Swarms of small gnat-like insects, identified as aphids, have been observed in New York City, particularly in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The sudden arrival of high temperatures, increased humidity, and recent rainfall has created the right environmental conditions for their population to explode. While they may be a nuisance, these insects do not pose a known public health risk, according to the New York City Department of Health.
Amsterdam has launched an online campaign targeting young British tourists between the ages of 18 and 35, asking them to "stay away" if they plan to visit the city to "go wild." The campaign warns visitors of the consequences of drinking too much, taking drugs, or causing trouble through antisocial behavior. The city council is also in talks with bachelor party providers to reduce nuisance tourism in the city center and is awaiting research results on the possibility of applying a tourist tax.
Rapper Rick Ross' pet buffaloes, gifted to him last year, have been wandering off his Georgia estate and grazing on a neighbor's lawn, causing concern for the safety of her children. The neighbor confronted Ross' team and called the police, but no report was filed. Ross is known for his passion for landscaping and lawn-mowing, which may have impacted his buffaloes' ability to graze. No word yet on whether he will build a fence to keep them from roaming off-estate.
