A marine biologist who was walking on the shores of a beach in the Netherlands was startled when he found a rare and evasive creature, sea lamprey, washed ashore.

This ‘vampire fish’, as it is called due to its nature to extract the blood of its prey, was discovered on the Dutch island of Texel, reports UK-based Metro newspaper.

“I always have my eye out when driving on the beach for other interesting finds, and I saw a large eel-like fish lying on the water’s edge when driving by," he was quoted as saying.

“I immediately knew it was a sea lamprey, they are incredible fish. They resemble eels but they are jawless fish, they have a disc-like mouth filled with teeth.”

“I have never found one on the beach. They are amazing, almost alien-like looking fish, with an equally amazing lifestyle,” he added.

Known for sucking and drinking the blood of its prey, the seam lamprey is considered elusive as it was last sighted on the island in 2017.

According to experts, the nearly three-foot-long fish is incredibly old. They belong to the oldest group of vertebrates, the Agnatha, which existed more than 400 million years ago before there were fish with jaws.

The sea creature was later given to Ecomare, a nature museum, aquarium and sanctuary for seals and birds.

According to museum officials, sea lampreys are mainly found in the spring when they migrate from the sea to freshwater to spawn.

It is said that sea lampreys do not have a jaw but instead have a sucker-shaped mouth with teeth in it—which they use it to attack fish and suck the blood out.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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A marine biologist who was walking on the shores of a beach in the Netherlands was startled when he found a rare and evasive creature, sea lamprey, washed ashore.

A marine biologist who was walking on the shores of a beach in the Netherlands was startled when he found a rare and evasive creature, sea lamprey, washed ashore. This ‘vampire fish’, as it is called due to its nature to extract the blood of its prey, was discovered on the Dutch island of Texel, reports UK-based Metro newspaper. “I always have my eye out when driving on the beach for other interesting finds, and I saw a large eel-like fish lying on the water’s edge when driving by," he was quoted as saying. “I immediately knew it was a sea lamprey, they are incredible fish. They resemble eels but they are jawless fish, they have a disc-like mouth filled with teeth.” “I have never found one on the beach. They are amazing, almost alien-like looking fish, with an equally amazing lifestyle,” he added. Known for sucking and drinking the blood of its prey, the seam lamprey is considered elusive as it was last sighted on the island in 2017. According to experts, the nearly three-foot-long fish is incredibly old. They belong to the oldest group of vertebrates, the Agnatha, which existed more than 400 million years ago before there were fish with jaws. The sea creature was later given to Ecomare, a nature museum, aquarium and sanctuary for seals and birds. According to museum officials, sea lampreys are mainly found in the spring when they migrate from the sea to freshwater to spawn. It is said that sea lampreys do not have a jaw but instead have a sucker-shaped mouth with teeth in it—which they use it to attack fish and suck the blood out. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Rare blood-sucking fish found washed ashore at the Netherlands beach

A metal sphere washed up on the shore of Enshu beach in Hamamatsu. The object had been sealed off as officials were examining it.

Mysterious metal sphere washes up on Japan beach

#Gravitas | A mysterious ball has washed up on a Japanese beach. Authorities admit they don't know what the object is and where it came from. Molly Gambhir reports

Gravitas: Mysterious object washes up on Japanese beach

Le signal apartment block which sits on the French Atlantic coast is being demolished before the building gets threatened by coastal erosion. @alysonle tells you more about this building that was built in the 1960s.

France tears down beach apartment block

A deadly “freak wave” struck a packed beach in South Africa’s Durban coastal city, killing at least three people and injuring more than a dozen.

Among the dead include a teenager as the North Beach was closed off after the incident and an investigation has been launched. The incident happened around 5 pm on Sunday at the Bay of Plenty, one of the popular beaches in South Africa.

Local emergency medical services said that those who died were swept out to sea by currents and drowned.

“The details of the incidents are still sketchy at this point, however, it is believed that a freak wave put many people into distress while swimming and they tragically drowned,” &nbsp;the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government said in a statement on Facebook.

According to local reports, at least 17 people have been hospitalised and were said to be in serious or critical condition.

The EThekwini Municipality in its Facebook post said that over 35 lifeguards were dispatched in rescue efforts, attending to more than 100 people affected by the massive wave.

Nomusa Dube-Ncube, the head of the provincial government, termed it a “terrible tragedy” and urged “all authorities and operators manning the beaches and sea areas to ensure adequate and preventive safety measure are in place to avoid any further loss of life.”

She also asked visitors to follow safety advice when visiting, and to assess unpredictable weather before heading to the beach or the sea.

Durban is one of the popular destinations for South African, and usually attracts huge footfall, including foreigners, with beaches during the holiday season.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A deadly “freak wave” struck a packed beach in South Africa’s Durban coastal city, killing at least three people and injuring more than a dozen. Among the dead include a teenager as the North Beach was closed off after the incident and an investigation has been launched.

A deadly “freak wave” struck a packed beach in South Africa’s Durban coastal city, killing at least three people and injuring more than a dozen. Among the dead include a teenager as the North Beach was closed off after the incident and an investigation has been launched. The incident happened around 5 pm on Sunday at the Bay of Plenty, one of the popular beaches in South Africa. Local emergency medical services said that those who died were swept out to sea by currents and drowned. “The details of the incidents are still sketchy at this point, however, it is believed that a freak wave put many people into distress while swimming and they tragically drowned,” the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government said in a statement on Facebook. According to local reports, at least 17 people have been hospitalised and were said to be in serious or critical condition. The EThekwini Municipality in its Facebook post said that over 35 lifeguards were dispatched in rescue efforts, attending to more than 100 people affected by the massive wave. Nomusa Dube-Ncube, the head of the provincial government, termed it a “terrible tragedy” and urged “all authorities and operators manning the beaches and sea areas to ensure adequate and preventive safety measure are in place to avoid any further loss of life.” She also asked visitors to follow safety advice when visiting, and to assess unpredictable weather before heading to the beach or the sea. Durban is one of the popular destinations for South African, and usually attracts huge footfall, including foreigners, with beaches during the holiday season. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

‘Freak wave’ in South Africa’s Durban kills 3, injures over a dozen

An Indian man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a young woman who was discovered dead on a beach in tropical northern Australia four years ago.&nbsp;Toyah Cordingley, 24, was attacked in what has been described as a "frenzied and brutal and sadistic" manner in October 2018.&nbsp;

The Queensland government offered a A$1 million (£563,000; $676,487) prize for information earlier this month. Rajwinder Singh, the man accused of killing Toyah, was eventually detained as a result.&nbsp;

He was detained by Indian authorities in Delhi on Friday, according to Queensland police, and a court hearing about his extradition is scheduled to take place soon. He will subsequently be transported to Australia to stand trial.

Queensland police commissioner Katarina Carroll said, "It was never a question of if, but when this day would come. I am very confident we have a strong case to put before the courts."

When Singh, a nurse, left Australia hours after Toyah's death, he took his three children, wife, with him. He was seen on camera at Sydney's main airport.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-cardinal-zen-found-guilty-of-funding-pro-democracy-protests-537439">Hong Kong: Cardinal Zen found guilty of funding pro-democracy protests</a>

A few specifics of Toyah's death have been revealed by the detectives. On October 21, 2018, she left to walk her dog at Wangetti Beach, which is located halfway between the well-known tourist destinations of Cairns and Port Douglas. She never returned. The following day, her father found her dead body partially buried in sand dunes.

In an international search to find Singh, Australian officials requested public for&nbsp;assistance. Singh was a native of Buttar Kalan in the Indian state of Punjab, and was residing in Innisfail, about two hours from the crime scene.

(with inputs from agencies)

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An Indian man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a young woman who was discovered dead on a beach in tropical northern Australia four years ago. Toyah Cordingley, 24, was attacked in what has been described as a "frenzied and brutal and sadistic" manner in October 2018.

An Indian man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a young woman who was discovered dead on a beach in tropical northern Australia four years ago. Toyah Cordingley, 24, was attacked in what has been described as a "frenzied and brutal and sadistic" manner in October 2018. The Queensland government offered a A$1 million (£563,000; $676,487) prize for information earlier this month. Rajwinder Singh, the man accused of killing Toyah, was eventually detained as a result. He was detained by Indian authorities in Delhi on Friday, according to Queensland police, and a court hearing about his extradition is scheduled to take place soon. He will subsequently be transported to Australia to stand trial. Queensland police commissioner Katarina Carroll said, "It was never a question of if, but when this day would come. I am very confident we have a strong case to put before the courts." When Singh, a nurse, left Australia hours after Toyah's death, he took his three children, wife, with him. He was seen on camera at Sydney's main airport. Also Read: Hong Kong: Cardinal Zen found guilty of funding pro-democracy protests A few specifics of Toyah's death have been revealed by the detectives. On October 21, 2018, she left to walk her dog at Wangetti Beach, which is located halfway between the well-known tourist destinations of Cairns and Port Douglas. She never returned. The following day, her father found her dead body partially buried in sand dunes. In an international search to find Singh, Australian officials requested public for assistance. Singh was a native of Buttar Kalan in the Indian state of Punjab, and was residing in Innisfail, about two hours from the crime scene. (with inputs from agencies)

Indian man on the run arrested for murder of Australian woman on beach four years ago

An oil spill has tainted the beautiful beaches of California. A fuel transfer between a tanker and onshore facility led to a spill of an estimated 110,000 gallons of oil.

