Medical tests indicate that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny – who is being treated in a Berlin hospital after losing consciousness on a flight to Moscow last week – was indeed poisoned, according to the German doctors now treating him.
In a statement quoted by Reuters, the hospital announced that „clinical findings indicate poisoning by a substance from the group of active substances called cholinesterase inhibitors”, going on to add that the specific substance was not yet known, and long-term effects, especially to the nervous system, could not be ascertained at this point.
Cholinesterase inhibitors are a class of nerve stimulants, many of which are used in various poisons and psychoactive substances. Used heavily in pesticides, in humans they cause vomiting, muscle cramps, headaches, and hallucinations.
Navalny remains in a medically induced coma in intensive care, though doctors treating him at the Charite hospital in Berlin have stated „there is currently no acute danger to his life”.
Meanwhile, doctors at the Siberian hospital that first treated Navalny continue to claim to have found no evidence of poisoning, sparking accusations that medical staff were collaborating with Russian security services to cover up the incident.
Source: PAP, Radio Poland, Deutsche Welle, Reuters
Republic National Convention opens in North Carolina
US Republicans kicked off their party’s traditional nominating convention yesterday with a familiar set of faces, including former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, the President’s son, Donald Trump, Jr., and other loyal Republican politicians and campaign staffers.
Throughout the day’s events, the speakers painted a dire picture of America under a Biden presidency, with Trump campaign aide Kimberly Guilfoyle warning that Democrats „want to destroy this country” and „steal your liberty and freedom”. In an unscheduled appearance, President Donald Trump reiterated previous claims that Democrats were „trying to steal the election (…) as they did four years ago”, and questioning the legitimacy of voting by mail.
Delegates from around the US unanimously selected Trump and Vice President Mike Pence as the official candidates for the Republican Party in the US presidential election scheduled for November 3.
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the convention is being held extensively online, with events taking place in-person and remotely in North Carolina and Washington D.C. Trump himself will be prominently featured throughout the four-day event, with his closing speech set for Thursday night.
For a full schedule of speakers and events, visit www.2020gopconvention.com
Source: PAP, Reuters
European Commission proposes 11.2 billion in aid for Poland
Under a current proposal by the European Commission, Poland stands to receive EUR 11.2 billion in low-interest loans aimed at preserving jobs threatened by the coronavirus crisis.
Under the bloc’s SURE instrument, Poland is expected to receive EUR 11.2 billion of the proposed 81.4 billion loan program, the third-highest amount among member states, after Italy’s EUR 27.4 billion and Spain’s EUR 21.3 billion.
The assistance will take the form of favorable loans designed to help member states cover the costs of financing national „short-time work schemes” and similar measures put in place in response to the coronavirus pandemic, particularly those supporting the self-employed.
In announcing the proposal, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen stressed the EU’s ongoing commitment to “do everything in our power to preserve jobs and livelihoods” in its member states.
Source: Radio Poland
Morawiecki opens Vision for Development Forum in Gdynia
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki was at the Naval Academy in Gdynia yesterday as part of the third annual Vision for Development Forum. The two-day event brings together experts from the world of science, business, and politics to discuss the problems and challenges faced by today’s economy.
Speaking during the opening session of the event, Morawiecki wasted no time in addressing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, calling it „a modern world war…as a result of this epidemic there may be a thorough reconstruction of the balance of power”.
He went on to cast this „great challenge” as „a turning point in the economic history of the world”, one which provides Poland, and all of Central Europe, with „great opportunities” for development. „By 2050”, Morawiecki claimed, „Poland will be a window for the East to the West and a window for Western Europe to the East”.
Throughout his remarks, Morawiecki emphasized the need for agility and adaptability in business and politics, highlighting the fields of artificial intelligence, and renewable energy initiatives like hydrogen drives and modern offshore wind energy as drivers for development in the „economy of the future”.
He also spoke extensively on the situation in Belarus, calling for dialogue with members of the opposition, as the „future of the whole of Central Europe depends on how we solve this problem, this Gordian knot”.
The Forum is scheduled to wrap up in Gdynia this evening; for more information or to watch the live broadcast, visit wizjarozwoju.pl
Source: Radio Gdańsk, PAP
Weather
Today will be partly cloudy with a chance for some light rain and a strong breeze coming in from the east. Temperatures will be on the cooler side with a high of 20°C, or 66°F, and an overnight low of to 12°C or 54°F. Cooler, rainy weather is set to continue through the rest of the week, so be sure to remember your umbrella along with your face mask this week.
RGEN
