Beach

Goa's Colva beach to get infra boost under Swadesh Darshan scheme: Minister

The Colva beach in South Goa is set to undergo comprehensive infrastructure development under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme 2.0, a state minister has said. The project aims to enhance the visitor experience while preserving the local environment and supporting the livelihoods of local residents, state Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said on Friday. The minister along with local MLA Venzy Viegas, Margao legislator Digamber Kamat and other stakeholders inspected the Colva beach on Friday. Talking to reporters later, Khaunte said the first phase of the project is set to commence after January 5, next year. It will focus on resolving the critical infrastructure issues while ensuring minimal disruption to the daily operations of local vendors and businesses, he said. "This initiative is part of a larger commitment of the Goa government to promote sustainable tourism and enhance the state's cultural and natural attractions. World-class amenities will be provided under the project, while als

Beach volleyball at Eiffel Tower stadium draws crowds for social media post

Lena Von Schonlaub used Eiffel Tower Stadium as a backdrop for her own personal photo shoot. Von Schonlaub shifted her head from side to side, smiling big while she held her phone in front of her face and clicked over and over. Paris' iconic Eiffel Tower hovered right behind her, overlooking the site where beach volleyball is being played at the 2024 Paris Olympics. It has been one of the most popular attractions of the Olympics, drawing hundreds of people looking for the best photo to post on their social media pages. The perfect setting for a digital age. "I think it's the most beautiful location you can have," said Von Schonlaub, who traveled to Paris from Munich, Germany. "It's Instagrammable." The sand and upbeat DJ music always give beach volleyball the feel of a party. The sport has been played at plenty of iconic sites, including Copacabana Beach at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where beach volleyball is very popular. But for many athletes and visitors, Eiffel Tower

World's rarest whale sighted on New Zealand beach: Scientists

The spade-toothed whales are the world's rarest, with no live sightings ever recorded. No one knows how many there are, what they eat, or even where they live in the vast expanse of the southern Pacific Ocean. However, scientists in New Zealand may have finally caught a break. The country's conservation agency said Monday a creature that washed up on a South Island beach this month is believed to be a spade-toothed whale. The five-meter-long creature, a type of beaked whale, was identified after it washed ashore on Otago beach from its color patterns and the shape of its skull, beak and teeth We know very little, practically nothing about the creatures, Hannah Hendriks, Marine Technical Advisor for the Department of Conservation, told the Associated Press. This is going to lead to some amazing science and world-first information. If the cetacean is confirmed to be the elusive spade-toothed whale, it would be the first specimen found in a state that would permit scientists to dissect

Rs 67,000 fine for urinating in sea; Spanish city imposes new regulation

Spain's Marbella City imposes a fine of €750 for urinating in the sea, a higher penalty for repeated offences. The regulation aims to enhance cleanliness and health standards on the beach

Prez Murmu spends time at beach in Puri during her four-day Odisha visit

President Droupadi Murmu, who is on a four-day visit to Odisha, spent some time at a sea beach in Puri on Monday morning. She witnessed the annual Rath Yatra in the coastal pilgrim town on Sunday. Later, she penned her thoughts about her experience of being in close commune with nature. "There are places that bring us in closer touch with the essence of life and remind us that we are part of nature. Mountains, forests, rivers and seashores appeal to something deep within us. As I walked along the seashore today, I felt a communion with the surroundings the gentle wind, the roar of the waves, and the immense expanse of water. It was a meditative experience," Murmu posted on X. She said it brought her a profound inner peace that she had also felt when she had a darshan of Lord Jagannath on Sunday. Stating that she was not alone in having such an experience, Murmu said, "All of us can feel that way when we encounter something that is far larger than us, that sustains us and that mak

Beaches on Singapore's resort island of Sentosa closed after oil spill

Tanjong Beach Club, which is normally bustling with guests on weekends, was largely empty. Scattered tables with a handful of diners looked over the shoreline

Sea water recedes more than usual in Alappuzha leaving seabed exposed

A stretch of the coast near Alappuzha witnessed an unusual phenomenon on Tuesday, where the sea receded from its usual shoreline, leaving a portion of the seabed exposed. The sea receded approximately 50 metres along a half-kilometre stretch from Purakkad to Ayyankovil near Ambalappuzha, raising concerns among the fishing community. The affected area, now filled with sludge, has hindered their ability to embark on fishing ventures. Local MLA H Salam, along with other public representatives, visited the site to assess the situation. Official sources said district revenue officials visited the area and attributed this occurrence to the "chakara," a distinctive marine phenomenon characterised by the congregation of numerous fish and prawns during specific seasons, often coinciding with mud bank formations.

