Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise visit to the newly liberated city of Kherson yesterday to celebrate with residents and soldiers after months of Russian occupation.

“We are moving forward,” Zelensky told the media after addressing troops and attending a ceremony to raise the Ukrainian national flag in the city’s main square.

“I’m really happy,” Zelensky told reporters. „You can tell by the reaction of the people… [they] were waiting for the Ukrainian army, for our soldiers, for all of us.”

Source: Radio Poland

Poland’s central bank has revised its GDP growth forecasts for the country, saying it now expects the economy to expand 4.6 percent this year, in contrast to the 4.7 percent growth predicted last July.

Forecasts from the European Commission set Polish GDP growth at 4 percent this year, with growth predicted to slow in 2023 to 0.7 percent before rising again to 2.6 percent in 2024.

In contrast with GDP growth, European Commission estimates predict a rise in Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation in Poland to 13.3 percent by the end of this year, climbing in early 2023 to 13.8 percent and dropping to 4.9 percent in 2024.

Poland’s central bank chief, Adam Glapiński, said last week that inflation in the country would likely hit a peak of 19 percent “in January or February” before starting to fall in March and declining to around 8 percent in the last quarter of 2023.

Inflation in Poland hit 17.9 percent last month, according to a flash estimate by the GUS, the national statistics office.

Source: Radio Gdańsk, Radio Poland

The Polish government is working with Ukrainian authorities to build temporary housing centers for 20,000 internally displaced people within Ukraine.

The housing will consist of modular containers that can be easily transported and assembled, Poland’s Government Information Center has said. The first such center is already open in Lviv.

In an interview with Rzeczpospolita, Polish Deputy Interior Minister Paweł Szefernaker said that Warsaw and Kyiv were preparing for various scenarios, although “the Ukrainian government is doing everything to keep Ukrainians at home.”

“Of course, the situation may vary because the approaching winter, as well as events related to the dynamics of the war, may cause more people to start coming to Poland,” Szefernaker stated.

More than 7.7 million Ukrainians have entered Poland during the last nine months, and 5.9 million have left Poland since February 24, according to the Polish Border Guard agency.

Around one million refugees, mainly women and children, are estimated to have settled in Poland during this period, with another million currently residing in Germany.

Source: Radio Poland

Two Polish pianists, Mateusz Krzyżowski and Piotr Pawlak, have qualified for the semifinal of the 12th International Ignacy Jan Paderewski Piano Competition in Bydgoszcz.

Today’s semifinal competition includes performers from Japan, China, Taiwan, Italy, Bulgaria, Spain, and Ukraine.

Five pianists will qualify for the final stage of the competition, which is scheduled for November 18 and 19. The prize winners will perform concerts in Bydgoszcz on November 20 and Warsaw on November 21.

The Paderewski Piano Competition, which is named after the legendary Polish pianist, composer, and statesman, was launched in 1961. Since 1998, it has been held every three years, attracting pianists from around the world.

Concerts can be watched for free online at the Youtube page of the Paderewski International Piano Competition. Semifinal results are scheduled to be announced on November 16th at 21:30.

Source: Radio Poland, paderewskicompetition.pl

Global Entrepreneurship Week kicked off yesterday across Pomerania with trainings, debates, webinars, and competitions scheduled to be held in cities and towns around the region.

The theme of the 15th annual Global Entrepreneurship Week is „Flexibility Without Borders,” with an emphasis on developing necessary business skills and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset.

Among other events, the first day featured training for aspiring youth entrepreneurs through the Faculty of Management and Economics of the Gdańsk University of Technology and a presentation on successful entrepreneurial teams from the owner of the”Biały Kot” cafe in Gdynia.

Participation in the events is free but may require registration. A complete schedule and information on registration can be found on the website of the Pomeranian Development Agency.

Source: Radio Poland

Weather

Today will be cool and mostly cloudy, with only a slight chance of rain and a strong breeze coming in from the south. Temperatures will peak around a high of 11°C, or 51°F, dropping to a low of Today will be cool and mostly cloudy, with an increasing chance for rain showers throughout the day and a light breeze coming in from the east. Temperatures will peak around a high of 7°C, or 44°F, dropping to a low of 4°C or 39°F overnight. Similar weather is expected for tomorrow, with temperatures continuing to drop as the week progresses.

Elizabeth Peck