The US State Department officially summoned the Russian ambassador to the US to convey “strong objections” to the “dangerous maneuvers of Russian planes” related to the downing of a US drone earlier this week.
According to reports from the US Pentagon, a US military MQ-9 surveillance drone crashed into the Black Sea early Tuesday morning after a Russian Su-27 fighter jet struck its propeller.
US officials described the incident as an “unsafe and unprofessional” intercept in international airspace, while Russia has denied that any contact was made, saying the drone crashed after “sharp manoeuvering,” according to news reports.
After being summoned by US officials, Moscow’s ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, told reporters Russia viewed the incident “as provocation.”
Reports in Reuters say this is the first such incident since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Source: Polskie Radio, PAP
US officials announced on Monday that the Aegis Ashore missile defense base near Redzikowo in Pomerania is nearly complete and should become operational this year.
According to Vice Admiral John Hill, director of the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA), testing of the system will run until the end of summer, after which the Chief of Naval Operations, the US European Command, and NATO must all approve the base.
Hill reiterated that the current system is not designed to protect against missiles from Russia but “will be functional to lead the defense of the country and the European continent against ballistic missiles” from places like Iran.
A similar defense system in Deveselu, Romania, has been operational since 2016.
Source: PAP, defensenews.com
Poland’s government has approved a plan to help people up to age 45 buy their first homes by providing access to subsidized mortgages and special savings accounts.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki claimed the specially designed “First Home” program would ensure that “there are as many homes as possible in Poland and that people can afford them.”
Under the First Home program, the government will subsidize mortgages for 10 years, or 120 monthly payments, to keep the mortgage payer’s interest rate at 2 percent. The maximum amount of the “secure 2 percent” mortgage will be PLN 500,000 (EUR 107,000) for singles and PLN 600,000 (EUR 128,000) for married couples or parents.
Residents will also be entitled to set up a special savings account at a commercial bank to save for their first home and potentially earn financial savings bonuses from the state, officials said.
Both forms of assistance will be available for people up to 45 years of age who don’t own, and have never owned, a home. For married couples, at least one partner must meet the age criterion.
The new regulations are due to come into force on July 1, 2023.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, Polskie Radio
Polish tennis star Iga Świątek has advanced to the quarterfinals of the women’s singles competition at Indian Wells after defeating the UK’s Emma Raducanu 6-3, 6-1 early this morning.
The top-ranked Pole will face off against Sorana Mihaela Cîrstea of Romania tomorrow for the chance to advance to the semifinals.
Magda Linette and doubles partner American Caty McNally also advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating the 4th-seeded Dutch-American team of Demi Schuurs and Desirae Krawczyk 4-6, 6-1, 11-9 on Monday.
They now face the Japanese doubles team of Shuko Aoyama and American-born Ena Shibahara tonight at 22:15 CET.
World No. 11 Hubert Hurkacz was knocked out of the ATP men’s singles tournament after losing 6-4, 2-6, 4-6 to Tommy Paul of the United States in a grueling third-round match on Monday.
Source: Polskie Radio, atptour.com, wtatennis.com
Weather
Today will be partly cloudy with only a slight chance of rain showers and a gentle breeze from the west. Temperatures will be cooler than yesterday, reaching a high of 6°C or 42°F during the day with lows of -1°C or 30°F overnight. Similar weather is expected for tomorrow, with a good chance for rain showers late tonight and early tomorrow morning.
Elizabeth Peck
