Souvenirs from Sardinia’s pristine beaches can cost dearly.

(AP Photo/Eric Risberg)UNITED NATIONS -- China’s U.N. ambassador says China is donating 300,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to U.N. peacekeepers, with priority given to those serving in Africa. ___OSAKA, Japan — Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. is the latest drugmaker to offer help with production of a rival’s COVID-19 vaccine as their industry works to churn out billions of vaccine doses. Ad___LISBON, Portugal — Portugal is following other European Union countries and temporarily halting use of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine while experts review its safety. The Biden administration has informed Connecticut that it should be receiving a “significant” increase in vaccine doses over the next several weeks. Some 2.2 million of the 8.6 million vaccine doses of various brands delivered to Italy are AstraZeneca vaccines, so the temporary stoppage is likely to significantly hamper Italy’s current vaccine rollout.

But this week, in a bid to preserve the beach, authorities have announced a cap on visitor numbers and a ticketing system. "We have a slogan: 'La Pelosa una volta ma per tutti,' for everyone but one time only. A ban on smoking and vendors on La Pelosa two years ago has since been replicated on other beaches on the island. Sardinia's beaches are known as some of the finest in the world -- but that means they are struggling with overtourism. People taking sand from the beach as a memento has led to a ban on removing any sand from the coastline.

La Pelosa is one of the most famous beaches in the world. But this week, in a bid to preserve the beach, authorities have announced a cap on visitor numbers and a ticketing system. "We have a slogan: 'La Pelosa una volta ma per tutti,' for everyone but one time only. A ban on smoking and vendors on La Pelosa two years ago has since been replicated on other beaches on the island. People taking sand from the beach as a memento has led to a ban on removing any sand from the coastline.

They face up to six years in prison for removing sand from a beach in Sardinia, where they had been on vacation. The Italian island's white sand is protected, and tourists face fines and even jail time for removing it from local beaches -- but the couple say they did not realize they were committing a crime. Overall, 14 plastic bottles containing around 40 kilograms (88 pounds) of white sand were seized, police said. Police told CNN that the tourists said they were unaware of the laws about removing sand, but noted that the island's beaches have signs in several languages informing visitors. Theft of white sand and rocks from Sardinia's beaches is very common, a police officer said, and there is an illegal market for them on the internet.

Italian Olympic swimmer Filippo Magnini saved a man who was drowning off a beach in Sardinia, according to reports. The man found himself in trouble after he tried chasing a swan float carried out to sea by the wind, witness Marco Bencivenga told CNN. When the mans friends began calling for help, Magnini sprang into action and swam out to save the struggling swimmer before lifeguards could get in a lifeboat to save the civilian. Bencivenga, who was vacationing on the Italian island, said that the victim had swallowed a lot of water and couldnt talk. But the two-time world champion swimmer was able to keep the victims head above water until lifeguards came to the rescue.