TVN24 News in English

TVN24 News in English

University of Warsaw offers condolences on tragic events at Charles University in Prague

Rector of the University of Warsaw Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak extended deepest sympathy and sincerest condolences to families and friends of the victims of the shooting that took place on Thursday (Dec.21) at Charles University in Prague. Poland's President Andrzej Duda and Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski also offered their condolences to the people of Prague and the Czech Republic.

President Duda: PM Tusk's public media reform is anarchy

The Polish president on Thursday (Dec.21) denounced state media reforms announced by Prime Minister Donald Tusk as "anarchy", as tensions mounted between the head of state and Tusk's new pro-European Union administration. In an interview with private broadcaster Radio Zet, Duda also backed former Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński and his deputy Maciej Wąsik from PiS, who have recently been sentenced to prison. The president also praised the chief of Poland's central bank Adam Glapiński. "I believe that this fight against inflation and the protection of the Polish economy, both during Covid and after, is being carried out effectively and in a prudent and correct way," Duda stressed.

Parliament adopts a resolution meant to fix Poland's judiciary council

In an evening vote on Wednesday (Dec.20), the Polish parliament adopted a resolution meant to fix the country's contested judiciary council (KRS). The resolution underscores that three previous resolutions regarding the appointment of the council justices - passed in 2018, 2021, and 2022 respectively - were adopted in violation of the Polish constitution. The document also calls on the KRS justices appointed under unconstitutional procedures to immediately step down from office.

Joe Biden sends congratulatory letter to Donald Tusk

U.S. President Joe Biden congratulated Donald Tusk on his election to the office of Prime Minister of Poland - PM's chancellery said on the X social media platform on Wednesday (Dec.20), attaching a photo of a letter to Tusk from Biden.

Former PiS interior minister and his deputy sentenced to 2 years in prison

Former Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński and his deputy from the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party were sentenced to two years in prison on Wednesday (Dec.20) for abuse of power in previous posts, PAP news agency reported. President Duda met Kamiński and Wąsik on Wednesday evening and said his 2015 pardon had been executed in accordance with the law and remained effective.

Government adopts draft budget for 2024. Planned deficit at 184 billion zlotys

The new Polish government has adopted a new draft budget for 2024. According to Finance Minister Andrzej Domański, the state budget for the upcoming year has been based on an assumed GDP increase by 3% and inflation at 6.6%. The budget deficit is to reach 184 billion zlotys. Prime Minister Donald Tusk reassured that both the 800+ social benefits and the 13th and 14th pensions would continue to be paid out. "There is money for it in the budget," the prime minister said.

U.S. troops send Christmas gifts to Polish families in need

Ten families struggling with financial hardship from the town of Drawsko Pomorskie will receive Christmas packages filled with basic need products from the U.S. troops stationed at the local military base. The American soldiers came up with the idea, while the employees of the local social security center helped them to follow through.

CIA chief, head of Mossad, and Qatari PM met in Warsaw on Monday

CIA chief Bill Burns, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and the head of Israel's Mossad spy agency met in Warsaw on Monday (Dec.18) to discuss a potential new deal to secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Poland's minister-coordinator of special services Tomasz Siemoniak said on the X platform he met with Burns on Monday and that the two underscored their "common will to maintain the closest possible cooperation between our countries' secret services".

Defence ministry shuts down parliamentary Smolensk crash reinvestigation subcommittee

Poland's Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz decided on Friday (Dec.15) to liquidate the parliamentary subcommittee for reinvestigation of the Smolensk air disaster of April 10, 2010. The defence ministry said in a statement released on Friday that all members of the subcommittee had been stripped of all authorization and powers necessary to act on behalf of said body.

MFA replaces Poland's permanent representative to EU with Tusk's former aide

The Ministry of Affairs announced on Thursday (Dec.14) that "Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the European Union Andrzej Sadoś was recalled to Poland and exempt from the obligation to perform work". Sadoś has been replaced in his duties by Piotr Serafin, who was Head of Cabinet of the President of the European Council Donald Tusk in 2014-2019. "Voices have been raised that the prime minister cannot nominate an ambassador. Piotr Serafin is not an ambassador, he is a minister plenipotentiary," said Paweł Wroński, a new spokesman for the MFA.

Tusk in Brussels: we're on the final stretch to unlock EU funds for Poland

Poland's new Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday (Dec.13) in Brussels that Poland was on the final stretch to solve the issue of unfreezing EU funds to Poland. Tusk assured that "all the institutions know that we observe a renaissance of the rule of law in Poland". He also stressed that "apathy on Ukraine is unacceptable," adding that he would try to convince "some member states".