Latest news with #BlackMountain
BBC News
18-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Black Mountain: Concern over 'cruel' fox traps on Belfast mountain
A wildlife conservationist has spoken of his "heartbreak" after finding makeshift fox traps on Belfast's Black Mountain. Aaron Kelly said the traps were made out of old shopping trollies and hidden on privately-owned land overlooking the city. One was baited with a dead magpie on a lever which would slam the trapdoor shut behind any hungry small animal which ventured into the Kelly said he fears hunters were trying to trap foxes alive so they could later throw them to packs of young hunting dogs "to give them a taste for blood". "What a terrible way to go, and I don't know what sort of human could do that," he told BBC News NI. "We've done a lot of work to bring wildlife onto this mountain and the last thing we need is any pressure from hunting." 'It's the last wild place in Belfast' Mr Kelly founded the Black Mountain Rewilding Project during the first Covid lockdown five years started the voluntary initiative by organising weekly litter picks in the area which he said looked "like a dumping site" when the project started. Since then, he and his fellow volunteers have planted new trees to increase woodland coverage and they regularly engage with the local community to help protect the mountain. One of the project's successes was attracting a barn owl back to the Belfast hills last year by building nesting boxes. "What we have up there is very special... it's the last wild place in Belfast," Mr Kelly said. "All the work we do is just to enhance the habitat and make it a better place for wildlife, so when people come up they actually see wildlife and they can enjoy it." The fox traps were discovered "a 10-minute walk apart" when Mr Kelly was patrolling the lower end of the mountain about two months ago."It was a rainy day, I was trooping through and I was hoping to find something nice that day and I didn't - I found that and it really disheartened me," he recalled. Having spent years working with animals, he believes foxes were the target, but said badgers, hedgehogs, birds and even cats and dogs were all at risk from these snares.A local landowner helped him remove the traps and cameras have since been installed to monitor "areas where this kind of cruelty might occur". Mr Kelly did not share the photos immediately as he was waiting to see if more traps would be set, but on Thursday he posted photos on Instagram, pleading for an end to the practice."Killing an animal is one thing - but leaving it to suffer in fear and pain before dying is something else entirely. And it has no place here," he wrote. Mr Kelly explained the woman who owns the land where the traps were found is a personal friend, who would be very upset by any form of cruelty to animals. "She's a great artist and she paints foxes," he said. "There is no permission to hunt on any of this land." Animal snares 'are completely inhumane' The traps have been condemned by the Belfast Hills Partnership - a charity which helps to manage about 5,500 hectares of high ground including Black Mountain. "Snares are actually banned and they are completely inhumane," said the charity's operations manager, Jo Boylan."But anti-social behaviours and wildlife crime is unfortunately something that happens across the hills."The land the partnership advocates for stretches from Carmoney Hil in County Antrim, along the north and west of Belfast city, through to to Ms Boylan, 38% of that land is currently open to the public. Pinpointing crime hotspots in the hills However, she said the hills suffer from a range of abuse including fly-tipping, badger baiting, persecution of birds of prey and deliberate partnership works with landowners, public bodies and community groups to record criminal incidents in a central system so they can "pinpoint the hotspots"."We map wildfires, we map badger setts, we've got a great conservation team here that do quite a lot of survey work and really monitor what is going on in the hills," she explained. "The more data that we have and the more information that we have, the better that we can protect our hills for the future."Ms Boylan also praised Mr Kelly for giving up his free time to protect Black Mountain and its inhabitants."Aaron actually was one of our youth rangers," she said, explaining the charity runs a training programme for young people who have an interest in the environment. "He's so passionate about the landscape, he's so passionate about the mountain and he's a good advocate for the wildlife and the hills and its people."
Arab News
16-07-2025
- Arab News
Jazan's Black Mountain rises to new tourism heights
RIYADH: Black Mountain, located in Al-Raith governorate of the Jazan region, is one of Saudi Arabia's most striking natural landmarks, according to a Saudi Press Agency report. Named for its dark, volcanic rock formations, the mountain offers more than just dramatic colors. It is a place of raw natural beauty and ecological significance. Rising more than 2,000 meters above sea level, it ranks among the highest peaks in Jazan. Its rugged surroundings include sloping plains and winding valleys that attract hikers, nature photographers, and those seeking solitude in nature. For much of the year, especially in winter and spring, the mountain's peaks are cloaked in fog. Its slopes are lined with native trees and traditional agricultural terraces that have supported generations of local farmers cultivating corn, millet, and coffee. Several villages sit nearby, where locals maintain a deep connection with the land, the SPA reported. Folklore passed down through generations speaks of the mountain as a refuge for shepherds and travelers in earlier times. With the rise of ecotourism and outdoor exploration across the Kingdom, interest in Black Mountain has grown. Young hikers, campers, and photography enthusiasts are increasingly drawn to its scenic terrain. To support this, authorities are developing the site with walking trails, observation points, and informational signage that highlights local culture and biodiversity.
