There are just 7 days left before polls close in the US presidential election. Incumbent President Donald Trump, of the Republican Party, is facing off against Democratic Party challenger Joe Biden. Both candidates have been campaigning frenetically in an attempt to win over undecided voters. For the Trump campaign the focus this week has been on the key swing state of Pennsylvania. President Trump crisscrossed the state on Monday, holding three campaign rallies in different towns, a clear indicator of how important Pennsylvania is to the president’s reelection strategy.

Addressing supporters at a rally yesterday, Mr Trump attacked Mr Biden over his policy of phasing out oil production, a key industry in Pennsylvania.

Mr Trump won the state by a narrow margin when he faced Hillary Clinton in 2016, but polls this year show the president trailing his rival in a state which may prove pivotal in next week’s vote.

Joe Biden, meanwhile, has been targetting the southern state of Georgia. Former Vice President Biden is set to hold a drive-in rally in the state later today. Georgia traditionally votes Republican, but polls indicate the Democrats may have a chance to seize the state this year.

Almost 60 million Americans have already cast their ballot in early voting, already surpassing the total number of early votes cast at the last election in 2016. The final day of voting is Tuesday next week, with results expected to start coming in the early hours of Wednesday.

In Poland, demonstrations have been continuing across the country following a controversial court ruling in which abortion for foetal anomaly was declared unconstitutional.

Protesters took to the streets in major towns and cities across Poland. In some cities, demonstrators blockaded streets and stopped traffic. In Warsaw, crowds demonstrated late into the night outside the Constitutional Tribunal where the ruling was handed down last week.

The Tribunal ruled last Thursday that terminating a pregnancy because of foetal defects was against Poland’s constitution. In its verdict, the court said terminating a foetus because of an abnormality violated the dignity of life which is protected by Article 30 of the Polish Constitution.

Abortion is a highly controversial issue in Poland, and Polish abortion laws were already among Europe’s strictest.

Protests are expected to continue this evening, with demonstrations planned in towns and cities across the country.

The Office for Foreigners has this week issued an update for British citizens living in Poland ahead of the end of the Brexit transition period.

The update explains the process of obtaining a new residency card to replace the existing European Union-based system. The new cards, which will resemble an ID card, will be freely available to any UK citizen registered living in Poland before the end of this year.

The UK, which left the EU early this year, is currently in a transition period until December 31st. After that, the new residence card can be applied for from the January 1st and will serve as proof of residence in Poland and as a travel document within the EU.

Any current documents will remain valid after January 1st, but only until the end of 2021.

Talks between the UK and EU recently broke down, and the UK is now expected to leave the transition period without a deal in place.

As All Saints’ Day approaches, a new initiative aims to help Gdansk’s senior citizens participate safely during the pandemic.  „Gdansk Helps Clean Graves” is a new volunteer scheme from the Gdansk Foundation with a plan to help the elderly take part in one of Poland’s most important holidays.

Anyone aged 60+, as well as those with disabilities or risk factors for COVID-19, can contact the foundation and volunteers will help clean and tend the graves of loved ones in cemeteries in Gdansk, helping those at greatest risk to stay home and stay safe.

All Saints’ Day on November 1st is one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar and is especially important in Poland where families mark the day by visiting the resting places of loved ones. Tombstones are cleaned and many light candles and lanterns as a symbol of remembrance.

The Gdansk Helps Clean Graves initiative is open now and will continue up to November 6th. Details can be found at the Gdansk Foundation or by following the link below: https://fundacjagdanska.pl/gdansk-pomaga-sprzatac-groby/

Weather

Remaining mostly unchanged from this morning as we go into the afternoon. Cloud hanging around into the evening with temperatures reaching about 12C, 53F. Much the same story going into tomorrow, though with winds picking up a little for a chillier day.

Thomas Holdstock/pb