The European Commission said on Monday it would closely examine whether a new Polish draft law undermines the independence of the judiciary, amid tensions between Brussels and Warsaw over democratic standards.

Poland's main opposition group, the centre-right Civic Platform (PO), picked a party veteran - Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska - known for building consensus on Saturday as its contender to unseat nationalist ally Andrzej Duda in a presidential election next year.

"Discriminatory, illegal and against the constitution" - this is what the Commissioner for Human Rights had to say about resolutions passed by some local governments that targets the "LGBT+ ideology". Adam Bodnar has sent the list of objections and complaints to the administrative courts.

The 13th of December marks the 38th anniversary of martial law in Poland. Former Polish President Lech Wałęsa, and Mayor of Gdańsk Aleksandra Dulkiewicz placed flowers at the memorial for those who lost their lives.

Polish judges could be sacked if they question the legitimacy of judicial reforms, under draft legislation that the nationalist government has introduced, in a move set to deepen a row between Brussels and Warsaw over democratic standards. Many Polish judges and legal experts protest against the planned reforms and dismiss them as further violation of the constitution and EU law.

A cave that has become a huge trash heap has now been deemed a health hazard. Spelunkers from the Cave Patrol decided to test dust and particles from the Jaskinia z Filarami in the Sudetes. Unfortunately, the worst fears were confirmed. Among the waste there's mainly asbestos, possibly several tonnes of the dangerous material.

Poland sees limited room for diplomacy and dialogue with Russia, a senior Polish official said, despite attempts by French President Emmanuel Macron to persuade Warsaw to rethink its relationship with Moscow. European Union leaders meeting in Brussels have agreed to extend their main economic sanctions against Russia for six months to the end of July 2020.

The European Union left Poland out of a 2050 climate neutrality agreement on Friday after hours of summit haggling with three poorer eastern member states that demanded more funds for economic transition and support for nuclear power.

The Sejm is changing the rules and regulations on appointing members of the National Electoral Commission. Seven out of the ten members will be chosen by MPs. They will also be able to motion to dismiss them. This destroys independence and politicises yet another state body, say Civic Platform MPs, who submitted three changes to the bill - all of which were rejected.

Another collision with a limousine from the State Protection Service (SOP), and even more questions from the opposition, whoch is asking when the state-funded reckless driving will end. In question is Wednesday's accident involving a government car carrying Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Gowin. The SOP vehicle was speeding on the S7 road and hit a delivery truck.

Greenpeace climate activists were arrested after they scaled the façade of the European Council building in Brussels on Thursday (December 12), to unfurl a giant banner calling for greater climate action.

Law and Justice parliamentary club on Thursday submitted in the Sejm a draft bill amending the law on common courts, as well as the Supreme Court - informed United Poland's MP Jan Kanthak. He added that the provisions include "possiblity of recalling judges who would assume the right to question the National Council of the Judiciary".

Women in Poland facing some of Europe's tightest restrictions on abortion will be offered advice and funding to travel abroad to get a termination through a new "Abortion Without Borders" initiative launched on Wednesday.

Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic set out demands on Thursday that could block agreement on the European Union's new push for climate neutrality by 2050, saying the poor should not have to bear the cost.

Budget of an average Polish family has grown by 800 zlotys during last 2 years. Chances for getting a loan for people who had cancer are to increase. CBOS survey shows the most respected professions in Poland. Business news from Poland with Mateusz Walczak.

Yet another collision of a government linousine. This time with a Deputy Prime Minister on board. Luckily, Jarosław Gowin wasn't hurt. The crash was caused by the driver of the State Protection Service, who received a fine and penalty points. The opposition has severely criticised Law and Justice for the changes it introduced to VIP protection.

The appeal of the First President of the Supreme Court Małgorzata Gersdorf has been ignored. Judge Tomasz Przesławski declares that the Disciplinary Chamber will continue to adjudicate. The European Union takes the floor in debate on Polish rule of law and says that it only sees changes for worse in Poland and Hungary.

The Nobel Prize ceremony was followed by a banquet with the Swedish Royal Family. Olga Tokarczuk, honoured for her literary work, took her place at the table next to King Carl XVI Gustaf and spoke to guests. In an exclusive interview for TVN24's Katarzyna Kolenda-Zaleska the Polish novelist shared her thoughts on many issues, including her standpoint on the Swedish King's hunting passion.

Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic have raised objections to the latest draft decision of a Thursday-Friday summit of EU leaders who aim to commit the bloc to climate neutrality by 2050, according to diplomats and documents.

A burst heating pipe disrupted traffic and caused clouds of steam to engulf a stretch over the Polish capital, Warsaw on Wednesday morning.

The European Union's new top justice official on Tuesday accused Poland and Hungary of backsliding further on democratic standards as the bloc's ministers met to encourage them to adhere to the rule of law.

Olga Tokarczuk gave a short speech at the traditional Nobel banquet at Stockholm City Hall on Tuesday (December 10) following a royal award ceremony at the Concert Hall. "Prizes treat their laureates as individuals by ascribing 100 percent of merit to them, when in fact, there are always lots of other people behind the success - those who support, help and inspire. So, my thanks go to all those who have taken care of me while I was writing - those who have done the reasearch, edited my texts, and who supported me when the going got tough," Polish novelist said. Swedish royalty and Nobel prize winners were among one thousand guests in attendance.

Konkret24, team of journalists working within tvn24.pl portal, won the Grand Press Digital award on Tuesday. The prize is handed out to media displaying innovative approach to using modern technologies in journalistic work. Among other winners, there was Bertold Kittel - journalist from "Superwizjer" TVN - for uncovering that Poland's chief auditor had been renting his tenement building to figures from criminal underworld, and Lech Dawidowicz from TVN24's "Czarno na Białym" for his report on the Pegasus system. The former won the prize in the Investigative Journalism category, whereas the latter in the Specialised Journalism.

Olga Tokarczuk, the laureate of the Nobel Prize in Literature for 2018, delivered her Nobel Lecture in Literature on Saturday 7 December 2019 at the Swedish Academy in Stockholm. Below we have published the full essay by Olga Tokarczuk entitled "The Tender Narrator".

Poland's Nobel Prize in Literature laureate for 2018, Olga Tokarczuk, collected her award on Tuesday in Stockholm from the hands of the King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf.

President Andrzej Duda sent a congratulatory letter to Olga Tokarczuk on Tuesday. "I would like to express my delight that the Swedish Academy has honoured Your work, in which universal truths and Polish sensitivity complement each other so fine," President Duda wrote. Polish writer will officially receive the award at the Nobel Prize award ceremony which takes place in Konserthuset Stockholm, Sweden.

A senior Polish official said Monday there could be no backtracking from a NATO decision to pursue a defence plan for Poland and the Baltics after Ankara suggested it might still block it until allies designate a Kurdish militia as terrorists.

Nobel Literature laureates Olga Tokarczuk and Peter Handke delivered their lectures in Stockholm on Saturday (December 7).

"My spontaneous reaction was to dedicate this award to the democratic movement in Poland and I asked people to vote for democracy and against totalitarian tendencies and this speech of mine was quite warmly received and I think it might have had some influence on the elections," Olga Tokarczuk said at a press conference at the Swedish Academy in Stockholm on Friday, marking the start of the Nobel Week. During the following days, the laureates will give press conferences and hold their Nobel Lectures. The week culminates in the Nobel Prize award ceremony and banquet on 10 December and ends with visits to the Nobel Foundation. The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway.

Turkey will block final publication of a NATO defence plan for the Baltics and Poland until allies agree to designate the Syrian Kurdish YPG a terrorist group, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday.