Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced yesterday that humanitarian visas would be issued for 45 Afghan citizens who cooperated with Poland and the EU delegation in Kabul.
The move comes in response to appeals by former defense and foreign policy ministers Bogdan Klich and Radosław Sikorski, as well as the founder of Polska Akcja Humanitarna, current Civic Platform MEP Janina Ochojska. Reports coming in on Sunday claimed that Afghanistan’s Taliban insurgents had entered Kabul and that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had left the country.
Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister Paweł Jabłoński assured the public yesterday that his ministry was „in contact” with Polish citizens in Afghanistan and that actions were being taken „together with our NATO and EU partners” to help persons who had cooperated with the Polish Military Contingent or the EU delegation.
Soldiers from the last Polish Military Contingent in Afghanistan serving within the Resolute Support mission returned home on June 30. Polish troops had been serving alongside US and NATO forces in Afghanistan for 20 years.
Source: Radio Poland
Numerous Polish officials were in Warsaw yesterday to mark Armed Forces Day in Poland, an annual celebration commemorating the victory of Polish forces over Russian Bolsheviks in the 1920 Battle of Warsaw.
While the annual victory parade had to be canceled due to ongoing pandemic concerns, the day was marked with speeches by President Andrzej Duda, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, and Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak, culminating in a flyover by the Polish Air Force.
In his speech, Błaszczak praised the Polish soldiers „who in 1920 resisted the onslaught of Bolshevik Russia, who saved Poland’s independence and who also saved Europe’s freedom” He went on to encourage others to thank the soldiers of the Polish Army for their daily service.
The Battle of Warsaw, also referred to as the „Miracle on the Wisła,” was instrumental in preserving Poland’s newly-regained independence after the end of World War I and preventing the spread of communism into western Europe. The series of battles between Polish and Soviet forces lasted from August 12-25 and claimed the lives of some 4,500 Poles and 10,000 Russians.
Source: Radio Poland
After wearing the yellow jersey most of the race, 23-year-old Portuguese cyclist João Almeida was first across the finish line in Kraków yesterday to win this year’s Tour de Pologne, Poland’s largest cycling race.
In a repeat of the previous day’s results, Matej Mohorič of Slovenia came in second, with 2018 Tour de Pologne winner Michał Kwiatkowski of Poland rounding out the podium in third. Fellow Pole Łukasz Owsian also finished first in the Mountains classification, ahead of Emīls Liepiņš of Latvia.
More than 150 riders from 22 teams and multiple countries took part in the 1,200-kilometer, seven-stage race, which began last Monday in Lublin and ended Sunday afternoon in Kraków.
Source: Radio Poland, www.cyclingnews.com
Football fans are mourning the death of German scoring legend Gerd Müller, who passed away yesterday at the age of 75.
The legendary Bayern Munich player was widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the world. His 1971/72 Bundesliga record for the most goals (40) scored in a single season stood for 49 years before being broken earlier this year by Robert Lewandowski. In an interview with BILD Sport, Lewandowski praised the legendary striker, calling him a „Master” who would „always be an extraordinary inspiration to me.”
Müller remains the most successful player in Bundesliga history, with a record 365 goals in 453 matches and seven seasons as the league’s top scorer.
Source: PAP, @BILD_Sport
Weather
Today will be hot and humid, with winds coming in from the southwest and a good chance of thunderstorms in the late afternoon. Temperatures will peak around a high of 28°C, or 82°F, cooling off overnight to a low of 13°C or 56°F. There will be a chance of rain again overnight and tomorrow afternoon, with scattered showers set to continue throughout the week.
