Germany will supply its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, it announced on Wednesday, overcoming misgivings about sending heavy weaponry that Kyiv sees as crucial to defeat the Russian invasion but Moscow cast as a needless provocation. Poland's prime minister thanked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday for his decision to send the heavy tanks to Ukraine.

Magda Linette said missing out on the Australian Open two years ago because of a chronic knee injury made her more determined to reignite her career, as she prepares for her first Grand Slam semi-final on Thursday.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has decided to send Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine and allow other countries such as Poland to do so while the United States may supply Abrams tanks, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Poland appointed Fernando Santos as their new coach based on his experience managing a national team and his track record of success, Polish FA president Cezary Kulesza said on Tuesday. "From today I am Polish, I am one of you. One more of you, and we will do everything to provide the Polish people with a lot of joy," Santos said.

Poland on Tuesday said it had submitted a formal request asking Germany to allow the re-export of its Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine, cranking up pressure on Berlin on heavy weapons that Kyiv sees as crucial to repel the Russian invasion.

Germany has now received Poland's official request to re-export Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, the Polish defence minister said on Tuesday, as Warsaw cranks up the pressure on Berlin to give its approval.

Poland will appoint former Portugal manager Fernando Santos as their new coach, Polish FA (PZPN) president Cezary Kulesza said on Monday.

Poland's prime minister said on Monday his government would ask Germany for permission to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine - and planned to send them whether or not Berlin agreed.

The Medal of the Courier from Warsaw was awarded on Sunday for the first time in history. The first ever recipient of this accolade, a former U.S. ambassador to Poland, Daniel Fried, called it his "lifetime honour". A former Poland's ambassador to the U.S., Jerzy Koźmiński, said Fried played an exceptional role in Polish-American relations. The award was established to pay homage to Jan Nowak-Jeziorański, the famous Courier from Warsaw, and the values he had believed in.

Poland's prime minister signalled that it could send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine as part of a wider coalition even without Germany's re-export approval, raising pressure on Berlin ahead of a crunch meeting of allies on more military aid for Kyiv.

No decision on supplying Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine was reached at a meeting of allies at Germany's Ramstein Air Base, Poland's defence minister said on Friday, though he remained optimistic that efforts to provide them would end in success.

Poland's prime minister said on Thursday (January 19) he was "moderately pessimistic" about Germany giving other countries permission to re-export Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

A group of European states have pledged to deliver more arms to Ukraine in its war with Russia, saying they would send main battle tanks, heavy artillery, air defence, ammunition and infantry fighting vehicles.

Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Wednesday (January 18) he was afraid Russia was preparing a new offensive in Ukraine within months, adding that it was crucial to provide additional support to Kyiv with modern tanks and missiles.

Polish officials were among many who sent condolences to Ukraine after a helicopter had crashed in Brovary, near Kyiv, killing at least 18 people including Ukraine's Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyi. "My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the victims," said Poland's President Andrzej Duda. PM Mateusz Morawiecki, Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński, Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, National Security Bureau chief Jacek Siewiera, as well as fire service and police chiefs, all extended their sympathies to the Ukrainians.

Iga Świątek, hot favourite for the women's title, swept into the third round of the Australian Open before nine first-round matches were started as the weather continued to wreak havoc at Melbourne Park on Wednesday.

During his visit to Davos, President Andrzej Duda urged Belarus to release the imprisoned journalist Andrzej Poczobut. "His arrest was absolutely illegal and was an example of authoritarianism and terror of the Belarusian regime," he said, stressing that "we constantly demand Andrzej Poczobut's release".

Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Tuesday (January 17) he hoped some of Ukraine's allies including Germany would provide Kyiv tanks.

After nearly 80 years, a roll of film with original photographs of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising taken by Zbigniew Leszek Grzywaczewski has been discovered among the family keepsakes. They will soon be at display in POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews. Museum curators say it is a unique discovery, as these are the only known photographs of the ghetto during the uprising that were not taken by the Germans.

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Monday urged Germany to send Ukraine the weaponry it needed to take the fight to invading Russian soldiers, lacing a speech in Berlin with implicit criticisms of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government.

A Belarusian court on Monday (January 16) began hearing in a case against Belarusian-Polish journalist Andrzej Poczobut. The court session was held in the city of Grodno in western Belarus.

Iga Świątek took time to get going but found her way past Jule Niemeier, beating the German 6-4 7-5 in the opening round of the Australian Open on Monday for a slightly unconvincing start by the firm favourite for the year's first Grand Slam title.

Polish lawmakers on Friday adopted a judicial reform that could unblock billions of euros in European Union funds withheld in an ongoing row between Warsaw and Brussels over the rule of law in Poland.

"We've become part of history which most likely will determine the shape of Europe, the West, and the whole globe," Poland's President Andrzej Duda said in his address to the country's diplomatic corps. He also spoke about investments in the army, and mentioned countries which don't spend enough on defence. "In the face of a full-scale war right next to the eastern border of NATO and EU, we must demand a swift change of this shortsighted policy," he argued, adding that such cutbacks happen at the expense of "the Lithuanians, Poles, Latvians, Estonians, or Romanians".

Kyiv mayor Vitalii Klitschko greeted Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, Bratislava Mayor Matus Vallo, Prague Mayor Zdenek Hrib and Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony, before proceeding to discuss assistance to the Ukrainian capital and country amid the tenth month of Russia's full-scale invasion. On the second day of the visit, Rafał Trzaskowski travelled to Bucha, where the Russian had carried out mass killing of civilians.

Jakub Kumoch announced on Thursday (Jan. 12) he was leaving the Chancellery of the President of Poland. "Supporting the Republic of Poland in the first months of the war and taking part in shaping Polish-Ukrainian relations was an honour to me. Unfortunately, the family situation and permanent separation from my dearest have turned out an insurmountable obstacle for me and my children," he said in a statement. A few hours later, the chancellery informed that Kumoch would be replaced by Marcin Przydacz, a foreign ministry undersecretary.

"This ovation was for our whole society for showing heart, for openness," Poland's President Andrzej Duda said on Wednesday (January 11), commenting on his meeting with residents of Lviv and huge ovation he had received from them. Duda said that the Poles were helping the Ukrainians despite the crisis and many other worries. "Our Ukrainian neighbours see it and acknowledge it," he stressed. He also mentioned his visit to the Cemetery of the Defenders of Lwów, calling it symbolic. "This cemetery is a burial ground of defenders of Poland, defenders of Lviv against Soviet aggression," Polish president said.

Polish lawmakers on Wednesday voted to continue work on a judicial reform bill designed to unblock billions in European Union funds, marking a step forward for changes whose chances of becoming law are uncertain due to splits in the ruling camp.

Japanese passport is the strongest travel document in the world, according to the latest ranking released by Henley & Partners. Japanese citizens are now able to visit an astonishing 193 destinations out of 227 around the world visa-free. Polish passport, along with the Hungarian, has been ranked 9th.