Why does the Israeli army get away with killing foreign activists?
Investigations into Israeli soldiers’ attacks on civilians rarely lead to prosecutions. The killing of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old American-Turkish activist in the occupied West Bank, has once again brought a troubling issue into the spotlight: Israeli forces targeting civilians. Despite international condemnation and calls for justice, questions linger about whether anyone will be held accountable. The Israeli military says it is investigating, but critics say these internal probes rarely lead to prosecutions. What will it take to break this cycle? And who will hold Israel to account? Presenter: James Bays Guests: Miko Peled – founder and president of Palestine House of Freedom, an aid and rights organisation Daniel Santiago – American peace activist who was demonstrating in Beita last month when he was shot by the Israeli military Amir Oren – columnist at Haaretz newspaper who focuses on military and government affairs Adblock test (Why?)
Trump safe as FBI probes ‘attempted assassination’ near Florida golf course
DEVELOPING STORYDEVELOPING STORY, White House says both President Biden and Trump’s rival Kamala Harris were ‘relieved’ to know Trump is safe. Former United States President Donald Trump said he is “safe and well” after gunshots were reported in his vicinity as he played golf at his resort in Florida. The FBI said it is “investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump”, in the incident the Secret Service said occurred before 2pm local time (18:00 GMT) on Sunday. “I am safe and well, and no one was hurt. Thank God!” Trump said in a statement on his website. “But, there are people in this world who will do whatever it takes to stop us,” the Republican presidential nominee added. “I will not stop fighting for you. I will never surrender.” Police vehicles are pictured near Trump International Golf Club, West Palm Beach, Florida, after gunshots were reported in the vicinity [Stephanie Matat/AP] FBI investigating “attempted assassination” In a statement, the FBI said it “has responded to West Palm Beach Florida and is investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump”. Trump had been golfing at his West Palm Beach course, not far from his Mar-a-Lago residence, during a day away from the presidential campaign, multiple media reports said. At a joint news conference with the FBI, Secret Service and local officials, officials said that a Secret Service agent, who was one hole ahead of Trump on the golf course, spotted a person with a firearm and fired in his direction. It was unclear if the suspect fired back at the agent, the officials added. The Palm County sheriff said the suspect was 400 to 500 yards (365 to 457 metres) from Trump and it appeared he sought to film himself. The suspect fled the wooded area in a black vehicle, but was quickly located and detained by law enforcement agencies, officials added. A backpack, GoPro camera, firearm scope and AK-47-style rifle were recovered from the scene, the officials said. ‘Violence has no place in America’ The White House said that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, had both been briefed and would be kept updated on the investigation. The White House added that both Biden and Harris were “relieved” to know Trump is safe. “Violence has no place in America,” Harris said in a post on X. Trump was injured in an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania on July 13. A bullet grazed his right ear and one person attending the rally was killed in the gunfire. The attacker, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, was also killed by a Secret Service sniper. The attack raised questions about protection for the candidates just months ahead of what is likely to be a highly contested November 5 election in which Trump will face off against Harris. Kimberly Cheatle was forced to resign as Secret Service director under bipartisan congressional pressure. The agency’s new acting director said in August that he was “ashamed” of the security lapse that had led to the assassination attempt on Trump. Adblock test (Why?)
