A Canadian pianist won the 18th International Chopin Piano Competition held in Warsaw. The jury of the prestigious contest descended from the steps of the National Philharmonic at 2 a.m. on Thursday to deliver the verdict.

When the name of the victor was announced, the Paris-born, 24-year-old Bruce Liu struggled to contain his emotions. Liu who moved to Canada in his early years and started playing the piano at 7 is a graduate of the Montreal Conservatory of Music. He now stands to receive EUR 40,000 from Polish President Andrzej Duda for emerging victorious in the renowned Warsaw event.

Source – Polskie Radio

A passenger train has collided with a fallen tree in the North West of Poland yesterday as strong winds battered the country.

The train had been travelling between the cities of Szczecin and Kołobrzeg when it hit the downed tree. The local fire service said the side window panes and the front part of the train had been damaged, while three of its 76 passengers sustained injuries. Winds of up to 110 km/h battered northern Poland yesterday and overnight, with gusts up to 100 km/h in other parts of the country.

Source – Polskie Radio

European lawmakers rounded on Poland in the European Parliament yesterday as they voted to condemn what they said was an attempt by Poland to undermine the primacy of EU law over national laws.

Poland’s PM had earlier told the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France that his government would not give in to financial and political „blackmail” over its judicial reforms. More than 500 of the 705 member parliament called on the European Council and the bloc’s executive to ensure that no EU taxpayers’ money be given to Poland, calling on the European Commission to refrain from approving Poland’s national recovery plan, among other steps.

Source – Polskie Radio

Gdańsk’s tallest chimney, belonging to PGE Energia Ciepła and which is part of the city’s central heating system is getting a new coat of paint.

The 200 metre tall structure situated in Gdańsk Letnica will gain a new lightning protection system with renovated night lighting, a new top gallery and will be repainted using more than 3 tons of paint in the process. The modernization of the chimney is being carried out to avoid disturbing its resident peregrine falcons that have been living on the Gdańsk chimney for several years – this years hatchlings have already left the nest.

Source – Radio Gdańsk

Weather

The strong winds from yesterday will die down somewhat today, leaving a blustery, showery day with temperatures reaching 8 degrees centigrade (46 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day, dropping to 4 degrees overnight. Tomorrow will be a drizzly day in a gentle breeze with temperatures reaching 9 degrees again during the day dropping to a chilly 2 degrees overnight.

Martin Caren/MarWer