Poland
Poland’s WIG index climbs 28.6% in 2025 on Ukraine peace hopes and economic stability
The Warsaw Stock Exchange’s (WSE) benchmark WIG index has gained 28.6% since the beginning of 2025, outperforming major global markets amid investor optimism over a potential peace settlement in Ukraine.
Drill down into Poland’s presidential election voting patterns
Poland’s presidential election will go to a second-round run-off after centrist candidate Rafał Trzaskowski and conservative Karol Nawrocki finished in a close contest in the May 15 first round.
Record temperatures around the world – Statista
A heat wave is sweeping across South Asia, with temperatures having reached 44°C in India’s Jaipur and 50°C in Pakistan’s Shaheed Benazirabad in April, Statista reports.
ING: Poland’s economy off to a positive start in the second quarter
April data from industry and the labour market suggest an encouraging start to the second quarter in Poland. One data point does not make a trend though, but we see encouraging signs that the recovery has resumed.
Data centre power use expected to increase 20-fold in next five years
The first data centres consumed as much power as 20,000 homes, but the largest today use the same amount of power as100,000 homes, and are on track to burn up 5mn households' worth of power by 2030 – the same amount of power that Japan consumes.
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Brazil poultry sector hit as bird flu prompts global export bans
Brazil, the world's largest poultry exporter, has confirmed its first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza on a commercial farm, triggering immediate import bans from major markets including China and the EU.
Polish presidential frontrunners begin scrambling for support outside their natural environs
Karol Nawrocki and Rafał Trzaskowski are scrambling to win over voters who backed neither of them in the first round of Poland’s presidential election. The decisive second round will take place on June 1.
Nationalist gains upper hand in Polish presidential race despite first-round defeat
Historian Karol Nawrocki, running as independent with the backing of radical right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, came second in last night’s first round of presidential election in Poland that will make the run off a tight race.
Borsa Istanbul leads world markets in dollar-basis losses
Turkey’s exchange-traded fund down 9.5% in year-to-date. Thai performance second worst at 6.5%.
Polish economy grows 3.8% in first quarter as momentum holds steady
Polish GDP grew 3.8% year on year in the first quarter of 2025, slightly below the revised 3.9% increase recorded in the previous three months, seasonally adjusted data from the Central Statistical Office showed in a flash estimate on May 15.
Poles to hint if they want to hand Tusk more power in presidential election's first round this Sunday
Voting is underway in Poland and Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski is poised to advance to the second round of Poland’s presidential election on May 18, according to multiple opinion polls ahead of the first-round vote on May 18.
Central Europeans overwhelmingly oppose Trumpist narratives about free speech, 2025 Media Freedom Poll shows
Citizens of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia oppose the Trump administration’s narratives about free speech as allegedly not requiring the regulation of social media, with nearly 90% demanding that online platforms act against hate speech.
COMMENT: Amid shrinking civic space, will the EBRD still uphold its democratic mandate?
As the global Democracy Index recorded a historic low in 2024, institutions tasked with upholding democratic values are under increasing pressure to adapt.
EBRD cuts 2025 growth forecasts citing tariffs and global uncertainty
Development bank lowers forecasts for Emerging Europe, Central Asia and North Africa as slowdowns in Germany and China take their toll.
Poland and France seal landmark defence and cooperation treaty
The agreement, which includes mutual military assistance, marks the first time France has extended such a commitment to a non-neighbouring country.
EU leaders demand Putin end hostilities or face crushing sanctions
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a rare midnight press conference on May 10 and called for direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in the Istanbul format, as the key EU members of the coalition of the willing met Ukrainian President Zelinskiy.
Lithuanian activists hand out condoms on Victory Day to prevent 'another Putin' from being born
Activists gave out condoms at the entrance to the Antakalnis Cemetery in Vilnius, where the city’s Russian community were marking Victory over Fascism Day.
COMMENT: Central Europe’s diverging economic paths challenge regional policy synchronisation – ING
The economic trajectories of Central and Eastern European countries are drifting apart, with growth, inflation, and policy direction showing increasing divergence.
War is a growing concern across Europe – Statista
VE Day, or Victory in Europe Day, is celebrated on May 8 each year to mark the formal end of World War II in Europe, reports Statista.
Ukrainian refugees living in Poland boost taxes by $400mn and GDP growth – survey
Ukrainian citizens living in Poland contributed PLN1.65bn ($414mn) in personal and corporate income taxes in 2024, marking a 27.7% increase compared to the previous year and double the amount recorded in 2022, according to a recent survey.