US lawmakers on Friday gave final approval to a USD 45 billion aid package for Ukraine to support its ongoing struggle against invading Russian forces.

The measure, part of a USD 1.66 trillion government funding bill, now goes to President Joe Biden for approval. Biden said in an earlier statement that he would sign the bill into law as soon as it reached his desk.

According to Biden, the bill “will provide additional assistance to Ukraine, another demonstration of our bipartisan support” after a visit to Washington this week by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The US has already sent over USD 50 billion worth of aid to Ukraine this year and joined other Western countries in imposing a sweeping series of sanctions on Russia, the Reuters news agency reported.

The most recent USD 1.85 billion security assistance package includes a Patriot air defense system and additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), in addition to 50,000 GRAD rockets and more than 200,000 rounds of various types of ammunition.

Source: Radio Poland, Reuters

Inflation in Poland is predicted to decelerate in 2023 along with economic growth, according to one of Poland’s largest banks, PKO BP.

Poland’s economy is set to slow to “near-recession levels,” primarily due to adverse external circumstances, notably the continued effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the energy crisis, according to PKO BP’s chief economist, Piotr Bujak.

On the positive side, employment is likely to remain stable, as some 30-40 percent of Polish firms still suffer from staff shortages, says PKO BP’s chief analyst, Marta Petka-Zagajewska. As such, layoffs are unlikely despite the slowdown; employers are expected to “maintain current workforce levels” while at the same time “curbing salary increases and other expenditures.”

The bank also predicts that investment may pick up in the second half of the year, a prediction included in the latest issue of the bank’s Economic Quarterly.

Source: Radio Poland

Polish officials are urging residents to pay attention to their pets around traditional Christmas decorations, as some ornamental foliage can be dangerous or even deadly for animals.

Poinsettia or “Star of Bethlehem”
This popular Christmas flower can irritate the mucous membranes and eyes of cats and dogs if the leaves are cut or damaged. Pet owners should be on the lookout for potential signs of poisoning, including salivation, watery eyes, excessive licking, vomiting, and diarrhea accompanied by a fever.

Mistletoe
The round, white fruits of the mistletoe plant can prove quite tempting to pets. If consumed, the fruit may result in diarrhea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and life-threatening problems with blood pressure.

Yew and holly
Yew branches and holly leaves are beautiful but quite poisonous. Along with vomiting and diarrhea, consumption may result in bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract and damage to the intestines.

Residents should immediately call the vet if their pet has consumed the leaves or fruit of the items listed above. The longer one waits, the more chance exists for the poison to spread and create potentially lethal problems.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

Radio Gdańsk will be offering a series of festive programs today and tomorrow in celebration of the Christmas holiday.

Following a program this morning by Anna Rębas on Christmas customs around the world, Alicja Samolewicz-Jeglicka will discuss the history of the Franciscan nativity with Friar Tomasz Janek at 14:20 this afternoon.

The mobile nativity scene of the Gdańsk Franciscans has been a popular tradition since 1950, with the familiar figures of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus joined by numerous saints, Gdańsk townsfolk, and even kings. The nativity includes scenes from the Middle Ages to modernity, including landscapes featuring the Tatra Mountains and the Baltic Sea.

On the second day of Christmas tomorrow, Radio Gdańsk will again feature traditional Kashubian and Polish carols from the album “Pomorskie Bethlehem” at 15:00.

More information on the album and its featured performers, Janusz Świątkowski and the Kashubian Song and Dance Ensemble “Sierakowice,” can be found online HERE.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

Weather

Today will be cold and cloudy with little chance of rain during the day and a strong breeze from the southeast. Temperatures will be colder than yesterday, with a high of 2°C, or 35°F, dropping to a low of -1°C or 31°F overnight. Warmer weather is expected tomorrow, with a good chance of rain or snow overnight.

Elizabeth Peck/aKa