TVN24 News in English

TVN24 News in English

Primary school in Silesia named after Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity

Zabrze city council has decided to name the local Primary School No. 41 after the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (GOCC) - one of Poland's largest charity organizations. The request was filed jointly by the teachers and the parents. Wednesday's (Nov. 15) naming ceremony, also marking the 40th anniversary of the school's foundation, was attended by the charity's co-founder Jerzy Owsiak.

MFA discards 400 kg of computer drives. Deputy minister: everything has been archived

Physical drives were discarded, but all documents, all information they included, have been stored and archived in line with the regulations - Poland's Deputy Foreign Minister Paweł Jabłoński said on Wednesday (Nov. 15). In response to an opposition MP's request, the ministry has recently revealed it discarded 400 kg of hard drives and other memory storage devices.

Sejm appoints new parliamentary members of judiciary council

The Sejm has voted in four new members of the National Chamber of the Judiciary representing the parliament. All four were candidates of the democratic opposition groupings: Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz, Robert Kropiwnicki, Tomasz Zimoch and Anna Maria Żukowska. Candidates put forward by the still-ruling PiS party - Marek Ast, Bartosz Kownacki, Arkadiusz Mularczyk and Kazimierz Smoliński - have all been rejected in Tuesday's (Nov. 14) vote.

New Sejm speaker announces national address and sanation of judiciary council

The new speaker of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia on Tuesday (Nov. 14) announced he would deliver an address to the nation in the coming days. "I think sometime this week," he said, assuring that new "democratic standards" would be observed in the parliament. "The freezer is going out of the speaker's office. If there's a bill that meets requirements, it should be proceeded by the Sejm," Hołownia said. The speaker also promised that efforts aimed at "sanation" of the Constitutional Tribunal and the National Council of the Judiciary would soon be launched. The speaker also outlined key plans the lower house has scheduled for next week.

President Duda sends PM Morawiecki on a mission to form new cabinet without parliamentary majority

President Andrzej Duda has tasked Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki with a mission to form a new government. Morawiecki has now 14 days to form a new cabinet, while the president has to approve it within that same fortnight. The prime minister will then have another two weeks to present his new cabinet to the Sejm and ask for a vote of confidence. However, if anyone still doubts whether or not the opposition has the necessary majority to win votes in the lower house, Monday's inaugural session of the new parliament provided a rather clear answer.

Poles evacuated from Gaza Strip arrive safely in Warsaw

The first group of Polish citizens evacuated from the Gaza Strip have safely arrived in Poland - the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed on Monday (Nov. 13). "This is not the end of our efforts. The goal is to evacuate all our citizens," the MFA added.

"Together, we are at least twice as strong." Ukrainian presidential couple sends best wishes to Poland on Independence Day

Our nations are bound together by a common aim and value of freedom. Every time we stood together, we changed history for good and won. Together, we are at least twice stronger - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in the wishes he extended to the Polish people on November 11, which is Poland's Independence Day. Earlier that day, the Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska had sent her own best wishes to Poland too.

Tusk: whoever utters word "nation" to divide and spread hate, stands against the nation

Whoever utters the word "nation" to divide and spread hate, stands against the nation. Whoever covers up depravity and common thievery with the word "nation", commits sacrilege - Civic Platform leader Donald Tusk said in a video he posted on social media to mark Poland's November 11 Independence Day. Tusk also encouraged Poles to "celebrate and rejoice we live in free Poland".

Opposition coalition agreement lists candidates for top state functions

The coalition agreement signed on Friday (Nov.10) by leaders of Polish opposition parties - Civic Coalition, Third Way, and New Left - includes names of candidates for prime minister and deputy PMs. The deal also explains in detail how the speakers of both chambers of parliament will perform their duties in a rotational system.

Pete Buttigieg: I wanted to see how Poles and Ukrainians have changed their lives

I wanted to see for myself the empowerment that is taking place, the mutual support, and the way the lives of the Polish and the Ukrainian people have been changed - U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told TVN24. He added that what he had experienced "is very moving and a very important story for me to take back with me to the United States". Buttigieg also stressed that the question of Ukrainian refugees was still a priority for U.S.

Opposition party leaders have reached coalition agreement

Poland's pro-European Union opposition parties have reached agreement on a coalition, their candidate for prime minister, Donald Tusk, said on Friday, bringing them a step closer to taking power after they won a combined majority in an Oct. 15 election.

MFA chief Rau: there are Polish citizens among Hamas hostages

Poland's Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau confirmed on Thursday (Nov.9) that there were Polish citizens among the hostages taken by Hamas. Rau took part in a conference summoned on the initiative of France's President Emmanuel Macron and focusing on the humanitarian aid and current situation in the Gaza Strip.

PSL's Marek Sawicki named senior speaker of new parliament

The new senior speaker will open the first session of the new parliament on Nov. 13. President Andrzej Duda announced in a televised address on Monday (Nov. 6) he has entrusted Marek Sawicki of PSL (Polish People's Party) with this honorary role. What are the duties of the senior speaker of the Sejm?

Poland and NATO allies to suspend conventional armed forces treaty after Russia's withdrawal

NATO allies condemned a decision by Russia on Tuesday to withdraw from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, a key post-Cold War agreement, and said they would suspend its operation in response."Russia has violated the letter and spirit of the Treaty by failing to implement its provisions for many years, and then by launching an unlawful, unprovoked war," Poland's MFA and MOD said in a statement released on Tuesday.

PM Morawiecki tasked to form new cabinet. What's next if he fails?

Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Monday Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will have a chance to form a new government after his Law and Justice (PiS) party won in the Oct. 15 election, though the task seems impossible as the party lacks a majority. Morawiecki will have 14 days from the first parliamentary sitting to present his cabinet, and another 14 days to detail his programme to parliament and win its vote of confidence. However, if the proposed cabinet loses the vote, which seems very likely, the Sejm will have another two weeks to nominate another candidate for prime minister.