The president of Poland has met with the prime minister and other ministers to discuss security in light of the war in Ukraine.
Andrzej Duda sat with his colleagues at the national security bureau meeting yesterday to discuss the potential delivery of German-made heavy battle tanks to Ukraine’s armed forces, among other issues. Presidential aide Paweł Szrot said earlier that delivery of the Leopard tanks requested by Kyiv would “only be within a wide agreement and an undertaking by other countries that have these tanks.”
At the weekend prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that he and the president were talking with other nations about the possible supply of heavy tanks to Ukraine, but that Warsaw would not go ahead alone. The head of the national security bureau, Jacek Siewiera, told journalists after the three-hour meeting that talks had also covered other aspects of Poland’s security, the capabilities of Poland’s armed forces, and aid for Ukraine.
The meetings have been a regular event since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February last year.
Source: PAP, AP
Prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced on Facebook that he had visited a shooting range in Warsaw yesterday, where he tried out several weapons.
The PM shot Polish-made guns at the Warszawianka range, including the ‘Grot’ carbine, which has recently been supplied to Polish armed forces, and the VIS pistol, which he described as “legendary”. He wrote that the government “will continue to invest in the promotion of shooting and the Polish arms industry, because a free society must be able to defend itself, and have something to defend itself with.”
Morawiecki called shooting a beautiful and practical sport with long traditions in our country, writing that thanks to the support of the Law and Justice party and the ministry of defence it is developing more and more in Poland.
Source: PAP
An investigation is underway to trace the culprit who released a large volume of petroleum-based matter into Gdańsk’s sewerage system.
The suspicious substance was detected at the end of last week by employees at the Ołowianka pumping station, who immediately informed the provincial office for environmental inspection. The quick actions of the employees prevented the matter from entering Gdańsk’s eastern water treatment plant.
Radosław Rzepecki, a spokesperson for the environmental inspectorate, said that the material could have destroyed the biological treatment facility at the plant, potentially forcing the discharge of untreated sewage into the Gulf of Gdańsk. Around fifteen cubic metres of oily brown scum were removed, filling two slurry tankers.
The search for those responsible, who could face up to two years in prison, is focused on the areas of Wrzeszcz and Zaspa.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
The first ever mission to launch a satellite from UK soil has ended in failure.
Last night a repurposed Boeing 747 jumbo jet took off from Newquay airport in Cornwall, carrying a rocket which was launched high over the Atlantic Ocean. The rocket appeared to be ascending correctly, but then the American company running the mission, Virgin Orbit, said it suffered an “anomaly”. The nine satellites on board were lost, while the 747 returned safely to the ground. There had been high hopes for the mission in the UK, which has an international reputation as a maker of satellites, but has always had to send them overseas to get them into orbit. The Virgin Orbit system failed on its maiden mission in 2020, but has since been used successfully four times.
Source: BBC
Weather
Today looks like being another cold and cloudy day in Gdańsk, with the temperature going no higher than 5°C (41°F). It should stay dry today with some light rain overnight, and there’s a very similar outlook for tomorrow. By Thursday and Friday the weather will turn wetter.
Listen to the broadcast:
Andrew Carter/ol
