Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said Moscow is ready to sever ties with the European Union if the bloc hits it with painful economic sanctions, according to extracts of an interview posted on the ministry’s website on Friday. Relations between Russia and the West have come under renewed pressure over the arrest and jailing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, which has sparked talk of possible new sanctions. Three European diplomats told Reuters on Thursday that the European Union was likely to impose travel bans and asset freezes on allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, possibly as soon as this month, after France and Germany signalled their willingness to move ahead. Pressure for sanctions has grown since Moscow infuriated European countries last week by expelling German, Polish and Swedish diplomats without telling the EU’s foreign policy chief, who was in Moscow for a visit. Paris and Berlin now say there must be a response.
Source – Polskie Radio, Reuters
Ski slopes, swimming pools and outdoor pitches in Poland are allowed to reopen on Friday after the government partially eased COVID-19 restrictions that have hit businesses. Hotels, cinemas, theatres and opera houses have also been permitted to open, though at half capacity. Audiences must cover their mouth and nose. The loosening of COVID-19 curbs will last for two weeks, after which it will be reassessed. The relaxation was announced earlier this month amid signs of a let-up in the spread of the coronavirus. But restaurants, gyms and aqua parks have to remain closed to the general public.
Source – Polskie Radio
Poland’s Iga Świątek has advanced to the fourth round of the women’s singles competition at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne.
The 19-year-old Pole, ranked world No. 17 by the Women’s Tennis Association, cruised past French player Fiona Ferro with a straight-set 6-4, 6-3 win in their third-round encounter Down Under on Friday. The rising Polish tennis star will now face Romania’s Simona Halep for a place in the final eight at the Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne.
Source – Polskie Radio
And finally, police in Gdańsk have seized drugs worth over PLN 4.5 million and arrested a 39 year old man in a drugs raid this week. During the raid, 27 litres of liquid amphetamine were seized along with more than a kilo of cocaine and as the suspect tried to flee in his car, police were forced to shoot out the tyres of the vehicle to apprehend the offender. The main has been detained for further questioning. Officers from Gdańsk, the drug division and counter terrorist officers were involved in the raid.
Source – trojmiasto.pl
Weather
Today will be a cloudy day with sunny spells and snow showers in a moderate breeze. Temperatures will finally get above freezing point today, with daytime temperatures of 1 degree centigrade (34 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day, dropping to -3 degrees overnight. Sunday should be a sunny day with a fresh breeze and temperatures reaching 1degree during the day and -3 degrees overnight.
That was the Radio Gdańsk English news and weather.
RGEN