WION Climate Tracker: Oil spill harms beautiful beaches of Baja California

Spain has started a campaign to make beaches more inclusive. It says all bodies are beach bodies. Luxury brand Burberry has featured a Sikh boy in the ad for its children's collection. Is there a global push for inclusivity? Or is inclusivity just a marketing gimmick? Listen in to Palki Sharma.

Gravitas: Inclusivity: Spain makes beaches more inclusive, Burberry ad features Sikh boy

Spain's ministry of equality has launched a creative campaign aimed at encouraging women of all shapes, sizes and ethnicities to hit the beach this summer. The campaign slogan is 'Summer is ours too' and the image shows 5 diverse women, including a plus size woman, a woman with underarm hair and a woman who has undergone mastectomy.

WION Fineprint | Spain's equality ministry launches campaign

A holiday excursion turned tragic for an Indian family after 8 members were swept away by large waves off Oman beach. Two members died while a rescue operation has been launched for three more people.

According to PTI news agency, the family is from India’s western Maharashtra state and has been living in Dubai.

The incident took place on Sunday afternoon when 42-year-old Shashikant Mhamane, his wife and their children Shruti, 9, and Shreyas, 6, were spending their time at the coast of Salah al-Mughsail.

Of the 8, the three who fell were rescued shortly after, the authority reported, while emergency care was readily available.

Oman’s Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) said that two members of the family, including a child, were found dead on Tuesday, reports Al Arabiya news outlet.

Visuals of the horrifying accident went viral on Twitter where it can be seen that the family were getting their photos clicked while standing on the edge of the coast when a large and strong wave hits them.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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Watch: A family is swept away by a giant wave on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Oman?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Oman</a>'s Mughsail beach after eight members reportedly crossed the beach's boundary fence.<a href="https://t.co/2KHqOMobdD">https://t.co/2KHqOMobdD</a> <a href="https://t.co/w2auuYfUku">pic.twitter.com/w2auuYfUku</a>
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlArabiya_Eng/status/1546835802780581888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2022</a></blockquote>
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As soon as the waves leave the sand and are pulled back into the ocean, a woman can be seen crying for help as two other members are washed away by the beach water.

Notably, the Sunday incident is just one of the many that were reported over the weakened in Oman where strong rain have aided strong and high tides across the beaches.

The CDAA on July 10 announced the closure of many tourist sites to avoid further deaths or accidents.

“Due to the large number of reports, indifference and nonadherence to instructions, directives and warning, [the CDAA] calls upon all citizens, residents and visitors to Oman visiting tourist attractions, that until this situation ends, such sites will be closed, and they will not be allowed to be approached,” Al Arabiya news quoted a statement from CDAA.

(With inputs from agencies)

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&nbsp;

A holiday excursion turned tragic for an Indian family after 8 members were swept away by large waves off Oman beach. Two members died while a rescue operation has been launched for three more people.

A holiday excursion turned tragic for an Indian family after 8 members were swept away by large waves off Oman beach. Two members died while a rescue operation has been launched for three more people. According to PTI news agency, the family is from India’s western Maharashtra state and has been living in Dubai. The incident took place on Sunday afternoon when 42-year-old Shashikant Mhamane, his wife and their children Shruti, 9, and Shreyas, 6, were spending their time at the coast of Salah al-Mughsail. Of the 8, the three who fell were rescued shortly after, the authority reported, while emergency care was readily available. Oman’s Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) said that two members of the family, including a child, were found dead on Tuesday, reports Al Arabiya news outlet. Visuals of the horrifying accident went viral on Twitter where it can be seen that the family were getting their photos clicked while standing on the edge of the coast when a large and strong wave hits them. Watch: A family is swept away by a giant wave on #Oman's Mughsail beach after eight members reportedly crossed the beach's boundary fence.https://t.co/2KHqOMobdD pic.twitter.com/w2auuYfUku — Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) July 12, 2022 × As soon as the waves leave the sand and are pulled back into the ocean, a woman can be seen crying for help as two other members are washed away by the beach water. Notably, the Sunday incident is just one of the many that were reported over the weakened in Oman where strong rain have aided strong and high tides across the beaches. The CDAA on July 10 announced the closure of many tourist sites to avoid further deaths or accidents. “Due to the large number of reports, indifference and nonadherence to instructions, directives and warning, [the CDAA] calls upon all citizens, residents and visitors to Oman visiting tourist attractions, that until this situation ends, such sites will be closed, and they will not be allowed to be approached,” Al Arabiya news quoted a statement from CDAA. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Watch: 8 of Indian family swept away by high tides in Oman beach, two dead, three missing

Basque city in Spain is drafting legislation to charge those needing rescue for costs incurred in cases of negligence or recklessness, as the rescue cost in April racked up to an estimated €6,000 (£5,200), as reported by The Guardian.

“I would love to never charge a single euro, pound or dollar,” says Martín Ibabe, the city councillor responsible for citizen safety, as reported by The Guardian. “The objective here is to prevent these types of incidents from happening. The confrontational nature of this law is aimed at making people think twice.”

The city has also been beset by what Ibabe calls “clear acts of irresponsibility”, including a tourist left stranded by tides after he dozed off on a stone jetty and a drunken woman who scrambled down the rocks in an area known for its ferocious waves.

The city began drafting the bill two years ago. Recently there has been a rise in cases of reckless swimming, and people ignore signs stating the beach is closed.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/illegal-afghan-migrants-deported-to-afghanistan-by-turkey-491967">&nbsp;Illegal Afghan migrants deported to Afghanistan by Turkey</a>

Every rescue has a personal risk for first responders and uses valuable resources, leaving the city more vulnerable if there is another emergency at the same time. A steady increase in rescues in recent years has left locals paying the costs.&nbsp;

Some critics say that people might feel hesitant before calling for help.

Ibabe brushes off the worries, saying that the city would exercise caution in applying the law. “If there is the slightest doubt that it might have been an accident, we won’t charge people,” he adds.&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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Basque city in Spain is drafting legislation to charge those needing rescue for costs incurred in cases of negligence or recklessness, as the rescue cost in April racked up to an estimated €6,000 (£5,200), as reported by The Guardian.

Basque city in Spain is drafting legislation to charge those needing rescue for costs incurred in cases of negligence or recklessness, as the rescue cost in April racked up to an estimated €6,000 (£5,200), as reported by The Guardian. “I would love to never charge a single euro, pound or dollar,” says Martín Ibabe, the city councillor responsible for citizen safety, as reported by The Guardian. “The objective here is to prevent these types of incidents from happening. The confrontational nature of this law is aimed at making people think twice.” The city has also been beset by what Ibabe calls “clear acts of irresponsibility”, including a tourist left stranded by tides after he dozed off on a stone jetty and a drunken woman who scrambled down the rocks in an area known for its ferocious waves. The city began drafting the bill two years ago. Recently there has been a rise in cases of reckless swimming, and people ignore signs stating the beach is closed. Also Read: Illegal Afghan migrants deported to Afghanistan by Turkey Every rescue has a personal risk for first responders and uses valuable resources, leaving the city more vulnerable if there is another emergency at the same time. A steady increase in rescues in recent years has left locals paying the costs. Some critics say that people might feel hesitant before calling for help. Ibabe brushes off the worries, saying that the city would exercise caution in applying the law. “If there is the slightest doubt that it might have been an accident, we won’t charge people,” he adds. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Need rescue on the sea? This Spanish city will charge you for it

Hundreds of dead penguins are washing up daily on New Zealand's beaches. At least 500 Korora penguins have died in 30 days. Experts say the birds were killed by climate change. Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: Dead Penguins wash up on New Zealand beaches

Gone are the times when tourists lay down on the Black Sea beaches of the Ukrainian resort town of Odesa, the white sands are now covered in mines because of the war with Russia and police officers patrol the boardwalks.

Ukraine's military planted mines along the coast in case of a Russian amphibious assault after Moscow's February&nbsp;24 invasion, cordoning off beach entrances with red and white tape to ensure civilians don't get hurt.

Already reeling from the war, the local economy of the port city of Odesa in southwestern Ukraine will take a huge hit to its tourism industry this year. Long-time residents cannot imagine life in Odesa without the sand and sea.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-tensions-what-is-really-happening-heres-what-you-should-know-446848">Russia-Ukraine tensions: What is really happening? Here's what you should know</a>

"We can't live without the sea. If not for the sea, there would probably be no Odesa," said 82-year-old resident Viktor Holchenko.&nbsp;

In early May, Russian forces pounded the port with missiles, leaving buildings in Odesa in ruin. 
Signs posted by Ukraine's military warn residents to stay away from the beaches where mines have been buried. From a seaside restaurant, the view is now of a "Danger! mines" sign.

Residents laid out beach towels along boardwalks instead of on beaches to tan in their bathing suits. 
"They (the military) said not to go there (to the seaside)," said 18-year-old resident Kyrylo Zinchenko. "Why would you go there? This is the summer we will have."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/battle-analysis-russian-tank-armada-vs-ukraine-who-will-win-459067">Battle analysis: Russian tank armada vs Ukraine - who will win?</a>

Once a driver of the local economy, tourism in Odesa has dried up.

"We realize that the tourism business and recreational component is an important element ... but we also realize that if we don't hold the defence of our region, there will be no budget to fill," said Nataliia Humeniuk, a spokeswoman of the southern military command.&nbsp;

The local economy will take a broad hit, said tourism office owner Oleksandr Babich. "It is hotels, restaurants, souvenirs, all kinds of beach services. It is things related to the cultural sector ... I don't know how the city economy will do without them."

[with inputs from agencies]

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Gone are the times when tourists lay down on the Black Sea beaches of the Ukrainian resort town of Odesa, the white sands are now covered in mines because of the war with Russia and police officers patrol the boardwalks.

Gone are the times when tourists lay down on the Black Sea beaches of the Ukrainian resort town of Odesa, the white sands are now covered in mines because of the war with Russia and police officers patrol the boardwalks. Ukraine's military planted mines along the coast in case of a Russian amphibious assault after Moscow's February 24 invasion, cordoning off beach entrances with red and white tape to ensure civilians don't get hurt. Already reeling from the war, the local economy of the port city of Odesa in southwestern Ukraine will take a huge hit to its tourism industry this year. Long-time residents cannot imagine life in Odesa without the sand and sea. Also Read: Russia-Ukraine tensions: What is really happening? Here's what you should know "We can't live without the sea. If not for the sea, there would probably be no Odesa," said 82-year-old resident Viktor Holchenko. In early May, Russian forces pounded the port with missiles, leaving buildings in Odesa in ruin. Signs posted by Ukraine's military warn residents to stay away from the beaches where mines have been buried. From a seaside restaurant, the view is now of a "Danger! mines" sign. Residents laid out beach towels along boardwalks instead of on beaches to tan in their bathing suits. "They (the military) said not to go there (to the seaside)," said 18-year-old resident Kyrylo Zinchenko. "Why would you go there? This is the summer we will have." Also Read: Battle analysis: Russian tank armada vs Ukraine - who will win? Once a driver of the local economy, tourism in Odesa has dried up. "We realize that the tourism business and recreational component is an important element ... but we also realize that if we don't hold the defence of our region, there will be no budget to fill," said Nataliia Humeniuk, a spokeswoman of the southern military command. The local economy will take a broad hit, said tourism office owner Oleksandr Babich. "It is hotels, restaurants, souvenirs, all kinds of beach services. It is things related to the cultural sector ... I don't know how the city economy will do without them." [with inputs from agencies] WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Odesa's popular white sand beaches now off-limits due to planted mines

US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden were evacuated from their beach house in Delaware after a plane breached restricted airspace near their house, the White House said.

The Bidens were moved to a secure location briefly, but they are now back at their residence. The incident took place on Saturday.

"A small private plane entered restricted airspace, all indications are by mistake, and precautionary measures were taken," an official told reporters on Saturday, according to CNN.

"There was no threat to the president or his family," the official added.

The Bidens are spending the weekend in Rehoboth Beach, in part to celebrate the first lady's birthday, which was Friday, CNN reported.

The US Secret Service, which is charged with protecting the president, said the plane mistakenly entered a secure area and was "immediately escorted out."

Apart from that, the pilot was not on the proper radio channel and "was not following published flight guidance," Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.

"Shortly before 1 p.m. today a privately owned aircraft entered the restricted airspace over Rehoboth Delaware after mistakenly entering a secured area. The aircraft was immediately escorted out of the restricted airspace,” Guglielmi said in the statement, passed along by the White House.

“Preliminary investigation reveals the pilot was not on the proper radio channel, was not following the NOTAMS (Notice to Airmen) that had been filed and was not following published flight guidance. The United States Secret Service will be interviewing the pilot," the statement added.

(With inputs from agencies)

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US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden were evacuated from their beach house in Delaware after a plane breached restricted airspace near their house, the White House said.

US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden were evacuated from their beach house in Delaware after a plane breached restricted airspace near their house, the White House said. The Bidens were moved to a secure location briefly, but they are now back at their residence. The incident took place on Saturday. "A small private plane entered restricted airspace, all indications are by mistake, and precautionary measures were taken," an official told reporters on Saturday, according to CNN. "There was no threat to the president or his family," the official added. The Bidens are spending the weekend in Rehoboth Beach, in part to celebrate the first lady's birthday, which was Friday, CNN reported. The US Secret Service, which is charged with protecting the president, said the plane mistakenly entered a secure area and was "immediately escorted out." Apart from that, the pilot was not on the proper radio channel and "was not following published flight guidance," Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said. "Shortly before 1 p.m. today a privately owned aircraft entered the restricted airspace over Rehoboth Delaware after mistakenly entering a secured area. The aircraft was immediately escorted out of the restricted airspace,” Guglielmi said in the statement, passed along by the White House. “Preliminary investigation reveals the pilot was not on the proper radio channel, was not following the NOTAMS (Notice to Airmen) that had been filed and was not following published flight guidance. The United States Secret Service will be interviewing the pilot," the statement added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Bidens evacuated from beach house after plane violates airspace

We often think ancient shipwrecks are found deep in sea but what if one is found just 50 metres from a busy beach? A roman-era merchant ship had sunk 1700 years ago. The shipwreck lay just 50 metres from a now-busy beach near Mallorca, Spain but it went undetected...for centuries.

Roman boat sinks 1700 years ago, remains undetected just 50 metres from a beach

In a tragic incident, a 14-year-old boy lost his life after getting stung by a box jellyfish in Queensland, Australia. &nbsp;

The child, Mark Angelo Ligmayo, was at Eimeo beach, just north of Mackay, with his family when the incident occurred on Saturday. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Nick Guinumtad, father, told the Courier Mail that his son was standing in waist-high water for around 10 minutes when he came running out to the beach, entwined in over 2 metres of box jellyfish tentacles. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/worlds-first-octopus-farm-raises-serious-ethical-concerns-457119" hreflang="en">World's first octopus farm raises serious ethical concerns</a>

Surf life savers made concerted efforts to help Mark but eventually, they were unsuccessful as he later died in Mackay Base hospital. &nbsp;

“It’s hard, to see your son trying to overcome it, it’s hard, to see your son dying in front of you,” Guinumtad told the Courier Mail. &nbsp;

Before Guinumtad’s son went for a swim, the surf lifeguards had dragged the beach for jellyfish, he said. &nbsp;

Volunteer lifeguards did everything they could to save Mark, said Surf Life Saving Queensland spokesperson Jenny Rees. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/new-species-of-carnivorous-dinosaur-with-short-arms-discovered-in-argentina-say-scientists-456715" hreflang="en">New species of carnivorous dinosaur with short arms discovered in Argentina, say scientists</a>

“They got him out of the water and he had lots of tentacles around his legs, which they pulled off. A lot of vinegar was administered and CPR was administered immediately,” Rees told the ABC. &nbsp;

Queensland police also said that a report would be prepared for the coroner. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;&nbsp;

In a tragic incident, a 14-year-old boy lost his life after getting stung by a box jellyfish in Queensland, Australia. The child, Mark Angelo Ligmayo, was at Eimeo beach, just north of Mackay, with his family when the incident occurred on Saturday.

In a tragic incident, a 14-year-old boy lost his life after getting stung by a box jellyfish in Queensland, Australia. The child, Mark Angelo Ligmayo, was at Eimeo beach, just north of Mackay, with his family when the incident occurred on Saturday. Nick Guinumtad, father, told the Courier Mail that his son was standing in waist-high water for around 10 minutes when he came running out to the beach, entwined in over 2 metres of box jellyfish tentacles. Also Read: World's first octopus farm raises serious ethical concerns Surf life savers made concerted efforts to help Mark but eventually, they were unsuccessful as he later died in Mackay Base hospital. “It’s hard, to see your son trying to overcome it, it’s hard, to see your son dying in front of you,” Guinumtad told the Courier Mail. Before Guinumtad’s son went for a swim, the surf lifeguards had dragged the beach for jellyfish, he said. Volunteer lifeguards did everything they could to save Mark, said Surf Life Saving Queensland spokesperson Jenny Rees. Also Read: New species of carnivorous dinosaur with short arms discovered in Argentina, say scientists “They got him out of the water and he had lots of tentacles around his legs, which they pulled off. A lot of vinegar was administered and CPR was administered immediately,” Rees told the ABC. Queensland police also said that a report would be prepared for the coroner. (With inputs from agencies)

14-year-old boy loses life after getting stung by box jellyfish at Australian beach

Dead Fishes have washed ashore beach once again in Chile, the reason for the incident is yet to be identified. Residents say the dead fishes mainly comprised of Anchovies which are mainly found in the Mediterranean sea, locals have pointed out to low oxygen levels in deeper waters as the reason for the deaths.

Thousands of dead fish wash up on a Chilean beach, exact reason unknown

A swimmer was killed after being fatally attacked by a shark off a popular Sydney beach on Wednesday, making it the first incident in nearly 60 years.

According to local media, the gruesome incident took place at Little Bay Beach around 4.35 pm (local time).

Emergency services were later rushed to the site after the visitors saw a man yelling for help as he was being attacked by the shark.

“Some guy was swimming, and a shark came and attacked him vertically," witness Kris Linto, told Nine news channel.

“We heard a yell and turned around it looked like a car had landed in the water, a big splash then the shark was chomping at the body and there was blood everywhere,” he added.

Rescue crews on jet skis and in boats found human remains in the water.

Another witness, who was fishing nearby, told ABC, “When he went down there were so many splashes.”

New South Wales Police have not yet identified the swimmer and have closed the Little Bay Beach for now.

“Officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command, with assistance from the Marine Area Command and Surf Life Saving NSW, attended and located human remains in the water,” a spokesperson said.

An ambulance spokesperson said paramedics were called to Little Bay but "unfortunately this patient had suffered catastrophic injuries and there was nothing paramedics could do".

Local media reported that the Wednesday shark attack was the first in Sydney since 1963.

(With inputs from agencies)

A swimmer was killed after being fatally attacked by a shark off a popular Sydney beach on Wednesday, making it the first incident in nearly 60 years. According to local media, the gruesome incident took place at Little Bay Beach around 4.

A swimmer was killed after being fatally attacked by a shark off a popular Sydney beach on Wednesday, making it the first incident in nearly 60 years. According to local media, the gruesome incident took place at Little Bay Beach around 4.35 pm (local time). Emergency services were later rushed to the site after the visitors saw a man yelling for help as he was being attacked by the shark. “Some guy was swimming, and a shark came and attacked him vertically," witness Kris Linto, told Nine news channel. “We heard a yell and turned around it looked like a car had landed in the water, a big splash then the shark was chomping at the body and there was blood everywhere,” he added. Rescue crews on jet skis and in boats found human remains in the water. Another witness, who was fishing nearby, told ABC, “When he went down there were so many splashes.” New South Wales Police have not yet identified the swimmer and have closed the Little Bay Beach for now. “Officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command, with assistance from the Marine Area Command and Surf Life Saving NSW, attended and located human remains in the water,” a spokesperson said. An ambulance spokesperson said paramedics were called to Little Bay but "unfortunately this patient had suffered catastrophic injuries and there was nothing paramedics could do". Local media reported that the Wednesday shark attack was the first in Sydney since 1963. (With inputs from agencies)

Shark attack horror: Sydney beach turns red as swimmer is mauled to death

A breach of an oil rig pipeline led to a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Thailand due to which a beach in the eastern region was declared a disaster area. The navy is currently working with Star Petroleum Refining Public Company Limited (SPRC) to contain the leak as it said that the main oil mass was still offshore.

The pipeline which leaked is owned by SPRC.&nbsp;

It happened late on Tuesday and was brought under control when an estimated 50,000 litres of oil spilt into the ocean.

Rear Admiral Artorn Charapinyo, deputy commander of the first Naval Area command, while speaking to the reporters said, "We and the company are still working at sea to reduce the amount of oil by cornering the spill and sucking up the oil and spraying dispersant."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bombogenesis-snow-storm-hits-us-emergency-declared-in-five-states-448741">Also read |&nbsp;'Bombogenesis' snow storm hits US, emergency declared in five states</a>

According to a report by Reuters, about 150 SPRC workers and 200 navy personnel have been deployed to the region in order to clean up the beach.

Also, twelve navy ships and three civilian ships are working to contain the spill at sea.

Earlier, a similar incident took place on the southern California coast and it was described as an "environmental catastrophe" by the mayor of Huttington Beach.&nbsp;

The oil spill left dead fish and birds strewn on the sand and offshore wetlands were clogged with oil.&nbsp;

An estimated 126,000 gallons, or 3,000 barrels, had spread into an oil slick covering about 13 square miles off the Pacific ocean.

The beachside city, about 40 miles south of Los Angeles, was bearing the brunt of the spill.

(With inputs from agencies)

A breach of an oil rig pipeline led to a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Thailand due to which a beach in the eastern region was declared a disaster area. The navy is currently working with Star Petroleum Refining Public Company Limited (SPRC) to contain the leak as it said that the main oil mass was still offshore.

A breach of an oil rig pipeline led to a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Thailand due to which a beach in the eastern region was declared a disaster area. The navy is currently working with Star Petroleum Refining Public Company Limited (SPRC) to contain the leak as it said that the main oil mass was still offshore. The pipeline which leaked is owned by SPRC. It happened late on Tuesday and was brought under control when an estimated 50,000 litres of oil spilt into the ocean. Rear Admiral Artorn Charapinyo, deputy commander of the first Naval Area command, while speaking to the reporters said, "We and the company are still working at sea to reduce the amount of oil by cornering the spill and sucking up the oil and spraying dispersant." Also read | 'Bombogenesis' snow storm hits US, emergency declared in five states According to a report by Reuters, about 150 SPRC workers and 200 navy personnel have been deployed to the region in order to clean up the beach. Also, twelve navy ships and three civilian ships are working to contain the spill at sea. Earlier, a similar incident took place on the southern California coast and it was described as an "environmental catastrophe" by the mayor of Huttington Beach. The oil spill left dead fish and birds strewn on the sand and offshore wetlands were clogged with oil. An estimated 126,000 gallons, or 3,000 barrels, had spread into an oil slick covering about 13 square miles off the Pacific ocean. The beachside city, about 40 miles south of Los Angeles, was bearing the brunt of the spill. (With inputs from agencies)

Thailand beach declared disaster area after 50,000 litres of oil spilt

If experts are to believed, footprints of an early dinosaur, which were made more than 200 million years ago, have been discovered on a beach in Wales, the UK. &nbsp;

The footprints, which date back to the Triassic period, seem to belong to an early sauropod or its relative, said paleontologists at London's Natural History Museum. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-sea-monster-lived-in-dinosaur-era-seas-says-new-study-439654" hreflang="en">A sea monster lived in dinosaur-era seas, says new study</a>

In a statement, Dr Susannah Maidment, paleontologist at the museum, who was also involved in the research, while announcing the findings, said, "We know early sauropods were living in Britain at the time, as bones of Camelotia, a very early sauropod, have been found in Somerset in rocks dated to the same period." &nbsp;&nbsp;

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A series of tracks on a public beach point to the presence of large, long-necked dinosaurs in Wales over 200 million years ago. 
The Penarth footprints are believed to have been left by sauropodomorphs, a group which includes the iconic Diplodocus 🦕 <a href="https://t.co/i4ef9WM8jk">https://t.co/i4ef9WM8jk</a>
— Natural History Museum (@NHM_London) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHM_London/status/1476855661992550430?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"We don't know if this species was the track-maker, but it is another clue which suggests something like it could have made these tracks." &nbsp;

In 2020, an amateur paleontologist had sent images of the tracks at the beach in Penarth to Maidment and her colleague, professor Paul Barrett.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/goldmine-for-archaeologists-remains-of-five-ice-age-mammoths-found-in-uk-438277" hreflang="en">Goldmine for archaeologists? Remains of five ice age mammoths found in UK</a> &nbsp;

Maidment and Barrett also visited the site to probe the tracks and record measurements. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In the museum's announcement of the findings, Barrett said, "We believed the impressions we saw at Penarth were consistently spaced to suggest an animal walking. We also saw displacement rims where mud had been pushed up. These structures are characteristic of active movement through the soft ground." &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

If experts are to believed, footprints of an early dinosaur, which were made more than 200 million years ago, have been discovered on a beach in Wales, the UK. The footprints, which date back to the Triassic period, seem to belong to an early sauropod or its relative, said paleontologists at London's Natural History Museum.

If experts are to believed, footprints of an early dinosaur, which were made more than 200 million years ago, have been discovered on a beach in Wales, the UK. The footprints, which date back to the Triassic period, seem to belong to an early sauropod or its relative, said paleontologists at London's Natural History Museum. Also Read: A sea monster lived in dinosaur-era seas, says new study In a statement, Dr Susannah Maidment, paleontologist at the museum, who was also involved in the research, while announcing the findings, said, "We know early sauropods were living in Britain at the time, as bones of Camelotia, a very early sauropod, have been found in Somerset in rocks dated to the same period." A series of tracks on a public beach point to the presence of large, long-necked dinosaurs in Wales over 200 million years ago. The Penarth footprints are believed to have been left by sauropodomorphs, a group which includes the iconic Diplodocus 🦕 https://t.co/i4ef9WM8jk — Natural History Museum (@NHM_London) December 31, 2021 × "We don't know if this species was the track-maker, but it is another clue which suggests something like it could have made these tracks." In 2020, an amateur paleontologist had sent images of the tracks at the beach in Penarth to Maidment and her colleague, professor Paul Barrett. Also Read: Goldmine for archaeologists? Remains of five ice age mammoths found in UK Maidment and Barrett also visited the site to probe the tracks and record measurements. In the museum's announcement of the findings, Barrett said, "We believed the impressions we saw at Penarth were consistently spaced to suggest an animal walking. We also saw displacement rims where mud had been pushed up. These structures are characteristic of active movement through the soft ground." (With inputs from agencies)

200 million-year-old dinosaur footprints found on beach in UK, say researchers

Following social media outcry, authorities in Bangladesh have dropped plans of opening a dedicated beach only for women and women after facing accusations that were they acquiescing to hardline Islamises.

On Thursday officials had opened a section of shoreline on the world’s longest natural sea beach in Cox’s Bazar exclusively for women and children. But hours later announced they were dropping the idea.

