A rare natural spectacle unfolded off Italy’s picturesque island of Capri on Saturday, as two waterspouts formed side by side above the Mediterranean Sea. The dramatic swirling columns appeared beneath heavy clouds near the island’s iconic Faraglioni rock formations, creating a stunning sight for locals. Waterspouts are rotating columns of air and water droplets that commonly occur over the Mediterranean during late summer and autumn, when cooler air moves over warmer waters. While Capri attracts an estimated three million visitors annually, much of its tourism activity winds down during winter leaving locals to witness this extraordinary display of nature. #Capri# #Waterspout# #Italy# #RareNaturalPhenomenon# #MediterraneanSea#

A Tunisian man reportedly found his brother’s body in the Mediterranean Sea after he died trying to reach Italy by boat. 12 people drowned trying to reach Italy from Tunisia, including a pregnant woman and her husband. Only one passenger has been rescued, and 2 more are still missing.

In Odysseus, the Mediterranean Sea is a world of dangers, love and destiny. Today, the Mediterranean faces new monsters, from plastic pollution and wastewater to temperature changes and drought. Fortunately, the sea has a hero. @UNEPMAPNews is here to protect. Discover how:

🇮🇱🤝🇬🇷 JOINT NAVAL EXERCISE: The Israeli Navy and Hellenic Navy conducted a joint exercise in the Mediterranean Sea, led by the commanders of both navies. During the exercise, forces practiced identifying and neutralizing maritime threats, sailing as a joint task force, and sinking a hostile vessel using missile fire. The exercise strengthens operational cooperation between Israel and Greece, enhancing joint capabilities to address emerging threats and maintain security and freedom of navigation in the Mediterranean Sea.

Marine biologists are tracking and controlling the spread of invasive species such as the lionfish in the Mediterranean Sea. Factors like climate change and human activity are helping such species to thrive, reshaping food chains and threatening fisheries

Born and raised in Barcelona, our correspondent returned after a decade abroad with a new appreciation for what he'd missed most — the sun, neighborhood squares and the Mediterranean Sea

Syria is set to provide a route for Iraqi crude exports to avoid the hazardous Strait of Hormuz, with a stream of trucks being lined up to haul oil overland to a port on the Mediterranean Sea.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Mt. Hermon in Syria, together with Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Deputy Chief-of-Staff Maj- Gen. Tamir Yadai. The Prime Minister was briefed at an IDF outpost overlooking Syria by Head of Northern Command Maj.-Gen. Rafi Milo and 210th Division Commander Brig.-Gen. Yair Palai, on operational activity in the sector. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, we are atop Mt. Hermon. Damascus is right here, Lebanon is right there, the Syrian Golan Heights are right there, and we control the entire area from the Hermon Crown to the Yarmouk River, and from here to the Mediterranean Sea – absolute control the likes of which has never been seen before. We will not allow any terrorist army to establish itself on our border, and this is one of the tremendous achievements we have attained in the War of Redemption. And from these peaks, there is still work to do: The main task is to defeat the terrorist regime in Iran. We are very close to it. We know that the entire axis will ultimately fall. We are committed to doing this, and we will do it. I wish a Happy New Year to the citizens of Israel and to our heroic soldiers who are doing the job here."

On Wednesday, the luckiest 15 million people in the world were those living along the path of totality for the recent solar eclipse: a narrow band stretching from northern Russia through Greenland, Iceland, Spain and Portugal, before reaching the Mediterranean Sea. It was the first total solar eclipse visible from Europe in 27 years. Here is just a sampling of the work the eclipse-watchers produced. See more here: