Poland’s agriculture minister hopes that a recently-enacted Belarusian embargo on Polish exports will not last long as it is more harmful to Minsk than Warsaw.

The regime of Belarus’ autocratic leader Alexander Lukashenko announced the move last month in response to Western sanctions against Minsk over the migration crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border, according to reports by the Polish Press Agency (PAP).

Henryk Kowalczyk, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, told PAP that the embargo posed „a certain difficulty” for Poland’s food industry but „not a very big one.”

„Our trade with Belarus is worth around EUR 200 million a year,” he explained, „which accounts for 0.6 percent of Polish food exports.” According to Kowalczyk, apples are the main product sold to Belarus, although „it’s not our chief destination at the moment, with an increasing proportion being exported in other directions, such as Egypt.”

The Belarusian embargo includes Polish beef, poultry, pork, milk and milk products, fruit, vegetables, nuts, and sweets, among other goods and products.

Source: PAP, Radio Poland

Poland’s Health Minister Adam Niedzielski announced that new COVID-19 restrictions could be introduced this week if infection rates continue at their current pace.

In an interview with the RMF FM on Monday, Niedzielski pointed to „a clear warning sign” of increasing infections; cases rose by 10 percent last Friday and 25 percent on Sunday compared with the week before.

According to Niedzielski, „if the number of infections continues to rise at the present rate this week…we are going to introduce further curbs,” adding the announcement would happen „probably on Wednesday or Friday.”

The health minister specified that the new restrictions would target „economic activity” such as shopping malls or similar establishments.

Referring to the new, highly contagious „omicron” strain of the coronavirus, Niedzielski stressed that „each of us is exposed to contact with omicron” and therefore „not getting vaccinated shows a lack of responsibility.”

On Monday, Poland reported 6,422 new coronavirus infections and 9 additional deaths related to COVID-19.

Source: Radio Poland, PAP

Polish government officials recently announced plans to offer new e-services and unveil new investments in fiber-optic networks starting in 2022.

In an interview with Polish Radio, the government’s Commissioner for Cyber Security, Janusz Cieszy?ski, described plans for increased functionality of the moj.gov.pl website and mObywatel mobile application.

In one example, persons purchasing a second-hand car and registering it with authorities would receive an automatic reminder to pay taxes instead of being penalized for failing to do so.

Schools are also being encouraged to make greater use of the free-and-fast broadband and apps available under the Nationwide Education Network (OSE), including services for e-sports and expansion of the Educational Anti-Smog Network (ESA).

According to Cieszy?ski, the government also has plans to unveil new investments in the national fiber-optic network, co-financed by the European Union, with the goal of providing every household in Poland access to fast broadband by 2030.

Source: Radio Poland, IAR, PAP

Since new traffic laws went into effect on January 1, over 400 tickets have been issued to drivers in Pomerania, including four for the highest amount of 2,500 PLN.

In the first two days of January, police issued three tickets for PLN 2,000, nine for PLN 1,500, 47 for PLN 1,000, and 42 for PLN 800. The lowest penalty amount is for drivers caught speeding between 31 to 40 kilometers per hour over the limit.

According to one police offer, most drivers have responded to the new regulations by driving more carefully, but „there are exceptions.”

A driver receiving the maximum penalty of 2,500 PLN was recently caught on the A6 motorway between Reda to Wejherowo, going 173 kilometers per hour in a 70 kilometer-per-hour zone. Another speeder was caught going 71 kilometers per hour over the speed limit in Gda?sk, and two others were caught in the Ko?cierzyna district.

On Saturday, January 1 and Sunday, January 2, police officers also detained 24 drivers for drunk driving and confiscated an additional nine driving licenses for speeding in a built-up area.

Source: Radio Gda?sk

Weather

Today will be mostly cloudy and cold, with a good chance of rain showers in the late afternoon and a gentle breeze coming in from the southwest. Temperatures will peak around a high of 7°C, or 44°F, dropping slightly to an overnight low of 2°C or 36°F.  Temperatures will continue to drop as the week progresses, with a chance for some snow on Thursday followed by clearer skies and colder temps into the weekend.

Elizabeth Peck/MarWer