People claiming universal credit and working fewer than 18 hours a week will be expected to look for more work, after a change to the welfare system that starts on Monday. Before now, claimants only had to work 15 hours.more
The government has watered down planned police powers to deal with "nuisance" rough sleepers after opposition from Tory MPs. Under changes to the Criminal Justice Bill, forces in England and Wales will no longer be able to move people on because of "smells".more
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak yesterday admitted that the results of Thursday's local elections were "disappointing" for his Conservative Party. Although the counting of votes is not yet over everywhere, it is clear that the Conservatives have suffered a heavy defeat.more
Prime Minister Donald Tusk has promised that Poles will be wealthier than Britons by the 25th anniversary. The head of government thus referred to the World Bank's prediction that income per head in 2025 will be higher in Poland than in the UK.more
Poles are the second longest working nation in the EU after the Greeks; we work three hours longer per week than the EU average, according to a report by the Polish Economic Institute. In Poland, 5 per cent of people work part-time, while the average for EU countries is 17 per cent. - it noted.more
Immigration from Central and Eastern Europe, which began with the 2004 EU enlargement, later contributed to some extent to the UK's withdrawal from the Community, but was not the decisive factor, according to Professor Aleks Szczerbiak, a political scientist at the University of Sussex.more
At the end of 2023, Poland's population will reach 37,637,000, less than 130,000 less than in 2022. - according to a report by the Central Statistical Office. More than 272,000 live births were registered. This is the lowest number of births recorded in the entire post-war period.more
A 60-year-old lawyer and journalist from Buenos Aires, Alejandra Marisa Rodriguez, qualified to compete in the beauty pageant for the title of Miss Argentina after winning the Miss Buenos Aires title. Competing for the title of Miss her city, the young-looking Ms Rodriguez beat dozens of women much younger than herself.more
Prime Minister Donald Tusk is trusted by 45 per cent of those polled, President Andrzejuda by 44.5 per cent and Sejm Speaker Szymon Hołownia by 44.4 per cent. - according to the April IBRiS poll for the Onet portal. Outside the podium was the current leader of the ranking - Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski.more
Personal integrity, including resistance to corruption, as well as patriotism and being guided in one's political activities solely by concern for Poland's interests - these are, according to CBOS respondents, the most important features of future MEPs. Being a representative of various minorities was found to be the least important.more
This year, 60 per cent of respondents are not planning a trip for May, according to a survey commissioned by Wiener. It noted that two years ago, 47 per cent of respondents made such a decision.more
The UK has the worst rate of child alcohol abuse worldwide, and more than half of British children have drunk alcohol by the age of 13, according to a report.
The study, one of the largest of its kind by the World Health Organization (WHO), looked at 2021-22 data on 280,000 children aged 11, 13 and 15 from 44 countries who were asked about alcohol, cigarettes and vape usage.more
Discrimination against women, threats to judicial independence and excessive use of force by the police are examples of human rights violations in Poland, pointed out by the US Department of State in its report for 2023. The document contains an analysis of the situation in over 200 countries and regions of the world.more
Germany was ranked the fifth most popular country for foreign workers and the first non-English-speaking country, according to a Boston Consulting Group (BCG) study released yesterday. Australia, the US, Canada and the UK ranked higher.more
According to a United Surveys survey conducted for DGP and RMF FM, Poles are more likely to say they support investment in the development of low-cost rental housing (45 per cent) than subsidies for housing loan instalments (29 per cent).more
More than half of Poles do not want a ban on alcohol sales at petrol stations, according to an IBRiS poll for Radio ZET. More than 40 percent of respondents are in favour of the restriction. 5% of respondents have no opinion on the subject.more
Serious violence fell substantially in England and Wales last year, a study has shown.
Despite increases in the two previous years, the overall trend is for a long-term decline in serious violence, Cardiff University researchers found.
The fall was driven by reductions among 18 to 30-year-olds, the work showed.more
People aged 60+ want to employ 22 per cent of companies, according to a recently published survey. The economic activity of people aged between 55 and 64 is lower in Poland than the EU average. The situation could be improved by subsidising the employment of older people, it was reported.more
England is on course for the highest number of school suspensions in a single year, figures show. According to data from the Department for Education (DfE) there were almost 264,000 suspensions in spring 2022/2023 - the largest number on record for one term.more
In the first quarter of 2024, Poles were generally satisfied with the life of them and their families, according to a CBOS analysis. The situation in workplaces was also assessed positively. However, the political situation in recent months has been perceived critically.more
Nearly a quarter of UK five-to-seven-year-olds now have their own smartphone, Ofcom research suggests.
Social media use also rose in the age group over last year with nearly two in five using messaging service WhatsApp, despite its minimum age of 13.
The communications regulator warned parental enforcement of rules "appeared to be diminishing."more
The UK has rejected a European Union proposal to allow 18-30 year olds to study and work in the British Isles for a limited period of time without having to apply for a visa. Both the government in London and the opposition have stated that they have no plans to restore free movement of people from the EU.more
There appears to have been a rise in the proportion of middle class and wealthier women under the age of 45 smoking in England, research from University College London suggests.
The percentage of women in this group who smoked rose from 12% to 15% between 2013-2023, the study estimates.more
Only 51 per cent of Poles maintain a positive view of the European Union. 38 percent relate to it neutrally, and 11 percent. - negatively. In ten member states, the Community enjoys a better rating, 'Rzeczpospolita' reported today.more