Poland's arms agency bypasses public procurement: 20+ urgent contracts yearly since 2023

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🏛️ Politics

Poland's arms agency bypasses public procurement: 20+ urgent contracts yearly since 2023

Since 2023, Poland's Armament Agency has been signing at least 20 contracts per year under the "Urgent Operational Need" procedure, bypassing standard public procurement law. Before the war in Ukraine, this mechanism was rarely used. Experts warn it speeds up arms purchases but also enables political interference and reveals weaknesses in defence planning.

Should the Urgent Operational Need procedure be used more often for military purchases?

Rzeczpospolita · 2h ago · Source ↗

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🌍 World

Ukraine's PM Swyrydenko announces 10 billion euro reconstruction contracts in Gdańsk

A conference on Ukraine's reconstruction opened in Gdańsk, where Ukrainian Prime Minister Swyrydenko announced contracts worth 10 billion euros. The event is taking place alongside news of the Polish government working on technological sovereignty, Apple raising device prices, and major AI-related stocks losing momentum.

Should Poland actively participate in Ukraine reconstruction contracts?

Rzeczpospolita · 4min ago · Source ↗

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🏥 Health

ZUS disability pension increased from March 2026 — which conditions qualify?

Poland's Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) increased disability pension amounts from March 2026. The benefit is available to people deemed fully or partially unable to work due to health conditions. The article outlines the categories of illness most commonly used as grounds for granting the pension, though the exact new amounts are not specified in the source text.

Is the ZUS disability pension amount sufficient for people unable to work?

Rzeczpospolita · 4min ago · Source ↗

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💻 Technology

Airwallex raises $320 million, hits $11 billion valuation to build AI-powered finance

Airwallex has raised $320 million in a new funding round, pushing its valuation to $11 billion. The fintech company plans to build financial infrastructure designed for a future where AI agents autonomously handle business payments and corporate finance. It is one of the largest fintech funding rounds of the year.

Is handing corporate payments to AI agents a safe approach?

CNBC · 6min ago · Source ↗

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📈 Business

Dollar strengthens as Fed eyes rate hikes and US-Iran tensions persist

The US dollar is strengthening on currency markets, driven by expectations of Federal Reserve rate hikes. Additional upward pressure comes from uncertainty over the US-Iran conflict, as a preliminary agreement has been signed but a final resolution remains unclear. Analysts point to a rarely discussed scenario in which both factors reinforce dollar strength simultaneously.

Are Fed rate hikes the right response to the current US economic situation?

Interia Biznes · 10min ago · Source ↗

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⚽ Sport

Daniel Castellani, Former Poland Volleyball Coach, Has Died

Daniel Castellani, the Argentine volleyball coach who served as head coach of the Polish national team, has died. Castellani made a significant mark on Polish volleyball during his tenure as national team selector. No cause of death or age was provided in the announcement.

RMF24 · 11min ago · Source ↗

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🎬 Entertainment

"The Bear" Finale: The Restaurant Closes and Carmy Moves On

"The Bear" aired its series finale on Hulu, bringing the show to a close. The Original Beef of Chicagoland restaurant shuts down, and Carmy moves on to a life outside the culinary world. The finale's emotional core centers on the friendships and bonds formed among the staff rather than professional success.

Is "The Bear" series finale a satisfying ending for the show?

Variety · 14min ago · Source ↗

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💄 Lifestyle

Court Awards Damages to Woman Whose Hair Was Destroyed at Salon

A court awarded compensation to a woman who sued a hair salon after a failed hair-lightening treatment caused significant damage. The hairdresser used an unfamiliar method that led to the destruction of the client's hair and a loss of self-esteem. The case sets a precedent showing that clients can successfully seek damages for aesthetic harm caused by salon treatments.

Should courts award damages for aesthetic harm caused by hair salon treatments?

Rzeczpospolita · 18min ago · Source ↗

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💡 Did You Know

Paleontologist Steve Brusatte Separates Dinosaur Fact from Hollywood Fiction

Paleontologist Steve Brusatte, the science adviser behind Jurassic World, breaks down what fossils actually prove versus what Hollywood invented about dinosaurs. He traces dinosaur origins to footprints smaller than a house cat, discovered in Poland shortly after Earth's worst mass extinction. For millions of years, early dinosaurs were minor background creatures living alongside car-sized salamanders and armored crocodiles.

Should Hollywood be required to stick closer to science in dinosaur films?

Big Think · 34min ago · Source ↗

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🔬 Science

AI boosts GDP and creates billionaires — but does it raise general prosperity?

The article questions whether artificial intelligence — despite driving GDP growth and expanding the fortunes of the ultra-wealthy — actually translates into broader social prosperity. The central challenge is whether the economy can generate new sources of income and demand as quickly as AI eliminates existing jobs. The authors suggest that growth in macroeconomic aggregates alone does not guarantee improved living standards for most people.

Will AI increase prosperity for the majority, not just the wealthiest?

Rzeczpospolita · 1h ago · Source ↗

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💻 Technology

0.7nm Processor Is Real: Scientists Stack Atoms to Build Chips

Scientists have achieved a breakthrough in chip miniaturization, making 0.7-nanometer processors a reality. The new technique involves vertically stacking atoms, allowing engineers to push beyond previously assumed physical limits. This development could revolutionize the semiconductor industry and redefine computing power.

Is stacking atoms vertically truly a game-changer for the chip industry?

Spider's Web · 11min ago · Source ↗

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🌍 World

King Charles III Paid Nearly £13 Million in Tax — First Ever Royal Disclosure

For the first time in history, the British royal household has disclosed how much tax the monarch paid. King Charles III paid nearly £13 million in taxes during the last financial year. The unprecedented move marks a significant step toward greater financial transparency for the Crown.

Should the royal family regularly disclose how much tax they pay?

Money.pl · 14min ago · Source ↗

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⚽ Sport

Lewandowski Earned Around €35 Million a Year, Says Former Manager Kucharski

Cezary Kucharski, Robert Lewandowski's former manager, revealed details about the striker's earnings in an interview with "Świat Gwiazd." According to Kucharski, Lewandowski's annual income from football and commercial activities reached tens of millions of euros. The Polish striker has long been considered one of the world's highest-paid footballers.

Should a former manager be allowed to publicly reveal a client's earnings?

Interia Sport · 14min ago · Source ↗

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📈 Business

AC Installers Earn Up to 20,000 PLN a Month as Heat Wave Drives Demand

An incoming heat wave has triggered a surge in demand for air conditioning installation, with orders up by as much as 100 percent. Warsaw-based installer Dawid says his phone "almost never stops ringing." Experienced technicians willing to work weekends can earn up to 20,000 PLN per month during the summer peak.

Should the government subsidize air conditioning installation during heat waves?

Interia Biznes · 14min ago · Source ↗

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🏥 Health

How to Help Pets and Wildlife Survive the Heat Wave

High temperatures pose serious risks not only to people but also to pets and wild animals. The article offers practical advice on how to provide animals with access to water, shade, and cool spaces during heat waves. Proper care can protect animals from overheating and dehydration during summer peaks.

TVN24 · 15min ago · Source ↗

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🎬 Entertainment

Charli XCX Drops Provocative "Wink Wink" Music Video

Charli XCX has released the music video for "Wink Wink," the third and final single from her upcoming album "Music, Fashion, Film." The clip features the provocative aesthetic the artist is known for. The song includes controversial lyrics, including the deadpan line "Maybe I fucked your dad."

Is such provocative content a valid form of artistic expression?

Rolling Stone · 17min ago · Source ↗

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💄 Lifestyle

Emotionally cold upbringing leaves lasting scars — why many adults struggle to show feelings

The article explores the phenomenon of emotionally cold upbringing, where parents love their children but are unable to show warmth or closeness. This emotional coldness often manifests as absence, busyness and lack of genuine connection rather than harsh punishment. Adults raised in such environments frequently struggle to recognise and express their own emotions and to build close relationships.

Does parenting style permanently determine a person's ability to express emotions?

Newsweek Polska · 1h ago · Source ↗

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🔬 Science

Europe warming twice as fast as global average, WMO report warns

The ESOTC 2025 report by the World Meteorological Organization and Copernicus Climate Change Service reveals that Europe is warming more than twice as fast as the global average. Record sea temperatures, accelerating glacier melt, and worsening drought were all observed. Europe is identified as the fastest-warming region on the planet.

Should Europe declare a climate emergency?

Rzeczpospolita · 1h ago · Source ↗

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💡 Did You Know

Catastrophe 70,000 Years Ago Nearly Wiped Out Humanity

All modern humans may descend from a tiny group of survivors of a catastrophic event that occurred just over 70,000 years ago. The disaster nearly wiped out the human species, leaving only a small population that became the ancestors of every person alive today.

Mental Floss · 4h ago · Source ↗

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🌍 World

Venezuela Earthquakes Magnitude 7.5 Kill 188 — Waves Reached Poland in 12 Minutes

Two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude struck Venezuela just one minute apart, killing at least 188 people. The seismic waves traveled over 9,000 kilometers and were recorded by Polish seismological stations in just 12 minutes. The disaster caused widespread destruction across the affected region.

Should Poland increase funding for seismic monitoring networks tracking global disasters?

Wirtualna Polska · 14min ago · Source ↗

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💻 Technology

GSMA CEO: China Is Best Positioned to Lead the Agentic AI Era in Mobile

GSMA CEO John Hoffman said on the sidelines of Mobile World Congress in Shanghai that China is well positioned to lead the next era of mobile communications, particularly in agentic AI. Agentic AI refers to systems that autonomously take actions to complete tasks. Hoffman made the comments at one of the world's largest telecoms industry events.

Should China dominate the shaping of global mobile communication standards?

Bloomberg · 16min ago · Source ↗

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Poland's arms agency bypasses public procurement: 20+ urgent contracts yearly since 2023

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