Civil unrest continued over the weekend in major cities across the US in response to the death of George Floyd last week at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
As protests stretched into their fifth consecutive day, mayors in cities from Los Angeles to Atlanta issued mandatory curfews. Diverse coalitions of local business owners, politicians, celebrities, and activists from the Black Lives Matter movement urged protestors to refrain from acts of violence.
Despite their pleas, last night saw additional damage in cities, including Atlanta and Washington DC, in the form of broken windows, fires, and looting. In response, several mayors have declared a state of emergency with the governors of 21 states and the District of Columbia mobilizing their National Guard units to further assist local police in restoring law and order.
Protests have also spread outside the US, as hundreds of demonstrators rallied outside of the US embassies in Berlin and London yesterday despite the ongoing threat of coronavirus. The UK still has the highest number of COVID-19 infections and deaths in Europe, and the fourth-highest in the world, behind the US, Brazil, and Russia.
Source: New York Times, Guardian
Domestic flights resume across Poland
As of June 1, state-owned LOT Polish airlines has resumed domestic flights between eight cities, including Warsaw, Gdańsk, Kraków, Szczecin, and Wrocław.
Under rules to prevent the spread of coronavirus, passengers will have their temperature checked by thermal imaging cameras before boarding and are required to wear a mask covering their mouth and nose during the duration of the flight. Aircrews will also be required to wear masks and gloves at all times.
Deputy Infrastructure Minister Marcin Horała said last month that Poland would bring back passenger flights in three phases: first on domestic routes; then on routes to European destinations; and finally intercontinental connections, but only to regions where the COVID-19 pandemic is under control.
Poland’s border restrictions are set to expire June 12, with neighboring countries like Germany already announcing they plan to open their borders June 15 to nationals of most EU and EEA countries assuming the epidemic situation remains stable.
Nearly 24,000 people in Poland have tested positive for COVID-19; of those cases, over 1,000 (1,061) have passed away while over 11,000 have recovered.
Source: Radio Poland
Poles warned about risks of smoking
The Polish Ministry of Health used the occasion of World No Tobacco Day yesterday to issue a reminder that smoking remains the biggest challenge for public health services in Poland.
An estimated 70,000 people die in Poland every year due to tobacco-related diseases, accounting for about 17 percent of all deaths in the country. According to officials, nearly one-third of adult Polish men are smokers, as well as 1 out of every 5 Polish women.
The resulting costs to society from smoking-related illnesses like lung cancer and heart disease have been estimated at roughly PLN 1 billion (EUR 220 million), and may potentially be higher, according to data from the Health Ministry.
In addition to the known economic and health impacts, the World Health Organization warned on Sunday that “smokers may be more vulnerable to a severe case of COVID-19” amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Source: Radio Poland
Kraków Film Fest kicks off online
Due to the ongoing threat of coronavirus, the 60th annual Kraków Film Fest is being held entirely online this year, with some 200 films and events available for movie lovers to enjoy from the comfort and safety of their own homes.
The festival kicked off yesterday with a screening Paweł Ferdek’s “Pollywood,” a documentary about Polish Jews in Hollywood, with a diverse collection of features, animated films, and film shorts set to be screened throughout the week.
For more information, visit https://www.krakowfilmfestival.pl/en/.
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Weather
Today will be sunny and warm with little chance of rain and a strong breeze coming from the north. Temperatures will peak around a high of 16°C, or 61°F, dropping to a low of 10°C or 50°F overnight. The weather is expected to remain dry and sunny as the week progresses, with no rain in the immediate forecast.
Elizabeth Peck/ako
