Krakow may not be able to compete on the global stage with cities like Dubai or Singapore but it has still managed to put itself on the map as a destination for banks and financial institutions Today there is one bank that can draw its heritage to Krakow more than any other bank in Poland It’s financial institutions like BNP Paribas and others that have helped Krakow achieve the reputation of a financial hub today We look at which financial institutions have helped create this reputation over the years In 1990 a community bank was established in Krakow, a year later the Polish-American Entrepreneurial Fund became a strategic partner to the bank which changed its name to First Polish American Bank in Krakow. This bank was later sold to Fortis Bank, which was eventually bought by BNP Paribas In Poland some banks like ING Bank Slaski represented regional banking players from the past. In the case of ING a local Slaski (or Silesian) bank was incorporated in 1988. This same bank was later acquired by ING in 1994 and formally renamed ING Bank Slaski in 2001 Other banks like Citi Handlowy or Santander have a similar history related to Warsaw and Wroclaw respectively that has had the most exposure to banking and capital markets outside of Warsaw In the early 2000s BZWBK’s Arka Fund was giving some of the best returns in the market The team behind this fund were based out of Poznan It didn’t take long for Franklin Templeton to work out that Poznan could be a hotbed of talent asset manager opened a centre of excellence in Poznan in 2007 and has been growing in strength ever since and Capgemini that put Krakow onto the radar of international financial institutions IBM opened its office in Krakow in 1996 and started to engage local accounting and finance talent from the market This trend of nearshoring and outsourcing has continued to grow in popularity Poland’s accession to the EU in 2004 made this trend even more attractive to global businesses This initial interest in Krakow can in part be explained by the large number of students who call the city home The city is home to Poland’s oldest university the Jagiellonian University which has over 30,000 students attending at any one time But there are several other universities too The Krakow School of Economics (UEK) and the AGH University of Science and Technology It wasn’t long before the wider market took notice of what was happening in Krakow Not only does the city produce a comparable number of students to Warsaw each year but it is also an attractive destination for tourists too Situated by the river Vistula and with a prestigious castle and quaint old market square Krakow isn’t just a hub for business Leaders at banks like UBS started to explore what the city has to offer in the early 2000s one of the largest asset managers in the world also looked at Krakow as a hub for fund accounting By 2008 approximately 12,000 people were engaged to work for the nearshoring sector To support this newly growing sector ASPIRE came about ASPIRE is the Association of IT and Business Process Services located in Krakow Two of the biggest contributors to Krakow’s tech scene are Comarch (a leading Polish software company) and Sabre (a software and tech company for the travel industry) Numerous engineers and developers from Krakow started their careers at one of these two firms It wasn’t long before the financial institutions took note of this as well In 2018 a U.S. startup called Qualtrics was looking at Krakow too The CTO of Qualtrics at the time was John Thimsen who is also known for working on Amazon’s Alexa team He gave a talk in Krakow where he unveiled Qualtrics new head of engineering in Krakow @Qualtrics : Another success story comes to Krakow The fame of Krakow increaseshttps://t.co/9nog4Tr6JB Not to be outdone, a few months later Andy Maguire, Group COO of HSBC, held a similar talk in Krakow this time in collaboration with DisruptionBanking Both events were packed and over-subscribed as tech talents took note quants normally work in capital cities where they are drawn to local stock exchanges and the wider capital markets Could Krakow become a destination for these financial superstars Today HSBC operates a large independent model review team in Krakow It’s not just HSBC making waves in Krakow today a leading global fund administrator with more than $500 billion of assets under administration also opened an office in Poland’s second city Led by the charismatic Eoghan O’Dwyer HedgeServ is also strengthening its team in Poland The firm currently has over 500 employees in Poland but where the focus up till now has been engaging fund administrators HedgeServ is on the lookout for people with private equity experience too This illustrates the bank’s commitment to investing in the local talent pool Additionally, it’s worth noting that UBS in Krakow, Wroclaw and Warsaw was reported in February to be making layoffs of up to 1,200 people A much higher number than the layoffs reported at HSBC HSBC and HedgeServ are not the only players in Krakow’s growing ecosystem and Chatham Financial were already mentioned in today’s story has a team of nearly 500 in Krakow already Then there is Brown Brothers Harriman which employs 1,650 people Data about headcount in Krakow is thanks to Motife Today Krakow’s nearshoring and outsourcing sector employs over 120,000 people General Secretary of ASPIRE shared how “Krakow’s growth as a hub for outsourcing has seen consistent growth over the last decade Over the years the city and local universities have engaged with businesses to increase both the talent and the infrastructure needed to support a healthy ecosystem The rising demand for finance and banking professionals shows the flexibility and dynamism of the Krakow market.” Each year more companies are attracted to the Krakow ecosystem How far can this burgeoning hub continue to grow Author: Andy Samu #Krakow #Quants #HSBC #HedgeServ #Talent #ASPIRE #FinancialHub #Nearshoring #Outsourcing What it means when US giants come to Krakow | Disruption Banking How Perth, WA, Became a Financial Hub | Disruption Banking and website in this browser for the next time I comment We publish press releases on our site only if the company's Authority Score on Google is high enough to justify it as news We do not respond to speculative inquiries from @gmail.com addresses Please represent a company when reaching out to us Visit The Arts Inspire at Davidson Diversity & Inclusion Nyhavn is in the main “touristy” part of Copenhagen Join psychology major Josh Matushak '26 as he shares his first international experience through captivating photography from his semester abroad in Copenhagen and travels across Europe with the Davidson Chorale documenting cultural experiences from Danish smoking culture to Polish landscapes and musical performances “I chose Davidson because when I was on my tour I connected with a current student and he gave me a personal tour around campus and took me to club meetings where I really appreciated the connected culture of Davidson.” I left the United States for the first time when I studied a semester abroad in Copenhagen It was a bit of a culture shock leaving what I knew and travelling to a brand-new place I really enjoyed the opportunity to get to know a new culture and explore the city and an exploratory photography class.  we had different prompts to push us to explore a different style or technique I created a photo-project examining the smoking culture in Denmark I had the opportunity to travel with the Davidson Chorale on their trip to Zakopane and Krakow in Poland over winter break as a photographer.  Explore my semester abroad through these photos I captured along the way This is a man I met on the side of the street in Copenhagen and included in my photo project Nørrebro is a culturally diverse area in Copenhagen Christianshavn is a neighborhood in Copenhagen Davidson College’s choir performs at a church in Wroclaw I am fortunate that I was able to have these amazing experiences exploring more of the world with Davidson College I enjoy being able to represent the world through photography and represent people and perspectives that others might not have been exposed to before (704) 894-2000 The ninth stop of the IFSC World Cup Series 2025 will bring the fastest climbers in the world, including Paris 2024 women’s Speed champion Aleksandra Miroslaw and bronze medallist Aleksandra Kalucka, to the Polish city of Krakow. The event, which will take place on the weekend of 5 and 6 July, will mark the return of an IFSC World Cup to Poland for the first time in 16 years and the third overall after two Speed World Cups were held in Tarnów in 2007 and 2009. More recently, Climbing was featured in the programme of two multi-sport events organised in Polish territory: The World Games 2017 in Wrocław and the European Games 2023 in Krakow and Małopolska. At a press conference organised today, the President of the Polish Climbing Federation Marek Wierzbowski, and the Mayor of the Royal City of Krakow Aleksander Miszalski sat alongside Miroslaw as the event was officially presented. A message from IFSC President Marco Scolaris was also played to the attending audience and authorities. “We are more than happy to welcome Poland back on our World Cup calendar next July. We have beautiful memories of events in Poland from The World Games 2017 and European Games 2023,**” said Scolaris. “To bring the Climbing family to Krakow, such a famous, historical, monumental city is really exciting. What a great way to celebrate Aleksandra Miroslaw, your Olympic champion, and the whole Polish team, who has performed excellently in Speed for many seasons!” L/R: WU Peng of China, Veddriq LEONARDO of Indonesia, Samuel WATSON of the USAFollowing the spectacular debut of Speed as a standalone discipline at the Paris Olympics a field of top-class speedsters led by Miroslaw and Kalucka is expected to compete in Krakow in July: Natalia Kalucka – Aleksandra’s twin sister men’s Speed Olympic champion Veddriq Leonardo of Indonesia current men’s world record holder Sam Watson of the USA and the reigning world champions in the discipline – Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi of Indonesia and Matteo Zurloni of Italy The calendar of IFSC World Cups and Championships was presented earlier in 2025 and further updates will be released in the upcoming weeks On season four of Netflix's "Emily in Paris," the titular character flies to Rome for a date But to throw her boss off her trail while requesting time off she tells the office she's actually going to Kraków Sylvie, Emily's chic boss, is immediately dismissive of the Polish city only quirky Luc (who's typically the butt of the joke) seems to see the city as a destination But this summer, my family traveled to Rome and Kraków and I think Emily made the wrong choice between the two Unlike Emily, who went to Rome on a fashion magnate's dime, I felt like I had to watch every penny during our European travels When Emily goes to Rome, she heads right for the Colosseum. We were also fascinated with Rome's ancient history during our Italian vacation but Kraków surprised us with an incredible mix of older and newer sites the city is special because it remained relatively unscathed during World War II It's one of the best-preserved cities in Europe with a charming old town square and an enchanting Jewish quarter One of our favorite sites was the Wawel Castle underground den that some believe once housed dragons Kraków was also an important place for us to learn more about modern history including visiting Schindler's Factory and paying respects at nearby Auschwitz-Birkenau I loved my first few meals in Rome but pizza and pasta quickly became repetitive It didn't taste all that different from what I eat at home the food in Kraków was scrumptious and varied I also enjoyed a Middle Eastern feast at Hamsa and ate in an enchanting outdoor food court accompanied by the sounds of live music It was hard to walk far in Krakow without passing a café serving freshly baked pastries which had delicious coffee and adorable bunnies to pet Emily would've loved the Instagram-worthy photo ops there Of course, Emily and Marcello had the entire Trevi Fountain and Collessum to themselves I passed by both sites several times during my trip I was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with other tourists who wanted me to move as quickly as possible but I always felt like I had some breathing room I'm sure there are lovely natural beauties nearby Rome but there was no way to fit them in alongside our city plans Emily is shuttled around Rome on her boyfriend's Vespa but we had to find other ways to get around We found Rome's public transportation to be limited and I often had a hard time getting a taxi it was very easy to ask for help with our broken Polish because it seemed like nearly everyone spoke English I'm not mad that Emily went to Rome, per se. We also visited the beautiful Italian capital, and it's high on a lot of people's travel bucket lists I won't be happy until we see Emily in Kraków discovering the magnificent city for herself This correspondent returned eagerly to a place where theatre still matters in a troubled world even if it can’t quite make sense of it “I think the stories we make can make the world better,” the endlessly inventive Polish stage director Jakub Skrzywanek said to me over lunch on Sunday during Kraków’s Divine Comedy Festival one of Europe’s most adventurous annual theatre events He was taken aback at how eagerly I opened my notebook to scribble down the thought It occurred to me in that moment how desperately I’d needed to hear those words at a time of political tumult and performing-arts contraction back home in the U.S I’d come back to the festival for the third year in a row: to feel connected and challenged anew to an art form that country after country claims as its own And in each country this ownership is expressed in ways that nourish and expand the mind Poland, with a storied theatrical past that counts among its giants the likes of Jerzy Grotowski and chair of theatre and dance at UC San Diego This is the first of my dispatches as we ricochet from show to show. The juried festival, ending on Dec. 15, consists of nearly two dozen productions, virtually all from Poland, curated by director Bartosz Szydłowski, who also runs his own company, Łaźnia Nowa Theatre My chronicle is intended both as a record and an appeal to an American culture more prone these days to gazing inward at a time when our ties to world theatre already feel inadequate and too sporadic I was a member of the five-person international jury last year; this time around I’m just a humble attendee If the first few Divine Comedy offerings are any indication festival’s prescription for theatrical possibility translates into surprise The order we sometimes expect theatre to confer on the chaos of existence is affirmed in some of the productions I’ve seen by the exciting young director Marta Górnicka is a moving choral piece of extraordinary polish and passion: 21 Ukrainian and Belarusian girls and women marshal a collective cri de coeur in a melodic and spoken-word evocation of war’s particular horrors for women “Rape,” as spelled out in English in an overhead projection “is a wartime military strategy in Ukraine.” The piece, performed at the National Stary Theatre—where the 32-year-old Jakub Skrzywanek is artistic director—is less a document about violence than a demonstration of how voices in unison can be a source of consolation As Górnicka explained to the CITD delegation the morning after we saw Mothers the choral form through time has been “a place of life the place where people were healed by the ritual of singing together.”  