The Polish and Czech authorities have set up dams to stop dead fish found in the Czech Republic from flowing down the Oder River into Poland.

Nearly 2 tonnes of dead fish have been retrieved from the river in recent days. The event is reminiscent of last summer’s environmental disaster in which an estimated half of the Oder’s fish population died following poisoning caused by the toxin-producing golden algae. On Thursday, Poland’s Environment Minister reassured Poles that the river is safe.

“We have experience, and we don’t want this disaster to be repeated either in the Czech Republic or in Poland,” she said. “The Czechs claim that low oxygen levels might be the cause… Anyway, on the Polish side, the Oder is safe,” she added, noting that “the water parameters are secure, posing no threat and showing no resemblance to last year’s situation.”

Source – Polskie Radio

The European Rover Challenge (ERC), one of the world’s premier planetary robotics competitions, is set to host 25 teams from twelve countries, including three Polish contenders, in Kielce, Poland, this September.

The competition saw a total of 54 international teams vie for a spot in the event. Polish teams have excelled in rover challenges over the years. A spokesman for the European Rover Challenge press office said: „We have three teams from Poland among the finalists, including last year’s winners, AGH Space Systems. We will host representatives from twelve countries, including Switzerland, India, Germany, Bangladesh, and Egypt. These are the best student robotics teams in the world, which is a great honour for us.”

Source – Polskie Radio

Poland has won the women’s épée team event at the 2023 fencing World Championships in Milan, Italy.

An épée is one of the three kinds of fencing swords commonly used in competition. The 4-woman, Polish team beat the hosts Italy 32:28 in the final on Friday. It is Poland’s first-ever world title in the women’s épée team competition, and the first fencing gold medal for the country since 2007. The victory also greatly enhances the Polish team’s chances of qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris

Source – Polskie Radio

And finally, Gdańsk has become the largest city in Poland after changes to the rules which measure city area.

Before the changes, Gdańsk occupied an area of 266 square kilometres, but after the changes it now measures 683 square kilometres, which is significantly bigger than Warsaw at 517 square kilometres. The changes have come about due to the inclusion of the territorial sea of the Bay of Gdańsk around the Three Cities being made part of the area measurement.

Source – Radio Gdańsk

Weather

Today will be sunny day in light winds, turning cloudier later in the day with thundery showers into the late afternoon and evening and temperatures of 25 degrees centigrade (77 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day and 15 degrees overnight. Tomorrow will be another showery day with chances of thunder in a light breeze and temperatures of 22 degrees during the day and 12 degrees overnight.

Martin Caren/aKa