Donald Tusk has become Poland’s new prime minister after the previous prime minister lost a vote of confidence in parliament, following recent elections. Tusk, a former top European Union official and liberal politician is returning to the role he held between 2007 and 2014.
MPs chose Tusk as the country’s new head of government in a 248-201 vote on Monday night. It spelt the end for the eight years of rule by the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party. Tusk’s return as prime minister sets the stage for a thawing of Poland’s relations with the European Union.
Source – Polskie Radio
Poland has criticised the International Olympic Committee for allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
The Polish sports ministry said that ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Poland had „maintained that, until the war is brought to an end, Russian and Belarusian athletes should not be allowed to take part in international competition, including the Olympic Games, the world’s foremost sports event.”
The Olympics governing body announced on December 8 that Russian and Belarusian athletes would be allowed to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics as long as they have not supported the war in Ukraine. This applies only to athletes who qualify in individual sports, and they will have to compete as “neutral” athletes, with no flags, emblems or anthems allowed, the IOC said.
Source – Polskie Radio
Polish architect Przemek Gawęda has been named the Architect of the Year 2023 at the international Architecture Community awards, in a significant recognition of Polish design talent.
The prestigious award was given for his design of the Biathlon Stadium at Kubalonka, located in the Beskidy mountains of southern Poland. The multifunctional structure, humorously called a „James Bond-style” ski center, will position Poland as a potential host for major international ski competitions. This is a second international recognition for Gawęda, the co-founder and chief architect of the Archigeum studio, based near the northern Polish city of Bydgoszcz.
Source – Polskie Radio
And finally, a car ended up in the Motława river yesterday in Gdańsk yesterday, after the driver lost control of the vehicle. Yesterday evening, the car could clearly be seen, completely submerged in the river with its lights still working.
The driver, a 33-year-old man from Gdańsk managed to escape from the vehicle and was not injured.
Road conditions at the time of the accident were difficult, with melting snow from recent snow falls being present in the area. The man was sober and had a driving license. He was fined PLN 1,500 for causing an accident through lack of care and attention. Fire crews have recovered the vehicle.
Source – Radio Gdańsk
Weather
Today will be a rainy day in light winds and temperatures of 3 degrees centigrade (37 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day and -1 degrees overnight. Tomorrow will turn sunnier in light winds with temperatures of 2 degrees during the day and -1 degree overnight.
Martin Caren/pb
