Early bird: Warsaw experienced its first same-sex marriage. The Ministry of Finance will once again sell government bonds to citizens.
On Thursday, the first same-sex marriage was registered in the Polish capital, Warsaw. The Ministry of Finance has once again started issuing government bonds that can be purchased by ordinary citizens. The offer includes a five-year bond, a five-year inflation-linked bond, and a three-month bond.
Warsaw Experiences First Same-Sex Union Due to EU Rules
On Thursday, the first same-sex marriage was registered in Poland's capital, Warsaw, fulfilling court rulings that oblige Poland to recognize same-sex marriages conducted abroad.
The European Union's highest court mandated in November that Poland must register same-sex marriages conducted in other EU countries, even though Polish law currently does not allow them. In March, Poland’s Supreme Administrative Court ordered authorities to recognize the marriage of two Polish men conducted in Germany, wrote AP.
State Bonds Have Returned
The Ministry of Finance has once again started issuing state bonds, which can be purchased by ordinary citizens. The offer includes a five-year bond, a five-year anti-inflation bond, and a three-month bond. For the five-year fixed bond, the average interest rate when held to maturity will be 4.5 percent per year, with interest increasing in individual years the longer the bond is held. The interest rate of the anti-inflation bond will depend on the May year-on-year inflation in individual years. The annual yields of the bonds will be reinvested in the same issue, reported ČTK.
"Today at 6 PM, the orders for the Republic Bond reached 1.5 billion crowns. Nearly 40,000 users logged into the asset account on dluhopisy.gov.cz just during the afternoon," stated Finance Minister Alena Schillerová on X.
Trump Battles the Wind Unlike China and the Rest of the World
President Donald Trump is halting offshore wind farm projects in the United States, precisely at a time when this sector was poised for significant growth. Offshore wind energy has the potential to provide large amounts of clean energy along the US coast. There are three offshore wind farms operating in the United States, and three more have already started delivering electricity.
There are more than 40 federal leases for offshore wind farms. The Trump administration is buying back some leases and compensating energy companies to relinquish offshore wind farms. Trump has posed additional hurdles for this sector while fully focusing on fossil fuels. In contrast, the rest of the world increasingly relies on wind energy, led by China, which Trump visited, according to AP.
Ukraine Currently Holds the Upper Hand in War with Russia
According to an analysis by the American organization Institute for the Study of War (ISW), which monitors the development of the conflict, Ukraine managed to liberate more territory last month than Russia occupied. This is the first instance where Moscow has suffered a net territorial loss since August 2024, when Ukraine invaded Russia's Kursk region in the south of the country. Although the extent of the territory liberated by Ukraine remains very small, Russia still controls nearly 20% of Ukrainian territory. For now, Kyiv seemingly holds the upper hand in the war, as reported by CNN.
Canada to Double Green Energy Sources and Lower Household Energy Costs
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday unveiled a clean electricity strategy, which he says will help double the capacity of Canada's power grid by 2050 and reduce energy costs for most Canadian households. Canada faces major challenges, including tariffs imposed by the United States, higher energy costs due to the war with Iran, and the impacts of climate change, Carney stated.
“When the world changes fundamentally, we must respond with new approaches,” he said according to AP.
Sources: AP, CNN, ČTK, X
