The inventors of a bubble pump designed to catch plastics before they reach the ocean are among the 15 finalists in the running to win a £1m environmental award founded by the Prince of Wales.

The Earthshot Prize is given to innovative ideas for the environment.

Five winners will be announced in Boston next month – each will be given £1m to develop their projects.

Prince William unveiled the shortlist, saying there are “many reasons to be optimistic” about the planet’s future.

He described the people in the shortlist for the prize – now in its second year – as “innovators, leaders and visionaries”.

Prince William said: “They are directing their time, energy, and talent towards bold solutions with the power to not only solve our planet’s greatest environmental challenges, but to create healthier, more prosperous, and more sustainable communities for generations to come.”

The Great Bubble Barrier, from the Netherlands, sees air pumped through a perforated tube to create a curtain of bubbles, which brings plastic up to the surface and into a waste collection system.

For the first time there are also finalists from the UK, including London start-up Notpla Hard Material, which makes packaging from seaweed and plants as an alternative to single-use plastic.

The company has already created a million biodegradable food boxes for online food ordering firm Just Eat.

Low Carbon Materials (LCM), in County Durham, uses unrecyclable plastic waste to make concrete blocks without carbon emissions.

“Until now, construction has been one of the hardest industries to decarbonise,” said Dr Natasha Boulding, co-founder of LCM.

“With LCM, that could all change. We’ve turned concrete net-zero and now we need the world to start using it.”

Other finalists include the City of Amsterdam Circular Economy group, which wants to see nothing wasted and everything recycled in the Netherland’s capital by 2050.

Saudi Arabia is considering setting up a new metals and mining stock exchange index as it looks to expand its resources sector to diversify away from hydrocarbons, a senior government official said on Friday.

Mining Minister Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef said in an interview in Sydney that his team met with Australian counterparts to learn more about a mining index, similar to Australia’s ASX 300 Metals & Mining sub-index that lists metals and mining firms including producers of gold, steel and precious metals.

“It is something we are studying … but we have not made up our mind if it would be successful,” Al-Khorayef said.

“We have a secondary stock market in Saudi…its still evolving. We want to see if its better to have something for mining,” he said.

He did not say how many companies would potentially be included in the index.

Saudi Arabia’s stock exchange consists of the Tadawul main market and a parallel market that companies can join with fewer reporting requirements.

Riyadh’s efforts to build an economy that is not dependent on oil include a shift toward mining to explore the country’s untapped reserves of resources from copper to phosphate and gold.

The minister is at the International Mining and Resources Conference in Sydney this week to drum up investment interest.

He said on Wednesday that the kingdom plans to award over a dozen mining exploration licenses to international investors.

Al-Khorayef said the separate index for mining would help put more focus on Saudi’s mining industry, and will enable them to benchmark it with markets like Australia, the UK and others.

“The idea is to help the sector grow faster. We definitely see a need for small and medium firms in the sector to access capital through capital markets,” he said.

Saudi’s stock markets are currently dominated by real estate, energy and trading firms, while there are a just a small number of mining companies with the state miner Saudi Arabian Mining Co, the Gulf’s largest miner, leading the pack.

“The whole idea (of a mining index) is to ensure that we have something that financing companies or financial institutions like banks can have good visibility on,” he said.

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Farhan announced the restoration of the historic Seiyun Palace in Hadhramaut Governorate in Yemen.

The restoration project will be funded by the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen and implemented by UNESCO.

“This project represents our compliance to the directives of our country in support of Yemen,” stated Prince Badr.

It is the translation of the generous directives issued by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman towards supporting both Yemen and Yemenis at all levels.

According to Al-Eryani, Seiyun Palace is a prominent historical monument in Yemen — one of the largest and rarest mud-brick palaces in the world.

“This palace is characterized by its beauty, symmetry, and large size, as it consists of seven floors and comprises 45 rooms in addition to several outbuildings and stores.

In 1984, a museum was inaugurated in the palace, comprising various artifacts collected after the conduction of scientific-related excavation missions, namely the Yemeni-Soviet mission,” he said.