Time Business News
01-07-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Security Company Colombia
Colombia rewards ambition with booming cities and rugged landscapes. Yet fast-growing markets also attract heightened threat vectors. Black Mountain Solutions (a top security company Colombia ) strategically places proven specialists between visitors and those hazards. The British-led team—now headquartered in Bogotá—fuses real-time intelligence, armoured mobility, and elite close protection. Consequently, corporate boards fulfil duty-of-care mandates while travellers pursue goals without disruption. Moreover, local knowledge trims bureaucracy at airports and checkpoints. Every mission begins with an in-depth risk profile, then rapidly scales into a tailored protection package. Therefore, executives, journalists, and humanitarian teams move across Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali with confidence. Black Mountain turns complex terrain into a controlled opportunity. Furthermore, consistent after-action reviews feed continuous improvement, ensuring each journey tomorrow runs safer than today. Clients choose efficiency over uncertainty, and performance over promises. Always. Urban vibrancy sits beside sudden unrest in Colombia's principal cities. Therefore, Black Mountain's intelligence cell reviews police bulletins, protest rumours, and weather disruptions every dawn. Analysts plot incidents on live GIS dashboards, spotting clusters before they swell. Moreover, field teams verify ground truth through bilingual fixers across barrios. Updated threat matrices then guide route selection, convoy spacing, and hotel choice. Because forecasts refresh hourly, travellers rarely encounter friction on the street. Additionally, secure-communications apps alert passengers when analysts adjust timing. This disciplined cycle turns reactive dodging into proactive avoidance. Ultimately, security services in Colombia function as a living shield, not a static plan, preserving schedules without sacrificing safety. Consistent performance enhances corporate resilience and nurtures stakeholder confidence every single travel cycle. Compliance alone never delivers peace of mind. Instead, security company Colombia Black Mountain aligns operations with ISO 18788 and British Standard 7858 vetting. Moreover, managers conduct quarterly firearms drills and annual trauma-care recertification. These measurable benchmarks raise the bar for any security company in Colombia. Additionally, recruitment screens include psychological resilience tests, language fluency, and urban navigation assessments. Consequently, only five per cent of applicants advance to client operations. Furthermore, mechanics service armoured fleets every 2,000 kilometres, replacing mission-critical parts before failure. Transparent audit trails, therefore, demonstrate diligence rather than marketing promises. Ultimately, organisations partner with a culture of proven excellence, not a brochure of empty claims. Moreover, continuous after-action reviews feed innovation, ensuring tomorrow's journeys outperform today's successes again. Bogotá traffic regularly ranks among the world's worst; Medellín's mountain roads add altitude risk. Therefore, VIP transportation in Colombia demands more than skilled driving. Black Mountain schedules departures outside peak choke points, then tracks Waze, police scanners, and live CCTV feeds. Moreover, armoured Toyota Land Cruisers carry run-flat tyres and blast-resistant fuel tanks, shielding passengers when gridlock stalls escape routes. Additionally, convoy leaders hold alternate lane options and safe-haven lists for every ten-kilometre segment. Because response planning sits upfront, journeys feel seamless, not stressful. Furthermore, bilingual chauffeurs manage tolls, checkpoints, and hotel forecourts with discreet efficiency. Consequently, executives arrive on time, composed, and ready to perform. Consistent punctuality reinforces brand credibility and nurtures stakeholder confidence across demanding itineraries worldwide everywhere consistently. Technology supports safety; nonetheless, trained people anchor success. Executive protection Colombia teams from Black Mountain include ex-British military, Colombian special forces, and tactical medics. Moreover, daily intelligence briefings refine their situational awareness before wheels move. Agents practice diamond formations on foot and four-box formations inside vehicles, switching seamlessly when terrain shifts. Additionally, covert counter-surveillance identifies hostile watchers outside conference venues. Because communication remains concise and coded, adversaries gain no exploitable data. Furthermore, agents carry trauma kits, satellite phones, and encrypted tablets, linking field activity to headquarters instantly. Therefore, principals experience unobtrusive yet decisive coverage. A security company in Colombia leverages these human assets to transform potential chaos into calm productivity. Such disciplined precision safeguards reputations, finances, and strategic negotiations alike everywhere. Risk rarely remains stationary; therefore, journey control must adapt. Black Mountain integrates satellite trackers, geofencing alerts, and bilingual dispatchers into one command centre. Moreover, operators monitor client