Trump’s VP pick JD Vance defends spreading false story about migrants
Top US Republican politicians continue to repeat debunked rumours about Haitian immigrants eating pets in Ohio town. Former President Donald Trump’s running mate in the US election, Republican Senator JD Vance, has defended amplifying false stories about migrants stealing and eating pets in the United States, saying in an interview that the political ends justify the means. During several television appearances on Sunday, Vance was questioned about the unfounded claims he and Trump have made about Haitian migrants in the city of Springfield, Ohio, as part of a wider attack on the immigration policies of the Democratic presidential candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump had touted the false story during his first – and likely only debate – with Harris last week, with 67 million viewers tuning in. Local officials have repeatedly said they have received no evidence to support the rumours. But Vance remained defiant on Sunday, saying in an interview with CBS News that he had received “verifiable and confirmable” accounts from residents of the Ohio community, without providing further evidence of the alleged incidents. “Everybody who has dealt with a large influx of migration knows that sometimes there are cultural practices that seem very far out there to a lot of Americans,” he said. “Are we not allowed to talk about this in the United States of America?” In another exchange on CNN, Vance was asked to “affirmatively say” that there is no evidence to support the stories about Haitian migrants eating pets. Vance again replied he was only responding to constituents’ concerns. “If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do … because you guys are completely letting Kamala Harris coast,” Vance replied, before backpedaling. “I say that we’re creating a story, meaning we’re creating the American media focusing on it,” Vance said. For his part, Trump on Saturday again referenced Springfield, Ohio, during a speech near Los Angeles, vowing to deport Haitian immigrants from the community if elected in the November 5 vote. Trump and his Republican allies have also been sharing cat-themed memes to push the anti-immigrant narrative. Trump posts ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT’ For years, political violence experts have warned that the Trump campaign’s bellicose rhetoric and flippant approach to misinformation stoke social tensions and raise the spectre of violence. Just two days after the debate, hospitals, schools and government buildings in Springfield, Ohio were forced to close amid a series of bomb threats that referenced the influx of migrants in the community. On Friday, US President Joe Biden called the attacks “simply wrong”. “This has to stop, what [Trump’s] doing. It has to stop,” Biden said. Critics have also pointed to the Trump campaign’s approach as further evidence of US election seasons becoming increasingly dominated by ephemeral cultural spectacle meant to stoke partisan outrage, while sidelining meaningful policy discussion. In the latest example, Trump on Sunday responded to pop star Taylor Swift’s recent endorsement of Harris. The nod is considered a major political boon for the Democratic candidate, with Swift boasting hundreds of millions of ardent fans across the world. In a brief, all-caps post on his Truth Social account, Trump wrote: “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT.” Adblock test (Why?)
Four dead as torrential rains batter Central and Eastern Europe
At least five people have been found dead in eastern Romania after torrential storms dumped unprecedented rain, leaving hundreds stranded in flooded areas, emergency authorities said on Saturday. Rescue services scrambled to save people in the hard-hit eastern counties of Galati and Vaslui. The bodies of three older women and one man were found in four localities, the Department for Emergency Situations said. Emergency authorities released video footage showing teams of rescuers evacuating people using small lifeboats through muddy waters and carrying some older people to safety. Some of the most significant flood damage was concentrated in Galati, where 5,000 households were affected. A Black Hawk helicopter was also deployed there to help with the search and rescue efforts. The storms battered 19 localities in eight counties in Romania, with strong winds downing dozens of trees that damaged cars and blocked roads and traffic. Authorities sent text message alerts to residents to warn them of adverse weather as emergency services rushed to remove floodwater from homes. The rising floodwater in the Romanian village of Slobozia Conachi [Daniel Mihailescu/AFP] Romanian Environment Minister Mircea Fechet told The Associated Press news agency that in some of the badly flooded areas, more than 160 litres (42 gallons) of rain fell per square metre (about 10.7 square feet), which he said is a rare occurrence. The stormy weather comes as several Central European nations – the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Germany, Slovakia, and Hungary – anticipate severe flooding over the weekend. In the Czech Republic, river waters reached dangerously high levels in many areas, prompting the authorities to evacuate hundreds of people, including from a hospital in the second-largest city of Brno, to escape raging floods. By Saturday evening, Czech authorities had declared the highest flood warnings in more than 70 areas across the country and said thousands more people should be prepared to be evacuated as the rains continued to slam down. The Bela River flows past a church during floods in Mikulovice, Czech Republic [Petr David Josek/AP Photo] In neighbouring Austria, authorities declared 24 villages in the northeast Lower Austria province “disaster zones” on Saturday afternoon and began evacuating residents from those areas. The torrential downpours have also caused a sharp rise in water levels in the Danube River in the Austrian capital, Vienna, where special flood relief channels were built in the 1970s and 80s and are likely to be tested over the weekend. The Kamp River, a tributary of the Danube, is also swelling because of the unprecedented weather event. Heavy rain also hit Moldova on Saturday, where emergency workers pumped floodwater from dozens of houses in several localities, and 13 localities in three districts suffered partial electricity outages, authorities said. In Poland, many people were evacuated as a precautionary measure on Saturday from two villages near the town of Nysa, in the Nysa River basin, after meteorologists warned of unprecedented rainfall. Some farms were flooded. Adblock test (Why?)
