By April Lanux

A cathedral nave has been transformed to replicate life underwater in a new art installation.

The exhibition features whales hanging from the ceiling of Winchester Cathedral.

It has been designed by Oxfordshire based artist Tessa Campbell Fraser with the aim of highlighting the impact humans have on the environment.

The month-long exhibition will also host events for the public including silent discos, date night events, concerts and immersive sound experiences.

The whale exhibition made its debut at the Messums West Gallery in Wiltshire and attracted more than 20,000 visitors.

Dean of Winchester, the Very Reverand Catherine Ogle, said the whales would create a "richly evocative and unforgettable experience".

She added: "We will inevitably be led to reflect on our connection with creation and all God's creatures and the call to live in harmony and justice. Whales are familiar yet mysterious and wonderfully 'other'."

The installation features three sperm whale sculptures and calls on visitors to reflect on the environmental challenges facing marine life.

It will run until 26 February and events featuring the installation will include a folk concert by The Norfolk Broads, a talk by biologist and filmmaker Tom Mustill on animal communication and a talk with artist Tessa Campbell Fraser.

The Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute at University of Southampton is supporting the installation.

Institute director, professor Damon Teagle, said: "Whales are the giants of our oceans that play extraordinary roles in shaping the world's ecosystems and cultures, and even legal landscapes.

"Research continues to reveal fascinating insights into the significance of these majestic creatures."

By April Lanux

Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Lee Fagan was abruptly fired Monday by the new acting head of the Department of Homeland Security, precipitating a leadership shakeup for the force.

The dismissal of Fagan, 61, was part of a flurry of leadership personnel moves by the new administration just hours after President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Overnight, Trump also announced on social media he was dismissing several individuals appointed to federal panels, including removing former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley from the National Infrastructure Advisory Council.

Trump promised “many more” firings in the near future.

In a message to the Coast Guard workforce Monday night, acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman — who was appointed to the temporary post about five hours after Trump took office — said he relieved Fagan from the top Coast Guard post and appointed Adm. Kevin Lunday to serve as acting commandant. No reason was given for the move.

Fagan had served in the leadership role since June 2022 and was the first uniformed woman to lead a military branch.

Officials told Fox News that Fagan was terminated because of a failure to address border security threats and excessive focus on diversity programs. They also cited a poor response to reports of sexual assault cases at the Coast Guard Academy.

Trump and several of his Cabinet nominees have vowed to refocus the U.S. military on readiness and lethality in their operations, and to do away with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Shortly after his swearing in, Trump signed an executive order banning those practices within federal agencies.

Numerous Democrats reacted with outrage on Tuesday following news of the dismissal.

“Firing a commandant at will by a new president sets a bad precedent,” said Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. “The complexity of the Coast Guard’s diverse missions require continuity to protect lives and American interests.”

The Coast Guard, which has about 45,000 personnel, is a branch of the armed forces but sits within the Department of Homeland Security, rather than the Defense Department. As such, certain rules and policy changes that cover the other services do not cover the Coast Guard, and vice versa.