Poles are more optimistic than other Europeans in the face of recession, worrying not so much about losing their jobs as simply paying higher bills, a survey in Monday's Rzeczpospolita daily said.

Some 15 per cent of Poles worry about the state of the economy, compared to a 37 per cent average globally, the survey found.

Fewer Poles have confidence in the Pope as trust has fallen over the past decade in the Roman Catholic church, the daily Rzeczpospolita reported Thursday.

Some 80 per cent of Poles trust the current Pope Benedict compared to 91 per cent who trusted John Paul II - himself a Pole - a decade ago, reported the daily based on a survey of some 1,000 adults.

Polish President Lech Kaczynski vetoed a bill on Monday that would cut early retirement for 750,000 people amid pressure from trade unions.

For the first time in eight years, Magdalena Jensen feels proud to be American.

Before Barack Obama won the US presidential election, the Polish-American was quick to play up her European heritage when she met Poles.

Americans, Europeans and Poles alike stayed out late Tuesday during an "Election Night Warsaw" event to cheer on the US presidential candidates and watch the results come in on big-screen CN

The Polish president will attend an upcoming European Union summit alone, TOK FM radio reported, after the prime minister said he would yield his place at the Brussels negotiating table in the latest round of their tense power struggle.

The All Saints' holiday weekend claimed 41 lives, while 533 were injured as 1,416 drivers were pulled over for drunk- driving across Poland, Polish media reported on Monday.

Poles celebrated the Christian holidays of All Saints' Day on Saturday and All Souls' Day on Sunday. Christians traditionally visit the graves of relatives on the two days.

Poland's top economic policymakers met Tuesday to discuss the impact of the global financial crisis, while the main opposition party urged immediate action by the government.

The conservative Law and Justice party called for an agreement by political parties and the government to work with the national bank, financial regulators and labour unions to ward off damage to Poland.