Al-Eryani highlighted that the artifacts date back to prehistoric eras, the oldest around 1.3 million years old. He noted that the government selected Seiyun Palace to be the new image on Yemen’s 1,000 riyal banknote, being one of the most prominent monuments in the country.

He also stated that many archaeological sites and historical monuments in Yemen were exposed to natural and unnatural dangers, which arose from the civil war triggered by the Iran-backed Houthi militia.

“The Houthis transformed the buildings, as well as the archaeological and historical sites, into military sites and weapon stores to manage their battles against the state of Yemen, the Yemenis, their history, and their identity,” Al-Eryani said.

Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Jaber said: “It is well known that culture is important for any sort of sustainable development.

Therefore, the Seiyun Palace restoration project, funded by the SDRPY in partnership with UNESCO, is of great importance. In fact, the project falls within the scope of work of the SDRPY, which is conducting projects as well as sustainable and qualitative development initiatives in various sectors.”

Al-Jaber, who is also the supervisor general of the SDRPY, added that the Kingdom is keen to preserve the heritage of Yemen.

“The initiative will enable the effective development of the country and lead to positive results by enhancing the economic benefits in the governorates through providing job opportunities, training manpower, and providing Yemeni institutions with … expertise,” he said.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved contracts for urgent repairs and special general maintenance of some roads nationwide worth N48.519 billion.

A statement from the Ministry Of Works and Housing, signed by the Special Adviser, Communications, Hakeem Bello, said the move was in line with the federal government’s commitment to developing the nation’s road network in the six geopolitical zones.

It quoted the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) as explaining that the aging state of federal roads nationwide warranted the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to ‘procure’ the projects in its amended 2022 appropriation.

What he said: He added that the projects would enhance federal government’s objective of restoring the nation’s road network as part of the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021 -2025.

The roads to benefit: The roads for which the minister got approval for the award of contracts for urgent repairs, and special general maintenance included the Gorgaram – Guri Road in Yobe state, valued at N40.907 billion, with a completion period of 36 months and the rehabilitation of the 90 kilometre Buni Gari – Gulani road also in Yobe state in the sum of N4.785 billion with a completion period of 36 months.

Approval was also received for the reconstruction of Water Corporation Drive and Trinity Avenue in Victoria Island, Lagos State. This was approved in the sum of N2.826 billion with a completion period of 36 months.

The companies contracted: The approvals, which were sequel to the memoranda submitted to the council by the Minister of Works and Housing, Fashola, showed that the construction of Gorgaram – Guri Road in Yobe state will be executed by Messrs Mothercat Limited.

It added that the Buni Gari – Gulani road will be rehabilitated by Messrs Hikam Engineering and Consultancy Limited, while the reconstruction of Water Corporation Drive and Trinity Avenue will be carried out by Messrs Wizchino Engineering Limited.

Obudu Mountain Resort also known as Obudu Cattle Ranch is one of Africa’s finest and most interesting and spectacular tourist destinations.

Obudu Mountain Resort is located in the highlands and deep tropical forests of Cross River State, Nigeria’s south-south with a temperate climate at about 45 miles from the border with Cameroon.

If you are a tourist looking for a mix of adventure and idyllic tranquillity, then Obudu Cattle Ranch is the place to be.

The Obudu Mountain Resort has capitalized on its altitude to provide guests with the best view points and fresh, invigorating mountain air.

The natural swimming pool with sparkling pure water provides a clear view of the long winding waterfall and green mountain ranges surround the natural reserve.

The reserve is home to rare species of birds and other animals such as the gorilla and drill monkey.

With rich natural vegetation and a picturesque view, Obudu is increasingly becoming popular amongst tourists from all around Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

Ramree island is an island off the coast of Rakhine State, Burma, which has an area of about 1,350 square kilometres (520 sq mi) and the main populated center is Ramree.

The island is separated from the mainland by a narrow canal-like strait, which is only 150 metres (490 ft) wide in average.

There is a bridge over the strait connecting the island with the continental shore. The highest point is Zikha Taung, a 305 metres (1,001 ft) high hill located near the western shore in the southern part of the island.

Probably this would look like a normal island to you in the Bay of Bengal in the Indian ocean, with wonderful beaches, but you are very wrong.

