Where peace like a river

Berlin — A river on the German-Polish border has become a mass grave. Volunteers and authorities have been busy for days removing tons of dead fish floating on the surface of the Oder River. The cause of the massive die-off, which has affected a stretch of the river more than 300 miles long, remains a mystery, but Sascha Maier, a water policy officer at the BUND environmental organization, told CBS News on Wednesday that "everything points to a manmade catastrophe." Authorities are struggling to find answers. More than 500 firefighters are taking part in the efforts to clean up the mess on the Polish side of the river. Maier said at least 110 tons of dead fish had been removed from the river as of Wednesday. A sample of about 100 of the carcasses were taken for investigation, while the rest was to be burned at a dedicated site in Germany. Poland's government says no toxic substances have been found in water samples from the Oder, and Environment Minister Anna Moskwa said … [Read more...] about Mystery toxin suspected as 100 tons of dead fish removed from Oder River on German-Polish border

1. Crimea attacks 'likely part of Ukrainian counteroffensive' Explosions at key Russian positions in occupied Crimea on Tuesday were "likely part of a coherent Ukrainian counteroffensive to regain control of the west bank of the Dnipro River," according to the US think-tank the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Meanwhile, British defence intelligence said that "Russian commanders will highly likely be increasingly concerned with the apparent deterioration in security across Crimea, which functions as a rear base area for the occupation". Detonations at an ammunition depot near Dzhankoi were continuing on Wednesday following the previous day's explosions and fires that Russia acknowledged were "an act of sabotage". It was a vivid reminder of Russia's vulnerability in Crimea and led to chaotic scenes when around 3,000 people had to be evacuated. "A nearby railway and electricity sub-station were also likely damaged," said the UK defence ministry's daily update, … [Read more...] about Ukraine war: ‘Likely Kyiv counterattack’ in Crimea, Kerch Bridge threat, Zaporizhzhia conditions

By Doug Faulkner & Adam Durbin Published 18 July comments Comments Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Related Topics UK heatwaves The UK has had one of its hottest days on record, with a high of 38.1C (100.6F) - and forecasters are warning it will be warmer still on Tuesday. The high was recorded in Santon Downham, Suffolk, on Monday, while 37C was exceeded in several places. The Met Office has issued a red extreme heat warning for Monday and Tuesday in much of England, with temperatures of up to 41C forecast. The current highest temperature in the UK is 38.7C, in Cambridge in July 2019. A high of 38.5C was reached in Faversham, Kent, in August 2003, making Monday the third hottest day on record - and the hottest day of the year so far. Hawarden in Flintshire hit 37.1C, making it the hottest day on record for Wales … [Read more...] about UK heatwave: Temperature tops 38C and likely to rise on Tuesday

“Help, it’s a big one.” I turn around quickly, hopeful for treasure, to see mudlarker Monika Buttling-Smith wrestling with a leech on her arm. She pulls it off in good humour and tosses it back into the still, cool water of the River Stour, in north-east Essex. For a second, I experience the surge of excitement that brings mudlarkers back to the foreshore and murky depths of UK streams, rivers and coastlines time and again. Mudlarking , the alluring practice – to some – of hunting through river mud for lost items of value or historical significance, has been around since the late eighteenth century. But the activity - now more of a hobby than a desperate way to earn money - is enjoying a boom in the current drought, as the lack of rain dries the land and causes the water levels of some non-tidal rivers to recede. This has been the driest eight-month spell since 1976 . A drought was declared across half of England on Friday and the source of the Thames has dried up to more … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a once-in-a-lifetime find and was covered in crust’: An afternoon with Britain’s mudlarkers

The last film of acclaimed Kiwi actor Marshall Napier, written, produced and shot in the top of the south, has been picked up by a major US studio , and will soon be showing on big screens around the country. Northspur is an action-packed feature film, involving a man's struggle to save his wife in a post-apocalyptic New Zealand. Five years in the making, Nelson writer Justin Eade worked together with local producers Tim Hawthorne, Emily Russell and Barry Sangster to make the film. Marlborough’s own Aaron Falvey produced and directed the flick. The scenery may be familiar to locals – as some footage was shot by drone over the Whangamoas. The Wairau River also features, as does the Waihopai Valley. READ MORE: Taika Waititi and Rita Ora have been spotted in New Zealand - what do we know? By the numbers: Hollywood heartthrob and sad superstar Ben Affleck turns 50 Anne Heche, a gifted actress whose Hollywood career came unstuck Eade said he had been writing … [Read more...] about Major US studio gets its claws into post-apocalyptic Kiwi film that was Marshall Napier’s last

