Radio Gdansk News in English: Government issues strong denials of phone hacking allegations

A government spokesperson has denied reports that Polish secret agents hacked the phones of opposition figures for political reasons. Stanisław Żaryn, the spokesperson for the coordinator of special services, said that any such ideas “are false”.

His remarks come after an Associated Press report which alleged that the mobile phone of Senator Krzysztof Brejza was hacked 33 times during the 2019 election campaign.

Brejza claims that text messages stolen from his phone were aired on TVP at the time.

The prosecutor general, Zbigniew Ziobro, joined the denials of wrongdoing, saying “there is no knowledge that there were any illegal activities in this area in Poland”.

Source: PAP, AP


The financial watchdog has warned online investors about three investment platforms trading in Poland.

The Polish Financial Supervision Authority yesterday said that the owners of the olympusholding platform have been referred to prosecutors under suspicion of trading without authorisation.

Two other websites—savecaptialinvest and grandiscapitaltrade—were also included in the list of warnings.

Source: polskieradio24.pl


TV viewers with older sets are to receive financial help towards an upgrade.

The government will give a grant of 100 zlotys to any household which needs to buy a set-top box to receive the latest digital television transmissions.

The upgrades will be essential when the older signals are switched off permanently next year.

The changes are part of a European-wide programme to free up frequencies for high-speed internet.

Over two million households in Poland are not yet adapted to receive digital terrestrial television.

In Pomerania, the older TV signal will be switched off on 25 April next year.

Source: radiogdansk.pl


Library users in Gdańsk will be able to borrow and return books more conveniently from Monday.

Library users in Gdańsk will be able to borrow and return books more conveniently from Monday.

Four so-called ‘książkomats’—or book lockers—have been installed around the city, allowing 24-hour pickup of books ordered from the library.

The devices, which look like parcel lockers, are situated outside the libraries in Chełm, Kokosze, Morena and Żabianka.

It’s hoped the initiative will appeal to busy readers, young people, and those who want to avoid entering public buildings for health reasons.

Source: radiogdansk.pl


It’s Christmas Eve, or Wigilia, the most important feast day of the year in Poland, and public transport schedules are set to change for the festive period.

A Saturday schedule will operate in Gdańsk today, and from 2pm buses will either finish or take a long break.

Some tram lines will finish in the mid-afternoon.

Tomorrow there will be a Sunday schedule, with some bus lines either not running at all, or with changes.

Schedule alterations also apply in other areas, and on the train network.

Detailed information on the changes is available on the official websites of ZTM in Gdańsk, ZKM in Gdynia and SKM PKP.

Source: radiogdansk.pl


Weather

After a cold night across the country there’s a thaw in store for much of Poland today, although in Gdańsk it will remain freezing, with a high of 0°C, 32°F. It’ll be cloudy with clear spells, and overnight there’s snow forecast, with temperatures falling to -4°C, 24°F. Tomorrow, Christmas Day, will be a couple of degrees cooler, with some sunny spells.

 

Andrew Carter/ua

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