Philippine Coast Guard ship in standoff with China returns to port
Manila says new vessel will ‘immediately take over’ after the BRP Teresa Magbanua left disputed area in South China Sea. A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel that spent months anchored at a disputed reef in the South China Sea has left the area, but a new vessel is being deployed “immediately” to replace it, Philippine officials announced, in a move that is likely to irk China. BRP Teresa Magbanua had been anchored inside Sabina Shoal since April to assert the Philippine claims to the area within its exclusive economic zone, and to prevent China from seizing it. “After more than five months at sea, where she carried out her sentinel duties against overwhelming odds, BRP Teresa Magbanua is now sailing back to her homeport with her mission accomplished,” Lucas Bersamin, executive secretary and chairman of the National Maritime Council, said in a statement on Sunday. Bersamin said the vessel’s return was necessary to the medical needs of its crew and to undergo repairs. NMC spokesperson Alexander Lopez later said “another will immediately take over”, citing a PCG order. “Definitely, we will keep our presence there,” Lopez added, without sharing which vessel would take over. ‘Indisputable sovereignty’ In a brief statement, China Coast Guard (CCG) spokesperson Liu Dejun said Beijing “has indisputable sovereignty over … Xianbin Jiao and its adjacent waters”, using the Chinese name for Sabina Shoal. China asserts sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea, including areas claimed by the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Brunei. A 2016 international tribunal ruling said Beijing’s assertion has no legal basis. Philippine and Chinese vessels have collided at least three times recently near Sabina Shoal, located 140km (86 miles) from the western Philippine island of Palawan and 1,200km (746 miles) from China’s nearest major landmass, Hainan Island. The Teresa Magbanua’s bridge wing and freeboard were damaged in one of the collisions in August. In a statement posted on X, PCG spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said the “structural damage to the ship”, which he blamed on the “deliberate ramming by the China Coast Guard”, further complicated the vessel’s integrity. Last month, Chinese vessels blocked a resupply mission for the Filipino sailors on board the ship, leaving them running critically low on food and other provisions. Images published by the GMA TV network showed the vessel crew members being transported in stretchers due to reported dehydration resulting from the blockade. Earlier this week, officials from the Philippines and China held high-level talks on their maritime issues, wherein Beijing reiterated its demand for the withdrawal of the Philippine vessel. The latest situation has echoes of 2012, when Beijing took control of Scarborough Shoal, another strategic feature about 240km (149 miles) west of the main Philippine island of Luzon. Then, Manila pulled its ships back after a tense two-month maritime standoff. In recent years, the Philippines has accused China of repeated harassment of Philippine vessels in the South China Sea. Adblock test (Why?)
‘Canelo’ Alvarez pummels Berlanga to retain super middleweight boxing belts
Undisputed super middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez outpoints challenger Edgar Berlanga. Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has retained his unified super middleweight world title with a punishing unanimous decision over Edgar Berlanga in Las Vegas. Alvarez knocked down the previously unbeaten Berlanga in the third and was relentless throughout the 12 rounds on Saturday night. The champion rocked Berlanga with a big right in the waning seconds of the ninth round and Berlanga’s cornerman could be heard asking his fighter: “Are you awake?”, as he sat on his stool before the 10th. Berlanga, who was warned for an intentional head butt, remained defiant, taunting Alvarez as they came out for the 12th. But the Puerto Rican-American, who launched his pro career with 16 straight first-round knockouts, could not find the stoppage he had brashly predicted. The vastly experienced Alvarez put him under pressure early, Berlanga looking tentative in the opening two rounds as he was backed repeatedly into the corner. He tried gamely to respond in the third after Alvarez landed a right to the head, but a devastating left hook from Alvarez sent him down. Berlanga banged his gloves together as he sat on the canvas and hopped up quickly. Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, left, receives a right jab from John Ryder [Henry Romero Berlanga had no answer as Alvarez went after him with debilitating body blows round after round. “I did good,” said Alvarez, who was awarded the fight by a score of 118-109 by two judges and by 117-110 from the third. “Now what are they going to say? I fight younger fighters? Before they say I fought older fighters. Now what are they going to say? They always talk. “I’m the best fighter in the world,” added Alvarez, who improved to 62-2-2 (39 KOs) and retained his World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization belts. Alvarez bounces back Alvarez was stripped of his International Boxing Federation belt in July when he opted to take on Berlanga rather than IBF mandatory challenger William Scull. That was immaterial to the partisan crowd of more than 20,000 at T-Mobile Arena, where Alvarez claimed another victory on Mexican Independence Day weekend – a