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Rare, colourful find on coastline leaves locals stunned

A large colourful fish washed ashore on the US coast last week in what aquarium officials called a rare occurrence.

The 45 kilogram opah fish, also known as a moonfish, was discovered on Sunset Beach in Seaside, a city in the northwest side of Oregon.

The fish is "rare to the Oregon Coast," Seaside Aquarium said in a Facebook post along with several images of the one metre fish.

READ MORE: Country 'abandons' world's most endangered marine mammal

The opah fish is considered a "rare to the Oregon Coast."

Keith Chandler, the general manager of Seaside Aquarium, told CNN that an opah on the Oregon coast is "uncommon to find" and he also added that the fish was "in such great shape."

"They're pretty cool fish, and we don't normally see them on the shore," said Mr Chandler.

"It was pretty exciting for locals."

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), little is known about the species since they live deep in the ocean.

The species is usually found in temperate and tropical waters.

The fish weighed a whopping 45 kilograms.

The opah is an unusual looking fish, according to NOAA, they have a round, flat body that's silvery grey in colour.

"Toward the belly (of the fish), the silver shades to a rose red, dotted with white spots," reads NOAA's website.

"Their fins and mouth are red, and their large eyes are encircled with gold."

The opah fish was found in remarkable condition, allowing scientists to learn more about the species.

Due to the condition the fish was found in, Mr Chandler believes that it had only been on the beach for less than an hour before the aquarium's staff got a notification for it.

"Unfortunately, it washed up not living, but we got to it before the birds," he said.

The opah is being stored in a large freezer, Mr Chandler said.

The aquarium plans to work with a local organisation, the Columbia River Maritime Museum, to dissect the fish. The aquarium added that one lucky school group will get the chance to be part of the dissection.

Mr Chandler said the aquarium plans to "get all the data" possible from the dissection to learn more about the species.

Dog poo dumpers caught by DNA database

No matter where you live, nearly every suburb in every city across the globe has the same issue of dog owners not picking up after their pooch when out for a walk.

Now a city council in Israel has taken the extreme measure of adding every pet dog's DNA to a database, so droppings left behind can be tested and owners who choose not to pick up after their fur babies will be fined.

The Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality approved the motion for the DNA database last week.

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All current pet licences will expire in six months and anyone who applies for a new one will be required to submit their pet's genetic information before it is approved.

This way, any poo left on the street will be tested and if that animal's DNA is found on the database, the owner will receive a hefty fine in the mail.

"The amendment to the law was approved as part of the municipality's persistent fight against the phenomenon of dog faeces not being collected by their owners across the city," the municipality said in a statement.

"The existence of a DNA database of dogs in the city will make it possible to perform samples for faeces on the street, thus enforcing the law against the dog owner even after the offence has been committed, in a way that will address the main challenge in enforcing and eradicating the phenomenon." 

READ MORE: Dog owners face $200 fine for not carrying poo bags

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With most countries facing more than one lockdown since the coronavirus pandemic took hold, many have been working from home and restricted to walks around their local neighbourhood for exercise.

The global lockdown has also seen a big increase in people welcoming new dogs into their families.

Along with this increase in furry friends joining families, communities everywhere have inevitably also seen an increase in the number of dog poos being left on the street.

According to The Times of Israel, Tel Aviv introduced the new law after an increase in the cost of fines failed to reduce the number of incidents reported.

The municipality also saw a steep rise in the number of complaints about dog poos last year when the coronavirus pandemic first surged.

The regulations won't apply to guide dogs or dogs kept with animal protection organisations.

Extreme heat warning issued for first time in UK

An extreme heat warning is in place for large parts of the UK as authorities flag the potential impact of the sweltering conditions on people's health.

It's the first time the UK's Met Office has issued one if its new amber warnings, which covers large parts of Wales, all of south-west England and parts of southern and central England.

The warning will remain in place until Thursday when temperatures are expected to peak.

READ MORE: Fears of coronavirus surge and UK leader's quarantine mar 'Freedom Day'

It comes as all four UK nations recorded the hottest day of the year at the weekend.

Heathrow, in England, reached 31.6C on Sunday while Wales recorded a high of 30.2C in Cardiff.

Northern Ireland recorded its highest temperatures since records began, hitting 31.2C on Saturday in Ballywatticock, while in Scotland 28.2C was reached in Threave, Dumfries and Galloway.

Forecasters are now warning temperatures will only get hotter and could reach 33C in some areas.

"The high temperatures are going to continue through a large part of this week," Steven Ramsdale from the Met Office said, reports the BBC.

"Many areas will continue to reach heatwave thresholds but the amber extreme heat warning focuses on western areas where the most unusually high temperatures are likely to persist."

The Met Office's new extreme heat warning system was launched in June. It follows a record-breaking number of heatwave deaths across England last year.

Experts are blaming the extreme heat on human-induced climate change, with the world warning by 1.2C since the industrial era began.

Authorities are also warning people to be extra cautious around waterways, fearing an "increased risk of water safety incidents".