Nothing of a healing design is encoded in Fobia an absurdist exhibition of Grand Guignol that takes satirically homicidal swipes at liberals who proclaim themselves LGBTQ+ allies Staged at Łaźnia Nowa Theatre in three increasingly transgressive acts by director Markus Öhrn the play is one sanguineous joke stretched to unfunny limits (Don’t ask what is done with a phallus attached to a drill.) Revenge against hypocrisy may be sweet I come to the Divine Comedy Festival for its wild triumphs as well as its colossal misfires. Last year, for example, the ambitious rock musical 1989, recounting the era of Polish resistance led by Lech Wałęsa, proved to be a joyful if disjointed Hamilton knockoff. This year, the award for earnest incoherence may go to the extravagantly overproduced Quanta, a four-hour spectacle from the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre about quantum physics and A TV studio has been repurposed by director Łukasz Twarkowski as the mise en scene of a hallucinogenic story set mostly in 1938 about a gathering of physicists that includes Madame Curie and Werner Heisenberg Camera operators circle Fabien Lédé’s vivid Art Deco set; machines spark and zap; a dancer draped in fabric spins in the half-light and a couple of Instagram vloggers from 2024 come and go The great minds assembled here do not include an editor The lure of a festival like this is that while tickets come in large supply Peter Marks (he/him) was the Washington Post theatre critic for 21 years Support American Theatre: a just and thriving theatre ecology begins with information for all. Please join us in this mission by joining TCG which entitles you to copies of our quarterly print magazine and helps support a long legacy of quality nonprofit arts journalism ©2025 Theatre Communications Group Each gift is a stitch in the tapestry that celebrates our resilience Donate to TCG! The attacker entered the examination room during a consultation and fatally assaulted the physician with a sharp object Hospital security subdued the suspect - a 35-year-old man from the Jędrzejów district in south-central Poland - until police arrived Health Minister Leszczyna expressed condolences to the victim’s family calling the attack “barbaric” and demanding the harshest punishment “There are no words to express my sorrow and anger over the death of the doctor from the University Clinical Hospital in Kraków - a death following a knife attack,” Leszczyna wrote on her profile on X (formerly Twitter) Violence against those who dedicate their lives to saving ours is an act of barbarism and must be met with the most severe punishment,” she added które wyraziłyby mój smutek i gniew po śmierci Pana Doktora z Uniwersyteckiego Szpitala Klinicznego w Krakowie Rodzinie i Współpracownikom Pana Doktora składam wyrazy głębokiego współczucia Authorities continue to investigate the scene and question the suspect The doctor who died on Tuesday was an orthopedic and trauma specialist focused on reconstructive surgery of the hand and foot organizing national and international conferences and was known for his work in sports medicine and ultrasound diagnostics of the musculoskeletal system celebrating its 18th edition on May 26th-June 1st has announced its concert program and the first guest composers plus conductors & composers Dirk Brossé and Diego Navarro The Saragossa Manuscript – film with live music by Wojciech Jerzy Has (MON 26/5 - 18h) https://fmf.fm/programme/166 VENUE: Karol Szymanowski Philharmonic Hall in Krakow The Saragossa Manuscript by Wojciech Jerzy Has is a labyrinth of stories a surrealistic piece of art that balances between dream and reality It is also one of the few works for which Krzysztof Penderecki composed a full soundtrack references to the Baroque and Classicism and distinctive guitar parts The Maestro’s compositions will be performed by Paweł Romańczuk Małe Instrumenty band and a string orchestra The year 2025 has been declared by the Senate of Poland as the year of Wojciech Jerzy Has in connection with his 100th birth anniversary The director’s most influential piece of work – The Saragossa Manuscript – made a permanent mark in the history of world cinema Its premiere took place 60 years ago: in 1965 And a key element of this work is undoubtedly the soundtrack composed by Krzysztof Penderecki – one of the most outstanding Polish composers It was one of Penderecki’s few film compositions created during a period of his intensive sonoristic experiments and co-operation with the Polish Radio Experimental Studio one can hear both innovative sounds and inspirations from the Baroque and Classicism which play an important role in the entire composition This is a unique opportunity to experience Has’ work in a new and intense form in which music and image co-create a unique cinematic experience The event is recommended for people over 16 years of age Concert partners: the 65th Krakow Film Festival and the Documentary and Feature Film Studios (WFDiF) Cultural event of the Polish presidency of the Council of the EU Cinema Chorale: Choral Extravaganza (WED 28/5 – 18h & 20:30h) https://fmf.fm/programme/167 https://fmf.fm/programme/cinema-chorale-choral-extravaganza-2 young artists from the USA will take us on a fascinating journey through classic film music We will hear unforgettable musical hits as well as magical themes by Harold Arlen Anyone who loves cinema will find something for themselves in this programme This year’s concert of the Cinema Chorale series is the result of the long-term collaboration between Kraków and our partner city Rochester We are proud to present the Nazareth University Treble Choir made up of students specialising in the performance of music for soprano and alto voices This is a unique opportunity to meet these artists in Kraków – and in the unusual aura of the Franciscan Cloister The Music of Gabriel Yared (THU 29/5 - 19h) https://fmf.fm/programme/168 Cold Mountain – all these films leave an unforgettable impression Their extraordinary soundscapes have been created by one composer rightly regarded as a legend of French film music We are proud that Oscar-winning filmmaker Gabriel Yared has accepted our invitation and will come to Kraków FMF fans have been waiting for this concert for many years one of the most important contemporary film composers – Gabriel Yared – will visit us His greatest international success is the soundtrack to The English Patient (1996) The compositions for this film have won Golden Globe that the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honoured Yared with nominations on two more occasions – for the soundtracks to The Talented Mr Gabriel Yared is certainly one of the most versatile film composers of our time It is not difficult to understand why so many creators of ambitious Hollywood productions wanted to work with him Yared sets an original tone for each track which is perfectly suited to the film’s story The programme for the concert at the Kraków Philharmonic will include Yared’s most important works from films such as The English Patient The composer himself will grace the evening with a solo piano performance We have no doubt that this concert will remain in the audience’s memory for a long time La La Land in concert (FRI 30/5 – 19h) https://fmf.fm/programme/165 Watch the award-winning film La La Land on the big screen at TAURON Arena Kraków The unforgettable roles of Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone will be given a unique setting with live music performed in sync with the film by the Beethoven Academy Orchestra and the Kraków Philharmonic Choir It is a truly unique occasion to listen to the brilliant musicians conducted by the Academy Award®-winning composer Justin Hurwitz himself Fancy spending a night in the city of stars Lionsgate’s six-time Academy Award®-winning film tells the story of two young people who dream of a Hollywood-style career Mia (Emma Stone) works in a café on a daily basis and tries to land her first film role after hours Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) is a pianist and makes a living by playing standards but at the same time he is creating original compositions and planning to open his own jazz club La La Land gained a reputation as one of the best musicals of all time The original soundtrack was awarded an Academy Award® and a Golden Globe® the unforgettable duet of Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in City of Stars received the Academy Award® for Best Original Song is widely regarded as one of the best in Hollywood – thanks to his signature style: memorable melodies and captivating arrangements that leave the audience breathless During the La La Land in Concert event at TAURON Arena Kraków three screens will be active along with carefully selected lights We entrusted the performance of the soundtrack to some of the best musical ensembles in Poland: the Beethoven Academy Orchestra and the Kraków Philharmonic Choir The brilliant artists will be conducted by Justin Hurwitz himself (his first performance in such a role in Poland!) The composer also produces La La Land in Concert through his company Hurwitz Concerts and will oversee the technical aspects of the concert The organisers have ensured that the event is accessible to all audiences The film will be screened with an audio description for the blind and the visually impaired The original audio description prepared by the Culture Without Barriers Foundation will be available via AudioMovie Polish Sign Language (PJM) interpreting for the deaf will also be provided along with an induction loop for the hearing impaired – a system that supports hearing aids and cochlear implants TAURON Arena Kraków is equipped with technical solutions that make it easier for people using wheelchairs to get around La La Land and all related characters and elements ® ™ & © 2025 Lions Gate Entertainment Inc The public task is financed by the City of Kraków FMF International gala (SAT 31/5 – 19h) https://fmf.fm/programme/169 Saturday’s FMF gala is a great opportunity to hear the outstanding soundtracks of recent years Its star will be two-time Oscar winner and composer of music for the phenomenal game and TV series The Last of Us – Gustavo Santaolalla the winners of the Polish Soundtrack of the Year 2024 and the FMF Young Talent Award 2025 will also be announced the international gala holds an important place in the FMF calendar The diverse programme will include some of the most interesting compositions that have recently been written for films The highest quality of performance is guaranteed by the musicians of the Kraków Philharmonic and the Polish Radio Choir we will meet distinguished personalities of Polish film music: Bartosz Chajdecki and Paweł Lucewicz Both composers will present works arranged especially for the FMF A treat for video game fans will be Brunon Lubas’ synth composition for the adventure game The Invincible The audience will also hear the poignant music of Frederikke Hoffmeier from the Danish-Polish-Swedish drama film The Girl with the Needle The second part of the concert will be devoted entirely to Gustavo Santaolalla one of the most important figures in contemporary Latin American music the artist was a pioneer of Argentine rock and at the turn of the 21st century he gained widespread recognition for his film music He became famous for his collaborations with such esteemed directors as Ang Lee and Alejandro González Iñárritu Gustavo Santaolalla’s soundtracks are characterised by a unique minimalist style combining elements of folk His music is known for its emotional charge and subtlety performing solo parts in songs from the game and TV series The Last of Us as well as a song from the Academy Award-winning soundtrack to Brokeback Mountain A solemn moment of the concert will be the granting of prestigious awards: Polish Soundtrack of the Year 2024 and FMF Young Talent Award 2025 FMF4Kids: Iconic Bedtime Stories (SUN 1/6 – 15h & 17h) https://fmf.fm/programme/170 https://fmf.fm/programme/172 we take you on a journey through the most beautiful music from Polish bedtime stories Porwanie Baltazara Gąbki – these are just a few of the titles that will enchant the audience at the concert hall at 13 Fabryczna Street This is an ideal opportunity to show the best Polish animations to children the FMF4Kids series will feature iconic cartoon characters In a multimedia concert lasting more than an hour we will hear live music that has accompanied small and big spectators for decades Classic animations continue to evoke good emotions and have an impact on kids and adults alike They are distinguished by the lack of unnecessary aggression co-operation and courage – are conveyed in them in a simple and deeply moving way An ensemble of excellent musicians will move us into the extraordinary world of children’s adventures The concert will be accompanied by a commentary giving a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the timeless animations the hosts will demonstrate how sound combined with images can entertain and move The partner of the FMF4Kids: Iconic Bedtime Stories event is the Animated Film Studio (Studio Filmów Rysunkowych) Cinematic Piano: Aleksander Dębicz (SUN 1/6 – 19:30h) https://fmf.fm/programme/173 one of the most inventive pianists working today makes a welcome return to music from his bestselling debut album to once again enchant FMF audiences The album Cinematic Piano encapsulates his personal sensitivities and serves as a dialogue with maestros of film music Widely regarded as a master of improvisation Dębicz will doubtless surprise us with unique interpretations of his own compositions The atmospheric concert will close the intensive week of concerts of the FMF Aleksander Dębicz’s debut album Cinematic Piano was launched 10 years ago It was released just a couple of years after the pianist and composer won the Transatlantyk Instant Composition Contest based on the idea of improvisation created synchronously to the image on the screen Cinematic Piano includes original compositions inspired by cinema and film music The album was widely applauded by listeners and critics alike Dębicz has followed it by another six albums all resounding with his distinctive style he himself describes as “cinematic classical” A decade ago the composer decided to bring the language of the piano to his greatest passions in cinema and film music; now he returns to these inspirations while also bringing his new experiences and sensitivities https://fmf.fm/news/372 Ripley are just some of the soundtracks that will resound at this year’s 18th FMF.The guests include Academy Award and Golden Globe winners: Justin Hurwitz The theme of this year’s festival is City of Stars Kraków’s concert halls will resound with beautiful music written for films The varied programme of the 18th FMF includes a screening of The Saragossa Manuscript with live accompaniment marking the centenary of the birth of the film’s director Wojciech Jerzy Has and a concert featuring music from children’s favourite bedtime TV cartoons The main event of the festival will be La La Land in Concert at TAURON Arena Kraków with the composer Justin Hurwitz leading the Beethoven Academy Orchestra and the Kraków Philharmonic Choir “This year’s FMF is held under the banner of City of Stars – we want the entire city to experience the festival’s breathtaking atmosphere.We will be visited by true legends of film music including Gabriel Yared – a composer known for working with some of the finest filmmakers in Europe and the US.The English Patient Ripley and Cold Mountain are just some of the award-winning films he composed soundtracks for.Yared created a unique musical landscape for every one of them ,” says Carolina Pietyra director of the Krakow Festival Office that organises the FMF alongside the City of Kraków and RMF Classic The monographic concert The Music of Gabriel Yared will be held on Thursday 29 May at the Kraków Philharmonic Hallperformed by Sinfonietta Cracovia and the Kraków Philharmonic Choir under the baton of Dirk Brossé – one of the most acclaimed European conductors working today.A highlight of the concert will be Gabriel Yared himself performing solo on piano the festival brings the FMF International Gala to the ICE Kraków Congress Centre.We will hear music by Bartosz Chajdecki and Paweł Lucewicz arranged specially for the FMF.Fans of video games will enjoy Brunon Lubas’ synth composition