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Added on the 19/07/2022 14:27:00 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
Large crowds flock to beaches in Orange County that are still open during the coronavirus pandemic, as a heatwave lingers over California. IMAGES
Who could have ever guessed that one can get so far in life just by playing in the sand? World renown sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik attempted a world record for the world's tallest sand castle along Puri beach in the Indian state of Odisha over the past two weeks and representatives of the Guinness Book of World Records flew down to check on the attempt. Pattnaik worked with 45 students from his Sudarsan Sand Art Institute as well as about 500 laborers in the sand over a period of 9 days to complete the structure. They focused the design around the theme of "World Peace" and carved global icons of peace, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Gautama Buddha, and Nelson Mandela, into their work of sand art. The team was aiming to beat the previous record held by American master sculptor Ted Siebert of 45 feet ten inches. In the end, the official height came in at a whopping 48 feet 8 inches, helping the team to secure a Guinness World Record on Friday. Pattnaik hopes that the new record as well as some of his other previous victories will draw attention and funding from the Indian government to help him accomplish his main dream - setting up a sand art park in his home state.
A fire burns at night atop the Cerro El Cable mountain in Colombia's capital, as the country endures record temperatures. IMAGES
Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), says it is virtually certain that the high temperatures in July mean that "the month as a whole will become the warmest July on record, the warmest month on record". The top 21 hottest days have "all occurred this month", he adds. SOUNDBITE
The city of Phoenix breaks a 49-year-old record with its 19th consecutive day of temperatures of 43.3 Celsius (110 Fahrenheit) or higher according to weather officials. IMAGES
U.S. President Barack Obama attends an outdoor arrival ceremony in heavy rain, as the first sitting U.S. president to visit Laos. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).