convoys, media teams, and supply trucks on a single interface, spotting anomalies within seconds. Additionally, incident logs feed machine-learning models that predict hotspot evolution. Because responses rely on data, decisions remain rapid and precise. Furthermore, standby quick-reaction units deploy from Bogotá, Cartagena, and Cali hangars, shortening arrival times. Security services in Colombia gain extra depth when medical evacuation helicopters align under the same roof. Ultimately, a unified platform ensures seamless coordination across air, road, and foot patrol elements. Consequently, mission momentum never falters, and critical timelines remain firmly on track with everyday operations. Different missions demand different profiles. VIP transportation in Colombia, therefore, offers a modular fleet. Black Mountain fields discreet sedans for embassy corridors, armoured Chevrolet Suburbans for mining corridors, and agile motorcycles for last-mile escorts. Moreover, planners select vehicles after cross-checking threat indices, terrain type, and client brand visibility preferences. Additionally, route tactics evolve mid-journey. Convoy leaders may merge into bus lanes, switch to elevated arterials, or stage inside secure petrol stations when unexpected bottlenecks arise. Because tactics stay flexible, audiences lose track, and adversaries lack patterns to exploit. Furthermore, drivers rotate shifts every four hours, preserving sharp reflexes. Ultimately, seamless mobility amplifies productivity and minimises exposure. Consequently, the security company Colombia sets a new travel benchmark across South American corridors daily. Medical readiness interlocks directly with personal security. Hence, Black Mountain embeds trauma-qualified medics within executive protection Colombia teams. Moreover, helicopters remain on standby at Medellín's Enrique Olaya Airfield, slicing rural evacuation times. Additionally, digital health records travel on encrypted tablets, ensuring paramedics access vitals instantly. Because the equipment features portable monitors, oxygen, and haemostatic agents, lifesaving interventions begin within the golden minutes. Furthermore, crisis-management directors rehearse kidnap, earthquake, and cyber-extortion scenarios quarterly, refining response playbooks. Continuous drills create muscle memory, so teams act, not hesitate, when chaos erupts. Ultimately, this security company in Colombia offers an integrated safety net that spans prevention, protection, and swift medical recovery. Therefore, organisations safeguard people, assets, and reputations under one cohesive operational umbrella without compromise. Opportunity flourishes in Colombia when preparation equals ambition. Black Mountain Solutions, as a security company in Colombia, converts that equation into a daily reality. Moreover, integrated intelligence, elite personnel, and versatile vehicles combine to deflect risks before they mature. Therefore, executives sign deals, filmmakers capture stories, and NGOs deliver aid on schedule. Additionally, transparent audits satisfy shareholders and insurers alike, reinforcing corporate resilience. Because strategies evolve continuously, protective measures never lag behind emerging threats. Furthermore, multilingual teams nurture positive encounters with authorities, neighbours, and local partners, building goodwill along each route. Consequently, journeys feel effortless while dangers stay distant. Selecting Black Mountain Solutions means choosing progress over paralysis and momentum over hesitation. Secure roads, open boardrooms, and resilient paths stretch ahead, ready for those who move with confidence toward sustainable success in every venture. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Associated Press
28-06-2025
- Associated Press
Uncharted Japan Celebrates First Anniversary with Over 5,000 Subscribers and Hundreds of Thousands of Views
06/27/2025, Black Mountain, North Carolina // PRODIGY: Feature Story // John and Josephine Haynes on their travels (source: Uncharted Japan) Uncharted Japan, an independent travel storytelling venture, has announced major milestones. Following its first anniversary, its YouTube channel has crossed 5,000 subscribers and accumulated hundreds of thousands of views. Uncharted Japan's growth, especially within the niche category of culturally rich, off-the-beaten-path Japanese travel, reflects a growing demand for authentic, meaningful travel content and the channel's distinct voice. 'We never imagined this would resonate the way it has. I'm in my 60s, and before we started, I had never uploaded a video, never used editing software, and certainly had no experience running a YouTube channel,' says John Haynes, co-founder of Uncharted Japan. 