NATO will next week kick off its biggest exercise since the Cold War for 90,000 troops, who will train quick-reaction deployment to Poland, among other measures.

The exercise named „Steadfast Defender 2024” will begin next week and run until May, featuring soldiers „from all 31 Allies” and Sweden. NATO troops will train ways to respond to a „simulated emerging conflict scenario with a near-peer adversary”, the alliance said. The NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, speaking at a press conference on Thursday, did not mention any country by name, but it is clear the scenario refers to Russia. During the drills, NATO „will demonstrate its ability to reinforce the Euro-Atlantic area via trans-Atlantic movement of forces from North America,” the commander told reporters. One of the key aspects of Exercise Steadfast Defender 2024 will be the „deployment of NATO’s quick reaction force to Poland,” on the alliance’s eastern flank.

Source – Polskie Radio

The Polish government has made available PLN 332 million (EUR 75.7 million) from the European Union post-pandemic recovery funds for school computers, new nursery places and small and midsize agri-businesses.

The ministry for EU funds and regional policy in Warsaw announced the move on Thursday. So far, Poland has received the first tranche of the EU post-pandemic recovery funds, worth EUR 5 billion, the government in Warsaw said on December 28. Last week, the ministers said the EU would unblock all of the recovery funds earmarked for Poland by April. Poland is entitled to EUR 59.8 billion from the EU’s post-pandemic recovery fund, including EUR 34.5 billion in loans and EUR 25.3 billion in grants, according to officials.

Source – Polskie Radio

Poland’s ski resort of Zakopane is set to host a range of events this weekend to mark the 2024 World Snow Day.

World Snow Day is held annually since 2012 to create opportunities for children and youth around the globe to try snow sports and spend their leisure time outdoors. Zakopane, dubbed „the winter capital of Poland,” is one of the host cities. Officials have prepared a „two-day celebration of children, sports and snow” to mark the 2024 World Snow Day, which takes place this coming weekend. In 2017, Zakopane was named „the world’s best organiser” of World Snow Day.

Source – Polskie Radio

And finally, Gdańsk airport had a record year in 2023, according to the president of the organization.

Almost 6 million people used the airport last year, which is better than the previous record year in 2019, just before the Covid pandemic hit. Thanks to the strong results, Gdańsk airport ranks third in Poland for passenger numbers, with Warsaw Chopin airport coming in first place and Kraków airport coming second. This year, the airport will celebrate 50 years of operations. 2023 also saw Ryanair celebrate a milestone 14 million total passengers flying with the carrier via Gdańsk, while Wizz Air celebrated 25 million total passenger flights.

Source – Radio Gdańsk

Weather

Today will be a windy day with sleet showers and temperatures of 3 degree centigrade (37 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day and -3 degrees overnight. Winds will die off overnight leaving a cloudy day with sunny spells and temperatures of 1 degree during the day and -1 degree overnight.

Martin Karen/kł