Several grain ships left Ukrainian ports yesterday for markets in Africa, despite recent announcements by Russia that it planned to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

One ship departed from Chornomorsk yesterday bound for Libya carrying 22,800 tons of wheat, and another left from Pivdennyi bound for Morocco and carrying 12, 690 tons of sunflower meal, according to data from the UN coordinating center.

Additionally, the Interfax Ukraine agency reported that four ships carrying loads of grain left the port of Odesa on Tuesday.

A statement issued by the UN coordinating center said the passage of ships was agreed upon by the Ukrainian, Turkish, and UN delegations, with the Russian delegation later informed of their plans.

According to the statement, Amir Abdulla, the UN coordinator for grain exports from Ukraine, is continuing talks with all three countries in hopes of convincing all to participate fully in the initiative.

Russia announced plans on Saturday to suspend its participation in the UN-brokered deal, initially set to expire November 19. The announcement came hours after Moscow accused Ukraine of using drones to attack Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, Crimea.

Source: Radio Gdańsk, un.org/en/black-sea-grain-initiative

Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak held a phone meeting with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin earlier this week to discuss the latest developments in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Błaszczak said in a tweet on Monday that he and Austin talked about “Russian aggression and the current situation in Ukraine” during the call.

He added that the conversation also focused on “the details of US troop presence in Poland” and bilateral military cooperation, including efforts to modernize Poland’s armed forces.

The US Pentagon later released a statement describing the meeting as a chance to discuss „the current security situation along NATO’s eastern flank and joint efforts to enhance Ukraine’s defense capabilities.”

During the call, Austin reportedly “praised Poland’s leadership in providing support to Ukraine and declared the US and Poland would “continue to work closely together to enhance Alliance deterrence and defense.”

Source: Radio Poland

The legendary Orient Express train is set to resume service with restored carriages discovered seven years ago in Poland at a small railway station near the Belarusian border.

A symbol of luxury, wealth, and extravagance, the trans-Europe Orient Express train ran between Paris and Istanbul from 1883 to 1977. In later years, its route was shortened to Bucharest, Budapest, and then Vienna before the Orient Express was withdrawn from service in December 2009.

Seventeen Orient Express carriages, including 12 sleeping cars, three leisure cars, and one restaurant car, were spotted at Małaszewicz railway station in 2015. They had apparently been abandoned there since 1988, when the Orient Express made a 19-day, 15,000-kilometre journey from Paris to Hong Kong via Berlin, Moscow, Warsaw, and Beijing.

The restored and remodeled carriages are set to be ready for passengers in 2023 when Accor launches an Italy-based Orient Express service before the kick-off of the Paris-Istanbul connection in 2025.

Source: Radio Poland

Polish tennis star Iga Świątek triumphed in her first match at the WTA Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, yesterday after defeating Daria Kasatkina of Russia in two straight sets (6-2, 6-3).

Świątek appeared somewhat disappointed after the match, telling a reporter from Canal + that she was “waiting for the WTA Finals in Europe” after pointing out that the Texas venue was only a quarter full and the atmosphere didn’t compare favorably to what she had experienced in places like Ostrava.

Świątek will face Caroline Garcia of France at 23:00 Warsaw time tonight.

Source: PAP, sport.interia.pl

Weather

Today will be cool and mostly cloudy, with a slight chance of rain midday and a strong breeze coming in from the southwest. Temperatures will peak around a high of 13°C, or 56°F, dropping to a low of only 7°C or 45°F overnight. Sunnier weather is expected for tomorrow, with a chance for some rain returning on the weekend.

Elizabeth Peck/jk