Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is reportedly in „stable” condition after being airlifted to Berlin from the Siberian city of Omsk yesterday.

According to German publication Deutsche Welle, Navalny was transported to Charite hospital in Berlin after nearly twenty-four hours of “wrangling” between German and Russian medical officials and increasing diplomatic pressure by various European leaders including Angela Merkel of Germany and Emmanuel Macron of France.

Jaka Bizilj, founder of the German NGO „Cinemas for Peace” that financed Navalny’s transfer, reported that the 44-year-old opposition leader was stable but „in a very critical condition”. As of this morning, Navalny was still in a coma and on a ventilator. His supporters and many outside observers suspect his sudden illness was due to poisoning, a claim denied by Russian officials and the medical staff treating Navalny in Omsk.

Source: Deutsche Welle, Radio Poland

Polish Radio launches news service for Belarus

Public broadcaster Polish Radio has launched a special news service for listeners in neighbouring Belarus, where post-election protests have grown against longtime strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko.

According to officials, the initiative aims to provide Belarusians, particularly those living in areas with limited or no internet access, with access to up-to-date and reliable information about the situation in their country and the response of the international community.

Special news programs in Belarusian are set to air three times a day at 6:00, 12:00, and 22:00, and can be heard across Belarus and other parts of Europe thanks to long-range transmitters in the Polish town of Solec Kujawski.

According to CEO Agnieszka Kamińska, „Offering support to the people of Belarus in these difficult times, and showing solidarity by providing reliable and true information, is part of Polish Radio’s mission as a public broadcaster”.

Source: Radio Poland

„March of the Herrings” wades through Gdańsk Bay

People from all across Poland took part in the annual „March of the Herrings” trek around Gdańsk Bay yesterday in an effort to raise environmental awareness.

For over five hours, some 100 lucky participants waded, swam, and walked along the Puck lagoon, a 12.5-km (7.5-mile) stretch of sand bank from Kuźnica on the Hel peninsula to Rewa beach near Gdynia. The name of the march is representative of both the local fish which inhabit the region and the unofficial nickname for residents of Gdynia.

According to event organizer Radek Tyślewicz, this year’s march was notable not only for its jubilee anniversary, but for the fact that all participants reached the finish line without assistance.

Participation in the annual “extreme water trek” is limited to 100 participants due to safety reasons, with applications for the limited slots opening in February. The oldest participant last year was 63 years old, while the youngest was in high school.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

Jewish culture festival kicks off in Warsaw

The 17th „Singer’s Warsaw” Jewish Culture Festival kicked off yesterday in the capital city with a majority of its events being broadcast online due to the ongoing pandemic.

The annual event, which takes its name from Nobel Prize-winning Polish-Jewish writer Isaac Bashevis Singer, features more than a week of music concerts, film screenings, exhibitions, lectures and discussions.

Due to current restrictions on travel and social gatherings, many of these year’s events will be broadcast online. From now until August 30, the festival offers a wealth of opportunities to explore and celebrate Jewish culture and tradition, including concerts by Yoni Rose from Germany, Francesco Bruno from Italy, and Polish-Ukrainian violinist Vadim Brodski.

A detailed program of this year’s events can be found online at the Shalom Foundation website.

Source: Polish Radio

Weather

Today will be partly cloudy and warm, with temperatures peaking at 24°C, or 75°F, and a gentle breeze coming from the southeast. Temperatures will drop overnight to 14°C or 57°F, with tomorrow forecast to be slightly cooler but still sunny, with clouds and rainy weather set to roll in as the week progresses.

RGEN