Poland has declared support for Ukraine as the dangerous stand-off between Ukraine and Russia continues. Speaking after the Polish President met his Ukrainian counterpart earlier in the week, a senior presidential aide said that „Ukraine can count on Polish support in the face of threat. The Euro-Atlantic community has a duty to counteract any aggression regardless of its size and scale”. Russia currently has around 100,000 troops massed at the Ukrainian border. Moscow is demanding that NATO never admit Ukraine or other eastern European countries, and withdraw infrastructure from the alliance’s eastern flank.
Source – Polskie Radio
Poland is set to shorten its COVID-19 quarantine period from 10 to seven days and roll out free tests in pharmacies from January 27th.
The announcement was made by the Polish Prime Minister after the country experienced its highest number of infections in a single day, with 36,665 new cases reported on Friday. It is expected that the daily total will be even higher today. The country’s health minister has said that coronavirus infections in the country would hit new records during the next few weeks, surpassing 60,000 daily cases and possibly approaching 140,000.
Source – Polskie Radio
A group of Polish MPs are proposing legislation that would increase the amount of home-grown music played on Polish radio stations in a bid to boost Polish talent on the airwaves.
The draft legislation proposes that at least 50 percent of monthly airtime devoted to songs would be taken up by Polish acts and that between 5 a.m. and midnight, the quota be increased to 80 percent. The bill would also provide incentives for radio stations to feature new Polish songs and performers. The MP who proposed the bill said that it „seeks to take care of Polish culture, Polish music and Polish performing artists,” who have been „greatly impoverished” during the coronavirus pandemic.
Source – railfreight.com, The First News
The long delayed re-introduction of the Metropolitan cycle hire scheme for the Three Cities and surrounding areas has been given a boost after the National Appeal Chamber rejected an appeal by Nextbike Polska in the tender process for reinstating the troubled bike hire scheme.
The decision now clears the way for the selected contractor, Spanish company City Bike Global, to move to the next stage. The new operator will manage a fleet of 4,099 bicycles in sixteen municipalities for six years. Over three thousand of them will be electrically powered.
Source – Radio Gdańsk
Weather
Today will be a cloudy day with a moderate breeze and temperatures of 2 degrees centigrade (36 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day and -2 degrees overnight. Winds will ease off tomorrow but it will remain cloudy with temperatures of 3 degrees during the day and 1 degree overnight.
Martin Caren/MarWer
