British Prime Minister Boris Johnson presented Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with the Sir Winston Churchill Leadership Award in a virtual ceremony on Tuesday.

Johnson praised Zelensky’s „moral and physical courage” after the start of Russia’s full-scale war, calling him a symbol of the heroism of the Ukrainian people.

„Inspired by your leadership,” Johnson proclaimed, „I know not just that Ukraine can win, but Ukraine will win, and when that day comes, as it will, Ukraine will rise and take its place as a free, sovereign, and independent nation.”

Expressing his gratitude for the award, Zelensky claimed it „would not be possible if the entire Ukrainian people had not risen up to defend freedom from the attack of tyranny.”

Source: Radio Poland

Polish health officials have reported a 30 percent increase in the number of COVID-19 infections over the past week. 

Speaking in an interview with public broadcaster Polish Radio, deputy health minister Waldemar Kraska explained, „this is fairly good news,” as the weekly increase in COVID-19 cases had been nearly double that rate in previous days, hovering around 60 percent. Hospitalizations are also on the rise, with an increase of roughly 1500 patients last week to 1,884 patients as of Wednesday evening. According to Kraska, despite the „fairly large increase… doctors looking after these patients report that their condition is much better than that of people hospitalized during previous waves.”

Earlier this month, Health Minister Adam Niedzielski told Polsat News that the government had emergency plans „at the ready” to bring back mass testing, increase the number of hospital beds and potentially „reintroduce mask-wearing on public transport if necessary.”

Last week, the Polish government launched a fourth coronavirus vaccine dose for people aged 60 and older to better protect them against an oncoming COVID-19 wave expected to peak in late August.

Source: Radio Poland, gov.pl/web/koronawirus/

The picturesque and award-winning Wajdeloty street in Gdańsk Wrzeszcz will be closed to traffic for the next several months for repairs to replace damaged paving stones.

According to Konrad Marciński, communication and promotion specialist of the Gdańsk Road and Greenery Authority, the work will be completed in stages to minimize traffic disruptions. In the project’s initial phase, from July 26 to August 26, a section of the Günter Grass roundabout approaching from ulica Aldony will be closed, with traffic diverting to Lelewela instead.

The initial renovation of Wajdeloty street was one of the most famous urban achievements of Gdańsk. In 2016, the revitalized street was awarded the first prize in the competition for Poland’s best-developed public space.

The quality of the initial materials used by the contractor has proven to be subpar, however. The current closure marks the third time the street has been under renovation to replace paving stones which began to crack and collapse just a few years after being laid.

The current renovations will be carried out and financed under the contractor’s insurance guarantee, with the project scheduled to be completed by the first half of October.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

The 26th annual International Shakespeare Festival opened yesterday in Gdańsk with an Italian production of „The Tempest” and the opening of the „ShakeArt! vol. 2” art exhibition featuring Polish and Ukrainian artists.

The festival, which runs until August 6, features workshops, critics’ debates, concerts, exhibitions, stand-up comedy, meetings with artists, and open rehearsals.

Theatre companies from Poland, Italy, Denmark, Norway, the Czech Republic, and the United States will put on nearly a dozen classic Shakespearean plays, from „A Midsummer Night’s Dream” to variations of „Hamlet” and „Romeo & Juliet.”

The International Shakespeare Festival was founded by longtime Gdańsk resident Jerzy Limon, an outstanding Polish scholar, writer, and translator who died of COVID-19 in March last year.

More information on the festival can be found >>>HERE.

Source: Radio Poland, gdansk.pl

Lechia Gdańsk faces off against Rapid Vienna in Gdańsk tonight in the second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League.

Radio Gdańsk will be broadcasting the match live from Polsat Plus Arena in Gdańsk starting at 19:05 tonight, with the match set to begin at 19:45.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

Weather

Today will be partly cloudy and cool, with a slight chance of rain throughout the day and a gentle breeze coming in from the northwest. Temperatures will peak around a high of 20°C, or 68°F, dropping to an overnight low of 13°C or 55°F. Slightly warmer weather is expected tomorrow, with sunshine in the forecast over the weekend.

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