The islands around Croatia’s Istria peninsula offer an unspoilt and authentic experience with walking trails, beaches, and a rich history. Lošinj is known for its mountainous terrain and dolphin-spotting tours. Cres features rugged landscapes and sheep, with no luxury resorts or tourist traps. Veliki Brijun, the largest of the Brijun islands, is a national park with Roman history, exotic flora, and wild beaches. Rab is known for its golden sand beaches, especially the Paradise Beach on the Lopar peninsula.

The article describes the Kadlekai Parishe, an annual peanut fair held in Bangalore, India. This cultural event takes place on the last Monday of the Hindu month of Kartik, which corresponds to 28 November. Farmers from the surrounding areas bring their peanut crops to the Bull Temple in Basavanagudi, where they offer a portion to the temple's statue of a bull and sell the rest on the streets. The fair, which has been celebrated for nearly 500 years, features the sale of unshelled peanuts and a variety of local snacks. The fair's origin is linked to a legend involving farmers, a bull, and the protection of peanut fields. Despite being held in India's IT hub, the fair retains the charm of a traditional village festival.

Biarritz offers a rich culinary experience with establishments like L’Impertinent, known for its Michelin star and innovative tasting menus by Chef Fabian Feldman. Le Pim’pi, run by Fanny and Manu, serves European flavors and caters to various dietary needs. Crampotte 30 provides authentic Basque tapas with a picturesque harbour view. Miremont, the city's oldest patisserie, delights with its pastel decor and array of sweet treats, including the Instagram-famous Beret Rouge pastry.

The article is a travel piece about the author's journey to South Tunisia, exploring the region's Berber culture and heritage, particularly in the wake of the 2011 revolution that led to a cultural revival. The writer visits Matmata, known for its underground troglodyte houses and Star Wars filming location, and Tamezret, where traditional Berber homes and a private museum dedicated to Berber culture are highlighted. The article also touches on the changing dynamics of Berber villages, with younger generations moving to newer towns. The author stays at Auberge de Tamazret, a guesthouse offering a traditional experience, and concludes with travel essentials for visiting Tunisia.

Sfax's 1200-year-old medina in Tunisia, often overlooked by travelers, offers a rich tapestry of history, heritage architecture, markets, eateries, and local culture. The medina has undergone a revival since Tunisia's 2011 revolution, with new organizations aiming to rejuvenate urban spaces. Visitors can enjoy rooftop cafes, sample Tunisian specialties at local eateries, explore a heritage house museum, discover the medina's secrets through guided walks, and practice haggling in the colorful souqs. The medina is also home to the Funduq El Haddadine, a landmark transformed into a market space for handicrafts.

The Parenzana Trail, once a railway during the Austro-Hungarian Empire, now serves as a 123-kilometer walking and cycling path through Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia. It offers scenic views, historical insights, and cultural experiences, including medieval hilltop towns, olive groves, vineyards, and attractions like the Euphrasian Basilica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The trail also provides opportunities to sample local products such as award-winning Istrian olive oil and wines, and to participate in truffle hunting.

Autumn in Italy offers a picturesque retreat with regions like Piedmont, Tuscany, and Sicily providing unique experiences. Piedmont is known for its truffle hunts and wine traditions, with luxury hotels like Casa di Langa and Nordelaia enhancing the experience. Tuscany's countryside is celebrated with local festivals and luxury villas like Borgo Pignano offering organic produce and truffle hunts. The Dolomites, ideal for hiking and photography, offer retreats like Rosa Alpina for outdoor activities and fine dining. Sicily's interior, with its Baroque towns and Mount Etna, hosts harvest festivals and offers luxury coastal stays with excursions to explore the island's diverse offerings.

The article discusses the Steora smart bench, a multifunctional street bench with solar panels, designed by Croatian company Include and its young entrepreneur founder, Ivan Mrvoš. The bench offers mobile charging, Wi-Fi connectivity, and data collection through its integrated sensors. It operates as a sustainable energy source, using solar power. Include has shipped over 1000 benches to 260 cities worldwide. The article also mentions Include's new product, the Monna cycling point, which is a solar-powered bench with additional features for cyclists. Mrvoš has been recognized by Forbes and Deloitte for his contributions to manufacturing and industry.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, including Rebecca L. Johnson and Alyson E. Mitchell, have discovered a more environmentally friendly method for debittering olives using Amberlite resins. This approach reduces the bitterness without the need for chemicals or excessive water, which is common in traditional commercial methods such as the Greek, Spanish, and California processes. The new method also preserves phenolic compounds for other uses, addressing the issue of toxic wastewater and high water consumption in olive processing. The findings were published in the Journal of Food Quality and Front Microbiol, highlighting the need for sustainable practices in response to increasing global demand for olives and olive oil.

Tunisian olive oil producers celebrated a record win of 11 awards at the NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, with 38 entries from Tunisia resulting in seven Gold and four Silver Awards. Producers like Karim Fitouri of Olivko and Slim Fendri of Domaine Fendri expressed pride in their achievements and the recognition of Tunisian olive oil's quality on the international stage. First-time winners like Raouf Ellouze and the Ben Ammar family of Domaine Ben Ammar were also highlighted, along with the success of female producers Afet and Selima Ben Hamouda of A&S. The awards signify the growing prestige and market potential of Tunisian olive oil.

