Polish MPs have approved a package of measures that are designed to alleviate some of the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on taxpayers. Poland’s government in March announced a plan to slash taxes to protect people’s incomes from the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Under the plan, the personal income tax rate would be reduced from 17 percent to 12 percent, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said at the time. The lower house of parliament on Thursday approved those plans in a 246-40 vote with 170 abstentions. The measure, part of a wider economic package dubbed the “Anti-Putin Shield,” now goes to the Senate, the upper house of Poland’s parliament, for further debate. The planned cut is expected to benefit around 13 million taxpayers, leaving them with an extra PLN 15 billion in their pockets

Source – Polskie Radio

Poland is doing its best to support children fleeing with their mothers from war torn Ukraine.

This is the update to the UN Security Council from Poland’s deputy permanent representative to the UN. The Security Council convened on Thursday to discuss the situation of children following Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The Polish representative told the meeting that “more than 3.3 million people, mostly women and children, have crossed from Ukraine”. She also said that around 200,000 children from Ukraine have enrolled in Polish schools and an online educational platform has been created offering free educational tools for children.

Source – Polskie Radio

Poland is close to a deal with Brussels that would unblock billions in post-pandemic recovery funds from the European Union for the country, the Polish government spokesman said on Friday.

He said that negotiations had finished and milestones agreed between Poland and the EU. Some EUR 36 billion is currently earmarked for Poland as part of the EU’s National Recovery Plan post-pandemic stimulus package which Brussels has so far blocked due to a dispute with Poland over disciplinary rules for judges.

Source – Polskie Radio

And finally, scammers have targeted at least two elderly women in scams across the Tricity area.

In Wejherowo, fraudsters targeted an 81 year old woman by pretending to be police and tricked the woman into giving them cash and jewellery worth some 70,000 złotys. In Sopot a different gang targeted a 76 year old woman by pretending to be employees of a housing co-operative. During the distraction burglary, the thieves stole cash and jewellery worth 1,000 złotys. Police have warned older residents to be alert for scammers and fraudsters who ruthlessly defraud their victims. Police are hunting for the perpetrators of both crimes.

Source – Radio Gdańsk

Weather

Today will be a day of sunny spells and scattered clouds in a moderate breeze with temperatures of 17 degrees centigrade (63 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day and 6 degrees overnight. Tomorrow will be a glorious sunny day in a moderate breeze and temperatures of 18 degrees during the day and 7 degrees overnight.

Martin Caren/aKa