Published 4 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Water abstraction bans on the River Eden in Fife have been lifted after recent rainfall. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) thanked farmers in the area for their "strong compliance". However, it has confirmed licence suspensions on the River Tweed in the Borders will go ahead. It said the Tweed continued to show "signs of stress and little improvement" from "limited recent rainfall" in the area. The majority of water abstraction licences on the River Eden were suspended from Sunday, prompting warnings of potential crop failure. They are now in a position to be lifted but new suspensions will start on parts of the Tweed from midnight on Thursday. Sepa said that prolonged dry weather was still forecast which meant any improvement in the situation was likely to be short-term and water users … [Read more...] about Water ban lifted in Fife but not in Borders

Published 15 July Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Related Topics UK heatwaves A mother has warned parents to be careful when children are enjoying the hot weather, after her 10-year-old son was badly sunburnt. Rhian Wyn Lane said her son Owi was playing in a paddling pool and wearing sun cream all day. But when he woke up the next morning he was sick and had severe sunburn. On Friday an amber extreme heat weather warning was extended to all of Wales on Monday and Tuesday, with temperatures of 38C (100F) forecast in parts. In England, a red extreme heat warning has been issued by the Met Office for next week, as temperatures could hit 40C (104F). Watch out for heat exhaustion and heatstroke Keep children out of sun as heatwave hits - NHS 'They often put on sun cream, but it wasn't enough' Rhian, from Porthmadog, Gwynedd, said … [Read more...] about Weather warning: Sunburn threat as Wales prepares for extreme heat

A Bigfoot believer reckons he's snapped a photo of one of the elusive beasts in Australia . Brad Kidd has been documenting encounters with supposed dogmen, witches and sasquatches online for a number of years. In his latest post on Facebook , Brad shared an image of what he believes to be the real deal. READ MORE: Bigfoot 'is not flesh and blood' and is 'linked to UFOs', researcher claims He captioned the snap: "A BF [Bigfoot] or Australian Yowie in front of there (sic) main blind." Yowies are Bigfoot-like creatures that have their roots in Aboriginal oral history. They are usually described as hairy and ape-like, standing on two legs and reaching up to 12ft tall. Although the folkloric animals are reputed to come from the Outback, there have been supposed sightings in other, more populated parts of Australia in recent years. Brad's image shows a black outline of something nestled in the undergrowth. It is hard to make out any clear features, although the … [Read more...] about Twelve-foot ‘Australian Bigfoot’ spotted lurking in bushes just a few feet from camera

Published 1 day ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A stately home's "ghost gardens" have become visible after the recent extreme heat. Grass on parts of Longleat's baroque garden in Wiltshire has dried out to such an extent it has revealed historic features long buried in the landscape. New overhead drone images of the imprints show what the grounds would have looked like in the 17th Century. The parch marks have been described as an "invaluable window" into the site's history. Outlines of pathway fountains, long-lost walls and statues, as well as a maze and bowling green have emerged. The images hint at what the 70 acre (4,046 sq m) gardens would have looked like four centuries ago. The earliest visible features discovered so far are parts of the walled gardens to the front of Longleat House. These date back to earlier in the 17th century and were … [Read more...] about Longleat’s 17th Century gardens revealed by heatwave

By Francesca Gillett Published 16 July Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Related Topics UK heatwaves Extra measures are being put in place for ambulance services as the UK heatwave approaches, says Health Secretary Steve Barclay. More call handlers and extra capacity for the 111 helpline are among the steps planned for Monday and Tuesday. He urged the public to look out for vulnerable relatives and neighbours. A national emergency has been declared, and the UK's first red extreme heat warning issued, with temperatures possibly reaching 41C (106F). That would be the highest temperature ever recorded in the UK - above the current high of 38.7C in Cambridge in 2019. Mr Barclay said: "The clear message to the public is to take sensible steps in terms of water, shade and cover. That's the best way of mitigating against the heat. "We're asking … [Read more...] about UK heatwave: Look out for family and friends, urges new health secretary