for the adventure game The Invincible based on Stanisław Lem’s novel of the same title.We will also hear Frederikke Hoffmeier’s moving soundtrack to the Danish-Polish-Swedish drama The Girl with the Needle.The rest of the concert will be dedicated to Gustavo Santaolalla – one of the most important composers of contemporary film music the artist was a pioneer of Argentine rock and rose to fame at the turn of the millennium for creating soundtracks rooted in folk alternative and Latin American music.He is the man behind the incredible musical atmosphere of the game series The Last of Us and the multi-award winning Brokeback Mountain.The gala will be the perfect opportunity to see and hear the composer performing solo parts in selected pieces,” explains Magdalena Wojewoda-Mleczko The erse repertoire will be performed by musicians of the Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra and the Polish Radio Choir conducted by audience favourite Diego Navarro The programme also includes the announcement of the winners of the Polish Soundtrack of the Year 2024 award and the FMF Young Talent Award 2025 An important element of this year’s festival will be the special screening of one of the most influential films of Polish cinematography: The Saragossa Manuscript directed by Wojciech Jerzy Has The adaptation of the novel by Jan Potocki features unforgettable performances by great stars of Polish cinema: Zbigniew Cybulski The digitally remastered film with live music accompaniment will be shown on Monday 26 May at the Kraków Philharmonic Hall “Wojciech Jerzy Has was born a hundred years ago in Kraków In accordance with the resolution of the Senate of the Republic of Poland he is a patron of 2025 so we couldn’t have imagined the 18th FMF without at least one of his works.The Saragossa Manuscript was the obvious choice featuring a soundtrack by another great Cracovian Krzysztof Penderecki.The maestro intertwines elements of classical music with electroacoustic experiments to create a unique atmosphere abounding with grotesque and mystery.The extraordinary compositions will find a new dimension through the performance by Małe Instrumenty (Small Instruments) – one of the most interesting Polish ensembles specialising in experimental music,” promises Robert Piaskowski director of the National Centre for Culture Poland co-organiser of the concert alongside the FMF.The event is a part of the programme of Poland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union Partners: the 65th Krakow Film Festival and the Documentary and Feature Film Studios We have a treat in store for fans of cinematic classics: the concert titled Cinema Chorale: Choral Extravaganza.Young artists from the Nazareth University Treble Choir from Rochester are joined by soloists to present themes by such composers as Harold Arlen Ennio Morricone and John Williams.Cinema Paradiso The Wizard of Oz and Scent of a Woman are some of the films whose soundtracks we will hear on 28 May at the Hall of the Blessed Jacob at the Franciscan Church The festival closes with a multimedia concert FMF4Kids: Iconic Bedtime Stories.The beloved tradition of short TV cartoons features protagonists such as the young brothers Bolek and Lolek and the intrepid terrier Reksio.The unforgettable musical motifs will be performed by an ensemble of accomplished musicians and the hosts of the event will reveal secrets behind these classic animations and demonstrate how sound and vision intertwine to move and entertain.All this – of course – on Sunday 1 June The FMF programme also includes the Audiovisual Forum – a cycle of meetings with experts from the music and film industries outdoor screenings and children’s workshops.This year the Festival Centre is being developed jointly with Fabryczna 13 – a state-of-the-art service and recreation centre in the Grzegórzki district.Accompanying events will take place at the Galeria Kazimierz shopping centre.More information about the programme of the 18th FMF coming soon More information on the FMF website and on the RMF Classic radio The Krakow Film Music Festival is organised by the City of Kraków Co-organiser of The Saragossa Manuscript – Film with Live Music: National Centre for Culture Poland; partners:the 65th Krakow Film Festival and the Documentary and Feature Film Studios; the event is a part of the programme of Poland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union Partner of the FMF4Kids – Iconic Bedtime Stories: Animated Film Studio (Studio Filmów Rysunkowych) https://fmf.fm/programme You can read more about Krakow Film Music Festival: https://soundtrackfest.com/en/tag/fmf_en/ http://fmf.fm/ Discover a way to enjoy that music live in SoundTrackFest Here you will find all the information you need to live your favorite Soundtracks and meet the Composers The iconic fire-spitting dragon of Krakow is holding its breath for a checkup that is to determine why it’s been consuming too much gas recently Poland (AP) — An iconic metal sculpture of a dragon that spits real fire in the Polish city of Krakow will hold its breath for a month to check why it’s been devouring so much fuel lately experts will check the gas feeds for the 6-meter (19-foot) sculpture to find ways of reducing the dragon’s energy bills spokesman for Krakow’s road infrastructure office The dragon figure at foot of the Wawel Castle in the southern historic city is a major tourist attraction Millions of visitors come each year to watch flames jutting from its snout every three minutes The figure by Polish sculptor Bronislaw Chromy dates to the late 1960s but refers to centuries-old legend in Krakow’s history the city was harassed by a blood-thirsty dragon that fed on the citizen’s cattle A resourceful young shoemaker offered the beast a sheep skin stuffed with sulfur that gave the dragon a burning feeling inside the dragon drank so much water from the nearby Vistula River that it burst The sculpture should regain its fire-breathing abilities in March Following a thrilling two days of international rugby sevens action in Krakow South Africa women and Portugal men were also crowned World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger Krakow 2025 winners Krakow played host to an action packed finale of the HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025 that entertained fans at Henryk Reyman’s Municipal Stadium Although Germany were leading the men’s competition coming into the concluding round of the tournament Portugal were able to overcome them in the semi-finals to set themselves up for a place in the final against Samoa Fans were treated to a tantalising showdown with the teams due to go into half-time level had it not been for the impressive skill of Manuel Vareiro with an up-and-under-kick which saw them edge into the lead Ultimately Portugal were able to keep ahead with Fabio Conceicao sealing their fate Not only did the Portuguese team take the title in Krakow they also cemented themselves as HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025 Champions having previously also won the second round of the series in Cape Town Portugal’s Captain Fabio Conceicao commented after the win: “It’s been amazing for us as a young group coming to this tournament with big teams We knew we could beat anyone and that’s what we did South Africa capped off a dominant weekend in Krakow in the women’s competition with a convincing 21-12 win over Argentina in the final showdown of the day following a 22-0 shutout against the same opponents the day before Having twice finished runners-up to Kenya in the series this time it was South Africa’s moment to shine The Springbok Women won all their fixtures across both days showcasing clinical execution and relentless pace Their unbeaten run in Krakow secured them the top prize and marked a standout performance to close out the Challenger series on a high and reaffirm their status as a powerhouse on the sevens stage VIEW POOLS, SCORES AND FIXTURES >> History was made as Kenya Women were crowned overall champions of the HSBC Sevens Challenger Series following a string of impressive performances across all three rounds They kicked off their campaign in style by winning the opening two tournaments in Cape Town Their dominance in Cape Town set the tone — securing back-to-back titles with commanding wins where they finished third at Henryk Reyman's Municipal Stadium their cumulative success was enough to seal the series crown Kenya’s Captain Grace Okulu said after raising the trophy: It’s actually been a tough couple of days in Krakow but we bounced back and we were able to win the series Since last year we didn’t qualify so this year we really had a lot to do I don’t think anyone in Kenya Rugby has ever done this But being the first females and for us to be the champions of the series We are so lucky so have our fans come to support us all the way." Canada could not continue their winning streak on the final day with a defeat to Samoa who saved their best performance until last Their passionate four-try display secured them a place in the semi-finals and an all-important spot in the HSBC SVNS Play-Offs which will take place in Los Angeles on 3-4 May Samoa’s Meni Manase commented after the historic moment: “Our first goal was to qualify for LA and that’s ticked off First time being overseas and coming from a small country it really means a lot to our coaches and our families.” an exciting dual between Thailand and Argentina in the opening round went down to the wire with one point separating the teams not only giving Argentina the win but also ensuring that Colombia had enough points to progress to Los Angeles The Challenger was introduced in February 2020 to boost the development of rugby sevens across the globe The short format of the game has experienced huge growth over the past two decades since the introduction of the global sevens series and becoming an Olympic sport at the Rio 2016 Games The 2025 edition of the Challenger competition kicked off with combined events over two weekends in Cape Town on 1-2 and 7-8 March followed by Henryk Reyman’s Municipal Stadium in Krakow on 11-12 April all eyes are on the HSBC SVNS Play-off in Los Angeles on 3-4 May Elizabeth and Nathan’s love story has taken center stage on When Calls the Heart, and like costar Kevin McGarry, Erin Krakow also found love on the set of the Hallmark Channel series Krakow and Ben Rosenbaum and Krakow gave When Calls the Heart fans an update about their relationship on Valentine’s Day This marked one year since they went public with their romance Sign Up Apr 28, 2025 | Politics, Society Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers We cannot do what we do without your support The mayor of Kraków has asked parliament to take disciplinary action against a right-wing opposition MP whose social media account shared a video from the city and claimed it showed immigrants being settled there but which in fact depicted tourists travelling to a hotel Anna Krupka of the national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party she has refused mayor Aleksander Miszalski’s request to issue an apology Niecały rok temu składając ślubowanie obiecałem Wam dbać o dobre imię Krakowa dlatego przed chwilą podpisałem list do Marszałka Sejmu w którym wnioskuję o wszczęcie postępowania przez sejmową Komisję Etyki przeciw posłance Annie Krupce Posłanka… pic.twitter.com/V7qRq8mYMp — Aleksander Miszalski (@Miszalski_) April 25, 2025 The video in question shows a group of people pulling luggage through Kraków, Poland’s second-largest city and its biggest tourist hub Krupka shared it on her Facebook page last week along with the caption: “No These are migrants brought in under the cover of night Cracovians will be surprised in the morning.” Screenshots show that her post was shared at least 2,100 times before being deleted which claimed the film shows “immigrants being brought to Polish cities” as part of a “hostile takeover” has been viewed 800,000 times and shared almost 3,000 times the video in question was in fact originally posted by local activists from Kraków who campaign against overtourism in the city They said that it showed a group of over 100 people going to a hotel at night Krupka’s post was quickly condemned by the local authorities in Kraków writing to the MP calling on her to apologise for “spreading lies and manipulation in the public space” He said that the film “shows a group of tourists walking down one of our streets” but “for political and cynical reasons and accused us of accepting them in Krakow ‘under the cover of night’.” Miszalski – who is a member of Poland’s main ruling party the centrist Civic Platform (PO) – sent a request to the speaker of the Sejm the lower house of parliament in which Krupka sits for the PiS MP to be brought before the Parliamentary Ethics Committee “Thousands of people saw this manipulation that harms the image of Kraków,” said Miszalski he is obliged to “protect Kraków’s good name” This is a final appeal for our emergency campaign to save Notes from Poland we may lose the major grant that sustains our work If you value the service we provide, please click below and make a donation to help it continue https://t.co/0gVkMlaA0W — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) April 22, 2025 “I believe that deleting the post from the MP’s social media is not a sufficient action and every case of antagonising citizens in such a calculated and false manner requires a reaction – especially in the case of parliamentarians,” wrote Miszalski in his letter to the parliamentary speaker “Combating disinformation aimed at sowing hatred and fear is one of the key methods of protecting democratic values,” he added “I am convinced that parliamentary responsibility requires taking consequences for actions calculated to cause panic among citizens.” Asked about the issue by reports from broadcaster TVN and news website Onet Krupka told them that it was “not true” that she herself had shared the video she said that it had been posted by the person who administers her account “When I realised what she had posted That’s the end of this story,” said the MP who then refused to answer questions about whether the employee would face any consequences for sharing disinformation on Krupka’s official account — Monika Waluś (@MW_reporterka) April 24, 2025 PiS has in recent months regularly accused the government and local authorities controlled by the ruling coalition of acquiescing to European – and especially German – demands to settle immigrants in Poland However, experts note that many such claims are false or misleading. The actions that PiS has criticised in particular – Germany returning migrants and asylum seekers who have illegally entered from Poland – have been happening legally for years the number of asylum seekers returned by Germany to Poland under the EU’s Dublin Regulation was higher in 2023 when the current governing coalition was in power A province in Poland has announced that it will not participate in government plans to establish EU-funded integration centres for immigrants Protests against the centres, 49 of which are planned to be set up in Poland, have taken place in various citieshttps://t.co/BqqM8PG6p5 — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) April 18, 2025 Main image credit: Zabytkowe Centrum/Facebook (screenshot) Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications , , Karol Nawrocki even suggested that the state security services were involved in creating the scandal , , The 1,200 square metre national symbol 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University ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Executive Director of Taube Family Foundation ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Associate Professor at the Institute of Political Studies of the Polish Academy of Science ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Metrics details Airborne fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution decreased during last decade in Krakow X-Ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) technique