The Polish Speaker of Parliament Marek Kuchciński has resigned as of yesterday amidst a scandal concerning his use of public funds for private travel.
At a press conference on Thursday, Law and Justice Party Chairman Jaroslaw Kaczynski declared that Kuchciński’s decision to step down as Marszal of the Sejm was not due to him “breaking the law or customs” but due to “social expectations” and the PiS party’s committment “to listen to Poles and to serve Poland.”
Yesterday evening, Members of the Sejm confirmed the former head of the Ministry of Interior, Elżbieta Witek, as the new Speaker of Parliament.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
https://radiogdansk.pl/wiadomosci/item/97792-marszalek-kuchcinski-rezygnuje-prezes-pis-do-dziennikarzy-tusk-jako-premier-odbyl-281-lotow-do-gdanska-oczekuje-zainteresowania-sie-tym
„Officially sanctioned” protests are set to take place today across Russia amidst a ruling barring opposition candidates from participating in the upcoming Moscow elections.
The main election board in Russia has upheld a previous decision which barred opposition candidates from participating in the September 8th elections for Moscow City Council. Protests against the exclusion of opposition candidates have already resulted in outbreaks of violence, several arrests of organizers and key opposition figures, as well as the detention of more than 2,000 people. Those formally charged face substantial fines and the potential of 15 years in jail.
Despite risks, organizers are moving forward with officially sanctioned protests across Russia today at 2pm local time, with the US Embassy in Moscow warning that “unauthorized demonstration marches” are set to follow.
The US Embassy also reported “eyewitness accounts of excessive use of force against protesters” at previous rallies along with “reports that innocent bystanders were detained, and that cellular voice and data services were suppressed near protest areas.”
Source: Reuters, US Embassy
https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKCN1UX20S
https://ru.usembassy.gov/demonstration-alert-u-s-embassy-moscow-russia-august-9-2019/
The Polish 470 Women’s sailing team has qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics based on their score at the 470 World Championships in Enoshima, Japan this week.
Agnieszka Skrzypulec of Szczecin and Jolanta Ogar of Krupendorf finished 7th at the weeklong competition, earning them enough points to compete in Japan again next summer. The women had been in second place earlier in the week, but slipped in the rankings as the competition progressed. Joining Poland in Tokyo will be teams from Australia, Brazil, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Germany who will join previous qualifiers China, France, Great Britain, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Slovenia, and Spain.
One additional national qualification spot for the sailing 470 will go to the winner of the Hempel Sailing World Cup scheduled to be held in Genoa, Italy next April.
Source: http://www.470.org/default/events/event/text/2019-470-world-championship/
Get to know your neighbors at „Wodowanie Sztuk” tonight in Heweliusz Square celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Gdańsk Water Supply Company
Because it „takes two to tango” and to commemorate 15 years of „making things run” in Gdańsk, GiWK invites residents to „get to know each other” by spending a pleasant evening at the Hevelius Fountain.
Those 16 and older can join an Argentinian tango workshop at 6pm, and the whole family can enjoy watching artists create „water art” using the fountain as a canvas, or having a glass of healthy Gdańsk tap water at the „water cafe”.
At 7.30, milongas will be played by the Zagan Acoustic band and the Saint Katherine’s carillon, giving participants and bystanders a chance to test out their new tango skills. This will be followed by an additional concert at 9:30pm, where a small musical ensemble will “interpret the mood of the water” via music.
For more information or to register online for classes, visit ww.giwk.pl.
EP/RGEN News