This was an island of a numerous military battles during the Second World War, however, the most brutal one was after all the hostilities have ended during the successful counter attack by the British forces against the Japanese Imperial forces.

On January 26, 1945, British troops made their way to Ramree Island so that they could establish a new airbase.

After a bloody but successful campaign against the Japanese, the British soldiers managed to drive nearly 1,000 enemy combatants into the dense mangrove swamp that covered some ten miles of Ramree.

While this may have seemed a fine opportunity to slip into the wilderness and regroup, most of the Japanese soldiers would never be heard from again.

The soldiers quickly became slowed by the thick, muck-filled swamps that impeded their progress.

In addition, many of the men began to succumb to tropical diseases carried by the swarms of mosquitoes as well as the various poisonous spiders, snakes and scorpions that skittered and slithered through the muddy underbrush.

Over the course of several days of struggling through the swamps in this manner, starvation and a lack of drinking water became a very real threat as well.

All the while they were harassed by sporadic artillery fire from British forces positioned at the edges of the swampland.

Nevertheless, the Japanese troops were being ravaged by some evil menace.

The British troops stationed there cringed in horror despite the fact that it was being unleashed upon their enemy.

Unfortunately for the Japanese troops, the swamps of Ramree were infested by countless, very large saltwater crocodiles, which can grow upwards of 20 feet long and over a ton in weight.

The weary and bloodied soldiers thrashing clumsily through the swamps may as well have been a dinner bell ringing.

The soldiers were viciously and mercilessly attacked by the reptilian beasts, and survivors reported how swarms of the aggressive animals descended upon them as terrified soldiers fired blindly in all directions in a futile effort to drive off their ravenous aggressors.

Out of the 1,000 soldiers that have entered the swampland, it was reported that around 20 soldiers have survived the brutal attack.

Nowadays, the island has more important role for the country’s role. Ramree Island is actually the location of a gas and oil pipeline built on the Indian Ocean coast to the province of Yunnan in China.

From a deep water port in Kyaukpyu on Ramree Island, oil from the Middle East and gas from Burma’s ocean coast, respectively, are transported through the pipelines to China.

The pipelines will enable China to rely less on ocean-transported oil and gas through the treacherous Strait of Malacca and will also cut two weeks off the potential transport time.

People will get the chance to explore some of a city’s rarely seen caves, as part of a festival.

According to estimates, Nottingham has about 870 caves, which are believed to date back to at least medieval times.

The Being Human festival, which will celebrate the city’s heritage, will run from 10-19 November.

It is being organised by the University of Nottingham in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy.

Underground world

The festival will include free exhibitions, tours and talks about the caves, including a rare tour of a cave system at Wollaton Hall.

There will also be free City of Caves tours at the National Justice Museum, along with interactive exhibitions at Nottingham Contemporary and activities at the Nottingham University Museum of Archaeology.

Dr Anna Walas, Nottingham Caves’ community archaeology liaison officer who has organised the events, said: “The Being Human festival champions cutting edge humanities research and it is an excellent opportunity to share fascinating research with our local communities and celebrate our city and its heritage.”

Many of the caves have had multiple uses throughout history, including being used as air raid shelters, wine and ale cellars and accommodation.

The cave at Wollaton Hall even housed an underground plunge pool.

The caves vary in size but the largest – which could house eight thousand people – was discovered underneath the John Player tobacco factory towards the west of the city.

Visitors will have the opportunity to learn much more about the caves and even explore them using virtual reality headsets at the festival launch event, entitled What Lies Beneath, at Nottingham Contemporary on 11 November.

Dr Christopher King, associate professor in historical archaeology at the University of Nottingham, is the project lead.

He said: “Nottingham’s caves are a unique part of the city’s heritage – no other British city has this underground world beneath its streets and buildings.

“They reveal so many stories attached to key moments in the city’s history, and our research is trying to bring these stories to life – from medieval brewers to Luddite rebels and World War Two air raid wardens.

“We’re really pleased that the Being Human festival gives us an opportunity to share our findings and give people exciting new ways of engaging with the city’s hidden heritage.”