In the UK, newly elected Members of Parliament, or MPs, have been sitting for the first time.

The 650 members in Britain’s House of Commons reconvened yesterday following last week’s general election in the country, in which the Conservative party took an unexpectedly strong win, securing a powerful majority in parliament.

The MPs elected a new speaker. The previous speaker, the globally recognised John Bercow, stepped down before the election after being heavily criticised for his alleged bias in parliamentary debates concerning Brexit.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the new MPs, many of whom won their seats for the first time last week.

Mr Johnson said he would end the „deadlock, dither, and delay” by making it law that the UK finish its withdrawal from the EU by the end of 2020.

The UK will officially leave on January 31st but will then enter a transition period until the end of the year.

Mr Johnson’s rival, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, congratulated the Prime Minister but said he would be remembered by whether or not he keeps the many promises made during the campaign.

GDANSK CITY GOVERNMENT UNDER FIRE OVER RUSSIA-LINKED OIL COMPANY DISCOUNTS

Gdansk city government is facing criticism over its apparent cooperation with an Austria-based energy company with ties to Russia and the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

Radio Gdansk broke the story yesterday that one of the companies linked to Gdansk’s Resident Card programme is apparently controlled by unknown investors. Vienna-based Amic Energy is also linked to the Nord Stream project, a gas pipeline from Russia to Germany, which is very unpopular in Poland.

The Gdansk Resident Card is a programme run by the Gdansk Tourism Organisation. It offers discounts for residents at various attractions, shops, and services around the city, including Amic Energy.

Critics say the Tourism Organisation should instead be working with Polish energy company Lotos, which has its headquarters in Gdansk.

When questioned on this by a Radio Gdansk journalist, the Tourism Office said they were interested in working with Lotos and had sent an invitation. Lotos denied any contact had been made via official channels.

MATEJKO’S 'CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD’ TO BE DISPLAYED IN PRESTIGIOUS LONDON ART GALLERY

(Mat. Wikipedia/PD-Art)

A historic painting by Jan Matejko depicting one of Poland’s national heroes is to go on display at the British National Gallery in London.

The enormous painting named 'Astronomer Copernicus or Conversations with God’, dates to 1873 and shows the Torun-born mathematician and scientist looking up to the heavens.

Matejko, who is considered by many to be Poland’s national painter, is known for his large, colourful, and detailed depictions of history.

The painting, along with an original copy of Copernicus’s 'On Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres.’, will be open to the public from July 29th at the National Gallery in London. Admission is free.

POLAND’S POP KING COMES TO GDANSK

Polish popstar Dawid Podsiadło will be playing in Gdansk this summer.

The singer behind 'Nie Ma Fal’ and 'Małomiasteczkowy’ will be at Gdansk’s Stadion Energa on June 13th.

Tickets go on sale this Friday and will start at 59zl.

WEATHER

It was an unseasonably warm start to the day this morning with temperatures touching 10°C, 49°F.

Getting cooler into this afternoon though but plenty of sunshine around with a moderate breeze from the southwest.