According to EU Commissioner for Competition Policy Margrethe Vestager, the proposed takeover of Lotos by PKN Orlen would have an impact on several strategically important energy markets, including the wholesale supply of fuels and bitumen supply.
The Commission is particularly concerned that the merger may limit competition and selection in fuel supplies leading to higher prices and fewer choices for business customers and end consumers in Poland and other Member States.
Source: Radio Gdansk
https://radiogdansk.pl/wiadomosci/item/97766-komisja-europejska-wszczela-postepowanie-ws-przejecia-lotosu-przez-orlen-obawia-sie-ograniczenia-konkurencji?fbclid=IwAR2e6rx8QaPaeKBXxWQwfsDj-HaBY5AAVG_-cvDeG9uYzrRLpHKW-8CIrto
In a phone call with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stressed the need to relaunch peace talks after four Ukrainain soldiers were killed in Donbass this week.
Zelenskiy reportedly told the Russian President that the current situation „doesn’t bring us closer to peace… I beg you to influence the other side so that they stop the killing of our people.”
In return, according to Zelenskiy, Putin requested that Ukrainian troops stop shelling settlements in Donbass. The two sides reportedly agreed to focus efforts on prisoner exchanges, and Zelenskiy also stressed the need to begin reconstruction on the bridge from the People’s Republic of Lugansk to areas controlled by Ukraine. As the only passage between these areas, the bridge is used by thousands of people every day, and its rebuilding was a condition of the previously brokered truce.
Since fighting broke out in 2014, some 13,000 people have been killed in the region.
Source: PAP
The US Ambassador to Russia, Jon Huntsman, has announced he will be leaving his post as of October 3rd
Commentators have been quick to point out that Huntsman’s announcement comes one week after a phone call between Putin and Trump in which the need for a new ambassador to Russia was reportedly discussed. Other media outlets, including the Salt Lake Tribune have speculated that Huntsman is gearing up to run for governor of Utah.
In his resignation letter, Huntsman stressed the need to „hold Russia accountable when its behavior threatens us and our allies”, as well as the importance of continuing to advocate „for a more responsive system of governance” in Russia „that includes the rule of law and respect for human rights.”
The White House is expected to nominate Huntsman’s replacement in the coming weeks.
Source: WSJ.com
https://www.wsj.com/articles/jon-huntsman-to-resign-as-trumps-ambassador-to-russia-11565110858
After the tragic death of teammate Bjorg Lambrecht in Stage 3 of the Tour de Pologne, riders from Lotto-Soudal have decided to continue riding in his honor
The 22-year-old passed away tragically on Monday following a fatal crash during the third stage of the tour. In response, event organizers neutralized stage four on Tuesday and instead held a memorial procession in Lambrecht’s honor, with the Lotto-Soudal team at the head of the peleton. After much discussion, the team tweeted that „all Lotto-Soudal riders will start in stage five [Wednesday] and will ride for Bjorg.” Stage 5 was won by Slovenian Luka Mezgec, putting him a mere four seconds behind the leader, Germany’s Pascal Ackermann.
Today’s route features the first mountain stage, winding through the Tatras for some 160km from Zakopane to Kościelisko.
Source: velonews.com
With the festival season still in full swing, opportunities abound for theatre, film, and music this evening
In Gdańsk, the Polish/Ukrainian/Russian folk group Slavic Soul will be playing at Plac Kobdzeja at 8pm, or you can listen to a classical violin duo at 7pm at the Kościół św. Jakuba as part of the „Music in the Old Monuments of Gdańsk” series.
Outside of Gdańsk, the Oscar-nominated Russian drama Ajka will be screened at 9:30pm on the Sopot pier, and the Hamlet-inspired H(2)O will be performed at Plac Zabaw Zameczek at 9pm in Gdynia.