holiday he made his own along with Cinco de Mayo. “It means a lot,” Alvarez said. “It’s an honor for me to represent my country on this day. I feel proud about it.” Berlanga, 27, fell to 22-1. As the final bell sounded, the fighters embraced in an extended hug. “I was telling him that he’s my idol,” Berlanga said. “Since I was a kid, I looked up to him.” John Ryder is knocked down by Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez Reuters [Henry Romero/Reuters] It was the fifth straight points victory for Alvarez, whose last win inside the distance was an 11th-round knockout of Caleb Plant in November 2021. But it was the fourth consecutive fight in which Alvarez scored a knockdown. The four-division champion, who has been accused of ducking rising star David Benavidez, said he would take some time to ponder what is next for him. “I’m going to rest with my family now and then I’m going to decide,” he said. On the undercard, Erislandy Lara retained his WBA middleweight world title with a ninth-round stoppage of Danny Garcia. The slow pace of the bout drew boos from the crowd, but 41-year-old Cuban-born southpaw Erislandy connected with a straight left that dropped Garcia to a knee late in the ninth. When the round ended, Garcia’s father and coach Angel called for the bout to be halted. “I took him to school,” said Lara, who improved to 31-3-3 with 19 knockouts. Garcia, fighting for the first time since July 2022, fell to 37-4 with 21 wins inside the distance. Adblock test (Why?)
How crucial are long-range missiles in the Ukraine war?
No green light for Ukraine to use long-range, Western-made missiles in Russian territory. The war in Ukraine is at a critical juncture. Western allies are considering a shift in their support and may allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles against targets deep inside Russian territory. Ukraine has been pleading for the go-ahead for months, but there’s no indication when or if US President Joe Biden will grant the request. The Kremlin has warned such approval would mean NATO members were directly involved in the conflict. Will Western nations cross President Vladimir Putin’s red line? And if they do, how will Russia respond? Presenter: James Bays Guests: Pavel Felgenhauer – independent Russian defence analyst Marina Miron – postdoctoral researcher at the War Studies Department, King’s College London Lawrence Korb – former US assistant secretary of defence Adblock test (Why?)
Industry Days gathers top documentary professionals in Sarajevo
Event aims to demonstrate the power and art of storytelling as well as connect filmmakers with decision-makers. The Al Jazeera Documentary Channel has launched the third edition of Al Jazeera Documentary Industry Days to connect decision-makers with the most promising documentary projects. The event, which kicked off on Saturday and will continue until Monday, is being held during the Al Jazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo. The event features 80 experts who will evaluate and support documentary projects that aim to tell inspiring human stories, address pressing social issues and promote universal human values while shedding light on areas that have not received enough attention in the documentary film industry. The event also aims to foster a deeper understanding of different perspectives by promoting cultural exchanges between the participants. On Saturday, 10 sessions were held in the event’s Main Pitch category, beginning with the presentation of a documentary project titled The Other Gaza. “This emotional pitch tells the story of Wafa Jamil, who lives in Stockholm while her family resides in Gaza. The focus of her project is to show a different side of Gaza to her eight-year-old daughter, who lives with her in Sweden,” a statement released by the organisers said. Jamil said her project was inspired by the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territory. “It is an important topic, and I’m very grateful to have the opportunity and the space to present it at such an important event, filled with so many influential people from this industry,” she said. Rudy Buttignol, who is moderating the event for a third time, praised the programme’s evolution. “Every year, the quality of the projects improves,” he said, adding that the event “maintains an intimate atmosphere, perfect for making new connections and reinforcing older ones”. The director of the Al Jazeera Documentary Channel, Ahmed Mahfouz, said Al Jazeera Documentary Days represents the Qatar-based network’s commitment to support the documentary industry. He said an unprecedented number of projects have been shortlisted for the ongoing event, adding that he believed documentaries can bring about social change. “This event aims to enhance international cooperation to showcase the works of filmmakers on a global level,” he said. Adel Ksiksi, director of Al Jazeera Documentary Days, said the event has grown over the years. He said 29 documentary projects will be chosen from a pool of nearly 270 proposals by filmmakers and independent producers from North Africa, the Arab world, Southeastern Europe and the Caucasus. The 29 selected projects will be divided into four categories: Main Competition (10 projects), Projects in Progress (nine projects), Balkan Stars (six projects) and Out of Competition Projects (four projects). “These projects reflect the diversity, creativity and dedication of documentary filmmakers around the world who continue to push boundaries and tell inspiring stories,” Ksiksi said. Adblock test (Why?)