The decision to segregate the beach was made following requests from some conservative women, officials had said.

“(The women) requested a dedicated beach section for themselves, because they felt shy and insecure in a crowded place,” Abu Sufian, a senior official in Cox's Bazar, told AFP.

The move to open an exclusive beach also came after gang rape of a woman in Cox's Bazar last week shocked the country, sparking an outcry over women's safety in the area.

But the decision triggered an uproar on social media, with critics accusing the government of paying heed to hardline Islamists who have recently held massive rallies demanding gender segregation in workplaces and factories.

One commentator described the beach segregation as “Talibistan,” referring to the Taliban Islamist group which has in recent months curbed women's rights in Afghanistan.

Cox's Bazar is one of the largest tourist attractions in Bangladesh. Hundreds of thousands visit during festive periods, and the tourism sector has boomed in recent years.

To provide security to the growing number of tourists, authorities have set up a tourism police unit to patrol beach towns.

(With inputs from agencies)

Following social media outcry, authorities in Bangladesh have dropped plans of opening a dedicated beach only for women and women after facing accusations that were they acquiescing to hardline Islamises.

Following social media outcry, authorities in Bangladesh have dropped plans of opening a dedicated beach only for women and women after facing accusations that were they acquiescing to hardline Islamises. On Thursday officials had opened a section of shoreline on the world’s longest natural sea beach in Cox’s Bazar exclusively for women and children. But hours later announced they were dropping the idea. The decision to segregate the beach was made following requests from some conservative women, officials had said. “(The women) requested a dedicated beach section for themselves, because they felt shy and insecure in a crowded place,” Abu Sufian, a senior official in Cox's Bazar, told AFP. The move to open an exclusive beach also came after gang rape of a woman in Cox's Bazar last week shocked the country, sparking an outcry over women's safety in the area. But the decision triggered an uproar on social media, with critics accusing the government of paying heed to hardline Islamists who have recently held massive rallies demanding gender segregation in workplaces and factories. One commentator described the beach segregation as “Talibistan,” referring to the Taliban Islamist group which has in recent months curbed women's rights in Afghanistan. Cox's Bazar is one of the largest tourist attractions in Bangladesh. Hundreds of thousands visit during festive periods, and the tourism sector has boomed in recent years. To provide security to the growing number of tourists, authorities have set up a tourism police unit to patrol beach towns. (With inputs from agencies)

Bangladesh authorities reverse decision to open women-only beach after uproar

WION examines global issues with in-depth analysis and brings you a quick round-up of all the top headlines and breakings from all across the world.

WION Speed News: Copacabana beach gets ready for New Year

A hulking barge, which has got stuck on a beach after breaking free from its tethers during fierce rains in southwestern British Columbia state of Canada, seems to have become an unlikely celebrity. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The residents of Vancouver had also witnessed the barge get perilously close to a bridge. But thankfully, winds pushed it away towards a beach. &nbsp;

For over a month, the barge has been stuck even after several attempts have been made by authorities to move it.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-miraculous-save-two-babies-in-us-survive-tornado-by-sheltering-in-bathtub-438260" hreflang="en">In miraculous save, two babies in US survive tornado by sheltering in bathtub</a>&nbsp;

The barge has attracted huge attention and the situation is such that numerous people are talking about it on social media. &nbsp;&nbsp;

It is poised to become one of the most famous grounded vessels of the year after Evergreen ship, which had got stuck at Suez canal. &nbsp;

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Our little holiday gift to you, Vancouver. 
No matter what storms life may send our way, we’ll always be here for you. Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday and a prosperous 2022! 
 
💚 Van Parks &amp; Rec <a href="https://t.co/TZyX0xtVjU">pic.twitter.com/TZyX0xtVjU</a>
— Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation (@ParkBoard) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParkBoard/status/1471202935400910848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Not just this, Vancouver named the park where it lies stranded “Barge Chilling Beach” last week to elevate the prestige of the barge. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-fitting-reply-billionaire-elon-musk-announces-to-pay-over-11-bn-in-taxes-this-year-438306" hreflang="en">In fitting reply, billionaire Elon Musk announces to pay over $11 bn in taxes this year</a>

On Twitter, the park board wrote, “No matter what storms life may send our way, we’ll always be here for you.” It also prompted the residents to flock to the barge for getting clicked with the new sign. &nbsp;

Vancouver Parks commissioner Stuart Mackinnon said, “We thought that we could have some fun with this, and maybe even give a little bit of joy to the residents.” &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A hulking barge, which has got stuck on a beach after breaking free from its tethers during fierce rains in southwestern British Columbia state of Canada, seems to have become an unlikely celebrity.

A hulking barge, which has got stuck on a beach after breaking free from its tethers during fierce rains in southwestern British Columbia state of Canada, seems to have become an unlikely celebrity. The residents of Vancouver had also witnessed the barge get perilously close to a bridge. But thankfully, winds pushed it away towards a beach. For over a month, the barge has been stuck even after several attempts have been made by authorities to move it. Also Read: In miraculous save, two babies in US survive tornado by sheltering in bathtub The barge has attracted huge attention and the situation is such that numerous people are talking about it on social media. It is poised to become one of the most famous grounded vessels of the year after Evergreen ship, which had got stuck at Suez canal. Our little holiday gift to you, Vancouver. No matter what storms life may send our way, we’ll always be here for you. Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday and a prosperous 2022! 💚 Van Parks & Rec pic.twitter.com/TZyX0xtVjU — Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation (@ParkBoard) December 15, 2021 × Not just this, Vancouver named the park where it lies stranded “Barge Chilling Beach” last week to elevate the prestige of the barge. Also Read: In fitting reply, billionaire Elon Musk announces to pay over $11 bn in taxes this year On Twitter, the park board wrote, “No matter what storms life may send our way, we’ll always be here for you.” It also prompted the residents to flock to the barge for getting clicked with the new sign. Vancouver Parks commissioner Stuart Mackinnon said, “We thought that we could have some fun with this, and maybe even give a little bit of joy to the residents.” (With inputs from agencies)

Stuck on a beach, hulking barge turns unlikely celebrity in Canada

Pictures of an ultra-rare deep-sea fish dubbed “deep-sea monster” has gone viral after a tourist spotted the creature washed ashore at a beach in California, US

On November 13, Jay Beiler was walking on Black’s Beach in Torrey Pines in San Diego when he spotted the “ultra-rare” species.

He initially thought that it was a jellyfish, but upon a closer look, he realised that it was something that he had never seen before.

The odd-looking creature piqued Beiler’s interest as he clicked three pictures of the creature&nbsp;and shared them with others.

The photos eventually ended up with scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, who&nbsp;revealed that the creature was a Pacific footballfish.

In an interview to a local media, Beiler said that the creature was large, and its length was about a foot.

“I have never seen anything quite like this before,” Beiler told NBC 7 San Diego.

“At first, I thought it was a like a jellyfish or something, and then I went and looked at it a little more carefully, and some other people were gathered around it too, and then I saw that it was this very unusual fish. It’s the stuff of nightmares mouth almost looked bloody,”

Scientifically known as Himantolophidae, footballfish lives in waters that are 3,000-4,000 feet deep. The creature is mostly found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.

A professor of zoology, Johan Reinhardt, had first discovered the fish in 1837.

(With inputs from agencies)

Pictures of an ultra-rare deep-sea fish dubbed “deep-sea monster” has gone viral after a tourist spotted the creature washed ashore at a beach in California, US On November 13, Jay Beiler was walking on Black’s Beach in Torrey Pines in San Diego when he spotted the “ultra-rare” species.

Pictures of an ultra-rare deep-sea fish dubbed “deep-sea monster” has gone viral after a tourist spotted the creature washed ashore at a beach in California, US On November 13, Jay Beiler was walking on Black’s Beach in Torrey Pines in San Diego when he spotted the “ultra-rare” species. He initially thought that it was a jellyfish, but upon a closer look, he realised that it was something that he had never seen before. The odd-looking creature piqued Beiler’s interest as he clicked three pictures of the creature and shared them with others. The photos eventually ended up with scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, who revealed that the creature was a Pacific footballfish. In an interview to a local media, Beiler said that the creature was large, and its length was about a foot. “I have never seen anything quite like this before,” Beiler told NBC 7 San Diego. “At first, I thought it was a like a jellyfish or something, and then I went and looked at it a little more carefully, and some other people were gathered around it too, and then I saw that it was this very unusual fish. It’s the stuff of nightmares mouth almost looked bloody,” Scientifically known as Himantolophidae, footballfish lives in waters that are 3,000-4,000 feet deep. The creature is mostly found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. A professor of zoology, Johan Reinhardt, had first discovered the fish in 1837. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Ultra-rare deep-sea’ footballfish washes ashore California beach

Over the years, increased fishing, tourism and construction have left fewer nesting grounds for Senegal's turtles. But as a result of peace brought on from pandemic shutdown, the shores of western Senegal have witnessed a rise in the number of endangered turtle nests.

Quiet beaches help endangered turtles reappear on shores of western Senegal

The turtle, presumably, had no way of knowing it would become a symbol of protest when it got stuck for hours in a construction site on a beach in western Puerto Rico, unable to return to the sea.

