Negotiations between the EU and the UK over a post-Brexit trade agreement could finally be coming to a close today with an agreement expected.
After 11 months of difficult talks and repeated deadlocks, a deal is now is said to be finalised – just a week before the final deadline on December 31st.

Negotiations continued well into last night, but it is being reported that Boris Johnson – the British Prime Minister – and Ursula von der Leyen – leader of the European Commission – spoke this morning to confirm the agreement.

Talks had ground to a halt in recent weeks amidst disputes over fishing and economic rules.

Both sides now need to ratify and implement the deal in less than a week ready for the UK’s final exit from the EU bloc on January 1st 2021.

In Poland, a Warsaw healthcare worker is expected to become the first person in the country to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Deputy Health Minister Waldemar Kraska revealed yesterday that an Interior MInistry hospital in Warsaw would be the first place in the country to begin vaccinations, with an employee of the hospital taking the first jab. Vaccinations in Poland are set to begin this weekend after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved the first vaccine for use across the EU earlier this week.

Speaking to Radio Warszawa’s Catholic morning show „Siódma-Dziewiąta”, Mr Kraska said he expected 300,000 doses of the vaccine to be available in Poland by the end of the year.

The vaccine, developed by pharmaceutical firms Pfizer and BioNTech, is thought to be 95% effective at preventing the COVID-19 disease. It is also believed to be effective against recently-emerged mutated versions of the Coronavirus.

In Gdansk, the PKM commuter railway has signed a contract for the construction of the Kartuski Bypass.

A contract was signed with Gdynia-based company Torhamer earlier this week for the preparation and construction of the bypass, which is set to keep trains running during electrification works on the PKM.

The Kartuski Bypass would reopen an old disused railway line running from Gdansk to Kartuzy via Kokoszki and Stara Pila. The new route, which is planned for opening in late 2022, would provide an alternative for commuters from Kashubia while the existing lines are electrified.

Gdansk Mayor, Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, has sent her Christmas wishes to Gdansk citizens.

In a video released on social media, Mayor Dulkiewicz remarked that Christmas is always a special time of year, but that this year would of course completely different. She added that Christmas is a holiday of love, but encouraged Gdanskers to show love by being responsible around those we care about.

Showers set to continue throughout the afternoon. Temperatures today peaking at about 5C, 40F with light winds.
Christmas Day not looking much better with showers likely for most of the day.

RGEN/TH