US says preparing ‘substantial’ Ukraine aid package in coming weeks
Announcement comes as Ukraine pushes to be allowed to use Western-supplied, long-range missiles for strikes in Russia. The administration of United States President Joe Biden says it is preparing a large aid package for Ukraine in the coming weeks as a debate continues over whether Ukrainian forces should be allowed to use Western-supplied weapons to strike farther inside Russia. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Saturday that Washington is working on a “substantial” round of further assistance for Kyiv and Biden will meet his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, this month. “I do think we need a comprehensive strategy for success in this war, and that is what President Zelenskyy says he is bringing,” Sullivan said in remarks delivered via videolink at the Yalta European Strategy conference in Ukraine’s capital. “So we are very much looking forward to sitting down and talking that through, and President Biden is eager for that conversation,” he said. Sullivan made the remarks as Ukraine has been pushing for more long-range weaponry to hit targets deeper inside Russian territory, a development that analysts worried could escalate tensions between Moscow and Kyiv’s Western backers. More than two and a half years since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022, Ukrainian forces have struggled in recent weeks as Russia has made progress around Pokrovsk, a key transit hub in eastern Ukraine. Pokrovsk’s capture could enable Moscow to open new lines of attack and complicate Ukrainian logistics. Sullivan said recent developments in the area are of “unique concern”. The White House adviser added that Biden, who is not seeking re-election and whose term ends in January, is working to put Ukraine in the “best possible position to prevail” during his final months in office. “President Zelenskyy has said that ultimately this war has to end through negotiations, and we need them to be strong in those negotiations,” Sullivan said. Meanwhile, NATO Military Committee Chairman Rob Bauer said he supported Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons to strike inside Russia. “Every nation that is attacked has the right to defend itself. And that right doesn’t stop at the border of your own nation,” the admiral said on Saturday at a committee meeting. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that if Western nations allow Ukraine to use such weapons to strike inside Russia then it will mean NATO would be “at war” with his country. “This would in a significant way change the very nature of the conflict. It would mean that NATO countries, the US, European countries, are at war with Russia,” Putin told Russian state TV on Thursday. “And if this is so, then, bearing in mind the change in the very essence of this conflict, we will make appropriate decisions based on the threats that will be created for us.” A day later, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations delivered a similar message to the UN Security Council in New York. “The facts are that NATO will be a direct party to hostilities against a nuclear power. I think you shouldn’t forget about this and think about the consequences,” Vassily Nebenzia told the 15-member council. Adblock test (Why?)
