The number of home loans granted in Poland in September fell to a 12-year low. A report released yesterday by the Credit Information Bureau (BIK) shows around 7,300 home loans were given in September, 70 percent less than a year before.
Chief analyst at the Bureau, Waldemar Rogowski, called the result „an apocalypse in the housing loan market”. He pointed to a lack of ultra-low interest rates, and a decreasing possibility to extend mortgages over 25 years, as reasons for the slump—and said the bottom is „probably not yet visible”.
The report also showed that over a million mortgage loan accounts are on repayment holidays.
Source: PAP
A rare book given as a gift to the Pope by the French president was not Polish war loot, the culture minister has said.
Some reports had been speculating that the copy of philosopher Immanuel Kant’s book „On Eternal Peace”, dating from 1796, which was given by President Macron to Pope Francis earlier this week at the Vatican, might have been a Polish war loss.
However, minister Piotr Gliński said yesterday that „contrary to the claims of some media… this work was not stolen from Poland.”
The book bears a stamp of the „Academic Reading Room in Lviv”, which was a Polish city until World War II, but the Paris bookseller who sold the volume to the French presidency says records show it was brought to France around 1900.
Source: PAP, AP
Ukrainians in Kraków will have a special place to pay tribute to their dead on All Souls’ Day.
The Kraków municipality is creating a new memorial at the Rakowicki cemetery, where Ukrainian refugees can remember their loved ones. November 2 is the day when people all over Poland traditionally visit the graves of their relatives to light candles and reflect in silence.
Kraków municipality said in a statement that, „At this special time we cannot forget about our guests from Ukraine… many of [whom] are not able to return to their homeland to pay tribute to the deceased.”
Source: PAP
A university in Gdańsk has cancelled a meeting that was supposed to promote a book by a prominent supporter of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Gdańska Szkoła Wyższa had rented a room to the organisers of the event, focused on a new book by Aleksander Dugin. He is a political scientist whose theories include the idea that all former Soviet republics and Warsaw Pact countries should be re-joined to Russia.
The meeting’s leader, Mateusz Piskorski, has been under formal investigation for six years regarding allegations of spying for the Russian and Chinese governments. The university apologised for the situation and said it would take more steps to verify those wanting to rent its premises in future.
Source: dziennikbaltycki.pl
Tonight the Baltic Opera hosts the second Young Choreography Evening.
Six young dancers will present their works at the event, interpreting issues in the lives of young people in styles from ranging from neoclassical to contemporary dance. Marta Boleksa-Romanek of the Baltic Opera said that the evening is a chance for performers to take on a slightly different role and show their interest in creating choreography.
Source: radiogdansk.pl
Weather
The run of unseasonably mild weather continues, with Gdańsk set for a high temperature of 17°C (62°F), and staying dry under cloudy skies today. Overnight the temperature will stay in double digits, while tomorrow will be even a degree warmer, although with light rain on the way tomorrow afternoon.
Listen:
Andrew Carter/MarWer
