Preparations for the “great counteroffensive”, Trump-Putin conversation, earthquake in Cuba

Russia has concentrated 50,000 soldiers in the Kursk Oblast, who are additionally supported by North Korean troops. They are preparing to launch a major counteroffensive aimed at retaking the Russian areas occupied by Ukrainians – writes the American daily “The New York Times”.

Read more: Russia has gathered 50,000 soldiers. “NYT”: they are preparing a great counteroffensive

According to US intelligence assessments, Russia is making a significant buildup of forces without withdrawing troops from the east Ukrainewhich is her priority. This allows the Russian army to conduct an offensive on many fronts at the same time.

President-elect of the United States Donald Trump talked to Vladimir Putin – reported the Washington Post. According to a person privy to the conversation cited by the daily, Trump was to “advise the Russian president not to escalate the war in Ukraine and remind him of Washington's significant military presence in Europe.”

The daily's source added that the leaders talked about achieving peace in Europe, and Trump expressed interest in another conversation about an early end war in Ukraine.

In Poznań, a fire broke out in a semi-trailer of a truck transported by a freight train. The driver stopped the train for safety reasons, which also led to the stopping of a nearby passenger train carrying Legia Warszawa fans.

At some point, the fire also spread to the carriage of the passenger train, but none of the passengers were hurt. According to the police, the fire may have been caused by thrown flares. Over 800 people were identified.

Read also: Fire in two trains, fans evacuated. Police: we assume that the reason was flares

The Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy (MRPiPS) and the National Labor Inspectorate (PIP) want inspectors to be able to order the employer to convert a B2B contract, contract for specific work or mandate contract into an employment contract if the change meets certain conditions.

Dariusz Trzcionka, chairman of the Agreement of Trade Unions “Kadra”, member of the Labor Protection Council, said in an interview with the business editorial office of tvn24.pl that he would be cautious in granting this type of rights to PIP.

– The labor inspector is the authority. You cannot impose on him the way he conducts control or force him to change his decisions. It is an authority like a prosecutor. The question is whether a tool can be given to one person who, by his own decision, is able to change an employment contract, a contract for specific work or a mandate contract. This may be perceived differently, although it would be one of the tools that would certainly force employers to think more deeply about their employment proposition for employees, he said.

Read also: Junk contracts thrown into the trash? “It may be perceived differently”

A strong earthquake occurred on Sunday in the eastern part, which has been devastated by a powerful hurricane in recent weeks Cuba. Cleaning and restoration of electricity is also underway in the west of the island, which was hit by another tropical cyclone a few days ago. Anti-government protests were held in two provinces by people desperate for electricity, water and food.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 occurred on Sunday in Granma province on Cuba's southeastern coast. The epicenter was about 40 kilometers south of the town of Bartolome Maso.

Buildings shook, including in Santiago de Cuba, the second largest city in this Caribbean country. As Reuters reports, residents of the area interviewed say they have never experienced such a strong earthquake before. There is no information about major damage or casualties.