Anti-inflation shield extended till 31 December
Poland’s so-called anti-inflation shield will remain in place for a further three months, after President Andrzej Duda signed the changes into law yesterday.
It means that lower VAT rates on food, fuels and heat will apply until 31 December this year.
Foodstuffs will continue to have zero tax, compared to the usual rate of five percent.
The shield also gives lower tax rates on natural gas, electricity, heat and motor fuels, as well as fertilisers and other agricultural chemicals.
The new law also includes provisions to increase VAT rates from 2024 by one percent above their usual levels to pay for increased defence spending.
Source: PAP
Ukraine reconstruction conference underway in Berlin
Berlin is hosting an international conference today on the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki will attend, along with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Scholz said that despite the ongoing war, it is necessary to plan the reconstruction of Ukraine, emphasising that it will be “a great, great task” that will require support from the entire world community.
The conference will be attended by experts, international organisations, think tanks, scientists, and representatives from civil society and the private sector.
Source: PAP
Rishi Sunak becomes new British prime minister
The UK has its third prime minister in seven weeks today, as Rishi Sunak takes office.
Sunak promised to serve “with integrity and humility” after taking the reins from Liz Truss, who resigned on Thursday.
He paid tribute to his predecessor, saying she had dealt with “exceptionally difficult circumstances”.
The race to appoint a new Conversative party leader—and by default the new prime minister—ended yesterday after the only other candidate Penny Mordaunt withdrew.
42-year-old Sunak is Britain’s youngest prime minister in more than a century, as well as the country’s first nonwhite leader.
He acknowledged yesterday that the UK faces a “profound economic challenge”, adding that the country needs “stability and unity”, and pledging to bring his party and the country together.
Source: dw.com
Partial solar eclipse in Polish skies
It’s possible to see a partial solar eclipse from Poland today.
Between 11.15am and 1.35pm the moon will cover almost 50 percent of the sun’s disc.
Visibility will depend on local cloud cover, with the TVP Science channel offering coverage from its mobile studio.
The Polish Space Agency is reminding eclipse-watchers to protect their eyes by using special eclipse glasses or a welding mask.
Those who prefer to wait for a total solar eclipse will need to plan a trip to northern Spain in 2026.
Source: PAP
Furry rehab workers join hospital team
Two Pomeranian hospitals have added new members to their rehabilitation teams—in the form of alpacas and llamas.
The facilities in Kościerzyna and Dzierżążno are offering regular alpacotherapy and llamotherapy sessions in addition to conventional therapies.
The approach has been trialled for the last two years, and has shown a significant impact on the therapeutic process, says the hospital’s website.
Spokesperson Marta Lorek said the work with animals is particularly useful for people with special needs including anxiety problems, depression, autism and movement disorders.
Alpacas and llamas are naturally calm and friendly animals, and their appearance and soft fur increases patients’ trust and sense of safety.
Source: radiogdansk.pl
Weather
It’s hit-and-miss for eclipse watchers in Gdańsk today, with a mixture of clouds and sunshine for most of the day, and light rain on the way this evening. The top temperature will be 16°C (60°F), cooling only a little to a mild night at 12°C (53°F). Tomorrow’s weather looks like being more-or-less a copy-paste of today’s, minus the rain.
Andrew Carter