at ASTRA beamline of SOLARIS Synchrotron (Krakow Poland) has been used to study of 8 aerosol samples (PM2.5) collected in Krakow during summer and winter 2018/2019 and 2020/2021 at K absorption edges of sulphur Samples of PM2.5 collected in summer contain sulphur mostly as sulphates samples collected in winter additionally contain bisulphates KHSO4 and K2SO4 are the primary contributors to potassium pollution in winter Iron phases of Fe+ 3 and Fe+ 2 oxidation states (FeSO4 Fe2O3 and FeOOH) are present in the samples of PM2.5 Main zinc containing phases present in PM2.5 samples are ZnSO4 Such advanced unique technique as XANES applied for PM2.5 research can be useful for preparing a program reducing the air pollution level of the city it helps to clarify the kind of chemical compounds present in particulate matter They focus mainly on the total mass of particulate matter and their emission sources The annual concentration of PM2.5 in Kraków decreased by 25% in 2020/2021 compared to 2018/2019 and black carbon were determined and the emission sources of PM2.5 were identified using Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) by Ryś et al PM2.5 levels in both years were influenced by two key factors: the implementation of a ban on coal and wood for residential heating in September 2019 and the reduction in human activities due to COVID-19 lockdown measures in March 2020 NH4+ and black carbon concentrations were observed The contributions of emission sources to PM2.5 mass were determined by PMF and four main sources were identified (road dust/construction work/industry/soil; secondary inorganic aerosols; exhaust traffic and solid fuel combustion) To our knowledge no study was performed on chemical states of elements present in particulate matter in Krakow X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) refers to the XAFS technique that focuses on the energy region near the absorption edge It offers data on the electronic configuration of atoms that are involved in absorption and indicates the oxidation state and chemical speciation of elements XANES spectroscopy can serve as a distinctive identifier to compare to reference materials in order to acquire speciation information preserving the original speciation in the materials hence allowing for the acquisition of valid information Such an experiment using XANES can help describe the emission sources of PM It can help preparing emission source profiles of PM2.5 and how the sources changed from the year 2018/219 to 2020/2021 as well as from summers to winters For the XANES measurements the samples of PM2.5 collected by AGH in two seasons (summer winter) in two years (2018/2019 and 2020/2021) were used To our knowledge it will be a first characterization of particulate matter (PM) by XANES for such samples in Poland PM2.5 samples were collected at the AGH Krakow University research station in Krakow The research station is a typical urban background site with residential and commercial buildings The sampling place is about 2 km from the City Centre The PM2.5 were collected on 46.2 mm diameter PTFE Teflon filters (Whatman) using a low-volume sampler at flow rate of 2.3 m3/h All samples were stored in a refrigerator at – 20oC before and after analyses Sr and Pb) were determined by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (ED-XRF) at the AGH Krakow University The spectrometer consists of 3 kW Mo-anode water cooled X-ray tube with line focus (300 μm Be exit window silicon drift detector (SDD active area 70 mm2 collimated to 50mm2 8-positions sample changer integrated with secondary target holder with switchable secondary targets The measurement geometry is defined by three axes perpendicular to each other: (1) X-ray source-secondary target The acquisition process was controlled with the use of in-house developed LabView program The X-ray tube was operated at 55 kV/30 mA exciting Ni and Mo secondary targets Cl were quantified with Ni secondary target; the measurement time for a single sample was 1 000 s Pb were quantified with Mo secondary target and the measurement time for one sample was 2 400 s The specimens are placed on the plate with 8 positions with the automatic changer of samples The measurements for both targets were performed under atmosphere air pressure Elemental concentrations in PM2.5 samples collected in summer and winter The arrows refer to the elements selected for the analysis iron and zinc were chosen for analysis because firstly they are markers of emission sources of PM2.5 as industry traffic or are responsible for oxidative reactions XANES analysis can be performed on samples with element concentrations as low as several tens of ppm depending on the specific element and experimental conditions Our XRF studies provides quantitative elemental analysis and serves as a preliminary tool to estimate whether the element of interest is present and at which concentrations In our work we decided to focus on the chemical speciation of elements that have relatively high concentrations (whose spectra could be measured at the beamline in a reasonable time) and have been investigated by other groups worldwide using different research methods This approach allows us to determine if our results complement existing research The XANES spectra (a) and the first derivatives of XANES spectra (b) at sulphur K-edge of PM2.5 collected in summer 06 August 2018 and in winter 9 January 2019 and the reference compounds. The inset represents the enlarge part of the energy range characteristic for the sulphides and sulphur organic compounds. Linear combination analysis results of potassium K-edge XANES spectra of winter PM2.5 samples. Linear combination analysis results of iron K-edge (a d) XANES spectra of summer and winter samples Calcium and sodium chlorides are used for de-icing of roads and pavements during wintertime These minerals could be a part of a soil dust which is a standard component in the summer air among K2SO4 and atmospheric processing of Fe(0) and Fe+ 2-bearing particles will produce oxidized Fe+ 3 phases such as ferrihydrite (amorphous Fe(OH)3) and sulfate-rich goethite (schwertmannite) Particle surfaces modified by emission generation processes (i.e. and oxidized and modified by environmental weathering would have surface chemistries reflecting alteration and mixed-metal oxidation states and they would mix with a large and complex suite of organic compounds from combustion emissions and volatilization Samples of PM2.5 were measured using XANES technique Different spectra were obtained for summer and winter at all measured edges At the edge of sulphur for samples collected in summer mainly sulphates were identified for winter samples additionally bisulphates sulphides and organic sulphur compounds were present These results were confirmed by measurements of PM2.5 at K In winter potassium exists mainly as KHSO4 Spectra for summer were more complicated and additionally the K compounds of aluminosilicates and other not stochiometric compounds of potassium from natural origin were assumed also to be present in the samples Iron exists on + 2 and + 3 oxidation states in particulate matter which were present in winter and summer in different contributions From measurements at Zn K-edge different compounds were observed for winter and summer In summer ZnSO4 and ZnO were identified and in winter ZnSO4 and ZnS Inorganic and organic compounds of chlorine were observed in XANES spectra The XANES study is highly useful for determining the chemical phases of elements in PM2.5 allowing for a more precise identification of emission sources such as combustion processes understanding the oxidation states and chemical forms of these elements provides insight into their potential toxicity and health effects as different species exhibit varying reactivity in the human respiratory system It is crucial for activities which aims the decreasing the pollution at any site in the World but the results and conclusions can be applied to many sites The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request Barima, Y. 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Environ. 221, 117099. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2019.117099 (2020) Download references This study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education This research project was partly supported by the program “Excellence initiative—research university” for the University of Krakow The XAFS measurements at ASTRA beamline at NSRC SOLARIS were made under the provision of the Polish Ministry and Higher Education project “Support for research and development with the use of research infra-structure of the National Synchrotron Radiation Centre SOLARIS” under contract Nr 1/SOL/2021/2 The further development of ASTRA beamline at NSRC SOLARIS was supported within the EU Horizon2020 program (952148-Sylinda) Thank you Grzegorz Gazdowicz and Lulu Alluhaibi for the support during the measurements at the ASTRA beamline Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science SOLARIS National Synchrotron Radiation Centre Jagiellonian University A.M.; Funding acquisition: L.S.; Sample preparation P.G. P.W.; XRF and XANES analyses and interpretation of all data: P.G. R.A.; Revising the manuscript critically for important intellectual content: L.S. A.M.; All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript The authors declare no competing interests Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95889-9 Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science The final round of the 2025 HSBC Sevens Challenger is set for April 11–12 in Krakow Poland—and the stakes couldn’t be higher Kenya heads into the qualification round with serious momentum after going back-to-back with wins at both Cape Town stops and Belgium will step in as the next-highest ranked team per the Terms of Participation of the Series Kenya edged South Africa in both Cup Semifinals—19-15 and 12-5—while Argentina and Colombia have traded blows with Argentina winning their last clash 10-5 Czechia pushed South Africa in the first stop but couldn’t break through and they’ll all be gunning for one of just four spots But there’s growing uncertainty about what those spots in LA actually mean. World Rugby is currently reviewing the format of the SVNS and Challenger Series and reports suggest that even if a Challenger team beats an SVNS team in LA it won’t guarantee promotion to the 2026 circuit all teams—winners and losers—may be funneled into regional qualifiers for a revamped Challenger Series That means Krakow is still a must-win moment for teams trying to stay in the mix—but what comes next is less clear than ever and the Krakow round is the last shot to get in Most of the world can watch this for free on RugbyPass, if that is blocked, we recommend checking the World Rugby ‘Where to Watch‘ page for other viewing options If you need a VPN, our top recommendation is always NordVPN They’re known for providing a stable connection and delivering high-speed service so you can count on a seamless browsing experience Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. ™ Your Scrumhalf Connection™ Women's Rugby Rundown Elizabeth Thornton (Erin Krakow) and Mike Hickam (Ben Rosenbaum) are both in relationships with other characters, but their real-life counterparts found love together. When Calls the Heart fans were thrilled when Krakow and Rosenbaum confirmed their relationship in 2024 The cast of the hit Hallmark series is currently on hiatus but the show will return for Season 13 in 2026 Since we’re not getting consistent updates from the close-knit cast you might be wondering about Krakow and Rosenbaum’s relationship status Scroll down to learn more about Hope Valley’s cutest real-life romance Sign Up Krakow Film Music Festival has announced the opening of the yearly Young Talent Award competition which will have its award ceremony during the celebration of the 18th edition of festival on May 26th-June 1st 2025 Young Talent Award – Official Announcement: https://www.facebook.com/FestiwalMuzykiFilmowej/posts/pfbid021t5UCF9W4DtGXGSLPGwM8R2EYUEgjZzPqeD7kDr2Cym6aqUBMQ5ZL3ZBicLDK83el Detailed information at https://fmf.fm/aktualnosci/fmf-young-talent-award-2025 The opportunity to perform your own work live at the 18th Krakow Film Music Festival in front of a packed concert hall – this is the prospect for all those who take part in the 13th FMF Young Talent Award participants in the competition will have to write their own piece for the film “I Am: Celine Dion” The international competition is a chance for young composers to gain recognition from experts and the general public The participants’ works will be assessed by an international jury consisting of composers performers and other persons connected with the film score industry The sessions of the jury will be chaired by Miriam Cutler – an Emmy-nominated composer specialising in documentaries educator and co-founder of The Alliance for Women Film Composers The main award will also include a Bettermaker Stereo Passive Equalizer mastering device worth USD 2,000 donated by competition partner Bettermaker a brand that creates high-end studio equipment for engineers and music producers twelve authors of the best works will take part in a prestigious workshop for young composers that will be conducted by specialists from the film score industry in the Krzysztof Penderecki European Centre for Music in Lusławice You can read more about Krakow Film Music Festival: http://soundtrackfest.com/en/tag/fmf_en/ Dec 23, 2024 | Culture The Christmas tree that adorns the historic market square in Kraków has been named the “most iconic” in the world by Time Out Kraków came top in the magazine’s ranking ahead of second-place Gubbio in Italy – where lights in the shape of a Christmas tree are installed on the slopes of Mount Ingino – and the Rockefeller Center in New York in third capital of Poland’s neighbour Lithuania “Kraków teems with Christmassy spirit all throughout December and it helps that the city’s streets and architecture look just like the background of a Christmas card,” wrote Time Out referring to the city’s UNESCO-listed Old Town “The central square is taken over every year by a charming festive market the crowning jewel of which is the tree which sits next to the cathedral,” they added This year’s Christmas tree was unveiled on Kraków’s medieval market square on 6 December and will remain there until 2 February It is decorated with 26,000 energy-saving lights as well as over 1,000 baubles that echo ornaments from tapestries located in Kraków’s historical Wawel Castle The market square also hosts Kraków’s famous Christmas market, which was last year ranked as the best in Europe. Earlier this year, Time Out magazine also rated Kraków’s Zabłocie neighbourhood as one of the “coolest in the world” Kraków is Poland’s most popular tourist destination, drawing 12 million visitors in 2023. In that year, it was chosen by British consumer association Which? as Europe’s best city break destination for the fourth time in a row Kraków’s Christmas market has been named as Europe’s best in a new ranking Two other Polish cities, Wrocław and Poznań, also appeared in the top ten, making Poland the only country to feature three times https://t.co/RfvWknaBGi — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) November 13, 2023 Main image credit: Jakub Wlodek / Agencja Wyborcza.pl [email protected] This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page When my husband first suggested going to Krakow for our joint 25th anniversary and (my) 55th birthday trip It honestly wasn’t my first choice for a summer European destination but little did I know the trip would deliver one of the best gifts I’ve ever received Celebrating my birthday in Krakow was profoundly hopeful and life affirming Instead of facing the sadness and tragedy of the Holocaust with tears initially found out about Ride for the Living through a friend in Denver another long-time pal temporarily located in Krakow reached out to him to gauge his interest in the event a four-day