Kaczyński orders the border with the Czech Republic and Slovakia to be strengthened

Deputy Prime Minister and president of the governing Law and Justice party announced yesterday at a provincial party conference in Pruszków that the border with Slovakia and the Czech Republic be subjected to special controls and be strengthened. This was off the back of a similar announcement on Monday by PM Morawiecki regarding Slovakia in particular.

He stated, that as at the moment, refugees are moving through the Balkan countries, through Hungary, Slovakia, some through the Czech Republic and into Germany; others take a shorter, more direct route through Poland, because here more efficient latitudinal highways can be used and it is easier then to reach Germany.

Kaczyński assured the audience that Poland would not be removed from the Schengen area. He did however claim that it could happen if Poland chose to remove the border wall and let immigrants in freely. He said “Today, we are defending Polish borders, we are defending Europe.”

(Radio Gdańsk)

Celebration of the 84th anniversary of the founding of the Polish Underground State and the Gray Ranks in Słupsk

Every year, activists of the Association of Home Army Soldiers, scouts, local government officials and residents visit the monument commemorating the secret civilian and military state structures in Poland whilst occupied by the Soviets and Nazis. 84 years ago, the Polish Underground State and the Gray Ranks were created. On Wednesday in Słupsk, tribute was paid to all those who devoted themselves to fighting for a free Poland.

The Polish Underground State was established in response to the aggression of Nazi Germany on September 1, 1939, constituting itself in Warsaw on the night of September 26-27, 1939. It had secret civilian and military structures, soon subordinated to the Government of the Republic of Poland established in exile.

One of the manifestations of the Polish Underground State, operating under the conditions of German and Soviet occupation, was the creation of the Service for Poland’s Victory (SZP), which two months later was transformed into the Union of Armed Struggle, and then – in February 1942 – into the Home Army (AK).

The Home Army was the largest underground organization of this type in the area of Europe occupied by totalitarian regimes. At the end of 1942, the Home Army numbered approximately 200,000 members.

(Radio Gdańsk)

Poland to launch bid for 2036 summer Olympic Games

President Duda told the European Sports and Tourism Forum in Zakopane this week that Poland would launch a bid to organise the 2036 summer Olympic Games.

The president noted that Poland had already co-hosted the 2012 football European Championships (with Ukraine) and hosted the 2023 European Games.

Poland has previously bid to organise the 2006 winter Olympic Games in the southern cities of Kraków and Zakopanem, with the International Olympic Committee picking Italy’s Turin. So far, there have been three official bids to host the 2036 summer Olympic Games, by Indonesia’s Nusantara, a joint bid by Mexico’s four cities of Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey and Tijuana, and by Turkey’s Istanbul.

Meanwhile, the next summer Olympics will be held next year in Paris, followed by Los Angeles (2028) and Brisbane, Australia (2032).

(Polskie Radio)

The weather

Today’s weather will be sunny and very warm for the time of year. A light wind will come in from the south. As we move into the evening the temperature will drop to 16°C or 61°F with sunset due at 6:30pm. Daytime temperatures will see a high of 27°C or 81°F, with expected lows of 13°C or 55°F overnight. Tomorrow is expected to be warm but we will experience periodic rain showers.