Ukraine marked the 200th day since the start of the Russian invasion with reports of a successful counteroffensive in the northeast. The Ukrainian army pushed Russian troops out of more than 20 towns over the weekend in the area around Kharkiv, according to the Ukrainian General Staff. In what some analysts described as a „lightning advance” over the weekend, Ukrainian troops reportedly retook „nearly all of the northern region of Kharkiv.”
In Sunday’s nightly video address, President Zelensky contrasted the attitude of the Ukrainian army that „the world admires” with reports of Russian troops „hurriedly leav[ing] their positions” and fleeing deep into the occupied territories or to Russia.
Source: PAP, nytimes.com
President Andrzej Duda and his wife Agata Kornhauser-Duda have made it a priority to attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral next week in London.
Attending the Queen’s funeral is „absolutely a priority at the moment,” explained Jakub Kumoch, Head of the International Policy Bureau of the President’s Chancellery.
During an interview on Polsat TV yesterday evening, Kumoch promised the presidential couple would be at the funeral, „even if it requires reassembling their visit at the UN General Assembly” next week.
Buckingham Palace announced on Saturday that the funeral of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II would be held at Westminster Abbey in London on Monday, September 19, at 11:00 local time.
Source: Radio Poland, PAP
The Polish Radio Orchestra in Warsaw inaugurated its 2022/23 season on Sunday with a concert commemorating the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York.
The concert opened with a special performance of „The September Symphony” by Polish composer Wojciech Kilar, a piece composed in 2003 as Kilar’s personal tribute to the American people.
Described by one Polish critic as „a musical tale to lift the hearts,” the symphony contains references to traditional Gospel music, as well as American hymns and patriotic songs, including Samuel A. Ward’s classic hymn „America the Beautiful.”
The concert finished with a performance of Czech composer Antonín Dvořák’s Ninth Symphony, „From the New World,” which was written by Dvořák in the late 19th century during his tenure as the director of the National Conservatory of Music of America.
The 9/11 attacks remain the bloodiest act of terrorism on US soil, resulting in the deaths of 2,996 people, including six Poles.
Source: Radio Poland, PAP
The debut feature film of Polish director Damian Kocur was recently awarded the Orizzonti (Horizons) Special Jury Prize at the prestigious 79th International Film Festival in Venice.
The film, entitled „Bread and Salt,” is inspired by actual events and features a cast of non-professional actors. The plot centers around Tymek, a successful pianist and music student. He returns home to his small town during vacation, where he witnesses the growing conflict between the immigrant workers at a local kebab shop and his brother’s friends from the neighborhood.
„Bread and Salt” is one of twenty feature films competing for awards at the Polish Film Festival, which opens today in Gdynia. More information on the film festival can be found >>HERE.
Source: Radio Poland, festiwalgdynia.pl
The Polish men’s volleyball team took second place in the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championships last night in Katowice after losing to Italy 3:1 in the finals.
Despite losing the first set 25-22, the Italians came back with a vengeance, winning the next three sets (25-21, 25-18, and 25-20) to take home the top prize. Earlier on Sunday, the Brazilian men’s team beat co-hosts Slovenia 3-1 (25-18, 25-18, 22-25, 25-18) to finish third.
Source: olympics.com
The Polish men’s basketball team advanced to the quarterfinals of the FIBA Men’s EuroBasket 2022 tournament after beating Ukraine 94-86 yesterday in Berlin.
The Poles will face Slovenia on Wednesday at 20:30 CEST for a chance to advance to the semifinals. The EuroBasket 2022 tournament is set to wrap up next Sunday, September 18.
Source: fiba.basketball
Weather
Today will be mostly sunny and cool, with very little chance of rain and a gentle breeze coming in from the north. Temperatures will peak around a high of 18°C, or 64°F, dropping to a chilly overnight low of 8°C or 47°F. Clouds are expected to roll in overnight, with a chance for rain tomorrow afternoon and evening.
Posłuchaj:
Elizabeth Peck/MarWer
