The presidents of Poland and Austria met in Warsaw yesterday to discuss bilateral ties, economic development, EU relations, and the migrant crisis on Poland’s border with Belarus. Speaking at a joint news conference after the talks, Poland’s Andrzej Duda expressed hopes that economic cooperation between the two countries would bounce back and develop further at a fast pace. In addition, Duda and Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen discussed energy security and the potential for additional economic collaboration as part of the Polish-led Three Seas Initiative.

While in Warsaw, the Austrian president was also scheduled to meet with Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and the Speakers of both chambers of the Polish parliament and attend the 590 Congress conference wrapping up today.

Source: Radio Poland, prezydent.pl

A top Catholic Church official recently issued an official appeal to Poles to assist asylum seekers from war-torn countries.

In an official statement shared with Polska Agencja Prasowa (PAP) on Monday, Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki declared that “sensitivity to the fate of those who arrive in our country, as well as medical and humanitarian assistance for migrants, should be a priority for public as well as non-governmental institutions, including Churches and religious communities.”

Gądecki, who leads the Polish Episcopal Conference (KEP), the central authority of the Catholic Church in Poland, called for the creation of humanitarian corridors and a “fully controlled” relocation process whereby migrants could freely choose their destination instead of “chaotic migration engineered by human-trafficking gangs.”

He added that authorities were obliged to expose “potential threats” posed by some of those attempting to cross the border but warned against “making harmful generalizations, such as that every immigrant is a potential terrorist.”

Thanking all those who provided help in recent weeks to Afghan people after the Taliban’s takeover of their country, Gądecki urged “all the good people” to “pray for the arriving migrants and refugees” and “assist them,” as fellow human beings, “in the spirit of Christian brotherhood.”

Source: Radio Poland, www.catholicnewsagency.com

Rescuers have retrieved the bodies of three missing divers trapped in a submerged mine near the town of Sobótka, a spokesman for the State Fire Service said on Tuesday.

The three men went missing while taking part in an advanced diving course in the submerged Maria Concordia magnesite mine about 30 km outside of Wrocław.

Two of the divers did not reappear on the surface after entering the water on Sunday afternoon. A third diver went back to try and provide the other two with oxygen bottles, but he too later disappeared and failed to resurface.

Experienced rescuers from various areas of the country took part in the search for the missing divers, a rescue mission that quickly turned into a recovery effort in the dark, murky waters of the Maria Concordia.

Source: Radio Poland, PAP

An entrepreneur from eastern Poland was recently shocked to discover a small oil painting he had acquired is likely a genuine portrait of the Romantic composer Fryderyk Chopin.

According to reports in onet.pl, the painting was bought in 1993 at an antiques market near Lublin and appears to have been done from life in the 1840s, making it a rare find.

After hearing the news from expert authenticator Prof. Dariusz Markowski, the entrepreneur, identified only as Maciej, was so shaken that he crashed his car into a ditch. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

According to Poland’s National Chopin Institute, the Chopin brand is worth over PLN 3 billion (EUR 650 million). While the exact value of the portrait is unknown, experts think its rarity suggests “the material value could be high.”

The entrepreneur has reportedly contacted several Polish museums about the find and reportedly plans “to show it to the world soon.”

Source: Radio Poland

Weather

Today will be cloudy and cool, with a good chance of rain throughout the afternoon and a strong breeze coming in from the south. Temperatures will peak around a high of 16°C, or 61°F, cooling off overnight to a low of 10°C or 50°F. The sunshine is expected to return tomorrow, with clear skies, pleasant breezes, and cooler autumn weather forecast for the weekend.

RGen/EPeck