experience combining spirituality featuring a 60-mile bicycle ride from the gates of Auschwitz-Birkenau to the JCC Krakow this is where my family members were murdered by the Nazis My grandmother never stepped foot in Vienna since the day she and my grandfather left in 1938 I had been to Yad Vashem in Jerusalem and the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington how necessary was it to tour Auschwitz-Birkenau I had no idea it would be one of the defining moments of my life filled with great hope and meaning for both my ancestors and my family of today Ride for Living is organized by the JCC Krakow which is helping to build a Jewish future in the city that is best known for its Nazi death camps is committed to growing the Jewish population and community serving as the focal point for the rebirth of Jewish life in Krakow Auschwitz-Birkenau and other concentration camps there are around 1,110 Jews in the vibrant city of Krakow many of whom had hidden their Jewish heritage to survive They are welcomed back into the fold of the JCC Krakow to rediscover their heritage and regrow from their remaining roots my grandmother Frances was one of four siblings living in Vienna when things started to turn horrific for Jews in Austria Her older sister Helen and her family survived in hiding from 1938 to 1944 while her brother Dov was recruited into the British army … but her brother Max was with the Belgium resistance and was captured by the Gestapo and ultimately killed (our 17-year-old son Max is named in his honor) My grandfather Paul’s sister Valli survived the war by fleeing to Siberia and Arnold was captured and perished in a concentration camp joined the Jewish army Haganah and fought in Israel’s 1948 War of Independence married in Vienna in 1937 and were still there in March 1938 when Anschluss occurred (“unity” in German meaning that Germany and Austria united into one country the German invasion of Austria was taking over the country) Everything for Jewish Austrians changed overnight Paul’s father was the head of a large printing company and probably part of an effort by the Germans to eliminate Jews in high leadership positions That served as the handwriting on the wall Paul and Frances immediately got visas to Italy they realized that they could not get to their destination They finally received visas to Switzerland where they applied for visas to the United States with severe immigration restrictions emanating from the 1924 anti-immigration law designed mostly to keep Jews out Paul and Frances traveled from Switzerland and arrived in the United States of America It took them between 10 and 20 years to finally be reunited with their surviving siblings in Washington While my grandparents and some of their family members survived the Holocaust and Frances’ brother and two aunts and countless other relatives of both Paul and Frances were murdered in the Holocaust as part of an astounding 1.7 million people from around the world each year We gathered under the large tree next to the ruins of the gas chambers at Birkenau the tree’s canopy of leaves shading us from the extreme heat of the summer day Our group stood in a circle on the very spot that contained so much death Rabbi Avi Baumol of Krakow led us in the Mourner’s Kaddish in the words of Elie Wiesel with each verse followed by the name of a concentration camp we sang “Hatikvah,” the Israeli national anthem and that is when the most miraculous thing occurred: A group of 20 or so young women from southern Israel the Star of David flag draped over their shoulders stopped mid-track on their walk and stared at us They jumped over a ditch and joined our group turned to me with tears running down his face Ken and I stood with our bikes at the gates of Auschwitz-Birkenau with about 200 (mostly Jewish American) riders members of the Israeli and Polish consulate and two Holocaust survivors (Bernard Offen who spoke to our 17-year-old son’s Israel Study Tour group the previous week in Krakow) as a 5-year-old Jewish boy in Krakow was sent to Auschwitz the 10-year-old Marcel and a group of boys walked by foot from Auschwitz in search of their families in Krakow After several months in the Krakow orphanage Marcel was finally reunited with his mother Marcel has joined Ride for the Living to make his same journey — this time on a bicycle — from the death camps to the JCC Krakow Our group followed his route through the Polish countryside to honor his journey back home families and residents would come outside to cheer us on There were no riots or demonstrations; I never once felt afraid or nervous for my safety as a Jew it’s more dangerous to be a Jew in NYC than in Poland there aren’t any Holocaust deniers in Poland grandparents and great-grandparents all lived through the horrors as they saw the smoke rising from the chimneys of the crematoriums They knew that 1.1 million European Jews were murdered steps from their villages Although we began our ride that morning as strangers Every conversation along the route was deep and thoughtful with explanations of why each person chose to participate in Ride for the Living we bonded through the shared commonality of our Jewish heritage and culture as we cycled into Krakow toward a celebration at the JCC with brightly colored balloons a man came up to me on the street and asked me how much money it cost to participate in the ride There is no price tag on the experience of connecting with others in the hope of promise for the future The Ride for the Living was overwhelming at times and sadness overtook my joy at different points during the event attending a celebratory Shabbat dinner for 700 people in the center of Krakow We will never forget what we saw and experienced and I am most grateful to my husband for the idea and gentle nudge where she lives with her husband and teenage son Poland — The notes of the trumpeter high in a famed belfry tumble down To most of those dining, shopping, or strolling below on raucous Rynek Glowny But if you were to walk atop the cobblestones of the emptied square at dawn’s first light or deep into the night the sound from the taller of two towers at St legend and tradition thread together the notes and the silence and notes again According to a tale that took hold a century ago the trumpeter’s call — made in person at the top of each hour 24 times a day — is a reminder of the warning made in the 13th century to the guards below to shut the gates of the village as a marauding band of Mongols approached Krakow was saved by the trumpeter’s alertness Krakow (pronounced crack-uf) carries a reputation as a quick and relatively inexpensive get-away destination one packed with medieval architecture and modern art along with bars serving more than 100 vodkas and well-regarded local pilsners For Ukrainians, it has become a refuge About 270,000 Ukrainians streamed into the city in the first days of Russia’s invasion — equaling 40 percent of Krakow’s overall population Those numbers have receded as many returned home or decided to build a life elsewhere but about 100,000 remain the generosity and open-armed welcomes of three years ago have slightly dimmed as resources falter but most residents accept their role in providing comfort and security to desperate Poles have known well the pain of repelling invaders Through wars and subjugation, Krakow has remained the heart of Polish heritage. UNESCO, the cultural arm of the United Nations, acknowledged this uniqueness, naming three of its neighborhoods in its first batch of World Heritage Sites in 1978 and the old Jewish quarter of Kazimierz — are contiguous but remarkably dissimilar The daylight is harsh upon its weary streetscape An initial impression: postwar communist bleakness Yet pockets of the neighborhood hum. Blocks-long indiscriminate graffiti give way to brilliant street art in such places as Judah market and Plac Bawol Banksy-style artists bring unexpected delights around drab street corners UNESCO calls Krakow a City of Literature and ground zero may be Cytat Cafe only shelves of books stacked floor to ceiling Quotes of motivation and insight accompany your cup of coffee A most solemn space is the Holocaust memorial tucked into a pedestrian way near Remuh Synagogue rocks carried from afar are placed at the foot of the memorial slab detailing the murder of 65,000 Jews from Krakow and neighboring areas by the Nazis Night transforms Kazimierz into a vibrant magnet for revelers. Its hub is Plac Nowy, a one-time chicken slaughterhouse that houses an inner ring of food kiosks and an outer ring of market booths, both often open into early morning hours. Grab a chunk of Krakow’s street pizza, zapiekanka essentially a baquette topped with your favorite add-ons and brought together with ketchup Bar-Oko and Bar Naxama are local favorites for this addictive treat The nearby Alchemia hangout serves up drinks in a setting lodged somewhere between bohemia and shabby Victorian chic overseen by a stuffed juvenile crocodile hanging over the bar with old-style sewing tables as your dining table “Every Polish woman sews,” one young Polish-American said the bar’s parlor is cleared of chairs for late-night dancing to Polish folk and swing music including atop the parlor’s large table (sewing-machine free Wawel lies between Kazimierz and Old Krakow It not so much knits the two districts together as rises above them the castle high on a bluff there protected kings and queens; now majestically overlooking the Vistula River it protects much of the nation’s art and heritage Plan on a couple hours walking among its gardens and courtyard and taking in one of several tours, For those more interested in archeology and history than ostentation, the “Castle Underground” delivers taking you on a subterranean exploration through the ages and various stages of the invaders’ destruction and the Poles’ restoration Another tour takes you deep into limestone caves and tunnels — the lair of the fabled Wawel Dragon Its trail of terror lined with dispatched knights ended who stuffed sulfur into the carcass of a ram and gulped so many gallons of water from the river that he exploded A metal sculpture of the fated dragon at the base of the cave occasionally belches out fire much to the delight of children gathered around Planty Park forms an emerald collar around Old Krakow many with a QR code offering up the poetry Old Krakow is a place of Old World charm. Bistros and mom-and-pop shops channel its narrow streets. An excellent space to kick off your morning here is the Camelot Cafe and a cup of coffee and watch the world wake up around you The rattle of old bicycles and wheeled luggage along the cobblestone street bounces between the walls of the cafe solo and in pairs — and in full habit — stroll along the streets The pulsing center of Old Krakow is Rynek Glowny it’s a perfectly massive square (you could fit 13 or so Quincy Marketplaces inside The cobblestones and queue of a half-dozen horse-drawn carriages in folk decor might be a bit too Disneyesque for some and the booths hawking wares and trinkets in Cloth Hall On one warm late Saturday afternoon last spring here’s what you could take in: a flautist erect in the slanting light on a side street a West African drumming circle next to Cloth Hall a fantastic flamenco guitarist at the east of the square a young female singer accompanied by a guitarist singing Polish folk songs from the open a New Orleans jazz quartet prompting folks to bop and twist on a western side walkway it’s hard to beat this: Hoist an early evening beverage on the deck of Cafe Szal above the stalls at Cloth Hall and watch the setting sun turn the western-facing facades aglow as shadows swallow the square below you’ll find a sculpture of the severed head of Eros This grim modern take on an ancient legend may seem incongruently placed on this medieval square but don’t bother telling that to the scrums of children who squeal as they enter the sculpture through its neck and squeeze out via its eyeballs At the opposite end of the square is St. Mary’s Why are its two towers of such dissimilar height Legend (you guessed it) has it that two brothers were commissioned to do each tower separately When one brother neared completion of his much sooner The result: The murderer’s edifice towers over that of his dead brother’s The edifice also holds the tale of Krakow’s greatest legend The warning notes followed by silence signifies the sentinel being struck in the throat by an arrow He staggers but is able to complete his clarion call before dying Michael Bailey can be reached at michael.bailey@globe.com. Home Delivery Gift Subscriptions Log In Manage My Account Customer Service Delivery Issues Feedback News Tips Help & FAQs Staff List Advertise Newsletters View the ePaper Order Back Issues News in Education Search the Archives Privacy Policy Terms of Service Terms of Purchase Work at Boston Globe Media Internship Program Co-op Program Do Not Sell My Personal Information Be still our hearts! When Calls the Heart star Erin Krakow had the sweetest words for boyfriend and costar Ben Rosenbaum‘s birthday on March 3 and Krakow took a moment to send him some love She shared two photos in honor of his birthday one with their dog and another of her and Rosenbaum cuddling close Sign Up Joshua Krakow is looking to upset the established party order in Southwest Florida by taking District 77 as a Libertarian District 77 represents a swath of communities and includes: Alva Issues in the district range from growth management and planning to septic-to-sewer needs and transportation infrastructure He's facing incumbent Republican Tiffany Esposito and Democrat Cornelius Fowler Krakow is the chair of the Lee County Libertarian Party and works at Single Dads Outreach in Fort Myers State representatives have a say in issues such as abortion Krakow is a businessman who also worked as a security guard in the region He grew up in the Fort Myers area and later lived in Cape Coral for 10 years Why do you want to be the next state representative for District 77 as I’ve become deeply involved in politics I’ve seen firsthand how corporate entities prop up their spokespersons as political leaders while real issues and citizens' concerns are pushed aside It feels like we’ve been left without someone who truly represents the people The key difference between me and my opponents is that I have actual policies written out for voters to review and decide if they align with their values my policies don’t favor one demographic over another More: Swimming is safe again in the Gulf. What to know What life or work experiences do you have that make you the best candidate What makes me the best candidate is that I’m just like the people I hope to represent and I’m struggling to maintain my way of life amidst this massive inflation Having grown up in Lee County and never left I have a unique perspective on where we’ve come from and where we’re headed I don’t believe we’re on the right path and I hope to change that What are the biggest issues facing District 77 The biggest issues I see in District 77 are the lack of community I plan to address this by focusing on community-based development rather than solely on commercial and construction investments I aim to invest in grassroots charitable organizations within our community directing expenditures toward those who need it most instead of corporate entities that regularly receive millions from politicians My top priority upon being elected will be to secure a position on the Children I believe this role will allow me to leverage my experience to advocate for meaningful change and hold the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to a higher standard than what they are currently held to I plan to introduce a major family court reform bill to address the flaws in the system and ensure it better serves families and children How do you think the state should address the issue I have a bill that plan focuses on deregulating Florida’s insurance market to allow insurers more flexibility in setting premiums based on actual risk It eliminates state