'Most creators on this platform are half our age, and yet here we are, a couple with zero production background, reaching thousands and being recognized in Japan by viewers who've changed their travel plans because of us.' Founded by John and his wife, Josephine, Uncharted Japan began as a passion project inspired by a decades-long love affair with Japan's culture, countryside, and people. John, a former top-producing real estate professional in the US, left a successful career of nearly four decades to launch this channel alongside Josephine, whose ties to Japan run generations deep. Born in Japan, Josephine represents the fourth generation of her American family to have lived there. In 1861, her great-great-grandparents arrived as some of the earliest missionaries permitted into the country after centuries of isolation. That legacy, as well as their frequent visits to the family home near Nagano, gives the Hayneses a unique perspective in the online travel space. Uncharted Japan isn't a typical travel channel. It doesn't showcase the same viral hotspots found on every influencer's itinerary, from Tokyo's Shibuya Crossing to Kyoto's Fushimi Inari or Osaka's Dotonbori. The channel delves into quiet villages, forgotten temples, mom-and-pop eateries, and historic neighborhoods that rarely, if ever, appear on travel blogs or Instagram feeds. Uncharted Japan's content is carefully curated for an older, more discerning audience who value substance over spectacle. 'We avoid clickbait thumbnails or outrageous challenges,' says John. 'We offer in-depth storytelling to travelers who want a slower pace and a genuine connection with Japan's culture and communities.' This focus on depth and discovery distinguishes Uncharted Japan. It has always been dedicated to revealing the side of Japan that most visitors and even some locals overlook. Uncharted Japan's impact is evident in the comments across its videos. Viewers praise its sincere approach and the richness of its recommendations. For instance, its episode on the Osaka Expo 2025 has drawn over 185,000 views, providing viewers with a comprehensive guide to one of Japan's largest events in decades. The Hayneses also receive heartfelt emails and comments almost daily, not only from viewers but also from the Japanese locals whose stories they help amplify. Remote innkeepers and small-town restaurateurs express deep gratitude for the exposure Uncharted Japan provides. Viral travel content usually chases clicks over connection. Uncharted Japan represents a return to what travel is supposed to be about: discovery, understanding, and storytelling. 'Our passion is to show people that there's so much more to Japan than neon lights and cherry blossoms,' John says. 'It's a country of astonishing diversity, history, and quiet beauty, especially in the places most tourists never go. If we can help people experience that, then we've done something worthwhile.' This is what Uncharted Japan remains committed to doing as it moves into its second year. Media Contact Name: John Haynes Email: [email protected]
Arab News
22-05-2025
- Science
- Arab News
Aseer's nature-sculpted basalt columns tell ancient volcanic tales
RIYADH: Deep within the mountains and plains of Aseer, nature unveils one of its most magnificent geological masterpieces in the form of the region's basalt columns. Meticulously shaped, they stand tall as timeless witnesses, narrating chapters of the province's rich volcanic history. These formations are not just rigid rock structures, but natural sculptures, shaped over millions of years, embodying a harmonious blend of natural beauty and scientific depth. The basalt columns of Aseer are among the most remarkable and rarest geological phenomena in the Kingdom, captivating the attention of visitors and science enthusiasts. Composed of volcanic rock formed from slowly cooled lava flows, these columns have shrunk and cracked over time, creating stunning geometric shapes, often hexagonal, pentagonal, or quadrilateral, with astonishing natural precision. King Saud University Seismic Studies Center director and Saudi Society for Geosciences president Prof. Abdullah Al-Amri shared exciting insights. He highlighted the Aseer region's rich geological formations, which can be found in several captivating locations, including Muhayil Aseer, Jabal Mishrif in Al-Harajah, Qarn Mujal east of Tendha, Wadi Al-Asran, and the coastal area between Al-Qahma and Al-Barak, nestled within the Black Mountain range. Al-Amri noted that these formations have been recognized since ancient times. Renowned geographer Abu Muhammad Al-Hasan Al-Hamdani described them in his book 'Sifat Jazirat Al-Arab' as part of the Sarat Janb range, stretching from the north of Dhahran Al-Janub to the north of Sarat Ubaida, now known as Harrat Al-Sarat. A Cenozoic volcanic field, Harrat Al-Sarat covers around 700 square km and boasts towering mountains like Jabal Ferwa, which rises 3,004 meters above sea level, and Jabal Zalm, standing at 2,575 meters. Saudi Geological Survey spokesperson Tariq Aba Al-Khail elaborated on the fascinating formation of basalt columns. The unique structures arise from thermal contraction when lava cools and solidifies, resulting in vertical cracks at right angles to the cooling surface. While the columns typically appear vertical, they may bend or tilt depending on the cooling conditions. Aba Al-Khail likened the formations to the cracking of clay as it dries, but instead, they occur in igneous rocks, particularly basalt, and can also be found in andesite, trachyte, and rhyolite. He explained that the remarkable formations date back around 30 million years and have been discovered in the southwestern volcanic lava fields, such as Harrat Al-Barak. The phenomenon holds significant scientific value, offering researchers the opportunity to explore ancient volcanic activity in the Arabian Peninsula.
