Polish Minister of Defense Mariusz Błaszczak announced on Tuesday that Poland plans to deliver ten Leopard 2A4s to Ukraine this week and build a service hub near Gliwice in southern Poland.

Błaszczak made the announcement during a news conference yesterday in Warsaw before departing for an informal two-day meeting of EU defense ministers in Stockholm, Sweden.

According to him, one of the main challenges facing countries providing Leopard tanks is the lack of parts for repairs, a topic he plans to discuss in a meeting today with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

Błaszczak claimed that the Polish defense industry is „ready to produce spare parts,” but „only Germany’s Rheinmetall, the manufacturer of Leopard tanks, has all the necessary technical documentation.”

Poland has promised to provide Ukraine with 14 Leopard 2A4s as part of the Polish-led „tank coalition,” which includes eight Norwegian and Canadian tanks, six Spanish tanks, and several additional support vehicles from Finland.

Source: Radio Gdańsk, Polskie Radio, PAP

Polish television journalist Bianka Zalewska is one of only a dozen women worldwide set to be recognized at this year’s International Women of Courage Awards in Washington, DC.

Established in 2007 by the US State Department, the award honors women „who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership in order to bring about positive change to their communities, often at great personal risk and sacrifice.”

In Zalewska’s profile, the State Department says she „has selflessly documented Russian aggression in Ukraine since 2014 and advocated for the people of Ukraine for more than a decade.”

The profile goes on to praise Zalewska for remaining „unintimidated…in the face of ever-present threats” and for continuing „to welcome refugees from Ukraine, bring to light Russian atrocities, report truthfully and responsibly from the frontlines, and personally deliver aid inside Ukraine.”

Other award recipients come from Afghanistan, Argentina, the Central African Republic, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, and Ukraine. Women and girls protesting in Iran also received the Madeleine Albright Honorary Group Award.

The 2023 International Women of Courage ceremony will begin around 10:00 p.m. CET at the White House in Washington, DC, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and First Lady Jill Biden presenting the awards.

More information on the International Women of Courage award is available >>>HERE.

Source: Polskie Radio, state.gov

The Oscar-nominated film „EO” by Jerzy Skolimowski took home top honors Monday night at the Polish Film Academy’s 2023 Eagle awards ceremony.

The film took home Eagle statuettes for best movie, best director (Skolimowski), best screenplay (Ewa Piaskowska and Skolimowski), best cinematography (Michał Dymek), best score (Paweł Mykietyn), and best editing (Agnieszka Glińska).

Over the past year, „EO” has amassed an impressive number of awards, including the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, Best Original Score at the European Film Awards, and Best International Film from the New York Film Critics Circle.

„EO” is currently a top contender to win in the „best international film category” at the 95th Academy Awards on March 12 in the US.

Source: Polskie Radio

Tune in to Radio Gdańsk this afternoon and this evening for special programming to celebrate International Women’s Day. Winners of the „wishes like dreams” competition will be announced between 12:00-2 p.m. this afternoon, with the most creative or poetic entry winning access to a car with a full tank of gas for the weekend.

Later this evening, Radio Gdańsk will host a special concert for listeners featuring accomplished composer and jazz vocalist Weronika Korthals.

Ms. Korthals, who hails from the village of Połczyn near Puck, will perform a special repertoire of classic songs to celebrate Women’s Day and premiere several new songs from her upcoming studio album.

The concert will take place at 7:05 tonight in the concert studio of Janusz Hajdun and will be broadcast live on air and on the Facebook page of Radio Gdańsk.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

Weather

Today will be a mix of sun and clouds with an occasional chance of rain or snow and strong winds coming from the east. Temperatures will be similar to yesterday, climbing to a high of 3°C or 37°F before dropping to a low of -4°C or 25°F overnight. Similar temperatures and partly cloudy skies are expected for tomorrow, with a chance for rain or snow showers returning on Friday.

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Elizabeth Peck/MarWer