subsidies for high-risk insurance making residents in high-risk areas responsible for paying higher premiums based on their risk The plan ensures that insurers maintain solvency standards to cover their obligations without relying on taxpayer bailouts More: Fort Myers Beach video update: Reporter Chad Gillis provides post-Helene update Abortion will be on the Florida ballot this year with Amendment 4 which would protect women's right to abortion in Florida I am personally against abortion on moral grounds but I do not support government regulation I believe in removing government subsidies and allowing the free market to decide I see this as a moral issue that requires more open conversations within our communities We need to discuss our values and reach shared agreements without resorting to force The environment is another huge issue for Florida How do you think the state should address clean water and other problems When it comes to Florida's environmental impact I believe we need to focus on critical issues like the state’s plan to use phosphogypsum in our roads We also need to address the over-reliance on real estate sales to cover the majority of our expenditures The current financial structure demands continuous growth which puts an increasing strain on our environment and natural ecosystems Ron DeSantis vetoing all of Florida’s planned arts and culture grants in the state’s 2024-25 budget I believe Ron DeSantis vetoing all of Florida's Arts and Cultural grants for the upcoming session is a positive move While I personally love art and learning about different cultures I understand that these funds don’t belong to the government — they belong to the taxpayers allowing individuals to invest in the charities and causes they care about rather than having the state make those decisions for them What is your stance on allowing recreational marijuana in Florida and how would you regulate it I fully support deregulation and believe individuals should have the right to grow their own medicine True liberty means having the freedom to decide what we put into our own bodies Prohibition has always led to underground markets and unnecessary deaths It's time to return to a focus on personal freedom and individual rights Brings the operator's footprint to four across Poland Polish data center operator Polcom is set to build two new data centers and launch a new service platform - Polcom AI Cloud will see an investment of PLN 100 million ($24.8m) The two data centers - DC3 and DC4 - will have a combined capacity of 44MW Each facility will span three floors with three 300 sqm data halls The facilities will use hybrid cooling; both air and direct liquid cooling which Polcom has used in its existing facilities since 2015 The first stage of the photovoltaic farm will be completed in February this year The second stage will be completed in Q2 2025 Timelines for the construction of the data centers have not been shared The Polcom AI Cloud platform will enable companies to use AI as a service “From the point of view of the development of our company the most important thing is our customers – for years we have been trying to anticipate their needs,” said Marcin Gwóźdź president of the management board at polcom "Every investment we have made so far has been dictated by specific market expectations The same is true for subsequent data centers – by the end of 2026 we want to put into operation one of the two planned data centers which will allow us to provide efficient cloud services for our customers and will also allow us to provide scalable infrastructure for platforms using AI or machine learning." the company launched its first 15MW data center in Skawina near Krawkow in 2010 a twin data center offering 8MW of capacity was launched in Alwernia Polcom announced plans to develop cloud services with 70 percent of its investment budget being dedicated to product development Data Centre Dynamics Ltd (DCD), 32-38 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH Email. [email protected]DCD is a subsidiary of InfraXmedia It’s no secret that Kevin McGarry and Erin Krakow care about their characters’ relationship on When Calls the Heart Now that Nathan and Elizabeth are finally together and thriving the actors want to make sure they’re getting every moment right McGarry revealed that he and Krakow pushed for a notable change in Nathan and Elizabeth’s love story during a particular scene in Season 12 Sign Up U gebruikt helaas een verouderde internetbrowser. Voor een optimale ervaring met deze website is het aan te raden om over te stappen naar een modernere verie of installeer Google Chrome Frame The full-day conference concluded with a preview of the Kraków Declaration The Kraków Declaration puts forward 7 key recommendations for the future of Europe’s built environment and calls upon the EU Institutions and Member States to adopt an holistic quality-driven and cultural approach in all EU policies and funding programmes which impact upon the built heritage The conference, organised in the framework of the EU-funded European Heritage Hub pilot project attracted some 250 participants both onsite and online Director of the International Cultural Centre (ICC) and Board Member of Europa Nostra Board Member of the Architects’ Council of Europe invited the representatives of the host organisations to make the introductory remarks President of the Architects’ Council of Europe Secretary General of Europa Nostra and Project Leader of the European Heritage Hub set the tone for the conference by underlining the importance of partnerships within civil society and with other stakeholders — Europa Nostra (@europanostra) November 28, 2024 “2025 will mark the 50th anniversary of the very first European Architectural Heritage Year We need to renew this mobilisation and energy to go further together,” stated Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović Chairman of the Committee on Culture and the Media of the Polish Senate Vice-Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education “The New European Bauhaus shows that the European Green Deal cannot be created in a fragmented way It is a platform for unleashing creativity and cooperation between culture and science” stated Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski in a video message broadcast from the conference Our VP Prof. Jacek Purchla delivered a keynote on the history & significance of Krakow 🇵🇱 as a UNESCO heritage site. Proud that Krakow is host to the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub for Central & Eastern Europe! Join the livestream for the panel discussions 👉 https://t.co/lu2hGJ5ckg pic.twitter.com/1mudw0MqNN — Europa Nostra (@europanostra) November 28, 2024 Prof. Jacek Purchla, Vice-President of Europa Nostra and Chair of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards Jury, delivered a keynote on the history and significance of the inscription of the Historic Centre of Kraków on UNESCO’s World Heritage List highlighting the city’s experience in terms of heritage and development “Kraków belongs to those cities where heritage is decisive,” he said also mentioning the urban heritage keystones of liveability: quality The first panel discussion focused on the New European Bauhaus and cultural heritage President of the Romanian Order of Architects — Europa Nostra (@europanostra) November 28, 2024 The second panel conversation on Innovation for cultural heritage included presentations by Diego Zoppi Coordinator of the thematic Area ‘Practice of the Profession’ Founder and Chairman of the Open Eyes Economy Summit who focused on the regenerative power of culture to move from a conventional to a regenerative economy “Cultural regeneration takes place through multigenerational local cultural practices In this case regeneration means forming new imaginaries If we don’t treat people as curators but as users we are creating non-places in which to live,” said Prof The afternoon session continued with a roundtable on Sustainability in the context of heritage reflecting on the impacts of climate change on our built environment and solutions for protection partner and deputy CEO of White Arkitekter and Vice-President of ACE highlighted the shift in policies from demolition to retrofitting of existing buildings but noted that traditional skills and knowledge are still overlooked “We use the word sustainability so much that we forget what it is We need to think of what we can do to influence and shape what happens next All of our actions can have profound effects across our sector communities and the world,” said Graham Bell who both emphasised the value of public participation cultural heritage not being an end but a tool for the community Piotr Lewicki from Łatak-Lewicki Architectural offices talked about the redevelopment of the Cracovia Hotel, demolition of which was prevented thanks to a citizens’ movement. It will now be transformed into an architecture and design museum. Olaf Grawert, Campaign Manager at HouseEurope! explained this European citizens’ initiative for renovation combining practice — Europa Nostra (@europanostra) November 28, 2024 The last panel discussion delved into the topic of heritage and recovery drawing from the lessons of the war in Ukraine Director of the Institute of Architecture at Lviv Polytechnic University argued that European cities should be prepared for shelling in today’s aggressive context and that specialists should be trained to save cultural heritage in the extreme conditions of wartime Ruta LEITANAITE, Board member of the Architects Association of Lithuania, Coordinator of Creative Europe project #UREHERIT shares her key messages and recommendations for the recovery and sustainable development of #ukraine pic.twitter.com/ESUruE4KZ5 — ACE CAE (@Ace_Cae) November 28, 2024 Ruta Leitanaite, Board member of the Architects Association of Lithuania, and Coordinator of the Creative Europe project “UREHERIT”, announced the just published Recommendations from the European Commission-led expert group on the safeguarding of cultural heritage in Ukraine recognising heritage as a key resource for recovery Finally, Akrivi-Athina Vlachou, Urban Specialist at the European Investment Bank (EIB), presented the NEB Investment Guidelines a tool providing practical and procedural aspects of investment and project preparation in the built environment aligned with NEB values Today, we’ve adopted the #NewEuropeanBauhaus Investment Guidelines These guidelines help integrate sustainability — European Commission (@EU_Commission) July 29, 2024 The conference concluded with a preview of the Kraków Declaration “New European Bauhaus: Heritage & Transformation”, jointly issued by ACE, Europa Nostra and ICOMOS which puts forward  7 key recommendations for the future of Europe’s built environment from favouring renovation and adaptive reuse embracing innovation and traditional knowledge peer-learning and risk management and preparedness we want to provide a purpose to policy frameworks Architecture and urban planning are the reflection of our societies in urban or rural areas,” said Ruth Schagemann The Declaration also proposes a Call to Action to the incoming European Commission recently elected Members of the European Parliament and Member States We shall reach out to relevant members of the new College of Commissioners responsible for Cohesion among others,” stated Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic This hybrid event was organised in collaboration with and the support of the International Cultural Centre and the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Kraków in the framework of the EU-funded European Heritage Hub pilot project. It was co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union The conference was held under the Honorary Patronage of the Mayor of Kraków Advertiser DisclosureAdvertiser Disclosure 61 Published Articles 3584 Edited Articles 163 Published Articles 698 Edited Articles Opinions and recommendations are ours alone Planning my family’s winter break travels through Denmark and Poland had me facing a common dilemma: Where to land on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day that would likely still have businesses open Given Kraków’s famous tourist attractions and Christmas market the city seemed like a natural fit for our holiday schedule I desperately wanted to be around other people for the holidays and not feel isolated No hotel seemed to fit the bill for our family of 5 until I came across the newly opened MEININGER Kraków Centrum Having stayed at MEININGER Hotels properties I knew the room setup would be perfect for us But would the insanely low rates compensate for the extra walking distance to Old Town I can’t keep this chic brand of hostel-style hotels to myself anymore Traveling comfortably with kids can be fun and affordable I’ll share my experience at MEININGER Kraków Centrum and explain why this chain should be top of mind when looking to save money in Europe MEININGER Hotels is a hip, budget hotel chain with 36 hotels in 26 cities across 10 European countries. The properties are a hostel/hotel hybrid, similar to a&o, Generator, and Jo&Joe MEININGER Kraków Centrum opened in October 2023 in the Grzegórzki district east of Old Town and north of Kazimierz (the Jewish Quarter) We were able to walk to Old Town in just over 10 minutes The hotel is across the street from a tram stop and the Kraków Grzegórzki train stop though we didn’t use public transit to navigate the city as walking was comfortable and easy The property is also about 20 minutes on foot from Kraków Główny We arrived in Kraków via train and took a tram directly to the hotel from the main station for 11 Polish złoty (~$3) for 2 adults and 3 kids we chose to walk to the train station and likely saved a bit of time I had a reasonable 2-bedroom Airbnb in Old Town booked for $171 a night I received an email from MEININGER’s mailing list touting the opening of the MEININGER Kraków Centrum and when I realized how low the rates were The hotel was about 11 minutes from the Airbnb My husband and I contemplated whether an extra 20-minute walk round-trip in the cold with kids would be worth the savings over a better location and decided YES While I had placed the reservation on hold in October with my credit card I was not charged until we checked in on December 24 This is notable as the złoty exchange rate fluctuates so the room cost about 9% more than I originally planned The front desk also had items like playing cards There were dining tables ideal for having a drink or snack from the bar There were also several individual chairs and sofas for groups to gather before stepping out Common spaces throughout the property also had thoughtful seating areas like this transitional library space between the breakfast room and the guest rooms The game zone on the -1 level was the highlight of my kids’ stay There were 2 foosball tables and board games to borrow I spent a few hours working from these chairs as my kids played The pool table was usually quite lively with groups The rear of the room had a small kitchen space and what seemed like a potential space for karaoke The projection screen was available to connect to via an HDMI cable a guest set up Netflix on their laptop and played a family-friendly movie for anyone to enjoy These bean bags were also fun for my kids to rearrange and pounce on with various retro video games like “Tekken” and “Mortal Kombat,” was something my kids looked forward to daily We only packed 5 days of clothes for 17 days of travel so access to laundry services was super important (and one of the reasons we initially booked into an Airbnb) I was happy that MEININGER Kraków Centrum had 2 washers and 2 dryers There was also a leftover community-donated stash of detergents so we didn’t need to purchase any supplies The machines functioned via the appwash app and you must top-up your app account before starting a load and we lost quite a bit of time for a staff member to help resolve it (and for our laundry to dry since it was not adequately wrung out) we only