Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is set to attend the first-ever meeting of the European Political Community in Prague today, followed by an informal summit of the European Council on Friday.
The gathering of the European Political Community and the European Council are expected to focus on security issues amid Russia’s war in Ukraine as well as energy matters, climate change concerns, and economic policies, according to officials.
Established earlier this year, the European Political Community is a platform for political dialogue and cooperation between the EU and its neighbors, including the UK, Serbia, Switzerland, and Norway, as well as Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. Representatives from Ukraine and Georgia will also attend today’s meeting.
According to government spokesman Piotr Müller, Polish and other EU officials “hope that the Prague summit will contribute to building European unity in the face of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and help convince all partners to bring their policy towards Russia closer to the European Union’s position, including by adopting sanctions.”
Source: Radio Poland, consilium.europa.eu
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree attempting to pass the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to Russian ownership as part of efforts to “stabilize” and legitimize Russia’s presence in Ukraine.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is still being operated by Ukrainian staff, even though Russian troops have occupied it for several months. Putin’s decree, signed alongside the formal annexation paperwork for four occupied regions of Ukraine, is reportedly an attempt to bring the plant entirely under Russian control.
As in many occupied areas of Ukraine, however, Russian forces have been retreating in the region around the plant. The Ukrainian nuclear agency Energoatom subsequently called the decree “void, absurd, and inadequate.”
The move comes as Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, visits Ukraine and Russia in an attempt to address safety concerns about the plant. In comments to Reuters earlier this week, Grossi called the situation of external power to the plant “extremely precarious.”
Source: Radio Poland, Reuters
In ceremonies in Gdańsk yesterday, local and regional officials commemorated the 83rd anniversary of the execution of the defenders of the Polish Post Office in Gdańsk.
The attack on the Polish Post Office began simultaneously with the attack on Westerplatte in the early hours of September 1, 1939. Some 57 postal workers and civilians defended the building for over 14 hours but were finally forced to surrender in the face of the enormous losses and overwhelming force.
The 38 surviving defenders were tried by a Military Court in two show trials and later executed by firing squad on October 5, 1939, for their “partisan activities.”
Their bodies were unaccounted for until a mass grave was discovered during construction in 1991; the remains were later reinterred and memorialized in the Cemetery of the Victims of Hitlerism in Gdańsk Zaspa.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
The Polish women’s volleyball team defeated the United States last night in Phase 2 of the FIVB Women’s World Volleyball Championships in Łódź.
Despite a disappointing loss to Serbia on Tuesday, the Polish team rallied last night to defeat the reigning Olympic champions the United States in three straight sets. The somewhat surprising win pushes Poland into 4th place in Pool F, with 4 wins and 3 losses.
Serbia remains in the top position in the group with 7 wins in the tournament, followed by Turkey with 6 and the United States with 5.
The Poles will next face Canada on Friday at 20:30.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, en.volleyballworld.com
As part of the “Cultural Weekend with Radio Gdańsk” campaign, Radio Gdańsk will be giving away tickets to a performance inspired by the work of Polish poet Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński.
Listeners can win a free pair of tickets by listening to Radio Gdańsk from 7:00-8:00 each morning and answering the questions posed by the presenter. Answers should be sent via SMS to 603 06 06 06 for a chance to win.
The performance will be held in the Janusz Hajdun concert studio at Radio Gdańsk on Sunday, October 16, at 18:00.
More information on the contest and the concert is available HERE.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Weather
Today will be cool and cloudy in the morning but clearing off into the afternoon, with a strong breeze coming in from the west. Temperatures will peak around a high of 17°C, or 62°F, dropping to a low of 8°C or 46°F overnight. Warm, sunny weather is expected for tomorrow, with a chance for some rain returning next week.
Elizabeth Peck/jk
