Poland has a new political party this week, as the 'Republicans’ step onto the political stage.

The new party was launched at an event in Warsaw on Sunday. Founded my right-wing Polish MEP Adam Bielan with the merger of two smaller parties: the 'Republican Association’ and 'Agreement’, a member of the ruling United Right coalition.

The new party is expected to take a strongly right-wing conservative stance, with a focus on individualism and family values.

President Andrzej Duda has been welcoming his Moldovan counterpart at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu arrived in the capital on Monday for her first official visit to Poland after taking office in December last year.

According to official statements, after a formal welcome with ceremonial honours, the two presidents met for bilateral talks on issues including European integration and regional security.

During her visit, President Sandu also met with the leaders of both the Polish Senate and Sejm, the lower house of Parliament. The meeting comes ahead of parliamentary elections in Moldova next month.

More than 2000 British nationals and their family members have applied for post-Brexit residency documents, that’s according to official figures.

Around 2100 applications have so far been submitted for the documents, which prove an individual’s right to live and work in Poland after Brexit.

Applications remain open until December 31st and can be accessed through the Office for Foreigners.

Fully vaccinated people in Poland can now access the EU’s Digital Covid Certificate with an app.

The DCC is now available via the government’s mObywatel app or the Ministry of Health’s IKP app.

Fully vaccinated people, as well as those with a negative Covid-19 test and those who have recently recovered from the disease can access the certificate. From July 1st, holders of the DCC will be able to move relatively unrestricted around Europe.

The certificate is also available as a printable PDF or in paper format.

Government ministers in the UK have said plans for a round of autumn top-up jabs of the coronavirus vaccine will be announced in the coming weeks.

Speaking on BBC television yesterday, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said plans for booster vaccines would be announced soon. Mr Hancock said the government was waiting for the results of trials into the effectiveness of mixing different vaccines.

An extra dose of vaccine has been put forward as a way of boosting protection against the virus, especially as new variants emerge and uncertainty over how long immunity lasts after vaccination.

Sports

Poland’s tennis heroine Iga Świątek is set to face Britain’s Heather Watson today, in the Pole’s first match at the Eastbourne International tournament.

Świątek is returning to the court after finishing just short in the French Open, making it to the Final of the doubles competition and the quarter finals of the singles.

The match is set to get started at around 2:05 pm this afternoon.

But Świątek isn’t the only Pole preparing for a showdown – Poland’s football players are heading to St Petersburg soon, ahead of their crucial Euros match against Sweden tomorrow.

Only a win will get Poland into the knockout stage after a sluggish start to the tournament, losing to Slovakia and scraping a draw against Spain.

Tomorrow’s match is set for 6 pm.

Weather

At last, some relief may be on the way with showers and slightly cooler air on the way this afternoon. Temperatures this afternoon expected to stay comfortably in the 20s Celsius, that’s the 70s Fahrenheit.

A good chance for some storms earlier this afternoon with more rain expected later in the day.

A wet start expected tomorrow with temperatures feeling much cooler than today.

Thomas Holdstock