needed to do 1 round of laundry on this stay and didn’t have to mess with the equipment any further While we waited in the game room as our laundry was running there was also seating in the laundry room and just outside in the hallway If staying at an Airbnb appeals to you because of access to a kitchen the MEININGER Kraków Centrum’s guest kitchen offers a similar setup The double kitchen had everything needed to make a meal While personal items could be labeled and stored in the community fridges I liked that guests were encouraged to share their leftovers with other guests This helps reduce food waste and can help a fellow budget traveler Some MEININGER properties have individual luggage lockers but the Kraków location has a locked luggage room We spent our final day touring off-property ahead of a 3 p.m and the front desk attendant was able to unlock the room for us to store our bags There were no valet-style tags to indicate whose bags were whose whether in the game room or our guest room Pets are permitted in private rooms for 50 zł (~$12) per day per pet Our room was on level 5 in the main hotel building I was pleased to see that the 6 rooms in our immediate vicinity had a closed door to help reduce any noise from the vestibule I was immediately thrilled upon opening the door to the room The sleeping arrangements were 2 twin beds (that we later pushed together) and 2 sets of bunk beds I appreciated that the adult beds did not have a direct line of sight with the kids in their beds This gave us a little privacy and meant we could be on our devices after lights out without disturbing them You can also see in the image below that there were 2 separate bathrooms The door to the left of the storage cabinet went to a single toilet with a sink and the space to the right had an open sink with a shower behind a door The twin beds had a small stool serving as a nightstand The bunk beds also had an individual outlet and a small ledge for charging a phone or holding glasses In the center of the room was a small table with 4 stools We used this space for storing and eating snacks and meals The second set of bunk beds was to the left There was also a large TV with a small desk Like our experience at Urban House Copenhagen by MEININGER the trash bin was much larger than a typical hotel trash bin meaning we had to empty it less frequently Every bed is labeled with a letter corresponding to a lockable storage space While not as secure as a safe, we used our TSA luggage locks to secure our valuables in these lockers We also used the wall hooks and hangers to store our winter coats and the curtains did a good job of darkening the room overnight The hotel also has a separate building extension behind the street-front building where our room was located Much thought went into how a group of 6 might best use bathrooms in this room The separate sink area had a soap dispenser The shower room could be closed off via a door This meant 1 person could be brushing their teeth while another showered and yet another was in a separate toilet room and we all liked making our towels and pajamas toasty by preheating them on this towel warmer but we could keep water from spreading with a spare towel The water closet was completely separate from the shower space and had a small sink and soap dispenser The hotel offers a daily breakfast buffet and an all-day bar with snacks You can also arrange a packed lunch for 35 zł (~$9) from high-top tables with barstools to traditional dining tables and chairs There were cushioned benches and spaces ideal for solo Pretty much every space was also perfect for remote work There was even a kids’ corner with toys and coloring supplies with most basic drinks starting at around 9 zł (~$2) A small bar food menu featured croissant sandwiches Note that the Żabka mini-mart next door to the property has cheaper drinks A breakfast buffet is available daily from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m You can save a few złoty off the rate by booking your breakfast with your room online Breakfast for my family of 5 would have run ~$42 daily Cheaper breakfast is just a few steps from the hotel. For a quick morning snack, consider an obwarzanek krakowski (a bagel/pretzel hybrid) sold on street corners for 2 to 3 zł (under $1), or try the donuts from Dobra Pączkarnia in Old Town for 7 to 10 zł (~$2) each and thank me later The breakfast options at the buffet were also fairly basic and peppers were accompanied by cold cuts and cheese You could assemble a sandwich using the bread and rolls or select a croissant or pastry Baked beans seemed to be the only hot food offered Hard-boiled eggs and yogurts were also available Guests could choose from cold cereals and toppings such as nuts The self-service coffee machine dispensed Lavazza coffee drinks and hot chocolate; a dispenser had water and juices but the front desk staff was always friendly and helpful I wish my issue with the faulty washing machine was resolved more quickly but this incident occurred on Christmas Eve and the specific staff member capable of fixing the problem was on a break when it happened I think he did his best to help me find a quick solution While he offered free breakfast for the trouble I really was just after finishing my laundry The hotel didn’t charge me for the final load and the app was able to refund my payment for the error load Kraków is about 5 hours from Gdańsk by train (tickets for our family of 5 cost 787.50 zł/$195) and just over 2 hours from Warsaw by train (our tickets cost 238 zł/$59 total). If you plan to travel throughout Poland by train, Intercity tickets open for sale 30 days ahead of the travel date Prices vary significantly based on the time of day and how express the service is The hotel is a comfortable walk to Old Town, including Cloth Hall at Rynek Główny (where the Christmas market was located) and Wawel Royal Castle. We enjoyed an informative free Old Town Kraków walking tour from Walkative! (make sure to tip your guide!) We found lots of great food options nearby, including Pierogarnia Krakowiacy for amazing pierogies and hunter’s stew and Kiełbaski z Niebieskiej Nyski (Sausages from the Blue Nysa Van) for wickedly affordable and delicious kielbasa sausage The train tickets were 32.50 zł (~$8) for our family of 5 (purchased on board) and the train was easy to catch from the Kraków Grzegórzki stop across from the hotel The Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp is a popular excursion from Kraków. While you can visit the sites for free in the afternoon, consider booking a guided 3.5-hour tour in the language of your choice as soon as you know your travel dates This will give you access to the earlier time slots in the day and can help enrich your experience at the memorial Families should take notice that children under 14 are not recommended to visit the memorial My husband and I heeded this warning and visited individually on 2 separate days For transportation to Auschwitz we walked from the hotel to the bus station at Kraków Główny and caught an 85-minute Lajkonik bus to Oświęcim The bus stops directly at the visitor center and costs ~20 zł (~$5) each way Who in their right mind pays $55 a night for a hostel-style hotel and families — pretty much every type of traveler MEININGER Hotels has evolved the hostel concept to a modern budget hotel with comfortable and our experience has been consistently great across several properties Our stay at MEININGER Kraków Centrum was fantastic When kids are happy with bunk beds and a game room parental stress melts away just a little bit and with Kraków being such a walkable city the location was central enough to easily access all the area had to offer My family agrees that MEININGER Hotels is our favorite family-friendly hotel chain and it is absolutely worth seeking out on your next European vacation For Capital One products listed on this page some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product See the respective Guide to Benefits for details MEININGER Kraków Centrum has underground parking at a cost of 70 zł (~$17) per day MEININGER Kraków Centrum serves a breakfast buffet daily from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m and children from ages 7 to 12 are half-price You may be able to save on the rate by booking your breakfast with your room online Check-in at MEININGER Kraków Centrum is 3 p.m. you may be able to request late checkout for 60 zł (~$15) MEININGER Kraków Centrum has private rooms that can accommodate a family with up to 6 people Kids will love the bunk beds and in-room TV There is also a game room on the -1 level with foosball Guests receive a discount of 15% when booking online with at least 1 child under 12 years old Editing with Upgraded Points for over 5 years Keri manages the editorial calendar and oversees the efforts of the editing team and over 20 content contributors reviewing thousands of articles in the process Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter We respect your privacy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's privacy policy  and terms of service  apply OFFER ENDING SOONChase Sapphire Preferred® Card LIMITED TIME TRAVEL OFFERThe Business Platinum Card® from American Express BEST LOUNGE ACCESSThe Platinum Card® from American Express Privacy Policy | All Guides | Terms & Conditions | Web Accessibility Policy | Cookie Policy travel information and ancillary information concerning travel and credit cards The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial LLC uses reasonable efforts to maintain accurate information on the site — and prior to applying for any credit card offers found on UpgradedPoints.com all visitors should review other features of such credit cards including but not limited to interest rates and should determine the suitability of such credit cards considering their own individual financial position as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases Editorial Disclosure: The content featured on UpgradedPoints.com has not been influenced or reviewed by the credit card companies mentioned comments and analyses are the responsibility of the author(s) and not any Advertiser or credit card issuer Mastering Media’s New Playbook3 Summits ◆ Deep Dive ◆ Awards Exhibition ◆ Social Events Congress 2025: Mastering Media’s New Playbook There is a link between Poland’s democratic resurgence and the robust journalism of its independent news media making it an ideal host for the 76th World News Media Congress we will explore the ongoing transformation of news media with Mastering Media’s New Playbook a central theme Through three specialist tracks and hands-on workshops leaders of newsrooms and news organisations can explore the evolving strategies needed to build competitive and innovative spaces where essential journalism can thrive Register today to be part of the biggest event in the news publishing industry The Congress essentials that will write media’s playbook for 2025 and beyond Claim your front-row seat “The biggest event in the publishing industry.” – Vincent Bouchet and I so appreciated learning from some of the most innovative and creative minds in the news business these days.” – Alex Hardiman “…As someone who hosts over 60 yearly events in my ‘day job’ I can say with some confidence that the level of buzz was impressive.” Christina Blaagaard CEO of Teknologiens Mediehus and Chairperson Danske Medier Krakow has been the premier travel destination and the most recognisable Polish city at home and abroad It has been ranked amongst the most attractive and affordable cities in Europe for a city break according to the annual British Post Office survey Enjoy countless historic sites and museums and many excellent dining venues in the charming Old Town and the scenic surroundings of Wawel Hill May is a fantastic time to travel to Krakow you can enjoy exploring the city before the summer crowds arrive Congress delegates can enjoy a free walking tour of their choice, either to experience the Old Town, explore Kraków’s Jewish heritage, or walk in the labyrinth of Wieliczka Salt Mine. Register your spot now © document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); WAN-IFRA Oct 10, 2024 | Business, Law, Politics Poland’s second-largest city and most popular tourist destination has asked the government to change the law so that it can introduce a new tax on tourists in response to growing visitor numbers over seven million tourists visited Kraków the city cannot charge a tourist tax because Polish law does not allow for it Municipalities are allowed to charge something called an opłata miejscowa – which can be loosely translated as a “visitor’s fee” – but must meet very strict criteria to do so Kraków levied such a fee between 2004 and 2015 but was subsequently unable to do so due to changes in environmental regulations That fee is intended mainly for “health resorts by the sea or in the mountains, where the climatic conditions are good”, notes Łukasz Maślona, a city councillor in Kraków, quoted by Radio Eska. Kraków, by contrast, has some of Poland’s – and Europe’s – worst air pollution The city also notes that the maximum rate allowed under the fee is in any case just 3.22 zloty (€0.75) per night Greece’s tourist tax – which is levied on accommodation – has a maximum rate of €10 per night The district of Zabłocie in Kraków has been ranked as one of the “coolest neighbourhoods in the world” by @timeout "Zabłocie is at once lived-in and lively: a well-blended cocktail of culture, history, dining and local life," writes the magazine https://t.co/BZqz5MRyZ8 — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) September 27, 2024 the city council unanimously supported a resolution calling on the national government to allow municipalities to charge a tourist tax through an amendment to the tax law that Kraków has prepared in cooperation with the Association of Polish Cities “The experience of European cities indicates that the phenomenon of touristification of many attractive locations is becoming an increasingly serious problem,” reads the resolution which is addressed to Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the ministry of sport and tourism “Overtourism leads to tensions and social discontent in many places in Europe,” it adds “The local community suffers from this…because residents increasingly feel like tourists in their own city.” The money raised from the fee – which Maślona estimates would be 30-50 million zloty (€7-11.6 million) annually –  “could be used to implement projects that fit into the policy of sustainable tourism and therefore aim to improve the comfort of residents and visitors” believes it should be used for “compensating residents for problems generated by tourism…[such as] noise With its medieval market square and UNESCO-listed Old Town, Kraków is regularly named as one of Europe’s best city break destinations it also often causes tensions with local residents Poland will be among the countries to see a rise in summer tourism as climate change pushes holidaymakers north Poland has 770km (480 miles) of coast, much of it made up of sandy beaches https://t.co/wBvyPvkVPC — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) August 10, 2023 Most recently, in July this year, the city appointed a “night mayor” who will be responsible for reconciling the needs of residents This year has seen mass protests in Spain against overtourism Venice in Italy recently trialled a €5 “access fee” for visitors to the city in response to longstanding complaints from residents about tourist numbers Kraków has appointed a “night mayor” who will be responsible for reconciling the needs of residents The city is Poland's biggest tourist attraction, which is a boon to the local economy but causes tension with residents https://t.co/SlPGBzY8oE — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) July 17, 2024 Main image credit: Sylwia Bartyzel/Unsplash [email protected] The opening day of the concluding round of the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025 got underway in Krakow with the