Voters in Scotland elected a majority of pro-independence candidates in UK elections last week, setting the stage for a new referendum on Scottish independence.
The Scottish National Party emerged from Thursday’s elections just one seat shy of an outright majority, with SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon referring to a new referendum as „the will of the country.”
Elsewhere in the UK, election results gave current Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative (Tory) party a boost, which Johnson attributed to his government „get[ing] Brexit done.”
The opposition Labour party remained in power in the Welsh parliament, and voters in the urban centers of Manchester and London re-elected Labour candidates Andy Burnham and Sadiq Khan as their mayors.
Following publication of the election results, Johnson invited the heads of governments of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to a summit devoted to how „team UK” can collectively move forward with managing the coronavirus pandemic.
Source: PAP, BBC
President Duda has joined fellow European heads of state in calling for a broader and more inclusive discussion around the future priorities of the European Union.
The appeal came ahead of „Europe Day” on May 9, and coincides with the launch of the „Conference on the Future of Europe” platform. In the letter, the signatory heads of state call on all EU citizens to help shape their common future, as „the strength of European democracies lies in engaging the many voices of society.”
The letter outlines the many challenges facing EU citizens, including climate change and the environment, the shift to green and digital economies, balancing increasing competition among global actors, and navigating the digital transformation of society.
The full text of the letter and more information on how individuals can participate in the Conference of Europe can be found online.
Source: Radio Poland, prezydent.pl
A concert for carillon and trumpets will be performed from the Main Town Hall tower in Gdańsk today in celebration of Europe Day.
The 40-minute concert will feature Monika Kaźmierczak on the carillon and Paweł Hulisz and Emil Miszk on trumpet. In honor of Europe Day, the repertoire consists of a variety of European composers, from Bach to Dvořak, as well as the EU anthem, Beethoven’s „Ode to Joy.”
The concert can be heard live in the vicinity of the Main Town Hall at ul. Długa and Długi Targ starting at 13:00, or streaming online on the website of the City of Gdańsk.
Source: gdansk.pl
Lechia Gdańsk fans are holding on to hopes of securing a 4th place slot in the Ekstraklasa league after yesterday’s match against Cracovia ended in a 1:1 draw.
Lechia still has a chance to qualify for League of European Conferences (Liga Konferencji Europy) if they win their next match, and other teams, like Piast Gliwice and Zagłebie Lubin, don’t unseat them in the meantime.
Yesterday’s match was the last time Lechia will play in Gdańsk this season; they will close out the 2020/2021 Ekstraklasa season next Sunday, May 16, in Białystok.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Jacek Starościak, the first post-Communist mayor of Gdańsk, passed away yesterday at the age of 73.
In addition to being mayor of Gdańsk from July 1990 to June 1991, Starościak also served as a diplomat abroad, the president of Bank Pekao, and later as the chair of the Sopot Council of Seniors.
He was an avid fan of cold-water swimming (morsowanie) and participated in winter swimming competitions abroad in Finland, Belarus, China, Argentina, and the UK.
Starościak passed away on Saturday at a hospital in Bydgoszcz after a serious illness. Plans for a commemoration have yet to be announced.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Weather
Today will be mostly cloudy but warm, with a strong breeze coming in from the south and very little chance of rain in the afternoon. Temperatures will peak around a high of 19°C, or 67°F, dropping to a low of 7°C or 44°F overnight. Sunshine and much warmer weather are expected for tomorrow and Tuesday and with rain and cooler weather returning later in the week.
Elizabeth Peck/mw
