US President Joe Biden is among those praising the new deal between the UK and the European Union on post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.

In comments to Reuters on Monday, Biden called the move an “essential step” to ensure peace from the Good Friday Agreement is preserved, while providing “a way forward that protects Northern Ireland’s place in the UK’s internal market as well as the EU’s single market, for the benefit of all communities in Northern Ireland.”

His words echoed those of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who announced the agreement on Monday afternoon in Windsor during a joint conference with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

While acknowledging that the EU and UK negotiations “have not always been easy,” Sunak praised von der Leyen for helping to move forward with an agreement that protects the “aspirations and identity” of all people in Northern Ireland.

Source: PAP

The EU Commission recently announced a joint initiative with Poland to track down Ukrainian children illegally deported to Russia and bring those responsible to trial.

European Commission spokeswoman Dana Spinant made the announcement at a news conference in Brussels on Monday, citing estimates that “Russian forces have sent thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia,” a situation she called both “a tragedy and crime.”

Spinant told reporters the initiative would be led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki “with the support of UN agencies.” The goal of the initiative would be “to collect evidence, find the kidnapped children, and prosecute those responsible for these crimes.”

On Friday, the Polish ambassador to the EU, Andrzej Sadoś, said Poland had demanded EU action on the issue as a condition for backing the bloc’s 10th sanctions package against Russia, which was passed over the weekend.

More detailed information about the initiative is expected to be announced in the coming days.

Today is Day 370 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Source: Radio Gdańsk, Polskie Radio

A Polish amputee footballer has joined the likes of football legends Neymar and Ronaldo after winning the prestigious “Ferenc Puskas Goal of the Year” award last night at FIFA’s annual awards gala in Paris.

Marcin Oleksy made history on Monday as the first Pole and the first amputee to win the prestigious accolade, beating out goals scored by football stars like PSG star Kylian Mbappe, AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez, and Mario Balotelli of FC Sion.

Oleksy took home the top award for an acrobatic bicycle kick he made last November during an amp-football match between his team, Warta Poznań, and Stal Rzeszów.

During his speech (in Polish), Oleksy thanked his family and “the entire amp football community” for providing an opportunity for him and others like him to find fulfillment in “such a beautiful sport.”

In previous years, the Puskas Award has been won by Brazil’s Neymar, Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Sweden, and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

Source: PAP, Polskie Radio

Construction workers doing repairs near the Matemblewo district of Gdańsk uncovered unexploded WW2-era ordnance while doing earthworks over the weekend.

According to sub-inspector Magdalena Ciska from the Municipal Police Headquarters in Gdańsk, the ordnance was found during construction work on Potokowa Street.

The construction workers who found the ordnance immediately notified the police, who cordoned off the area and have been guarding the object since last Saturday. A sapper patrol was due to arrive on Monday to transport the object to a training ground where it could be neutralized.

The Polish coast was a strategic battleground during both world wars, with sea mines and other ordnance still being discovered over 75 years after the end of World War II.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

Weather

Today will be partly cloudy with little chance of rain or snow and a light breeze coming in from the west. Temperatures will be slightly warmer than yesterday, climbing to a high of 5°C or 41°F before dropping to a low of -5°C or 23°F overnight. Similar weather is expected for tomorrow, with a chance for rain or snow returning later in the week.

Elizabeth Peck