The crisis will have the world in its grip till the end of the year, writes Dziennik.

Press reviewed by Agnieszka Bielawska

Recession in Europe, drop in demand in the US and skirmishes in Latvia – the whole world is experiencing the effects of the crisis, writes Dziennik. The Polish currency is losing its strong position and Polish banks are reluctant to grant loans to companies, the daily continues. Production in European factories is slowing down and Americans are buying less. Even the calm and rapidly developing Baltic state of Latvia has suffered a blow from the expanding crisis with the GDP expected to drop by 5% this year. Hopes that recession can be avoided were shattered by data concerning European and American economy, comments the daily, adding that ‘ It is clear that the crisis will have the world in its grip till the end of the year.’

In a crisis-related article, Gazeta Wyborcza writes about the Polish-Irish battle over the US Dell concern. Apparently it took some three years to convince the Americans to transfer their production from Limerick to the central Polish city of Lodz. One thousand nine hundred Dell employees in Ireland find themselves jobless, over 1,000 find work in Poland. ‘This is unfit, say the Irish, two EU states competing for work and haggling over subsidies?’ they ask. Gazeta Wyborcza quotes an expert who states that low production and labour costs makes Poland attractive for investors. When the costs begin to grow the investor loses interest and quickly looks for a cheaper location.

A special unit is to be set up in Polish police forces, to deal with kidnapping, writes Rzeczpospolita. Following the example of Scotland Yard, Polish police will have a special center for investigating abductions, assaults and terrorist attacks. The center will start operating by the end of the year and British police officers will help to train the staff. Rzeczpospolita writes that last year police freed eight hostages kidnapped for ransom in Poland. The crime rate is on the rise following the increase of wealthy people in Poland winds the daily. 

Seven out of a thousand Polish children will not reach the age of five, alarms Dziennik quoting a recent UNICEF report. The report is devoted to children and expectant mothers. On the world scale Poland has quite a decent ranking when it comes to medical care, but compared to developed western states the country should be ashamed. Polish authorities have to cope with five major problems writes Dziennik. First: one fourth of Polish children live in poverty, then there is an acute lack of pediatricians and hospital beds to help sick children which leads to the death of many newborns. There are no prophylactics, while delivery wards are so crowded that many hospitals refuse to accept pregnant mothers due to lack of space, and finally the government needs to come up with measures combating family violence, which is still a common phenomenon in Poland. So, sums up the daily, there is lots of work ahead for Polish authorities to assure that Polish children grow up in decent conditions resembling those of more developed countries.

And finally Fakt comes up with an eerie story of a ghost haunting the corridors of a school of higher education in Poznan in the west. It is thought to be the ghost of a biology professor who died some 50 years ago, but who apparently refuses to part with his school. Every third Friday of the month, the professor haunts the corridors of the building. An icy gust and blinking lights herald its approach. Students and employees have all experienced the presence of the spectre. Some have felt his icy breath, some have seen an apparition floating down the staircase while some have heard the sound of a type writer coming from a deserted room. It is certain that no one stays  in the building after dark, even the night porter is unhappy with his shift. The question remains why does the ghost visit the school so regularly wonders Fakt.