Iowa caucus results delayed

Results from the Iowa caucus have been severely delayed after officials reported finding „inconsistencies”, meaning that so far there is no winner in the first major contest of the US Presidential Election.

In the early hours of this morning, Democratic Party officials from the US state of Iowa said results of the vote would be delayed for quality control. As of this morning, results were yet to be released.

But that didn’t stop some candidates seeming to call victory with the Bernie Sanders campaign releasing internal figures showing the progressive senator in the lead. Another candidate, Pete Buttigieg, seemed to claim victory saying „By all indications, we are going on to New Hampshire victorious” despite no votes yet being reported.

The Iowa caucus is the first of the primaries, the first half of the US Presidential Election. Voters from each party choose who their candidate will be for the main election in November. This year, the Democratic party is choosing its candidate to stand against President Donald Trump.

Duda hails „breakthrough” in Franco-Polish relations

The Polish President, Andrzej Duda, has hailed what he described as „a breakthrough” in relations between Poland and France after two years of tensions between the two countries.

This week, French President, Emmanuel Macron, is visiting Warsaw and Krakow on an official visit to Poland, his first since taking office in 2017.

Yesterday, President Macron held talks with Polish leaders, including the President and the Prime Minister.

In a statement to media, Mr Macron described the talks as a turning point. He remarked that Poland and France were closer than is often thought but added that the two countries could work more closely on issues of energy and climate change, cyber security, industrial cooperation, and defence.

President Duda similarly said the meeting was a breakthrough in relations after recent tensions over energy policy and handling of the refugee crisis.

The two leaders also discussed the future of the European Union. Both men stressed the importance of France and Poland in the Union following the departure of the UK last week.

There were also calls for a meeting of the so-called Weimar Triangle, a grouping of France, Germany, and Poland. Without the UK, the three counties will each become significantly more powerful within the Union.

Today, President Macron is in Krakow where he will wrap up his visit with a lecture to students at the Jagiellonian University.

New incinerator to be built in Gdansk

The European Commission has approved €64 million in funding for a new waste incineration plant in Gdansk.

The funds, which cover 53% of costs, were offially awarded yesterday morning in a ceremony at Gdańsk City Hall.

The Waste Thermal Processing Plant would generate both electricity and heat for Gdańsk and surrounding towns by burning waste, at the same time helping to reduce landfill waste.

According to the European Commission, the plant would help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the demand for energy produced using coal.

However, incineration plants can be controversial, with some arguing the plants can release harmful gases to the atmosphere and that funding should be directed to recycling and renewable energy.

The Plant is expected to be build in the Szadółki area in Southern Gdańsk and is scheduled to open in 2023.

Anglo-Polish couple tie the knot on Brexit day

January 31st marked what many have described as the UK’s divorce from the European Union, but for one Gdańsk couple the day was quite the opposite.

On the eve of Brexit last Friday, Katarzyna Krzemińska and Ian Davidson tied the knot in a civil wedding ceremony in Gdańsk New City Hall just hours before Brexit.

Katarzyna, originally from Warsaw, and Ian, a Welshman by birth, told Gdańsk.pl how they met in the Polish capital 13 years ago when Ian was working as an English teacher.

The couple and later their daughter eventually settled in Gdańsk, a place Katarzyna had often come on vacation and of which she says she is especially fond.

RG/Thomas Holdstock/ak