Warsaw

FILE Poland's Robert Lewandowski controls the ball during the World Cup 2022 group I qualifying soccer match between Poland and England, at the Narodowy stadium in Warsaw, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021.
Poland is refusing to play its World Cup qualifier against Russia next month in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Polish soccer federation president said Saturday, Feb, 26, 2022. Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, the nation's all-time leading scorer, immediately responded to say it's the “right decision!” (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski, File)

Belarus sprinter feels safe, looks to future in Poland

By Vanessa Gera Aug. 11, 2021 04:04 PM EDT

Belarusian dissident in Poland, Pavel Latushka, left, and Belarusian Olympic sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, right, who came to Poland fearing reprisals at home after criticizing her coaches at the Tokyo Games, talk to journalists in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Belarus runner used quick thinking to avoid being sent home

By Monika Scislowska And Daria Litvinova Aug. 05, 2021 06:35 AM EDT

Belarusian Olympic sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, center, prepares to leave Narita International Airport in Narita, east of Tokyo Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. Tsimanouskaya, who plans to seek refuge in Europe, boarded a plane that left the gate for Vienna on Wednesday morning, though it was not immediately clear if that would be her final destination. (Kyodo News via AP)

Belarus Olympic runner who feared going home lands in Poland

By Vladimir Isachenkov And David Keyton Aug. 04, 2021 04:54 AM EDT

In this image made from video provided by NTV, Belarus Olympic sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya enters the Polish embassy in Tokyo, Japan, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. Tsimanouskaya plans to seek asylum in Poland, an activist group said Monday, after the athlete alleged that her team’s officials tried to force her to fly home, where she feared she wouldn’t be safe from an autocratic government that recently was accused of diverting a plane in order to arrest a dissident journalist. (NTV via AP)

Poland grants visa to Belarus Olympian who fears for safety

By Graham Dunbar Aug. 02, 2021 05:08 AM EDT

People take part in the Equality Parade, the largest gay pride parade in central and eastern Europe, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday June 19, 2021. The event has returned this year after a pandemic-induced break last year and amid a backlash in Poland and Hungary against LGBT rights.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Warsaw gay pride parade back after backlash, pandemic

By Vanessa Gera Jun. 19, 2021 03:40 AM EDT

People gather and celebrate as bars, clubs and other establishments reopened in Poland after being closed for seven months, in Warsaw, Poland, Friday, May 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Restaurants ready as Poland lifts more pandemic restrictions

May. 28, 2021 12:48 PM EDT

FILE - In this Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019 file photo, Polish fans cheer their team during the Euro 2020 group G qualifying soccer match between Poland and Slovenia at the National stadium in Warsaw, Poland. For players, the pandemic has meant a congested season that poses fitness challenges, let alone trying to avoid coronavirus infections. Financially playing the delayed tournament is essential for UEFA. For fans, the EURO 2020 24-team event should be the first chance for the widespread return of fans to stadiums across Europe since March 2020, assuming new restrictions aren't imposed. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski, File)

The Latest: Conn. plans 'signing bonus' to boost job seeking

By The Associated Press May. 17, 2021 01:32 AM EDT

Masks off, Poles cheer reopening of bars and restaurants

By Vanessa Gera And Rafal Niedzielski May. 15, 2021 03:34 AM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 12, 2015, file photo, Mt. Everest is seen from the way to Kalapatthar in Nepal. China will draw a “separation line” atop Mount Everest to prevent the coronavirus from being spread by climbers ascending Nepal's side of the mountain, Chinese state media reported Monday. (AP Photo/Tashi Sherpa, File)

The Latest: Florida's amusement parks loosen mask wearing

By The Associated Press May. 15, 2021 01:26 AM EDT

Ukraine, Baltics, Poland leaders meet on Polish holiday

By Monika Scislowska May. 03, 2021 04:21 AM EDT
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Lithuania's president said Monday that his country will never accept Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and Moscow's...

FILE - In this Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020, file photo, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly receives a COVID-19 vaccine injection in Topeka, Kan. In March 2021, Kelly enacted a law giving legislative leaders power to revoke her emergency orders. Top Republican lawmakers immediately used it to scuttle a Kelly order meant to encourage counties to keep mask mandates in place. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

The Latest: Romanians protest restrictions as cases top 1M

By The Associated Press Apr. 10, 2021 06:10 AM EDT

Flags fly at half-staff on the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney as a tribute to Prince Philip, Saturday, April 10, 2021. Buckingham Palace officials say Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, has died. He was 99. Philip spent a month in hospital earlier this year before being released on March 16 to return to Windsor Castle. (AP Photo/Mark Baker))

The Latest: Australia mourns Prince Philip

By The Associated Press Apr. 09, 2021 03:30 PM EDT

A woman crosses a street as police surround a bar they raid in Warsaw, Poland, Friday March 26, 2021. A raft of new pandemic restrictions take effect in Poland on Saturday to slow the spread of infection in what has become of the new global hot spot for the virus, but even earlier restrictions are being defied by some.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Some Poles flout virus rules as harder lockdown takes effect

By Vanessa Gera And Rafal Niedzielski Mar. 27, 2021 04:54 AM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday March 20, 2021 file photo, police officers take down personal information of people breaking the partial lockdown that was reintroduced in Poland on Saturday to curb a sudden spike in new COVID-19 cases, in Warsaw, Poland. Many regions in Central Europe and the Balkans are facing one of the most difficult moments since the coronavirus pandemic struck over a year ago. Poland recorded its highest daily number of new coronavirus infections Wednesday March 24, 2021, as hospitals buckled under a new surge. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski, File)

Central Europe's hospitals slammed, can't treat all in need

By Vanessa Gera Mar. 24, 2021 11:31 AM EDT

People walk in an empty street in downtown Rome, Monday, March 15, 2021. Half of Italy's regions have gone into the strictest form of lockdown in a bid to curb the latest spike in coronavirus infections that have brought COVID-19 hospital admissions beyond manageable thresholds. (Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP)

Much of Europe tightens anti-pandemic rules as virus surges

By Frances D'emilio Mar. 15, 2021 10:44 AM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2021 file photo, a health worker prepares a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine to be administered at a vaccination center set up in Fiumicino, near Rome's international airport. As Poland began vaccinating teachers on Friday Feb. 12, 2021, many say they are unhappy that they are getting AstraZeneca vaccines against the coronavirus, rather than the Pfizer shots earmarked for health care workers and the elderly. Nearly a year into the pandemic, many Europeans and others globally are desperate to get vaccinated and return to normal life. But many don't want just any vaccine. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)

Some Europeans get choosy about which vaccines they want

By Vanessa Gera And Nicole Winfield Feb. 13, 2021 02:39 AM EST

This file photo from Jan.29.2021 shows Marta Lempart, a key leader of the Polish Women's Strike, in Warsaw, Poland. Lempart has been charged with criminal felonies for her role in organizing mass protests during a pandemic. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski/file)

Women's rights activist charged for role in Polish protests

By Vanessa Gera Feb. 11, 2021 04:58 AM EST

Protesters with signs reading "Free Media" gathered before Poland's state TVP building in Warsaw, Poland, on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. Independent media outlets in Poland suspended news coverage and other programming Wednesday to protest a planned new advertising tax that they view as an attempt by the country's right-wing government to undermine press freedoms. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Independent Polish media suspend coverage to protest ad tax

By Vanessa Gera Feb. 10, 2021 05:59 AM EST