A major newspaper in the United States has claimed President Donald Trump has been avoiding paying income tax for years.
In reports published over the weekend, the New York Times claimed billionaire President Trump paid no federal income tax whatsoever in 10 of the past 15 years, and in others paid as little as $750.
The paper says it obtained the information from a source with access to Mr Trump’s tax returns, though they have not revealed the source’s identity.
In response, President Trump has dismissed the reports as „fake news”. He told reporters on Sunday that he had paid his taxes and that fact would be clear when he released his tax returns.
Mr Trump is currently the only US president since the 1970s not to release his tax returns. He says that’s because they’re under audit, but his opponents say there’s no legal reason why he can’t divulge his tax returns.
The US is now just over a month away from a hotly-contested presidential election between Mr Trump and challenger Joe Biden.
The global tally of deaths from coronavirus has today surpassed one million.
Figures from Johns-Hopkins University, which has been tracking the pandemic all year, reached the one-million mark last night. Just three countries – Brazil, India, and the United States – account for almost half of the total. But experts have warned the true figure is likely much higher since many countries are unable to accurately track the virus.
In Poland, the total number of cases stands at just under 90,000, with 2,447 deaths as of this morning.
Poland’s foreign ministry has called for an immediate ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan as fighting there enters its third day.
Posting on Twitter, Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau said the only „reasonable way ahead” is ceasefire, de-escalation, and negotiations.
Armed fighting broke out between the two countries late last week. It’s the latest episode in a decades-long dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region which is recognised as part of Azerbaijan but is populated and controlled by ethnic Armenians.
The Pomeranian provincial assemble has this week adopted new regulations on domestic heating and boilers in an attempt to reduce air pollution.
Under the new measures, those living in towns and cities will be required to connect to municipal gas supplies where possible. Those living in rural areas will need to swap out any old boilers for cleaner modern systems.
It’s part of an attempt to reduce air pollution and smog in the region. Air quality has long been an issue throughout Poland, with some southern cities having some of the lowest quality air in Europe.
Improvements have been made, though, with plans to cut coal use and increasing numbers of people turning to solar panels for their domestic heating.
Gdansk’s 2020 Festival of Music is entering its final month this week. The festival has been going on around the city all summer, albeit with many events held without audiences.
Tonight’s concert, entitled „Old Sounds of Gdansk”, is a celebration of historical music. The concert will feature sopranos Philippa Hyde and Paulina Araśniewicz alongside historical instruments and the Cappella Gedanensis.
You can catch the concert tonight at 7pm at St. John’s church in downtown Gdansk.
Remaining mostly sunny going into this afternoon with temperatures staying around 16C, 60F, until this evening.
No rain expected today but a light northeasterly breeze keeping things feeling very cool and autumnal.
Much the same story tomorrow with temperatures perhaps slightly warmer.
