Early bird: Poland will seek membership in the G20 group bringing together leading world economies. The Ukrainian ambassador in the Czech Republic criticized Okamura's words against Ukraine.
According to the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, his country can boast the second lowest unemployment and the highest economic growth in Europe. Among other things, he mentioned Polish solidarity with Ukrainian refugees who sought safety in Poland from Russian aggression. Ukrainian ambassador to the Czech Republic, Vasyl Zvarych, objected to the words of Tomio Okamura from SPD against Ukraine and the leadership of the Ukrainian state. The Czech politician has once again defined himself against providing arms to this country, which has been resisting Russian occupation for almost 4 years.
Tusk in his speech called on Europe to be like Poland
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk today in his New Year's video message called on Europe and Europeans to be like Poland, which he described as full of life, courageous and safe. In the speech, which he published in English on the X network, he listed these reasons - for example, securing the eastern border and what he called a responsible and strict asylum policy. He also talked about building the "largest modern army in the European Union, so that Poland and Europe can be safe from the east", or about the policy of fighting crime, reported Ceskenoviny.cz. President Karol Nawrocki in his first New Year's message in the role of Polish head of state said that Poland should aim to join the G20 group bringing together the leading world economies in the coming years.
Ambassador: Okamura's words against Ukraine are disgraceful and unacceptable
The words of the Speaker of the House of Deputies, Tomio Okamura (SPD), against Ukraine and the leadership of the Ukrainian state are disgraceful and absolutely unacceptable. Vasyl Zvarych, the Ukrainian ambassador to the Czech Republic, stated this on Facebook last night in response to Okamura's New Year's speech. Ukraine considers Okamura's offensive and hateful expressions as his personal stance, evidently shaped under the influence of Russian propaganda. The Czech politician once again opposed the provision of arms to Ukraine on social networks. The country has been defending itself against extensive Russian aggression for almost four years now, and air strikes are also part of the battles from both sides, also mentioned in this context by Ceskenoviny.cz.
Iran appoints new central bank governor after mass protests
The cabinet of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has appointed former Minister of Economy Abdolnasser Hemmati as the new governor of the country's central bank. Hemmati replaces Mohammad Reza Farzin, who resigned after the start of the biggest protests in the country in the last three years. Many traders closed their businesses on Sunday and protested on the streets of Tehran and other cities. The reason was the fall in value of the Iranian rial to a record low level. Inflation in the country is as high as around 40 percent. The US dollar was traded for 1.38 million rials on Wednesday. When Farzin took office in 2022, the dollar was still being traded for 430,000 rials, noted CNN.
Venus Williams will be the oldest tennis player at the Australian Open
The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams has received a wild card for the Australian Open, which begins on January 18 in Melbourne. The 45-year-old Williams will return to Melbourne Park 28 years after her first appearance. In 1998, she defeated her younger sister Serena in the second round and lost to her fellow American Lindsay Davenport in the quarterfinals. Williams will become the oldest woman to participate in the Australian Open main draw. Thus, she will break the record, so far held by the Japanese Kimiko Date. She was 44 years old when she lost in the first round of the tournament at Melbourne Park in 2015, reminded the agency AP.
Sources: Ceskenoviny.cz, CNN, AP