11 injured after wave breaks floating bridge handrail in Kerala, say police

Several persons were injured in an accident at Varkala beach here on Saturday when a huge wave hit a floating bridge that people were standing on, toppling many of them into the water, police said. An officer of the Varkala police station said 11 persons, including two children, were injured in the accident in which a handrail of the floating bridge was also broken due to the impact of the waves. Two of the injured persons were referred to the Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College as their injuries were serious, police said. As the people standing on the floating bridge were wearing life jackets, they could be brought back to shore quickly and safely without any loss of life, it said. The incident occurred around 5 pm, police said.

Diverse portfolio funds and beach holidays: Top personal finance stories

This week we tell you about multi-asset allocation funds and unspoiled coastal destinations

Lakshadweep to Digha: India's best beach holiday destinations beyond Goa

Dotted across India's vast coastline, these places are less crowded and culturally vibrant

Indian community in Australia mourns victims of quadruple beach drowning

The Indian community in Australia is mourning the tragic death of four compatriots, including three women, who drowned at an unpatrolled beach in Phillip Island this week. Jagjeet Singh Anand, a 23-year-old male nurse, Suhani Anand and Kirti Bedi, 20-year-old nursing students, and Reema Sondhi, 43, died in the tragic incident on Wednesday. They were part of a group of about 10 people who were enjoying a day out at Phillip Island, near Melbourne in Victoria. A close relative, who was too devastated to speak at length, said Sondhi was visiting her family in Australia and had arrived there two weeks earlier, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. Sondhi was the daughter-in-law of industrialist Om Sondhi from Phagwara in India's Punjab state. Reema's husband Sanjeev too was part of the group but he survived. Jagjeet Singh Anand, a Melbourne-based nurse, was a permanent resident in Australia while Suhani Anand and Bedi were on student visas. The three younger victims were all residents of

Beach Games 2024: Govt transformed India's sporting culture, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said his government had transformed the entire sports ecosystem in India, due to which a strong sporting culture was developing in the country. The PM's message was read out by an official at the opening ceremony of the 'Beach Games 2024' being organised at Ghoghla beach in Diu, part of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. "Any nation's progress is often mirrored by its performance in sports. Therefore, it is heartening to see a strong sporting culture developing in India. Our athletes have been making the nation proud through excellence at various international sporting events," Modi said in his written message read out by IAS officer Amit Singla. "Over the last decade, we have transformed the entire ecosystem of sports. Be it identifying and providing opportunities to sporting talent from smaller cities and towns, to building modern sports infrastructure. Further, in the last few years, Indian youngsters are bein

World Ocean Day: Volunteers take part in beach clean up drive in Vizag

Enthusiastic volunteers chipped in to clean a city beach on Thursday in response to a call given by the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam (Vizag Zoo) as part of commemorating the World Ocean Day. Volunteers from diverse walks of life, government employees, NGOs, students, citizens and others, cleaned up the Sagar Nagar beach, opposite the zoo's beach road gate starting from 6 AM. "Participants actively engaged in collecting and removing various types of debris, including plastic bottles and other waste material that pose a threat to marine life," said Nandani Salaria, curator, Vizag Zoo in a press note shared today. Salaria emphasised that collective action is crucial in addressing the challenges faced by the oceans, highlighting the vital role played by zoological parks in promoting environmental conservation. As a token of appreciation, all the volunteers were given certificate of participation for their contribution in the coast cleaning activity, which is also aimed

Civil defence teams deployed at Bakkhali beach ahead of cyclone 'Mocha'

Civil defence teams have been deployed at Bakkhali Sea Beach in South 24 Parganas of West Bengal as Cyclone 'Mocha' intensifies into an extremely severe cyclonic storm, officials said on Saturday

Two new Indian beaches from Lakshadweep receive 'Blue Flag' certification

India now has 12 beaches certified under the Blue Flag Certification. Last time it was in September 2021 when Kovalam Beach in Tamil Nadu and Eden Beach in Puducherry made it to the list.

Eight beaches in India awarded prestigious Blue Flag certification

India has also been awarded the third prize by the jury under the "International Best Practices" for pollution control in coastal regions

To prevent sunburn, sunscreen better than umbrella

Sunscreen prevents sunburns than a large umbrella but neither method was 100% effective