud of completing this project, which, for its scale and complexity, is a first for the region, Griffiths said. The government of French Polynesia is well positioned to capitalize on this success and become a leader within the Pacific to rid Oceanias islands of damaging invasive species.

Polynesian Ground-dove album Tuamotu Sandpiper album Operation & landscapes album

2015 Press Release Coverage on BBC Earth Angry Birds video Island Conservation Blog coverage BirdLife Operation Restoration project updates

Species benefiting:

BirdLife International, withSOP Manu(BirdLife Partner in French Polynesia) andIsland Conservation lead an extensive island restoration operation in a remote area of French Polynesia to save Critically Endangered bird species and restore the delicate ecological balance. The ambitious project is restoring the Acteon & Gambier archipelagos to their former glory, making them once again safe and ready for the reintroduction of the Tuamotu Sandpiper and Polynesian Ground-dove, andbenefitingmany other wildlife.

By sharing transport, equipment and expertise, weve significantly reduced the cost of restoring several islands that are threatened, but the project is nonetheless our biggest of the decade. Additional technical assistance has come from the Pacific Invasives Initiative and the New Zealand Department of Conservation.

This project has received support from many international and national organisations with significant funding from the European Union, the British Birdwatching Fair, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, and National Geographic Society; sponsorships from Bell Laboratories and T-Gear Trust Canada; and assistance from the Government of French Polynesia and many individual people around the world.

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Paradise saved: some of world's rarest birds rebound on Pacific islands cleared of invasive predators - BirdLife International