TRUMP INTRODUCES BAN ON FLAVOURED E-CIGARETTES
Until September 6, 2019 the USA has witnessed more than 450 cases of a strange respiratory condition clearly related to e-cigarettes. ”Vaping sickness” has already led to six deaths. Many of the patients who had the symptoms are young. In connection to the growing problem President Donald Trump decided to introduce a ban on flavoured liquids. Over the last years e-cigarettes have become very popular in America especially among students and, unfortunately, children. The number of teens who use them daily rose last year to a worrying 5 million. There are many factors to blame. E-cigarettes are perceived as a healthier alternative to standard ones, come in all kinds of attractive packaging and in some countries (UK, for example) have even been prescribed by doctors as a way to give up smoking. Finally, liquids are available in many flavours which do not remind people of the old bad traditional smokes. So far it remains unclear what exactly causes the vaping sickness but it seams reasonable to avoid e-cigarettes altogether, at least until the causes of the problem are identified.
POLAND TO BUY F-35 FIGHTER JETS
Poland continues to invest in modernizing its army. Only last year we signed the biggest contract in the history of military purchases, spending $4.7 billion on the Patriot missile system. This year after the American vice president visited our country during the event commemorating 80 years since the outbreak of World War II, it has been announced that we again want to cooperate with the USA in the field of defense. Poland declared it wants to buy 32 fighter jets (F-35) and the US State Department has already agreed to sell them to us for a maximum of $6.5 billion, a price which is still open for negotiation. The contract includes many elements such as the necessary spare and repair parts, personnel training, communications, navigation and all other support. F-35 fighter jets are the most technologically advanced machines of this kind in the world. They come in a few versions, some of which can even start and land vertically. Their cost is much bigger than that of their predecessor, the F16 (100 million versus 17 million). Poland hopes the purchase will tighten relationship with the USA as well as reduce our dependance on Russia – parts of current fleet include Russian machines MiG-29 and Su-22.
Source: businessinsider.com, article from September 11, 2019 about Poland buying F-35 fighter jets