Roman roaming: a tour of Italys Pontine Islands

 Posted on June 25, 2024  |  7 minutes  |  1380 words  |  Valentine Belue

Coastal cracker … Ponza is the main isle of the Pontine Islands. Photograph: Silvia MarchettiCoastal cracker … Ponza is the main isle of the Pontine Islands. Photograph: Silvia MarchettiItaly holidaysMaldives? Seychelles? No, grazie. When Romans need a break they sail to the Pontine archipelago, a cluster of former prison islands packed with history and surrounded by pristine blue water The Guardian’s product and service reviews are independent and are in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative. [Read More]

Top 10 affordable spas, bath houses and hammams in Europe

 Posted on June 25, 2024  |  5 minutes  |  966 words  |  Chauncey Koziol

Spa breaksPlunge into a world of soothing saunas, hot tubs and steam rooms with our pick of hot spots with character but without the whopping spa resort prices Liquidrom, BerlinRejuvenate before you de-juvenate in Europe’s clubbing capital with a trip to Liquidrom, a much-loved spa in the trendy Kreuzberg neighbourhood that offers a chic-luxury experience for a fraction of the price you’d expect. The centrepiece of this urban bath house is a large salt-water pool in a dimly lit room with a domed roof; the salt density is high enough to make floating easy, while piped chillout muzak encourages a total trance-out. [Read More]

'I knew the victims' pain': the pioneering detective who took on the Golden State Killer

 Posted on June 24, 2024  |  8 minutes  |  1530 words  |  Kary Bruening

Carol Daly in 1975. Photograph: Courtesy Carol DalyCarol Daly in 1975. Photograph: Courtesy Carol DalyCaliforniaForty years ago, Carol Daly was the only female detective investigating the attacks. This week, she will attend his sentencing She had waited decades for the call. There had been a time when chasing the trail of the Golden State Killer had dominated Carol Daly’s life. But by April 2018, Daly, a 79-year-old former detective with the Sacramento county sheriff’s department, had long ago forced herself to step away, determined to spend time with her husband and grandchildren instead. [Read More]

Anthony Quinn Bay claimed by actor's widow | Greece

 Posted on June 24, 2024  |  3 minutes  |  634 words  |  Jenniffer Sheldon

Greece This article is more than 12 years oldAnthony Quinn Bay claimed by actor's widowThis article is more than 12 years oldHillary Clinton expected to raise issue of Zorba star's land purchase, which was annulled by Greece, on state visitAnthony Quinn loved Greece so much that, after filming The Guns of Navarone in Rhodes, he decided to buy an isolated bay on the island to create an international centre for artists and film-makers. [Read More]

Can you tell what sex somebody is from a urine sample? | Notes and Queries

 Posted on June 24, 2024  |  1 minutes  |  141 words  |  Valentine Belue

SPECULATIVE SCIENCECan you tell what sex somebody is from a urine sample? Vicky Hill, London, UK Yes, it's usually possible to recover enough DNA from cells shed into the urine to carry out a DNA identitiy test of the kind used by Forensic Scientists to identify individuals. These tests generally include a sex determination test. Jim, Cobham UK Yes, urine will contain cells from the urinary tract. [Read More]

Death and glory | Pop and rock

 Posted on June 24, 2024  |  14 minutes  |  2831 words  |  Aldo Pusey

Pop and rockDeath and glorySeparated by 25 years in death , Kurt Cobain and Sid Vicious are united as icons, two pitiful lives celebrated in a way that is unique to rock music'Thank you all from the pit of my burning nauseous stomach' ' Extract from Kurt Cobain's suicide note For most of his short adult life, Kurt Cobain suffered from acute stomach pains. In his journal, he detailed them obsessively, described his various failed treatments and mocked the condition that baffled doctors and specialists alike. [Read More]

Life on the beaches of Tel Aviv and Gaza City in pictures | Photography

 Posted on June 24, 2024  |  3 minutes  |  580 words  |  Kary Bruening

Life on the beaches of Tel Aviv and Gaza City – in picturesThe beaches in Tel Aviv and Gaza City, just 70km (40 miles) apart, are different worlds on opposite sides of a century-old conflict, but on long summer days Israelis and Palestinians enjoy some of the same delights. Photographs by Oded Balilty in Tel Aviv and Khalil Hamra in Gaza City by Associated PressPalestinians enjoy a summer day on the beach of Gaza City, and beachgoers relax in Tel AvivPalestinians enjoy a summer day on the beach of Gaza City, and beachgoers relax in Tel Aviv [Read More]

Police to be able to run face recognition searches on 50m driving licence holders | Facial recogniti

 Posted on June 24, 2024  |  6 minutes  |  1097 words  |  Jenniffer Sheldon

Facial recognition This article is more than 1 month oldPolice to be able to run face recognition searches on 50m driving licence holdersThis article is more than 1 month oldExclusive: Privacy campaigners say clause in new criminal justice bill will put all UK drivers on ‘permanent police lineup’ The police will be able to run facial recognition searches on a database containing images of Britain’s 50 million driving licence holders under a law change being quietly introduced by the government. [Read More]

Rich Brother Poor Brother review a rare and fortuitous planetary alignment

 Posted on June 24, 2024  |  5 minutes  |  912 words  |  Kary Bruening

Open and entertaining, if not entirely self-aware … David in Rich Brother Poor Brother. Photograph: Olgac Bozalp/Channel 4Open and entertaining, if not entirely self-aware … David in Rich Brother Poor Brother. Photograph: Olgac Bozalp/Channel 4TV reviewTelevisionReviewThis touching doc about two brothers living in very different worlds is almost too extraordinary to be true. Plus, Thierry Henry gets us in the Euro 2016 spirit There are many extraordinary things about Rich Brother Poor Brother (Channel 4), not least that it happened at all. [Read More]

The Last Kingdom recap: series two finale everyone has blood on their hands now | The Last Kingd

 Posted on June 24, 2024  |  7 minutes  |  1363 words  |  Chauncey Koziol

The Last Kingdom: episode by episodeThe Last KingdomThe Last Kingdom recap: series two finale – everyone has blood on their hands nowWhat a tense, tragic ending to a sensational series. Let’s take a moment to weep and raise a glass of mead to the fallen This blog is for those who have watched the eighth episode of series two of The Last Kingdom. Please try to avoid posting book spoilers in the comments. [Read More]