Britain’s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has condemned a decision by the authorities in Minsk to expel Polish and Lithuanian diplomats from Belarus.
Decrying the move in a Twitter post, Raab said the decision was “completely unjustified and will only isolate the Belarusian people.” He added that, in a gesture of solidarity, Britain was “temporarily recalling” its own ambassador “for consultations on the situation in Belarus.”
More than 30 Polish diplomats left Belarus on Friday after Poland and Lithuania decided to recall their ambassadors following a demand from the foreign ministry in Minsk.
According to Reuters, the move was an attempt to reduce regional tensions after Belarus accused the two neighbouring countries of meddling in its affairs following the disputed presidential election in August.
Source: Radio Poland
COVID case numbers continue to surge
Poland’s Health Ministry reported a record daily rise in coronavirus infections for a fourth straight day yesterday, confirming 5,300 new cases and 53 additional deaths.
The news came just as the Polish government tightened restrictions on social gatherings and mask-wearing in public, measures Prime Minister Morawiecki had claimed earlier were the only way to avoid another lockdown, which would be “the worst scenario for the economy.”
According to Dr. Michał Sutkowski, president of Warsaw Family Physicians, mask-wearing and social-distancing are the most important elements in the fight against the spread of COVID. “Two-thirds of the infections are up to us,” Sutkowski explains, going on to emphasize the importance of wearing masks “so as not to kill others.” All of Poland is now in a yellow zone and masks must be worn at all times in public, with a few notable exceptions.
Of the new cases confirmed yesterday, most were in the regions of Mazowieckie (816) Małopolskie (631), and Kujawsko-Pomorskie (554). Pomerania also confirmed a record number of new cases yesterday, primarily in the cities of Gdańsk (82) and Gdynia (37)and the districts of Kartuzy (44) and Wejherowo (33).
Source: PAP, Radio Gdańsk
Świątek wins French Open
19-year-old Iga Świątek stunned Sofia Kenin of the United States to win the French Open yesterday, claiming her maiden Grand Slam title and becoming the first Pole to lift a Grand Slam singles trophy.
The unseeded Polish teenager overpowered the fourth-seeded American 6-4, 6-1 in the final women’s singles championship match in Paris, capping off an impressive string of victories in which Świątek did not lose a single set.
The victory makes Świątek the youngest person to win a Grand Slam title since Monica Seles in 1990 and marks a new career milestone for the former junior Wimbledon champion. Formerly 54th in the WTA rankings, Świątek now moves into the top 20 women’s tennis players worldwide.
Source: Reuters, Radio Poland. Radio Gdańsk
Police still searching for vehicle stolen from military base
Gdańsk police have joined in the search for a Hyundai Santa Fe stolen from the deputy commander of the American military base in Redzikowo.
The incident took place the night of October 7th around Łady-Cybulskiego Street in Słupsk, and officials have yet to confirm if the vehicle contained any items of value for the army, such as sensitive documents or equipment. Police officers from the Provincial Police Headquarters in Gdańsk are continuing to work with officers in Słupsk to track down the stolen vehicle.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Radio Gdańsk and PKM kick off weeklong competition
For lovers of music and mass transit, Radio Gdańsk is offering listeners a chance to win concert recordings and PKM-themed gear in honor of the upcoming concert featuring Grażyna Łobaszewska and the band Ajagore.
Starting tomorrow, October 12, presenters from Radio Gdańsk will ask a question on air each day starting at 15:00. Listeners will then have a chance each day to send in their answer via SMS to 603 06 06 06 in order to win some fabulous gear.
The concert featuring Łobaszewska, a Tri-city singer-songwriter known for songs like “Czas nas uczy pogody” and “Brzydcy” will be broadcast live on Friday at 20:00 and on the Radio Gdańsk website and facebook page.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Nations League match tonight in Gdańsk
As a reminder, the Nations League match between Poland and Italy tonight in Gdańsk will also be aired live on Radio Gdańsk beginning at 20:05. The outcome of tonight’s match will affect Poland’s place in world rankings and in the European Championship qualifiers, so tune in tonight on air or online to watch or listen from the comfort of your own home, no mask required.
Weather
Today will be mostly sunny and cool, with a light breeze coming in from the southwest and a almost no chance of rain.Temperatures will be slighter cooler than yesterday, with a high of 13°C, or 55°F, and an overnight low of 6°C or 42°F. Clouds will return tomorrow, with rain in the forecast for later in the week.
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