Following tradition, colourful processions were held the length and the breadth of the country on Thursday, to celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, one of the most important dates in the Catholic Church. While Poland has now lifted many of its COVID-19 curbs, a number of Catholic dioceses scaled down the day’s celebrations compared with the pre-pandemic years. Due to current containment measures main processions in some major cities have been cancelled including in Warsaw and Wrocław. The Catholic faithful in Poland traditionally attend Mass and then embark on a procession of the Blessed Sacrament carried aloft throughout the procession, while the faithful sing. The feast has been celebrated in Poland since 1320, with the first mention of processions taking place around the 15th century.

Source – Polskie Radio

Poland’s Świątek into 3rd round of French Open

Poland’s first racket Iga Świątek has advanced to the third round of the women’s singles competition at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris. The ninth seed Pole eased past Swede Rebecca Peterson 6:1, 6:1 in an hour of tennis in the second-round encounter on Thursday. In the 3rd round of the French Open she will face Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit who is seeded 30th. Defending her title in Paris, Świątek, who turned 20 on Monday, seeks to become the first woman to win consecutive Roland Garros titles since Justine Henin won her third in a row in 2007. 

Source – Polskie Radio

Two injured by avalanche in Poland’s Tatra mountains

Two men suffered head and leg injuries after they were swept away by an avalanche in Poland’s southern Tatra mountains on Wednesday, rescuers said. The men were not engulfed by snow in the incident on the Kozi Wierch peak, close to the border with Slovakia. An avalanche alert is in force in the higher regions of the Tatra mountains, parts of which are still covered in snow.

Source – Polskie Radio

Gdańsk launches tender for new electric minibuses

And finally, the Gdańsk bust and tram authority has announced a tender for the supply of three new electric powered buses to serve the Old Town and Main Town near the central train station. The buses will be equipped with so-called „Blind Spot Assistant” which helps drivers avoid pedestrians or cyclists who may be in the blind spot of the vehicle. The plan is part of a wider initiative to user greener technology where possible. The city plans to procure at least 45 more green buses in the autumn.

Source – Radio Gdańsk

Weather

Today will be a sunny day with scattered clouds in a gentle breeze and temperatures of 21 degrees centigrade (70 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day, dropping to 12 degrees overnight. Saturday will remain sunny with a gentle breeze and temperatures will reach 20 degrees during the day and 9 degrees overnight.

RGEN