49% of Poles leave themselves at least two weeks to buy a gift for their loved ones, and a similar percentage indicate that they focus on products at a reasonable price - according to a study conducted on behalf of VeloBank. It was indicated that the majority will not buy a gift at the last minute on Christmas Eve.more

The Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning for wind as Storm Darragh approaches the UK. The warning is in place from 03:00 to 11:00 GMT on Saturday, covering western and southern coastal regions of Wales, as well as the Bristol Channel including parts of Bristol and Cardiff.more

A court today sentenced a Bangladeshi man to life imprisonment and 13 years in prison for the kidnapping, rape and brutal murder of a Polish woman, Anastasia, on the Greek island of Kos in 2023, reports the Rodiaki portal and other Greek media.more

The famous Filipino Manny Pacquiao, world champion in a record eight weight classes, was elected to the Boxing Hall of Fame. "It's a great Christmas present," said the former boxer, who after leaving professional sports took up politics.more

Searches for post-retirement jobs in the UK have risen by 16% in the past year as pensioners face higher living costs, with further significant regional differences in job-seeking trends shown in new research – up by 900% in one southern UK city.more

I would not say that we are at war with the United States, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with right-wing columnist Tucker Carlson. He added that the main condition for ending the war is Ukraine's neutral status and suggested that Russia could provide it with security guarantees.more

Cash use in the shops rose for a second year in a row after a decade of falls, according to retailers. Notes and coins were used in a fifth of transactions last year, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said, as shoppers found cash helped them to budget better. The amount spent per purchase also dropped slightly from £22.43 in 2022, to £22.03 last year, it said.more

There will be no five-year Ryanair contract with Modlin. The airport and the Irish airline were unable to agree on the terms in time – today's "Rzeczpospolita" has learned.more

Lazio Rome defeated the leader of the Italian football league Napoli 3-1 (2-1) at home and advanced to the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup. Defending trophy Juventus Turin will play Cagliari in the 1/8 finals on December 17.more

The NHS in England is busier than it has ever been heading into winter, the country’s medical director is warning. Prof Sir Stephen Powis said rising rates of flu and the vomiting bug norovirus were putting hospitals under huge strain. Around 95% of beds are already occupied at the start of December – rates normally only seen in the depths of winter.more

Russia's foreign ministry announced yesterday that it was closing the Polish consulate general in St Petersburg in retaliation for the earlier closure of the Russian consulate general in Poznan. Three Polish diplomats have also been declared undesirable and are to leave Russia.more

People selling unwanted items online can continue to do so with confidence and without any new tax obligations, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has confirmed. However, online platforms will start sharing some user sales and personal data with HMRC from January 2025.more

‘Harry Potter: The Exhibition’ is a travelling exhibition that has been seen by millions of fans from around the world since its premiere in 2022. The exhibition celebrating iconic moments, characters and settings from the film series about the adventures of the famous wizard will soon come to Poland. On 11 April, the exhibition will open at the Alvernia Planet complex, which is between Krakow andmore

On the third weekend of the World Cup season, the best ski jumpers will visit Wisla. Two individual competitions will be held on the Adam Małysz-hill. Nine Poles will take part in today's qualification, including Piotr Zyla, who is making his comeback after a knee injury.more

The London Underground trains will not be driven by robots any time soon after confirmation from the London Mayor. The London Underground is not going automatic any time soon after Sadiq Khan said work to introduce driverless Tubes ‘shouldn’t be progressed any further.’more

Sake, a traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage, was inscribed on Wednesday on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the Associated Press reported yesterday.more

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled a six-point ‘Plan for Change’ for his government in a speech today. Five months after its historic victory, Labour is facing waning support among Britons who say politicians have abandoned their promises.more

According to estimates by the company ‘Sportico’, world runner-up tennis player Iga Swiatek is third on the list of the highest-paid female athletes in 2024, with the number three of the WTA rankings, 20-year-old American Coco Gauff, leading the way, ‘Sports Illustrated’ magazine reported.more

The renationalising of train companies will not necessarily bring cheaper rail fares but should reduce cancellations and late trains, the UK transport secretary has suggested. South Western Railway is to become the first train operator nationalised under the Labour government, ministers announced on Wednesday. Greater Anglia and C2C will also be brought into public ownership next year.more

Almost half of Britons say they experience loneliness during the festive period, and more than a third will be spending Christmas apart from loved ones this year, a survey has suggested.more

UK missile frigate HMS Iron Duke has arrived in Tallinn to demonstrate to Russia its commitment to protecting the underwater infrastructure of NATO allies in the Baltic, Estonian broadcaster ERR reported today.more

Manchester City, after a run of four league defeats, beat Nottingham Forest 3:0 at home in the 14th round of the English Football Premier League. Leader Liverpool tied Newcastle United 3:3 away, while in Aston Villa's match against Brentford (3:1), one of the goals was scored by Matty Cash.more

The number of worshippers attending Sunday Mass in 2023 was lower than in 2022, while the number of people receiving Holy Communion was higher than the year before, according to data from the Institute of Catholic Church Statistics. The number of priests in Poland and the number of sacramental marriages also fell.more

The leader of a criminal group which, operating in Poland and Western Europe, defrauded more than 230 people using the accident method, has been arrested in the UK and handed over to Polish law enforcement authorities, the Gliwice prosecutor's office reported yesterday. The victims of the gang lost more than PLN 12.5 million.more

For the 92nd time, the coloured lights on the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in New York's Manhattan were lit yesterday. This year, the festivities were accompanied by a massive police presence due to this morning's murder in close proximity to the head of a major insurance company.more