first six teams securing their place in the HSBC SVNS Play-Off which is set to take place in Los Angeles on 3-4 May Following the opening pool games of the tournament Germany and Portugal men’s teams progressed to the Play-Off after finishing with the most cumulative points from across the three rounds of the Challenger Kenya got off to a flying start in their opening game securing a win against Belgium and their ticket to Los Angeles It took until the second round for Argentina and South Africa to claim their place A passionate display from hosts Poland saw them close to denying The Las Yaguaretes qualification with two tries straight out of the gate but Argentina were able to shift the momentum with four tries in quick concession sealing the win and seeing them through to the Play-Offs They will be joined by Springbok Women who ended the second round in style with seven tries against Czechia Argentina’s Grace Okulu commented after securing qualification: “It has been really amazing We fell short last year and it was very painful but now that we have secured our way to LA Three play-off places were also secured in the men’s Pools for Canada Canada were able to take the edge in a closely contested match against Madagascar in their opener and continued their winning streak with two comfortable wins against Japan and Portugal Although Portugal were pipped by Canada in their final showdown of the day they had already sealed their fate for the Play-Offs with two encouraging wins against Japan and Madagascar in the opening two rounds Portugal’s Captain Fabio Conceicao reflected following the win against Madagascar saying: “The feeling is amazing We won this game and we are going to LA and fighting for the series next season The next goal is to finish in the top four and go on to win the tournament here in Krakow.” Germany’s final game of the day saw them scoop their place with a valiant win over Chile The two final spots will be up for grabs in the final day of the tournament in Krakow which takes place on Saturday 12 April Germany sit top of men’s Pool A after securing an all-important bonus point taking them to seven points with Canada leading Pool B with nine points after winning all three of their games Three electrifying wins for South Africa see them lead the pack in Pool B with nine points with Thailand’s heroic efforts against Colombia and Belgium rewarding them with a total of seven points ensuring they sit top of Pool A The action continues at  Henryk Reyman's Municipal Stadium with knockout rounds from 11:00 local time (GMT+2) on Saturday 12 April with the men’s and women’s finals at 17:47 and 18:15 respectively followed by Henryk Reyman’s Municipal Stadium in Krakow on 11-12 April before the HSBC SVNS Play-off in Los Angeles on 3-4 May Fans around the globe can watch the action on rugbypass.tv Support our appeals responding to disasters and helping communities worldwide It looks like you’re browsing from the United States Would you like to switch to our World Jewish Relief USA website to the Jewish Community Centre of Krakow (JCC Krakow) to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz His Majesty was greeted on arrival by World Jewish Relief Chair His Majesty then met with Ukrainian refugees and Holocaust survivors supported by the Centre In a public address to commemorate the liberation His Majesty marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz His Majesty recalled those who were systematically murdered and the testimonies of Survivors adding that these testimonies taught us to cherish freedom and challenge prejudice Reflecting on the importance of the act of remembrance the remarks spoke of the rebirth of the Jewish community and described his steadfast commitment to the Jewish community at a time when antisemitism is on the rise across the world His Majesty The King remarked: “Here in Krakow And there is no greater symbol of this rebirth than the Jewish Community Centre Standing on the steps of this wonderfully vibrant Centre some seventeen years ago having encouraged its construction and taken immense pride in opening it I was filled with a sense of hope and optimism at the life and energy that coursed through the building of which I am extremely proud to be Patron that sense of hope and optimism has only grown this Centre has blossomed from the bud of an idea into an essential hub for the community.” projects such as this Centre are how we recover our faith in humanity They also show us there is much work still to be done if we are not just to remember the past but to use it to inspire us to build a kinder and more compassionate world for future generations; a world of which we can be truly proud And this remains the sacred task of us all.” Read His Majesty’s full speech at the bottom of this article King Charles spent time at the JCC’s humanitarian distribution centre an in-house food pantry that provides vital aid and met a group of JCC Krakow’s community of 58 Holocaust survivors One of those survivors was Ryszard Orowski (83) as The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall It was during this visit that His Majesty recognised the need for a Jewish centre in Krakow to support the ageing community Jewish life in the city was all but extinguished It was his passion to support the community that inspired the creation of JCC Krakow which was designed and funded by World Jewish Relief His Majesty officially opened JCC Krakow in 2008 and the centre has since grown to serve over 1,100 members of all ages supported Jews fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe including many survivors of concentration camps The Holocaust remains a defining chapter in history and its victims and lessons must never be forgotten to the Jewish Community Centre we helped to establish in Krakow at his personal initiative in 2008 We were reminded of the incredible resilience of the Jewish people to not only survive and to continue to reach out and help those beyond our own community too We are deeply grateful for His Majesty’s active and engaged Patronage and his leadership representing Great Britain the Commonwealth and the world in collective remembrance today.” Read His Majesty's full speech at the Jewish Community Centre of Krakow this Holocaust Remembrance Day To be in Poland on International Holocaust Remembrance Day as we commemorate eighty years since the liberation of Auschwitz is both a sombre and indeed a sacred moment It is a moment when we recall the six million Jews and so many others upon whom the Nazis inflicted their violence and hatred It is a moment when we recall the depths to which humanity can sink when evil is allowed to flourish And it is a moment when we recall the powerful testimonies of Survivors such as Lily Ebert and who collectively taught us to cherish our freedom to challenge prejudice and never to be a bystander in the face of violence and hate In a world that remains full of turmoil and strife and has witnessed the dangerous re-emergence of antisemitism there can be no more important message – especially as the United Kingdom holds the Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance As the number of Holocaust Survivors regrettably diminishes with the passage of time the responsibility of remembrance rests far heavier on our shoulders The act of remembering the evils of the past remains a vital task and in so doing we inform our present and shape our future this Centre has blossomed from the bud of an idea into an essential hub for the community And this remains the sacred task of us all Copyright 2023 The Central British Fund for World Jewish Relief Charity Number 290767 Website by Studio Republic And the internet shares similar sentiments about the show’s Western bent: “My mouth is watering, just thinking about the cabbage rolls in Trzy Rybki,” Luc declares in Episode 9. It turns out Trzy Rybki is a real restaurant, located in the swanky Hotel Stary Those cabbage rolls Luc is referring to are likely golumpki which traditionally consist of minced veal and beef The ones at Trzy Rybki are served with lemon verbena and lentils Since Luc had a passionate love affair with a Michelin inspector—who cares if she turned out to be a fraud—it’s very likely he would have paid a visit to Bottiglieria 1881 the first restaurant in Poland to be awarded two Michelin stars whose cooking is inspired by childhood memories Experience a tasting menu with classic Polish ingredients like beetroot all culminating in dishes that look like art pieces along with wines originating from Central Europe Remember when Luc took Emily to lunch at Père-Lachaise cemetery and it’d only make sense that he’d visit one of the oldest restaurants in Europe Wierzynek is located in the Main Square of Kraków’s Old Town and inside you’ll find all kinds of royal delights The restaurant is named after a wealthy merchant named Mikołaj Wierzynek hosted a bacchanalia of sorts for the monarchs of Europe on behalf of Polish king Casimir the Great Eating here will make you feel like you’re a member of the Polish royal court We had to include some cheap eats on this list, because let’s be real: Luc spent much of Season 4 angling for a raise. A crowded spot furnished with wooden tables, Bar Smak is a local’s favorite known for huge portions of traditional dishes with all the sauerkraut fixings but trust us when we say the apple pancakes are worth it A man who knows his arthouse cinema would undoubtedly be clued in on the hippest restaurant in town, one that boasts small plates and a natural wine list. Kropka is just that but it also embraces some global influences incorporating ingredients like katsuobushi and gochujang Wodka Bar boasts a list of over 100 different flavored vodkas and we can totally picture Luc geeking out on—and getting wasted off of—the horseradish and bison grass varieties Get yourself a flight at this intimate little bar which puts those glasses of rosé and Kir Royales to shame The third round of the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger came to a close on Saturday in Krakow with Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team finishing fourth Canada faced Samoa in the semi-finals after going undefeated through pool play on Friday with Jamie Armstrong getting Canada on the board in the fifth minute and despite a yellow card to Samoa in the 11th minute The third place play-off featured Canada taking on Germany with Armstrong once again scoring for Canada finding an opening in Canada’s defence to score The second half opened with two more tries from Germany but Kainoa Lloyd made an impact off the bench to keep Canada in the game Canada moved the ball quickly across the field to Lloyd Isherwood converted both tries to bring the score to 21-19 "We accomplished our goal of qualifying for LA however not to the standard we set out at the beginning of the season," said Sean White Something to prove to ourselves as we continue to learn more about what we're capable of together We're ready for another competitive camp to continue developing our cohesion fine tuning our processes together and continuing to push each other for selection for LA." As one of the top four teams from the three rounds of the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team has qualified to progress on to the HSBC SVNS Play-off in Los Angeles over May 3 to 4 The pools and schedule will be announced by World Rugby shortly More information on the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger, including full schedules and updates scores, can be found here The reported attack comes just days before Russia's Victory Day parade and three-day "truce." Vice President Mike Pence said Putin "only understands power." About 800 million euros ($905 million) will be allocated for the acquisition and installation of anti-tank mines to deter potential aggression  (Updated:  May 6, 2025 9:36 am)War analysisFrance is sending Ukraine more AASM Hammer bombs — here's what they can do Polish President Andrzej Duda said the United States has tools that can effectively influence the Kremlin arguing that only President Donald Trump has real leverage over Russian President Vladimir Putin The number includes 1,430 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day "To the Success of Our Hopeless Cause: The Many Lives of the Soviet Dissident Movement" by Benjamin Nathans which covers dissent in the Soviet Union and Russia today Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on May 5 announced they had facilitated Russian journalist Ekaterina Barabash's escape from Russia to France after she fled house arrest on April 21 A Russian drone attack on Odesa Oblast on May 5 killed one and caused damage to local infrastructure "We appreciate that Germany plays a pivotal role in supporting Ukraine throughout the years of war Ukraine is also grateful for your personal commitment," President Volodymyr Zelensky said MPs will be able to ask questions and learn more about the details of the agreement in meetings with Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko May 6-7 MP Serhii Sobolev told the news outlet Suspilne The ratification vote is scheduled for May 8 Attacks against the border villages of Bilopillia and Vorozhba damaged civilian infrastructure and triggered emergency evacuations the regional military administration reported "I look forward to working with President Erdogan on getting the ridiculous war between Russia and Ukraine ended — now!" U.S Putin's Victory Day truce "doesn't sound like much if you know where we started from," Trump told reporters at the White House on May 5 by Sonya BandouilA man holds a flag bearing the logo of private mercenary group Wagner as another flag flutters in the wind at a makeshift memorial for Yevgeny Prigozhin in front of the Private Military Company (PMC) Wagner Centre in Saint Petersburg (Olga Maltseva/AFP via Getty Images)The Krakow District Court has begun the trial of two Russian nationals who were allegedly hired by the Wagner Group to distribute flyers in Krakow Poland encouraging people to join the organization They face charges related to foreign intelligence activities and involvement with an international armed group intending to commit acts of terrorism Initially arrested by Poland's Internal Security Agency in August 2023 they could face up to 10 years in prison for their actions they supposedly also worked in other cities in Europe including Berlin and Paris also hanging flyers and distributing stickers with QR codes for enlistment "We received the Wagner Group flyers in Moscow Our task was to distribute 3,000 flyers in Krakow and Warsaw We were also told to take photos of them once they were up I didn’t want to be part of the propaganda; I was just looking to earn some money," one of the men stated in court The Wagner Group played a pivotal role in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, leading Moscow's assault in the Battle of Bakhmut in the spring of 2023 Yevgeny Prigozhin, the then-leader of Wagner, died in a mysterious plane crash in Russia on Aug. 23, 2023. The crash came two months after Prigozhin led Wagner troops in a short-lived rebellion against the Kremlin Following Prigozhin's mutiny and death, the mercenary group withdrew from Ukraine and became fragmented, operating in Belarus and some African nations friendly to Russia '#' : location.hash;window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery = location.search === '' && location.href.slice(0 location.href.length - window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash.length).indexOf('?') !== -1 '?' : location.search;if (window.history && window.history.replaceState) {var ogU = location.pathname + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash;history.replaceState(null "\/on-oct-7-a-remembrance-in-krakow\/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=_ovGjSN02eavTFwUYAgHg48s9LRCNfhnb5gozVL_sS4-1746522485-1.0.1.1-6SjLJUex_s6xrOehtTkM6PojqMOfAE3OViAIpeOmabg" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null ogU);}}document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(cpo);}());