The Polish government has unveiled an ambitious „Polish New Deal” program aiming to boost the economy after the pandemic.
The „Nowa Nadzieja” program includes a massive cash injection for the country’s health system, with healthcare spending to increase to 7 percent of GDP by 2027.
The government has also vowed to introduce a new payout for families with two or more children. Parents will be given an extra PLN 12,000 (USD 3,220, EUR 2,650) in total to cover the cost of bringing up their second child between the ages of one and three.
Moreover, under the new plan, Poles will start paying income tax when their earnings exceed PLN 30,000 a year, rather than the current threshold of 8,000.
Other priorities of the „New Deal” focus on cybersecurity, agriculture, education, clean energy and air quality, and creating a positive business climate for companies.
Source: Radio Poland, Radio Gdańsk
The head of the Association of Poles in Belarus will remain in custody for the next three months, according to reports in local media.
Andżelika Borys was detained by police in Grodno, close to the Polish border, on March 23. She was later sentenced to 15 days of confinement for organizing an “illegal mass event” and then charged as part of a criminal investigation into “inciting hatred,” according to reports. Andrzej Poczobut, a senior member of the same association, was also detained in Grodno on March 25.
At a press conference last Monday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called out the Belarusian regime for “contin[uing] to repress and intimidate its own citizens” and taking aim at the Polish minority living there. Borrell told reporters he hoped new EU sanctions against Belarus would be adopted in the coming weeks.
Source: Radio Poland
Two Polish violin-makers received top awards at the 14th Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Making Competition in Poznań last week.
Piotr Pielaszek took home the top two prizes worth EUR 21,000 for his “Dali” and “Selva” violins, while the third prize went to fellow Pole Jan Jakub Lipinski. Gonzalo Boyolo from Spain was also awarded a special prize for his violin-making skills.
An international jury assessed the craftsmanship and sound of over 80 instruments by violin-makers from around the world, including Italy, South Korea, China, and Japan. This year’s panelists included two virtuoso violinists – Poland’s Bartosz Bryła and American Laura Hamilton, Principal Concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
Founded in 1952 and held every five years, the International Violin Making Competition in Poznań, named after 19th-century Polish violin virtuoso and composer Henryk Wieniawski, is one of the world’s top events of its kind.
Source: Radio Poland
Iga Świątek has advanced to the final round of the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome with a win over the United States’ Coco Gauff.
Świątek ousted two-time champion Elina Svitolina 6:2, 7:5 in the quarterfinal yesterday morning, going on to defeat No.35 seed Gauff 7:6 (7-3), 6:3 in the semifinals later that afternoon.
The 19-year-old Pole is currently ranked world No. 15 by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).Świątek became the first Pole to lift a Grand Slam singles trophy after winning the French Open last October. She followed up her success in 2020 by claiming a second singles title at the Adelaide International tournament in Australia last February.
Świątek is set to face off against world No.9 Karolina Pliskova in the finals today, starting at 14:30 Warsaw time.
Source: Radio Poland
Weather
Today will be mostly cloudy and cool, with winds coming in from the southeast and a yellow thunderstorm warning in effect for areas in and around Gdańsk. Temperatures will peak around a high of 16°C, or 61°F, dropping to a low of 8°C or 47°F overnight. Similar stormy weather with a chance for heavy rain and even hail expected to last throughout the week.
RGEN
