People in the United States are waking up this morning to the first day of Joe Biden’s term as president. Mr Biden, who was inaugurated in Washington DC yesterday at noon, has already begun reversing President Trump’s policies and launching his own new agenda.

In the coming days, President Biden is expected to sign a raft of executive orders to tackle the pandemic, including making mask-wearing mandatory on US federal property. The new president will also reverse President Trump’s decision for the US to leave the World Health Organization – the UN agency which has been coordinating the global response to COVID-19. 

Mr Biden is also planning to bring the US back into the 2016 Paris Climate Agreement, which the country had walked out of under President Trump.

In his inauguration speech, Mr Biden also spoke of the importance of rebuilding America’s relationships with allies around the world. The NATO alliance, which Mr Trump was critical of, is set to be an important part of the Biden administration’s foreign policy.

In Poland, both President Duda and Prime Minister Morawiecki have congratulated President Biden, with Mr Morawiecki adding that „Poland considers [the] United States to be the pillar of global freedom, stability, and peace”

The Polish Parliament has formally approved the 2021 budget, with increases in spending in areas like health and defence

This year’s budget projects government income at 404bn Zloty, and spending at 487bn, leaving a deficit of 82bn.

The budget includes money for social programmes such as the government’s flagship „Family 500+” plan, which offers money directly to families with children.

Spending increases are also planned for defence and healthcare, rising 2.2% and 5.3% of GDP respectively.

Pressure is mounting this week on the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project

Earlier this week, the US imposed fresh sanctions on the project, this time targeting pipe-laying ships working on the project to connect Russian gas supplies to Central Europe via the Baltic Sea.

It’s the latest in a series of moves by the US to block the pipeline, which it views as a way of increasing Russian influence in Europe.

Reacting to news of the sanctions, a spokesperson for Germany’s Economy Ministry said the country regrets the US’s decision. Germany, which would be the main recipient of Russian gas through the pipeline, supports the project.

It’s not yet clear how the new administration in the US will deal with Nord Stream 2, though members of President Biden’s new cabinet have made clear their opposition to the project.

The Polish government has strongly opposed the construction of the pipeline, arguing that it increases Russian influence in Europe.

Today marks Dzien Babci – or Grandmother’s Day – across Poland 

The holiday, created only in 1964, is the first of two days honouring grandparents, with Dzien Dziadka – or Grandfather’s Day – following tomorrow. The day usually sees Polish families visit grandparents, with walks, games, baking, and gardening all popular ways to mark the day.

This year families have been finding unique ways to show love and appreciation to grans and grandpas. Here in Gdansk, two remarkably well-built snowpeople popped up overnight in Wrzeszcz. The snow-couple, seemingly built to resemble someone’s grandma and grandpa, came carrying the message „zyjcie nam sto lat”, or „live a hundred years”.

WEATHER

Remaining partly cloudy for most of the afternoon with sunny spells likely across the city.

Temperatures staying mild and around 3C, or 37F, throughout the day, perhaps feeling a bit chillier thanks to a moderate wind blowing up from the south.

Largely the same story tomorrow with no rain or snow expected.

 Thomas Holdstock/mw