But the endangered hawksbill had wandered onto the site of a swimming pool being built so close to the ocean’s edge that a swimmer could practically step from the pool into the waves. A photo of the struggling turtle, its front flippers digging out of the sand, turned this summer into a symbol of defiance for Puerto Ricans alarmed at what is happening to their beloved coast.

Erosion and overdevelopment threaten Puerto Rico’s beautiful beaches. On an island that has struggled with bankruptcy, crumbling infrastructure and the emigration of a substantial part of its population, the pristine sand and abundant wildlife that have made Puerto Rico’s beaches famous around the world are both a point of pride and an important tourism draw.

Concerns over their future are decades old but have been exacerbated in recent years by climate change, hurricanes and a frenzy of building and rebuilding that is reshaping the island’s oceanfront. Gone, many Puerto Ricans fear, will be the last modest family homes and uncrowded stretches of habitat for hawksbill and leatherbacks. In their stead: luxury developments affordable mostly to rich people and outside investors lured by tax breaks.

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Over the past 15 years, Puerto Ricans have endured debilitating hardships, from economic recession to hurricanes and earthquakes. To also see their treasured beaches disappear has only deepened their sense that it is the island’s very way of life that is slipping away.

Over the summer, and since, that trepidation manifested in the complicated saga of one pool in one condominium on one beach where a turtle came to nest the story of how Puerto Rico’s bucolic past came to meet its paved present.

“Without that turtle, none of this would have happened,” said Miguel Canals Silander, director of the University of Puerto Rico’s Center for Applied Ocean Science and Engineering, who lives not far from the beach.

Even before the hawksbill arrived in July to lay its eggs, conflict over the swimming pool at the Condominio Sol y Playa had brewed for weeks in Rincón, a touristy surf town with spectacular sunsets on Puerto Rico’s western tip.

The condo owners received permission to build it after Hurricane Maria destroyed the old pool in 2017. The new construction horrified some neighbors. Los Almendros Beach had narrowed, its sand lost to the hurricane and to rising seas. The pool and its surrounding wall would be closer to the ocean than before, resulting in less space for sea turtles, the tide and the public&nbsp;on an island where protecting natural resources for community benefit is enshrined in the constitution.

It would hardly be the only structure encroaching on the sand. Up and down the beach, hotels and homes damaged by the hurricane have been rebuilt right by the water, some of their decks and backyards acting now as sea walls. At high tide, stairs intended to provide beach access instead lead directly into the breaking ocean waves.

Nearby lie other reminders of Maria’s wrath. In Córcega Beach, destroyed homes jut into the ocean, a jumble of cracked tiles and walls. A three-story condo building next door is slated for demolition. Farther south, an abandoned fishery tilts sideways off the sand.

The problem extends far beyond Rincón. In 2017, Puerto Rico found that about 60% of beaches had experienced erosion over the previous four years. Maria caused more erosion along 35% of the coast, according to a 2020 study by the University of Puerto Rico.

“The time will come when the water line moves further inland and the beach will be lost completely,” said Maritza Barreto, the study’s lead researcher. “The government’s priority should be to adapt and protect what we have and not build new infrastructure in at-risk areas.”

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Smaller towns worry that their plight will be overshadowed by Rincón and San Juan, the capital. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently completed a long-awaited retention wall made of rocks along part of the shoreline in the eastern town of Loíza, where severe erosion ruined a waterfront promenade nearly a decade ago and threatened homes and businesses.

Rincón lives off tourism, so protecting beaches is crucial to its survival. Many Americans from outside Puerto Rico have bought properties, enticed by a 2012 law that exempts them from most taxes on interest, dividends and capital gains. Given the island’s financial straits, the law’s backers contend that it helps attract necessary redevelopment dollars and other spending, even if just for a few months a year. Critics counter that such development is coming at the expense of environmental preservation.

Against that backdrop, Condominio Sol y Playa, a handsome four-story building with ample balconies, tried to rebuild its pool.

Not all unit owners approved. José G. Barea Fernández, an owner, filed a complaint in May with the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, which oversees public coastal areas, arguing that it had erred when it did not exercise its authority to stop a separate agency from granting construction permits.

Also in May, Eliezer Molina, an activist and former candidate for governor for the Puerto Rican Independence Party, recorded a Facebook Live video from outside the chain-link fence as construction was underway.

“These are your beaches,” he told viewers. “Soon, you’re not going to be able to use them if they keep allowing all these people to come and build.”

Hundreds of thousands watched. Protesters made their way to the beach. Police officers arrested Molina and several others. The condo association defended its plans.

Then, in early July, the hawksbill crawled under the construction fence, laid 166 eggs and could not get out until volunteers came to help.&nbsp;

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Tensions grew. Construction stopped. The fight went to court. Lawmakers held hearings. Other towns questioned if construction permits near their beaches had been properly issued.

The pool became a rare, tangible example of what poor planning and enforcement&nbsp; at a time when accelerating climate change is causing higher seas and more intense hurricanes&nbsp; look like, said Pedro M. Cardona Roig, an architect and former member of the Puerto Rico Planning Board.

“People have to see the impacts of what we’re talking about: a photo of a hawksbill in a construction site,” he said.

Cardona Roig argued that the pool was illegally built even in its original form, citing a 1997 memo from a land surveyor for the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. The controversy swirling around the rebuild illustrates how officials failed for decades to enforce existing regulations or write new ones to protect public beach access and limit development in areas prone to storm surge, he said.

“The Sol y Playa pool was destroyed because it was built in that zone,” Cardona Roig said, “and the storm surge swept it away.”

A lawyer for the condo association declined to comment, citing the ongoing litigation. In past statements, the association has blamed a small group of politically motivated detractors for orchestrating protests that resulted in vandalism, threats and the invasion of residents’ privacy through the use of drones, loudspeakers and bright lights.

“We have been the innocent victims of a brutal, selective persecution by people dedicated to destabilizing the democratic systems of law and order,” the association said in August, after the planning board found that the permits to rebuild the pool had been improperly granted.

The board ordered construction to remain suspended until December.

In a statement, Rafael A. Machargo Maldonado, secretary of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, maintained that the department had been “proactive” in the case and was working to enforce the law.

For now, the construction site sits mostly empty, an eyesore next to sunbathers. A nearby tent&nbsp;“Camp Carey,” or hawksbill camp stores coolers and other supplies for activists, although daily protests have ceased.

The hawksbill is thought to have come back twice to try to nest again, said Carlos Diez, coordinator of the sea turtle conservation program in the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. Once, volunteers saw tracks indicating that it ran into a half-built wall on the construction site and turned back without laying any eggs. The second time, it nested nearby.

On a recent morning, Carlos Rodríguez, one of the activists, walked by with his dog, Almendra, who is named after Los Almendros Beach. Protesters found her as a tiny puppy. Rodríguez, a fisherman, took her in.

Clad in a T-shirt with the colors of the Puerto Rican flag and a necklace with a turtle charm, Rodríguez, 63, recalled the pristine beach of his youth. He would pick fruit off trees that have long since been replaced by buildings.

“There was beach to walk,” he said. “Now, there’s nothing.”

Past the construction site, yellow tape demarcated an area in the brush.

“Did you see?” he asked.

Two sea turtle nests.

The turtle, presumably, had no way of knowing it would become a symbol of protest when it got stuck for hours in a construction site on a beach in western Puerto Rico, unable to return to the sea.

