Stories from Poland

The Cancer Fighters Foundation is preparing to present details regarding the allocation of collected funds next week. An expert council, including Professor Krzysztof Kauwak, the head of the Przystanek Nadziei pediatric oncology center in Wrocław, will oversee the spending.

Services dismantled a cocaine gang operating near Warsaw, resulting in the arrest of three Polish nationals and a 30-year-old Venezuelan woman. The criminals were allegedly involved in the smuggling and sale of nearly seven tons of narcotics within the European Union.

Twelve students from the Konar robotics scientific circle at Wroclaw University of Science and Technology are creating a modular robot. The robot is designed to perform thermal inspections of buildings.

Farmers in Poland have harvested 18% more potatoes than in previous years. The increase is attributed to favorable weather conditions and a larger cultivation area. The report was broadcast on Radio ZET.

Two crosses were removed from the Lodz City Council chambers. Councilor Piotr Cieplucha has called for an explanation from Mayor Hanna Zdanowska regarding the removal. The incident is being described by local sources as an attempt to marginalize Christianity in social life. The incident is being discussed in the context of Christianity's role in social life.

The Rada Przedsiębiorców, an employers' organization, has submitted a special letter to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk requesting the suspension of the national deposit-return system. The system is also reportedly causing higher CO2 emissions, which contradicts its primary environmental objective. Abramowicz noted that the system is burdensome for consumers and negatively impacts waste management companies. Entrepreneurs in Poland are requesting a suspension of the current deposit system, claiming it has functioned poorly six months after implementation. According to the source, the system requires consumers to carry uncrushed bottles, which contradicts its primary environmental goals. Deputy Minister of Digitalization Michał Gramatyka met with a club to discuss including small glass bottles, known as 'małpki', in a deposit system.

Zbigniew El, a lawyer involved in the wild reprivatization of properties in Warsaw, is awaiting a sentencing verdict. He is currently acting as an advisor to General Jarosław Strużyk, the head of the Military Intelligence Service.

The Speaker of the Sejm, Włodzimierz Mierzejewski, announced that the procedure for nominating candidates for the Commissioner for Human Rights has begun. Candidates must be submitted by June 23, 2026. The current term for Ombudsman Professor Marcin Wiącka expires on June 20.

VAT and excise tax rates for gasoline and diesel will remain in effect until May 15. The reduction of VAT on fuels from 23% to 8% is a temporary measure under the 'Lower Fuel Prices' program. According to regulations published in the Journal of Laws, the action was also reduced to the minimum permissible levels. MP Janusz Cieszyński revealed a letter from the Ministry of Health regarding related budget costs for medication subsidies. The foundation for the program is reportedly generating high costs for the national budget. The program aims to mitigate rising energy costs, with current prices cited at 1.70 Euro. While two-thirds of the population support the measure, economic experts criticize the extension for reducing state tax revenue and increasing the national budget deficit. Experts suggest Europe should focus on strategic responses rather than tax-based consumption measures.

Additional fuel tanks were found in Russian drones that crashed in Poland, suggesting the drones were intentionally directed toward Polish territory rather than being lost due to GPS jamming. The presence of these tanks increases the flight range of the drones.