Lower prices for fuel and electricity are a step closer. The lower house of Poland’s parliament yesterday passed a bill which will lower excise taxes on electricity and fuel, under the government’s promised anti-inflation shield.
The temporary fuel tax reduction will start on 20 December while the tax on electricity will drop on 1 January.

Both decreases will last until the end of May.

The measures should result in a drop in the price of petrol by at least 17 groszy per litre, while the overall cost to the treasury will be an estimated 1.5 billion zlotys.

The bill must now pass a vote in the Senate to become law.

Source: PAP

Poland 'treats people of Belarus as brothers’, says Duda.

President Andrzej Duda has said that Poland 'treats the people of Belarus as brothers’, at a meeting with the Belarusian opposition leader.

Duda hosted Sviatlana Cichanouska at the Belweder Palace in Warsaw, where he told representatives of the Belarusian community that Poland had watched with great pain the deteriorating situation in their country over the last few years.

He emphasised that Poland and Belarus share not only a similar culture, but also their history.

Cichanouska responded by saying that the two nations are now closer than ever, regardless of borders and divisions, and said that Poles understand that Belarusians are fighting „or our freedom and yours”.

Source: polskieradio24.pl

Activist indicted over supply of abortion drugs

An activist with a group known as the „Abortion Dream Team” has been indicted for providing abortion pills.

The 47-year-old woman faces accusations that she mailed the tablets in response to an order placed on a website called „Ciocia Basia – women help women”. The husband of the woman who ordered the drugs called in the authorities when the package arrived. His wife had previously told him when she was 12 weeks pregnant that she wanted a termination.

The accused abortion activist, known in the indictment as Justyna W., faces up to three years imprisonment for helping to terminate a pregnancy.

Source: PAP

Investigation alleges KGB control over Ryanair flight diversion

A Polish investigation into the Ryanair flight forced to land in Belarus in May has alleged that a Russian secret services agent was directing activities in the control tower in Minsk that day.

The Internal Security Agency says its investigators obtained an account from a direct witness, who stated that a KGB operative was in charge when the pilot was told that he should divert to the Belarusian capital because of a bomb on board.

The plane had been travelling from Athens to Vilnius.

After landing, two passengers – the Belarusian dissident Raman Protasiewicz, and his partner Sofia Sapiega – were both arrested.

Investigators concluded that the bomb threat was fabricated by the Belarusian authorities to bring the plane to ground.

Source: PAP

Borrow a Christmas tree to help nature

Gdańsk residents are being invited to borrow a live Christmas tree for the festive period, rather than buying a cut one.

The initiative, organised by the city’s recycling centre, asks people to register online and then collect their potted tree on 19 December.

They’re asked to return it by 8 January in a similar condition, after which it will be replanted.

The 70 zloty rental fee will be given as a donation to the Pomeranian Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, to support its hospital for injured wildlife.

Register for your Christmas tree rental here: https://choinka.zut.com.pl/

Source: radiogdansk.pl

Weather

It’ll be another cold and cloudy day in Gdańsk with a high of minus 3°C, or 26°F, and a small chance of some snow. Temperatures overnight will stay fairly steady, and could rise to just above freezing tomorrow, with sleet expected throughout the day.

Andrew Carter/MarWer