‘Kings of the world’: The last of the horseback shrimp fishers
Oostduinkerke, Belgium – A few hours after dawn one late July morning, the sound of Gregory Debruyne’s horse Kelly trotting through the verdant lanes of Oostduinkerke echoes through the quaint coastal village in west Belgium. Pulling a cart filled with fishing gear and equipment to sift shrimps, Kelly – a brown Belgian draught horse – and Debruyne are heading towards the sandy shores of the North Sea to go shrimp fishing. Debruyne is a Belgian horseback shrimp fisherman in Oostduinkerke – the last place in the world where this centuries-old practice of catching shrimp using horses rather than boats continues. “I learned horseback shrimp fishing from my father when I was 11 years old,” Debruyne, now 27, tells Al Jazeera, as he gets Kelly ready to fish for the day in the village centre, close to the sea. Dozens of tourists are crowding around them and eagerly watching as Debruyne covers Kelly with a warm blanket and mounts two brown baskets on either side of her back. He also attaches a chained net to her tail. “Using her hindquarters, Kelly will wade through the shallow waves of the North Sea, until the seawater reaches her chest, pulling the net, which has a chain at the bottom. This pull generates a vibration that disturbs the shrimp in the shallow waters, instigating them to jump into the expanded net,” Debryune explains. Four other fishermen and their horses have joined Kelly and Debruyne in the village. All the horseback shrimp fishermen don bright yellow anoraks – thick waterproof jackets – and black gum boots and head off towards the North Sea on their horses. “I hope to return after about an hour, with a worthy catch,” Debruyne shouts back as the spectators watch him and Kelly heading into the sea. Horseback shrimp fishers in Oostduinkerke attract crowds both from Belgium and abroad, particularly during the summer season [Diana Takacsova/Al Jazeera] Horseback shrimp fishing – which is on the “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” list maintained by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) – began in northern Belgium at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, when the region was under the control of Christian monks. While it was also practised in the Netherlands, France and parts of southern England, just 12 families in Belgium still pursue the tradition. In 1502, there was an abbey at Koksijde (in present-day Belgium) and the monks wanted shrimps and fish to eat, something the local religious community was only too happy to oblige. “The local farmers, who owned horses, decided to go to the sea and catch shrimp and fish and give it to the monks of the abbey. This kicked off the practice of horseback shrimp fishing,” Eddy D’Hulster, who worked as a horseback shrimp fisherman for 56 years, tells Al Jazeera. These days, horseback fishermen like Debruyne also work on commercial vessels to earn more money. On vessels, the horseback shrimp fishers also catch other fish and not just shrimp. D’Hustler himself has also worked as a fisherman on vessels, but says he much prefers catching shrimp on horseback since he believes the brown shrimp is tastier when it comes from the shallow waters of the North Sea. ‘Live for the horse and the sea’ Sporting a navy blue cap imprinted with a symbol of a horseback shrimp fisher, 81-year-old D’Hulster is watching the bright yellow anoraks of Debruyne and the other fishermen with their horses out at sea and reminiscing about his first time fishing in such a manner. “I started fishing for shrimp on horseback thanks to a love story,” he chuckles. “I met this beautiful girl in the village and learned that her father was a horseback shrimp fisherman. I began learning the tradition from him when I was around 18 years old, seeking to impress his daughter. We were soon married which was great,” he says, blushing. “But this was also the onset of a bigger love story in my life which always made me feel like the king of the world – horseback shrimp fishing!” he exclaims. Eddy D’Hulster, a former horseback shrimp fisherman, says practising the ancient tradition makes him feel like the ‘king of the world’ [Diana Takacsova/Al Jazeera] Shrimp caught by the horseback shrimp fishermen in the North Sea are greyish-brown in colour and called brown shrimp. They are found in the shallow waters of the sea and Belgians consider them to be the tastiest shrimp in the world due to their sweet and salty flavour. “When I started fishing, it was the beginning of spring and the North Sea back then was brimming with brown shrimp,” D’Hulster says. “Treading into the shallow waves of the sea, we could easily catch about 20-30kg [44-66lbs] of shrimp and make a living through this tradition, earning about 30 Belgian francs [about 0.75 euros] for a kilo.” Today the price is 10 euros ($11.11) for a kilo of shrimp, he says, and “it is the only kind of shrimp I love eating”. While the catch and the money they could earn was an incentive that drew young men and women in Oostduinkerke to horseback shrimp fishing, D’Hulster says that for many of them, it is also a passion for horses and the “mighty blue” North Sea, which keeps the ancient tradition alive here. “Shrimps are what we catch, but as a horseback fisherman, you must live for the horse and love the sea. When I started fishing, the thing I loved the best was my horse, Mina. She was about 10 years old and I bought her from my father-in-law. We learned shrimp fishing together,” he says. Mina died when she was 20 years old, after which it took D’Hulster six months to train another horse to fish. “Mina taught me to love the open sea. I do miss her, but my family now owns around 10 to 20 horses which are trained to fish in the sea,” D’Hulster says. Like Kelly, Mina was a