Polish state-run gas giant PGNiG announced the purchase of a US liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipment that would be sent on to Ukraine by the end of next month.
In a press statement released on Tuesday, PGNiG CEO Paweł Majewski gave credit to prior investments in gas infrastructure, which allow Poland to „strengthen the energy security of the region by ensuring access to various sources of natural gas for our customers.”
According to the Polish Press Agency, an LNG carrier from the United States is expected to arrive in Poland later this month. The LNG cargo will then be processed back into gas form and transported to Ukraine via the Polish gas transmission system.
Source: Radio Poland, PAP
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki visited Kyiv yesterday, where he announced Poland’s intent to support Ukraine with natural gas supplies, defensive arms, and humanitarian aid.
Speaking at a news conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmygal, Morawiecki said Poland would send tens of thousands of rounds of artillery ammunition, light mortars, portable air-defense systems, and surveillance drones to support Ukraine amidst the threat of a new Russian invasion.
It was later announced by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, that Poland, Britain, and Ukraine were preparing a trilateral pact to strengthen regional security. Kuleba thanked his Polish counterpart Zbigniew Rau and Britain’s Liz Truss for their „keen response” to Ukraine’s initial proposal.
According to Reuters, Kuleba described the new pact as a way to bring together countries that shared the same principles on enhancing security and developing trade in the region and were ready to take concrete action.
Source: Radio Poland, PAP
The Omicron variant continues to drive up coronavirus infections rates across Poland.
On Tuesday, the Health Ministry reported 39,114 new coronavirus infections and 239 additional deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the country’s total number of cases during the pandemic to nearly five million (4,925,270) and fatalities to over 105,000 (105,434).
Of the new cases confirmed on Tuesday, most were in regions of Mazowieckie (6,236) and Silesia (5,698). Pomerania reported 2,875 new cases yesterday, with an additional 20 deaths.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Polish parents and carers can again claim a temporary child care allowance this month in an effort by the government to offset the additional costs of remote learning.
The Minister for Family and Social Policy, Marlena Maląg, told reporters yesterday that „the additional care allowance will be available if the child’s school closes or functions in a limited capacity due to COVID-19.”
Schools across Poland, with the exception of younger elementary-school children, recently switched to remote classes amidst a new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The additional allowance is available for caregivers of children eight years or younger, disabled persons 18 and under, or those with educational needs aged 24 or less when there is no second parent who can provide care.
The temporary benefit will be available until February 27.
Source: PAP, Radio Poland
February 1 marked the 10th anniversary of the death of Wisława Szymborska, one of Poland’s most celebrated and well-recognized poets.
Szymborska achieved worldwide recognition after receiving the 1996 Nobel Prize in Literature „for poetry that with ironic precision allows the historical and biological context to come to light in fragments of human reality.” Her works of poetry have been translated into 42 languages, including Hebrew, Japanese and Arabic.
While known primarily for her poetry, Szymborska was also an accomplished essayist, literary critic, and translator. In addition to the Nobel Prize and numerous other literary awards, at the age of 88, Szymborska received the Order of the White Eagle, the highest distinction of the Polish state.
Szymborska passed away on February 1, 2012, in Krakow. An exhibit documenting her extraordinary life and literary career is currently on display at the MOCAK Gallery in Kraków.
Source: Radio Poland, mocak.pl
Weather
Today will be mostly cloudy and cold, with a chance for snow or freezing rain throughout the day and a strong breeze coming in from the north. Temperatures will peak around a high of 2°C, or 36°F, dropping to an overnight low of -2°C or 28°F. Similar temps are expected tomorrow, with a chance for some sun early in the morning before clouds and snow showers return Thursday afternoon.
Elizabeth Peck/MarWer
