In a solemn ceremony yesterday, cardiologist Dr. Grażyna Świątecka was awarded the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest civilian and military honor. A longtime resident of Gdańsk and professor of medicine at the Medical University of Gdańsk, Dr. Świątecka was recognized by President Andrzej Duda “for achievements in the field of medicine, especially cardiology, and for social activities, including the creation and long-term management of the ‘Anonymous Friend’ Gdańsk Telephone Helpline.” As President Duda noted in his remarks yesterday, the helpline was the first of its kind in Poland, and contributed to saving the lives of many people and their families.

Dr. Świątecka received the honor along with Professor Andrzej Nowak, one of the most influential Polish historians and publicists in modern Poland. A native of Kraków, Professor Nowak was recognized for “his outstanding achievements in disseminating historical knowledge and promoting patriotic values” and for “popularizing Polish scientific thought throughout the world.”

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki officially announced the composition of his new Council of Ministers last Friday, with some surprising new additions and adjustments in the mix.

Notable among the changes is the dissolution of the Ministry of Energy and the transfer of energy and mining concerns to a new treasury ministry. The Ministry of Ownership Supervision, headed by current Deputy Prime Minister Jacek Sasin, will oversee billions of Euros in state assets with the goal of more effectively managing state reserves.

As a sign of the increasing importance of climate change in national policy discussions, Morawiecki also announced the creation of a new Ministry of Climate, which will be headed by current UN Convention on Climate Change (COP 24) president Michał Kurtyka.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and its lead representative, Jacek Czaputowicz, have not changed, but matters pertaining to EU policy are being transferred to the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. The new division will be led by Konrad Szymański, the current deputy head of the MFA responsible for European affairs.

Source: PAP, Reuters

The Polish government recently issued an official complaint regarding historical inaccuracies in the Netflix series “Ivan the Terrible of Treblinka.”

The documentary mini-series, known as “The Devil Next Door” in the US, tells the story of Ivan Demianiuk, a retired US factory worker and former guard at the Treblinka concentration camp during World War II. In the first episode of the series, a map displaying the location of several Nazi death camps – including Auschwitz, Sobibór, Treblinka and Płaszów – shows them within the borders of modern-day Poland.

Government officials argue that such a depiction misleadingly implies that Poland, which was occupied by Nazi Germany at the time, had jurisdiction over the camps. Such an assertion is in direct violation of Poland’s Act on the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), which expressly forbids any suggestion that the Polish state was complicit in Nazi German war crimes.

A Netflix spokesman responded that the company was “aware of the concern about the series” and was “urgently looking into the matter.” In a letter to Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki requested that the map be modified or that Netflix inform viewers about the discrepancy.

“For the creators [of this series] these are perhaps insignificant mistakes, but they are very harmful to Poland…” explained Morawiecki. “I hope that my arguments will meet with understanding from the people at Netflix.”

Source: PAP, Reuters

The Polish city of Poznań has been chosen by top travel bloggers as one of the 30 Best Emerging Travel Destinations for 2020.

In justifying their decision, a jury of some 30 influential travel bloggers expressed their surprise “that such a beautiful city is not yet overrun by tourists,” going on to praise the city as “one of the last truly hidden gems of Europe” with its “colorful architecture” and “charming streets.”

“Wandering along the Royal-Imperial Route from the Old Town to an even older part known as Ostrów Tumski, you will quickly understand why, in our opinion, Poznań will be for 2020 what Krakow was for 2010,” wrote the panel.

The annual competition is hosted by the website TravelLemming.com, which promotes new travel destinations as a solution to the problems of excessive tourism.

Source: PAP

Weather: Today will be mostly cloudy and overcast with light rain showers in the early evening and again overnight. Temperatures will remain on the cool side with a high of only 7 degrees Celsius or 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Light rain and similar temperatures will continue throughout the week with sunshine and warmer weather arriving on Friday.

EP/RGEN