The turtle, presumably, had no way of knowing it would become a symbol of protest when it got stuck for hours in a construction site on a beach in western Puerto Rico, unable to return to the sea. But the endangered hawksbill had wandered onto the site of a swimming pool being built so close to the ocean’s edge that a swimmer could practically step from the pool into the waves. A photo of the struggling turtle, its front flippers digging out of the sand, turned this summer into a symbol of defiance for Puerto Ricans alarmed at what is happening to their beloved coast. Erosion and overdevelopment threaten Puerto Rico’s beautiful beaches. On an island that has struggled with bankruptcy, crumbling infrastructure and the emigration of a substantial part of its population, the pristine sand and abundant wildlife that have made Puerto Rico’s beaches famous around the world are both a point of pride and an important tourism draw. Concerns over their future are decades old but have been exacerbated in recent years by climate change, hurricanes and a frenzy of building and rebuilding that is reshaping the island’s oceanfront. Gone, many Puerto Ricans fear, will be the last modest family homes and uncrowded stretches of habitat for hawksbill and leatherbacks. In their stead: luxury developments affordable mostly to rich people and outside investors lured by tax breaks. Also read | Prosecutors play video footage of Ahmaud Arbery's murder in court Over the past 15 years, Puerto Ricans have endured debilitating hardships, from economic recession to hurricanes and earthquakes. To also see their treasured beaches disappear has only deepened their sense that it is the island’s very way of life that is slipping away. Over the summer, and since, that trepidation manifested in the complicated saga of one pool in one condominium on one beach where a turtle came to nest the story of how Puerto Rico’s bucolic past came to meet its paved present. “Without that turtle, none of this would have happened,” said Miguel Canals Silander, director of the University of Puerto Rico’s Center for Applied Ocean Science and Engineering, who lives not far from the beach. Even before the hawksbill arrived in July to lay its eggs, conflict over the swimming pool at the Condominio Sol y Playa had brewed for weeks in Rincón, a touristy surf town with spectacular sunsets on Puerto Rico’s western tip. The condo owners received permission to build it after Hurricane Maria destroyed the old pool in 2017. The new construction horrified some neighbors. Los Almendros Beach had narrowed, its sand lost to the hurricane and to rising seas. The pool and its surrounding wall would be closer to the ocean than before, resulting in less space for sea turtles, the tide and the public on an island where protecting natural resources for community benefit is enshrined in the constitution. It would hardly be the only structure encroaching on the sand. Up and down the beach, hotels and homes damaged by the hurricane have been rebuilt right by the water, some of their decks and backyards acting now as sea walls. At high tide, stairs intended to provide beach access instead lead directly into the breaking ocean waves. Nearby lie other reminders of Maria’s wrath. In Córcega Beach, destroyed homes jut into the ocean, a jumble of cracked tiles and walls. A three-story condo building next door is slated for demolition. Farther south, an abandoned fishery tilts sideways off the sand. The problem extends far beyond Rincón. In 2017, Puerto Rico found that about 60% of beaches had experienced erosion over the previous four years. Maria caused more erosion along 35% of the coast, according to a 2020 study by the University of Puerto Rico. “The time will come when the water line moves further inland and the beach will be lost completely,” said Maritza Barreto, the study’s lead researcher. “The government’s priority should be to adapt and protect what we have and not build new infrastructure in at-risk areas.” Also read | Twitter temporarily suspends Trends feature in Ethiopia over fear of violence Smaller towns worry that their plight will be overshadowed by Rincón and San Juan, the capital. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently completed a long-awaited retention wall made of rocks along part of the shoreline in the eastern town of Loíza, where severe erosion ruined a waterfront promenade nearly a decade ago and threatened homes and businesses. Rincón lives off tourism, so protecting beaches is crucial to its survival. Many Americans from outside Puerto Rico have bought properties, enticed by a 2012 law that exempts them from most taxes on interest, dividends and capital gains. Given the island’s financial straits, the law’s backers contend that it helps attract necessary redevelopment dollars and other spending, even if just for a few months a year. Critics counter that such development is coming at the expense of environmental preservation. Against that backdrop, Condominio Sol y Playa, a handsome four-story building with ample balconies, tried to rebuild its pool. Not all unit owners approved. José G. Barea Fernández, an owner, filed a complaint in May with the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, which oversees public coastal areas, arguing that it had erred when it did not exercise its authority to stop a separate agency from granting construction permits. Also in May, Eliezer Molina, an activist and former candidate for governor for the Puerto Rican Independence Party, recorded a Facebook Live video from outside the chain-link fence as construction was underway. “These are your beaches,” he told viewers. “Soon, you’re not going to be able to use them if they keep allowing all these people to come and build.” Hundreds of thousands watched. Protesters made their way to the beach. Police officers arrested Molina and several others. The condo association defended its plans. Then, in early July, the hawksbill crawled under the construction fence, laid 166 eggs and could not get out until volunteers came to help. Also read | Million Mask March: Protesters wearing Guy Fawkes masks clash with police in UK Tensions grew. Construction stopped. The fight went to court. Lawmakers held hearings. Other towns questioned if construction permits near their beaches had been properly issued. The pool became a rare, tangible example of what poor planning and enforcement at a time when accelerating climate change is causing higher seas and more intense hurricanes look like, said Pedro M. Cardona Roig, an architect and former member of the Puerto Rico Planning Board. “People have to see the impacts of what we’re talking about: a photo of a hawksbill in a construction site,” he said. Cardona Roig argued that the pool was illegally built even in its original form, citing a 1997 memo from a land surveyor for the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. The controversy swirling around the rebuild illustrates how officials failed for decades to enforce existing regulations or write new ones to protect public beach access and limit development in areas prone to storm surge, he said. “The Sol y Playa pool was destroyed because it was built in that zone,” Cardona Roig said, “and the storm surge swept it away.” A lawyer for the condo association declined to comment, citing the ongoing litigation. In past statements, the association has blamed a small group of politically motivated detractors for orchestrating protests that resulted in vandalism, threats and the invasion of residents’ privacy through the use of drones, loudspeakers and bright lights. “We have been the innocent victims of a brutal, selective persecution by people dedicated to destabilizing the democratic systems of law and order,” the association said in August, after the planning board found that the permits to rebuild the pool had been improperly granted. The board ordered construction to remain suspended until December. In a statement, Rafael A. Machargo Maldonado, secretary of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, maintained that the department had been “proactive” in the case and was working to enforce the law. For now, the construction site sits mostly empty, an eyesore next to sunbathers. A nearby tent “Camp Carey,” or hawksbill camp stores coolers and other supplies for activists, although daily protests have ceased. The hawksbill is thought to have come back twice to try to nest again, said Carlos Diez, coordinator of the sea turtle conservation program in the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. Once, volunteers saw tracks indicating that it ran into a half-built wall on the construction site and turned back without laying any eggs. The second time, it nested nearby. On a recent morning, Carlos Rodríguez, one of the activists, walked by with his dog, Almendra, who is named after Los Almendros Beach. Protesters found her as a tiny puppy. Rodríguez, a fisherman, took her in. Clad in a T-shirt with the colors of the Puerto Rican flag and a necklace with a turtle charm, Rodríguez, 63, recalled the pristine beach of his youth. He would pick fruit off trees that have long since been replaced by buildings. “There was beach to walk,” he said. “Now, there’s nothing.” Past the construction site, yellow tape demarcated an area in the brush. “Did you see?” he asked. Two sea turtle nests.

A turtle, a pool and the fight to save Puerto Rico’s beaches

A UK-based artist cleans up beaches in Brighton. She spends time collecting trash which is later turned into artworks. Visitors often litter the beach and hence becomes a never-ending task for Sammie Aplin.

UK artist Sammie Aplin turns beach trash into art

In a shark attack, a man lost his life at Emerald Beach on Australia's east coast on Sunday. The shark inflicted a "significant" injury to his arm, said New South Wales (NSW) Ambulance. &nbsp;

After the incident was reported, a four-member Westpac Rescue Helicopter medical team, which included a critical care doctor and a critical care paramedic, were dispatched to the scene, as per NSW Ambulance. &nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Spain resumes famous bull-running festival after the COVID pandemic

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New South Wales Ambulance inspector Chris Wilson said, "A number of local surfers and bystanders came to the aid of this man. Despite the best efforts of bystanders, paramedics and other emergency services, the patient couldn't be revived." &nbsp;

According to NSW Ambulance, the man is believed to be in the age group of 20s.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-to-reopen-borders-for-tourists-from-sept-19-for-selected-countries-410967" hreflang="en">Israel to reopen borders for tourists from Sept 19 for selected countries</a>&nbsp;

New South Wales police inspector Ben Atkinson said, “Following the incident, a number of beaches around the area have been closed for the next 48 hours.” &nbsp;

In the number of unprovoked shark encounters with humans in 2019, Australia is ranked behind only the United States as per the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File, Reuters said.&nbsp;

In a shark attack, a man lost his life at Emerald Beach on Australia's east coast on Sunday. The shark inflicted a "significant" injury to his arm, said New South Wales (NSW) Ambulance.

In a shark attack, a man lost his life at Emerald Beach on Australia's east coast on Sunday. The shark inflicted a "significant" injury to his arm, said New South Wales (NSW) Ambulance. After the incident was reported, a four-member Westpac Rescue Helicopter medical team, which included a critical care doctor and a critical care paramedic, were dispatched to the scene, as per NSW Ambulance. Watch: Spain resumes famous bull-running festival after the COVID pandemic × New South Wales Ambulance inspector Chris Wilson said, "A number of local surfers and bystanders came to the aid of this man. Despite the best efforts of bystanders, paramedics and other emergency services, the patient couldn't be revived." According to NSW Ambulance, the man is believed to be in the age group of 20s. Also Read: Israel to reopen borders for tourists from Sept 19 for selected countries New South Wales police inspector Ben Atkinson said, “Following the incident, a number of beaches around the area have been closed for the next 48 hours.” In the number of unprovoked shark encounters with humans in 2019, Australia is ranked behind only the United States as per the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File, Reuters said.

Surfer dies after severe injury to arm in shark attack at beach in Australia

More than 100 people gathered for a beach vigil Monday night to commemorate victims and those still missing after last week’s condo collapse near Miami.

Family members, friends and residents sat cross-legged in the sand, holding glow-in-the-dark candle sticks and white roses as the sound of waves filled the air. People remained mostly silent as they grieved at the end of the fifth day of a harrowing search for survivors. Hopes have been dimming and frustration has built around the slow pace of rescue efforts.

A half-circle formed around Michelle Cash and her husband, Rich Gausman, who led a “sound healing” session on the beach behind the Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club. “Hope” was spelled in the nearby sand with wet seaweed and candlesticks.

As the session went on, people wiped away tears. Others clasped their hands in prayer. A cool breeze offered reprieve from the sweltering heat.

“The pain, the suffering that has been going on in this community will never be understood. Days will pass, months will pass, America, the world will forget about this,” said Leo Soto, 26, who started a makeshift memorial wall near the collapse site. “We have to live through this. We’ll never forget about this.”

