Defense ministers from nine countries on the eastern edge of NATO met in Warsaw yesterday to discuss regional security and support amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak told reporters that the Bucharest Nine (B9) talks focused on “cooperation between NATO’s eastern-flank allies, the upcoming NATO summit in Lithuania, and building interoperability” between various national forces.
After the summit, Błaszczak and others confirmed that the group “stand(s) united” in efforts to bolster the transatlantic alliance’s eastern flank and continue providing support and security guarantees to Kyiv amid Russia’s continuing aggression in Ukraine.
Today marks day 428 of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Source: Polskie Radio
US tech giant Microsoft recently announced the launch of a 1 billion USD project for a complex of data centers near Warsaw in support of Poland’s digital transformation.
Rolf Haupter, President for Microsoft Europe, Middle East, and Africa, unveiled the project during the European Economic Congress in Katowice.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who was also in attendance at the conference, welcomed the news, telling reporters that “Microsoft’s investment in Poland will accelerate our country’s transformation into a technology hub for the Central and Eastern European region.”
Morawiecki noted that the war in Ukraine had made Poland aware of the importance of cyber security and protection against the deluge of fake news and propaganda tricks used by Russia.
“In times of economic and geopolitical uncertainty,” Morawiecki emphasized, “it is very important to maintain the highest standards of data storage security. Building resilience in this regard is crucial for the Polish economy and society.”
US Ambassador Mark Brzezinski, who spoke to conference attendees via video message, said the billion-dollar Microsoft cloud center would provide Poland with essential data-storage security and demonstrate the depth of Polish-American relations.
Minister of Digitization Janusz Cieszyński also announced the launch of a 700 million EUR loan program for all companies interested in cloud transformation in Poland, saying the Polish government planned to offer “one of the cheapest instruments on the market for those who want to transform their companies.”
Source: Radio Gdańsk, Polskie Radio
Two passengers on a flight to Riga, Latvia, were denied boarding at the Gdańsk airport yesterday after causing a disturbance at the ticket counter.
The two passengers – a 20-year-old man from Ireland and a 22-year-old man from Latvia – were detained by border guards after reportedly starting a fight at the ticket counters in the terminal of the Gdańsk airport. According to airport employees, the two men were vulgar and aggressive and interfered with the normal course of business.
Breathalyzer tests administered by border guards showed both men to have a high level of alcohol in their system. The men spent the night in a detention center and were later fined 1,000 PLN each for disturbing the peace.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
A pair of local falcons, Bryza and Bosman, have hatched a ninth clutch of chicks in their unusual nest atop the chimney of the PGE Energia Ciepła CHP plant in Gdynia.
Gdynia officials say Bryza, or “Breeze” in English, laid eggs in the first half of March, and three out of the four eggs have hatched thus far. Young falcons typically spend 5-6 weeks in the nest, and local ornithologists plan to examine and tag the young birds sometime in May.
It is relatively uncommon for peregrine falcons to nest in Pomerania, as the region lacks the kind of rock features suitable for making nests. Bryza reportedly migrated to Pomerania from Neustrelitz in Germany a decade ago, followed shortly after by Bosman from Wrocław.
The annual spring hatching of the falcon chicks has become a local tradition, according to the Gdynia magistrate. The birds’ progress can be monitored on the https://peregrinus.pl/pl/gdynia website thanks to special cameras run by the Association for Wild Animals “Sokół.”
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Weather
Today will be a mix of sun and clouds with only a slight chance of rain showers early in the day and a light breeze coming in from the west. Temperatures will be similar to yesterday, with a daytime high of 11°C or 51°F dropping to a low of 3°C or 38°F overnight. Sunnier weather is expected tomorrow, with a chance for some rain over the weekend.
Elizabeth Peck
