Major fire breaks out in Poland

Protests draw hundreds of thousands

Military parade showcases Poland's strength

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A major fire broke out Sunday morning in a vast shopping complex in the Polish capital that housed some 1,400 shops and service points. The fire broke out around 5 a.m. in the Arkadia shopping center, one of the biggest in Poland. Firefighters were still battling the blaze hours later, and no injuries had been reported. The shopping center is located in the Wola district of Warsaw, which was heavily damaged during World War II. The district has been rebuilt since then, and the Arkadia shopping center is one of its most popular landmarks. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Also in Poland, hundreds of thousands of protesters have gathered in Warsaw for one of Poland’s largest demonstrations since the fall of communism in 1989. The protesters are calling for the government to resign and for new elections. They are also protesting against the government’s policies on issues such as abortion and LGBT rights. The government has condemned the protests as “illegal” and has threatened to use force if necessary to disperse the crowds. Meanwhile, as war rages in Ukraine, the Polish people got a display of military might — the country’s biggest since the Cold War. A huge military parade was held in Warsaw on Thursday, showcasing Poland’s military strength. The parade included tanks, armored vehicles, and aircraft. The parade was attended by Polish President Andrzej Duda and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Duda said the parade was a “demonstration of our strength and determination to defend our country.”