Naomi Romo and Alfredo Garcia of Miami brought three bouquets of flowers to the vigil. Romo was in the same graduating class as Nicky Langesfeld, who lived in Unit 804 and is among those missing. Although Romo said she did not know Langesfeld well, she often passed her in the hallway when they both attended Ronald W. Reagan Doral Senior High School.

“It’s a person that you grew up seeing. I’ve seen her since middle school,” said Romo, a 25-year-old therapist. “Everything has been a shock. I’m just here to give any kind of support that I can offer.”

More than 100 people gathered for a beach vigil Monday night to commemorate victims and those still missing after last week’s condo collapse near Miami. Family members, friends and residents sat cross-legged in the sand, holding glow-in-the-dark candle sticks and white roses as the sound of waves filled the air.

More than 100 people gathered for a beach vigil Monday night to commemorate victims and those still missing after last week’s condo collapse near Miami. Family members, friends and residents sat cross-legged in the sand, holding glow-in-the-dark candle sticks and white roses as the sound of waves filled the air. People remained mostly silent as they grieved at the end of the fifth day of a harrowing search for survivors. Hopes have been dimming and frustration has built around the slow pace of rescue efforts. A half-circle formed around Michelle Cash and her husband, Rich Gausman, who led a “sound healing” session on the beach behind the Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club. “Hope” was spelled in the nearby sand with wet seaweed and candlesticks. As the session went on, people wiped away tears. Others clasped their hands in prayer. A cool breeze offered reprieve from the sweltering heat. “The pain, the suffering that has been going on in this community will never be understood. Days will pass, months will pass, America, the world will forget about this,” said Leo Soto, 26, who started a makeshift memorial wall near the collapse site. “We have to live through this. We’ll never forget about this.” Naomi Romo and Alfredo Garcia of Miami brought three bouquets of flowers to the vigil. Romo was in the same graduating class as Nicky Langesfeld, who lived in Unit 804 and is among those missing. Although Romo said she did not know Langesfeld well, she often passed her in the hallway when they both attended Ronald W. Reagan Doral Senior High School. “It’s a person that you grew up seeing. I’ve seen her since middle school,” said Romo, a 25-year-old therapist. “Everything has been a shock. I’m just here to give any kind of support that I can offer.”

Victims and those missing in condo collapse are remembered at a beach vigil

Ah yes, Venice Beach in California: synonymous with sun, surf, palm trees and, now, homeless people.

As many as 200 tents line the oceanfront in this Los Angeles-area town that for decades has been a lure for surfers and tourists.

The area is a chaotic jumble of any material that can create shelter, and of waste and detritus, amid appalling hygiene conditions. The smell of urine competes with that of suntan lotion.

"I didn't expect to see so many homeless people here in Venice. Already in Hollywood a few days ago, I was a bit surprised, but here, all these tents touching each other, these shacks, these tarpaulins, it's almost like a village," said John Jackson, who was visiting from the southern US state of Alabama.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-former-finance-minister-javid-appointed-as-health-minister-394201">Also Read |&nbsp;UK's former finance minister Javid appointed as health minister</a>

Before the coronavirus pandemic, &nbsp;authorities made homeless people living on the beach take down their tents during the day. But city hall suspended that rule to limit the risk of contagion among people who are already vulnerable to illness.

Homeless people in the Venice area, many of whom lost places in shelters and free meals because of the pandemic, have used the health crisis to converge on the city's beach.

"The homeless have been part of Venice folklore since the 60s or 70s, but now their numbers have exploded. And they've changed too," said an assistant in a souvenir shop who did not want to be named.

"Before a lot of them were hippies, beach bums who had more or less chosen this way of life. Now they are really poor guys. Almost everyone out there is very bad physically and mentally," said this man in his 60s.

"I see pain, mental illnesses, drugs ... And it's been rough for me this past month," said Denise Diangelo, a homeless woman who spoke to AFP near the beachfront encampment.&nbsp;

"Probably the main problem that I've had personally is sleeping. I usually like to sleep alone by the water, the Pacific Ocean, to keep away from problems," said Diangelo. Her only shelter, she says, is a beach umbrella.

Right before the pandemic, nearly 2,000 people were recorded as being homeless in the streets of Venice. The numbers have grown steadily.

But now that life is returning to normal and tourists are coming back, the beachfront homeless camp is beginning to bothersome and even take on a political bent.

Mike Bonin, a city councillor who advocates relocating the homeless population, has found himself locking horns with the Los Angeles County sheriff's office and neighbourhood associations that want a much more forceful evacuation of the homeless.

A chronic problem in California

Like many people who visit Los Angeles, Jackson, the Alabama tourist, said he cannot understand "why all these people are homeless when California has the reputation of being so rich."

Indeed, California boasts the world's fifth-largest economy in terms of GDP. But it is also one of the US states with the most poor people.&nbsp;

It holds the sad title of being home to the largest homeless population in America: more than 66,000 in Los Angeles County alone before Covid-19, up nearly 13 per cent from the previous year.

One of the main reasons for this, according to the Los Angeles city agency that tries to address homelessness, is the lack of affordable housing in a city where rent is very expensive.

Rent shot up 65 per cent from 2010 to 2020, nearly twice the average rate of increase for the country as a whole. In the same period, median Los Angeles household income rose only 36 per cent.

Some groups are working to provide aid and housing for the homeless people of Venice, but this is a tough job because some of them have been living in the streets for years.

Take the case of Rodrick Sims, who is 50 and has been homeless for 15 years. He said his descent started when he got divorced.

"I don't know what to do. I'm hoping that they give me, you know, a place where I can start learning how to live inside again," he told AFP while eating grapes outside his tent on the beach.

"I'll tell you, when once you're outside, you get feral, like a wild wild man," Sims said.

Ah yes, Venice Beach in California: synonymous with sun, surf, palm trees and, now, homeless people. As many as 200 tents line the oceanfront in this Los Angeles-area town that for decades has been a lure for surfers and tourists.

Ah yes, Venice Beach in California: synonymous with sun, surf, palm trees and, now, homeless people. As many as 200 tents line the oceanfront in this Los Angeles-area town that for decades has been a lure for surfers and tourists. The area is a chaotic jumble of any material that can create shelter, and of waste and detritus, amid appalling hygiene conditions. The smell of urine competes with that of suntan lotion. "I didn't expect to see so many homeless people here in Venice. Already in Hollywood a few days ago, I was a bit surprised, but here, all these tents touching each other, these shacks, these tarpaulins, it's almost like a village," said John Jackson, who was visiting from the southern US state of Alabama. Also Read | UK's former finance minister Javid appointed as health minister Before the coronavirus pandemic, authorities made homeless people living on the beach take down their tents during the day. But city hall suspended that rule to limit the risk of contagion among people who are already vulnerable to illness. Homeless people in the Venice area, many of whom lost places in shelters and free meals because of the pandemic, have used the health crisis to converge on the city's beach. "The homeless have been part of Venice folklore since the 60s or 70s, but now their numbers have exploded. And they've changed too," said an assistant in a souvenir shop who did not want to be named. "Before a lot of them were hippies, beach bums who had more or less chosen this way of life. Now they are really poor guys. Almost everyone out there is very bad physically and mentally," said this man in his 60s. "I see pain, mental illnesses, drugs ... And it's been rough for me this past month," said Denise Diangelo, a homeless woman who spoke to AFP near the beachfront encampment. "Probably the main problem that I've had personally is sleeping. I usually like to sleep alone by the water, the Pacific Ocean, to keep away from problems," said Diangelo. Her only shelter, she says, is a beach umbrella. Right before the pandemic, nearly 2,000 people were recorded as being homeless in the streets of Venice. The numbers have grown steadily. But now that life is returning to normal and tourists are coming back, the beachfront homeless camp is beginning to bothersome and even take on a political bent. Mike Bonin, a city councillor who advocates relocating the homeless population, has found himself locking horns with the Los Angeles County sheriff's office and neighbourhood associations that want a much more forceful evacuation of the homeless. A chronic problem in California Like many people who visit Los Angeles, Jackson, the Alabama tourist, said he cannot understand "why all these people are homeless when California has the reputation of being so rich." Indeed, California boasts the world's fifth-largest economy in terms of GDP. But it is also one of the US states with the most poor people. It holds the sad title of being home to the largest homeless population in America: more than 66,000 in Los Angeles County alone before Covid-19, up nearly 13 per cent from the previous year. One of the main reasons for this, according to the Los Angeles city agency that tries to address homelessness, is the lack of affordable housing in a city where rent is very expensive. Rent shot up 65 per cent from 2010 to 2020, nearly twice the average rate of increase for the country as a whole. In the same period, median Los Angeles household income rose only 36 per cent. Some groups are working to provide aid and housing for the homeless people of Venice, but this is a tough job because some of them have been living in the streets for years. Take the case of Rodrick Sims, who is 50 and has been homeless for 15 years. He said his descent started when he got divorced. "I don't know what to do. I'm hoping that they give me, you know, a place where I can start learning how to live inside again," he told AFP while eating grapes outside his tent on the beach. "I'll tell you, when once you're outside, you get feral, like a wild wild man," Sims said.

California's famed Venice Beach grapples with homeless problem

After a year of remote learning and socially distanced classrooms, one school in the Spanish region of Murcia is trying to combine clear air and a new way of teaching. WION brings you a report.

Spanish schools revamp classroom learning by teaching students at beachside

beach

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