US President Joe Biden announced yesterday that the United States would supply Ukraine with 31 advanced Abrams tanks to help the country defend itself against Russian forces.
Biden announced the transfer during remarks at the White House, saying the tanks were needed to help Ukrainian troops “improve their ability to maneuver in open terrain.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Germany announced it would deliver a company of 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks “as a first step” in allied efforts to quickly provide Ukraine with two tank battalions.
Germany’s long-awaited decision paves the way for other countries, such as Poland, Spain, Finland, and Norway, to send their own German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
Poland has pledged to provide Ukraine with a company of 14 Leopard tanks, news agencies reported.
Today is day 337 of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Source: Radio Poland
Builders completed around 238,600 new homes in Poland last year, a 1.7 percent increase over 2021, according to recent reports from Poland’s state-run statistical agency (GUS).
The number of housing starts throughout 2022, however, was 27.8 percent lower than a year earlier, according to preliminary estimates by GUS.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said in a policy speech in November 2019 that his government would step up efforts to spur housing construction, mentioning a target of at least 200,000 new homes a year.
According to a study that year, Poland was building the highest number of new dwellings in Central Europe, but more construction was needed to meet demand. Real estate experts claim there remains a shortage of around 2 million housing units in Poland.
Source: Radio Poland
Adding to a string of nominations and accolades, Jerzy Skolimowski’s film “EO” was also nominated yesterday for a César award, France’s most prestigious national film award.
The news came shortly after the announcement that “EO” was one of five nominees for this year’s Academy Award (commonly known as the Oscars) in the best international film category.
Skolimowski’s film will be in contention with four other productions at the prestigious César Awards, namely the Swedish drama “The Square” directed by Ruben Östlund, which took home the Golden Palm at last year’s Cannes Festival,
Should “EO” emerge victorious, it will be the second Polish production to take home a César, following Krzysztof Kieślowski’s award for “The Decalogue” in 1985.
Polish directors have also taken home César awards in the Best Director category, including Paweł Pawlikowski for “Ida” in 2015 and Agnieszka Holland for “Charlatan” in 2021.
The 48th annual César Awards ceremony will be held on February 24 in Paris.
Source: Radio Poland, PAP
While Magda Linette continues her quest to reach her first Grand Slam final at the Australian Open, fellow countryman Jan Zieliński has already advanced to the doubles final after a hard-fought semifinal battle this morning.
Zieliński and French-born Hugo Nys of Monaco defeated their French opponents Jeremy Chardy and Fabrice Martin in three sets (6-3, 5-7, 6-2) this morning to advance to the doubles final this weekend.
Like Linette, the win marks a career achievement for the 26-year-old Pole, whose previous best Grand Slam doubles performance (also with Nys) ended in the quarterfinals of last year’s US Open.
Zielinski and Nys are set to face Australians Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler on Saturday, January 28, at 9:30 CET.
Source: PAP
The Gdańsk zoo in Oliwa is currently holding an auction for the naming rights of five cheetah cubs born last summer at the zoo.
Visitors can already see the cubs in the cheetah enclosure, with relatively mild winter temperatures providing an opportunity for the litter of cubs – four females and one male – to start going outside with their mother, Vega.
According to officials from the Gdańsk Zoo, the cubs can be viewed from the catwalk every day between 10:00-12:00, weather permitting.
The privilege of naming the cubs will be auctioned off as part of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (WOŚP) this month. The winner will be invited for a special visit to the Gdańsk Zoo and the official entry of names in the animal registry.
More information on the auction can be found on the zoo’s official facebook profile at facebook.com/zoogdansk or on the auction site: https://allegro.pl/oferta/nadaj-imiona-gepardom-z-gdanskiego-zoo-13120352214?fbclid=IwAR37hiQfoouiHobykp_35VbuwBvhS3LyR20jmY_slr63PN6GZzoA6NWqHdM.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Weather
Today will be cold and cloudy, with an increasing chance of rain or snow as the day progresses and a light breeze coming from the west. Temperatures will remain close to freezing, climbing from a low of -2°C, or 29°F up to 1°C or 33°F later in the day. Similar weather is expected for tomorrow, with a chance for some rain or snow again in the afternoon.
RGEN