The article discusses the fine-dining experience at the Noel Restaurant, which is associated with its Michelin-starred counterpart in Zagreb. The restaurant prides itself on its attention to detail, with a focus on seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. The menus are unique, listing ingredients like mackerel, Adriatic tuna, and white truffles, rather than specific dishes, and catering to various diets including vegan. The article also highlights the restaurant's sustainable practices, such as using water from an on-site spring and eco-friendly straws made from green apples. Additionally, the breakfast offerings at the restaurant are described, featuring a buffet of Istrian specialties and à la carte options with luxurious ingredients like foie gras and white truffle.

The article discusses the ongoing trade negotiations between the European Union (EU) and the South American trade bloc Mercosur, focusing on the agricultural sector. The EU aims to eliminate tariffs and gain market access for its companies, while Mercosur seeks preferential access to the EU market. European farmers, represented by Copa-Cogeca, have expressed concerns about making concessions in sectors like beef, poultry, sugar, and orange juice, fearing unfair competition and economic losses. The EU currently imports a significant amount of beef from Mercosur countries tariff-free, and there is concern over the impact of increased imports on the EU market. Conversely, EU agricultural exporters could benefit from reduced tariffs in Mercosur. The Argentinian Olive Oil Federation is seeking to exclude olive oil from the negotiations to protect its industry. Talks have been ongoing for nearly two decades and are set to continue with hopes of reaching a consensus.

A study published in Nature Climate Change by an international team of scientists from the University of East Anglia and the Southern University of Science and Technology indicates that over a quarter of the world's land could become significantly drier if global temperatures continue to rise, leading to increased risks of drought and wildfires. The research, which used projections from 27 global climate models, suggests that areas such as South East Asia, Southern Europe, Southern Africa, Central America, and Southern Australia are particularly at risk but could benefit from keeping warming below 1.5C. Lead author Chang-Eui Park highlights the critical impacts of aridification on agriculture, water quality, and biodiversity. The study also notes that aridification could be avoided in many at-risk regions if global temperature increases are limited to 1.5°C, aligning with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.

The article discusses various factors contributing to the overcrowding of tourist destinations, including cheap airfare due to low-cost airlines and reduced fuel costs, bargain cruising that crowds port cities, tourists flocking to perceived safer 'new' destinations, aggressive tourism promotion through social media and marketing campaigns, the influence of popular TV shows and movies on 'screen tourism', the impact of the sharing economy with platforms like Airbnb and Uber, and the increase in tourists from emerging markets such as China and India. The article also touches on the negative effects of tourism, such as the strain on resources and infrastructure, and the displacement of residents in historic city centers.

The OLEUM project, part of the EU's Horizon 2020 program and coordinated by Tullia Gallina Toschi from the University of Bologna, aims to enhance the authenticity and quality of olive oil globally. The consortium of 20 international partners is developing new analytical methods and tools to improve quality control and combat fraud. The project addresses legislative, analytical, harmonization, and consumer confidence gaps in the olive oil sector. It seeks to provide solutions for regulators and policymakers, revise existing quality control methods, and engage stakeholders in knowledge exchange. The establishment of a recognized regulatory standard is expected to take at least 5 years.

EU negotiators have agreed on new rules to enhance organic production and consumer confidence in EU organic food products. The rules will introduce stricter supply chain controls, compliance changes, and measures against pesticide contamination. They aim to increase organic food production by facilitating organic seed and animal supply, allowing mixed farms, and simplifying certification for small farmers. The regulation, replacing the original from 1991, was proposed by the European Commission in 2014 and will come into force in July 2020. The EU organic market is growing, with Denmark leading in per-capita consumption, and the EU organic logo, introduced in 2010, is mandatory for pre-packaged organic products in the EU.

Tunisia celebrated its first Gold Awards at the New York International Olive Oil Competition (NYIOOC) with wins for Olivko and Zeet. Olivko's owner, Karim Fitouri, expressed pride and optimism for the future of Tunisia's olive oil industry. Despite a less plentiful harvest, Olivko's focus on quality over quantity was recognized. Fitouri highlighted the need for education, investment, and marketing support for Tunisian producers to compete internationally. Tunisia, with a rich history of olive cultivation, is the world's third-largest olive oil exporter and fourth largest producer. Fitouri is committed to changing the image of Tunisian olive oil and encourages global retailers to try Olivko's products.

A group of farmers in Sierra de Cazorla, Spain, transitioned to organic farming to restore their ancient olive groves and produce high-quality olive oil. Their product, Dehesa de La Sabina monovarietal Picual, won a Best in Class Award at the 2017 New York International Olive Oil Competition. They partnered with BirdLife International to address the declining biodiversity in their region, which was affecting the local ecosystem and bird populations. The farmers have implemented practices to attract birds and insects, and they work with schools to educate children on environmental stewardship. Lucia Gamez, a member of the group, emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices and the role of natural biodiversity in providing nutrients to the olive trees.

Japanese hotel rooms often contain unexpected amenities that cater to cultural norms and guest convenience. These include room slippers for indoor use, air purifiers with multiple functions, pajamas provided for guests, massage chairs for relaxation, prefabricated bathrooms in budget lodgings, electronic toilets with advanced features, and air fresheners to neutralize odors, particularly in smoking rooms.

Tunisia has become the world's second largest olive oil producer after Spain, with a fourfold increase in production to an estimated 280,000 to 300,000 tons this year. Despite poor harvests in Europe due to weather and infestations, Tunisia has enjoyed a record season, also seeing bumper harvests in citrus fruits, dates, and an 80 percent increase in cereal crop yields. A significant portion of Tunisia's olive oil is exported, particularly to the EU, contributing to 40 percent of its agricultural exports and 10 percent of its total exports.