"Germany has never really accounted for its crimes against Poland," says top politician Jaroslaw Kaczynski, claiming many Germans who committed crimes lived in impunity in Germany after World War 2.
"We will turn to Germany to open negotiations on the reparations," says Jaroslaw Kaczynski.
(AP)
Poland's top politician has said that the government will seek the equivalent of some $1.3 trillion in reparations from Germany for the Nazis' World War 2 invasion and occupation of his country.
Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of the Law and Justice party, announced on Thursday the huge claim at the release of a long-awaited report on the cost to the country of years of Nazi German occupation as it marks 83 years since the start of World War II.
"We not only prepared the report but we have also taken the decision as to the further steps," Kaczynski said during the report's presentation.
"We will turn to Germany to open negotiations on the reparations," Kaczynski said, adding it will be a "long and not an easy path" but "one day will bring success."
He insisted the move would serve "true Polish-German reconciliation" that would be based on "truth."
Poland's right-wing government argues that the country which was the war's first victim has not been fully compensated by neighbouring Germany, which is now one of its major partners within the European Union.
"Germany has never really accounted for its crimes against Poland," Kaczynski said, claiming that many Germans who committed war crimes lived in impunity in Germany after the war.
He claimed the German economy is capable of paying the bill.
READ MORE:Poland lambasts Germany, France for their 'imperialist' behaviour in EU
NEW - Poland demands $1.3 trillion in "war reparations" from Germany.
Berlin says compensations already paid
Germany argues compensation was paid to Eastern Bloc nations in the years after the war while territories that Poland lost in the East as borders were redrawn were compensated with some of Germany's pre-war lands.
Berlin calls the matter closed.
"Poland long ago, in 1953, waived further reparations and has repeatedly confirmed this waiver," the Foreign Ministry said in an emailed response to an Associated Press query about the new Polish report.
Top leaders including Kaczynski, who is Poland's chief policy maker, and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki attended the ceremonial release of the report at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, rebuilt from wartime ruins.
The release of the three-volume report was the focus of national observances of the anniversary of the war that began on September 1, 1939, with Nazi Germany's bombing and invasion of Poland that was followed by more than five years of brutal occupation.
A team of more than 30 economists, historians and other experts worked on the report since 2017. The issue has created bilateral tensions.
Some six million of Poland’s citizens, including three million Jews, were killed in the war. Some of them were victims of the Soviet Red Army that invaded from the east.
Source: AP
Displaced people sit on a tractor with their belongings as they make their way to reach safer place camp after fleeing from their flood hit homes following heavy monsoon rains in Shikarpur of Sindh province on August 30, 2022. — AFP
HYDERABAD: Sindh Action Committee on Tuesday held a rally to protest against the treatment being meted out to the province's flood affectees, demanding that victims of the recent rain-induced flooding be provided accommodation in Karachi through a tent city.
The rally was led by members of the committee Qaumi Awami Tehreek chief Ayaz Latif Palijo, Sindh Taraqqi-pasand Party (STP) chairman Dr Qadir Magsi, Sindh United Party leader Syed Zain Shah, and Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (Bashir) leader Dr Niaz Kalani
Later, the nationalist leaders also held a press conference at the Hyderabad Press Club.
"People have been lying on the streets due to the flooding," Palijo said, criticising Sindh's government for leaving flood-hit affectees in distress.
Taking a jibe at Sindh's administration, Palijo added that the "rulers are waiting for the province to drown, so they can hold all the incoming funds" which are actually meant for victims of the catastrophe.
"People of Sindh are a marketing strategy for the rulers," he remarked.
"The rulers are busy doing visits and photo sessions," Dr Qadar Magsi said, while Zain Shah complained about the floods destroying agriculture, homes, and infrastructure.
"Flood affectees are not getting any help," Niaz Kalani remarked.
An official delegation from Venezuela protested Thursday outside Argentina's embassy in Caracas against the impounding of a plane and its crew in Buenos Aires since June.
Venezuelan Minister of Transport Ramon Velasquez and lawmakers gathered outside the embassy, demanding Argentina to "return the plane and crew!"
The plane was detained in Argentina’s capital on June 8 by order of a judge, who opened an investigation against the crew, consisting of 14 Venezuelans and five Iranians, for "espionage and terrorism.”
The Boeing 747 entered Argentina on June 6 with a cargo of auto parts from Mexico. Unable to refuel in Argentina due to US sanctions, it departed for Montevideo, but Uruguayan authorities denied it access and it flew back to Buenos Aires, where it was ordered by a judge to be detained.
The US Department of Justice on Aug. 2 asked Argentina for permission to confiscate the Iranian plane sold to Venezuelan owners, arguing that it was linked to international terrorist groups, the agency said in a statement.
On July 19, a US court in the District of Columbia issued an order to seize the plane on the grounds that there was an "unauthorized transfer" of the plane from Mahan Air, an Iranian airline affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, which Washington says is a “designated terrorist organization,” to EMTRASUR, a Venezuelan cargo airline and subsidiary of the Venezuelan state-owned company Conviasa, which is also under sanctions from the US Treasury.
On Thursday, the Argentine judge admitted a request from the US to seize the plane. The aircraft, which remains at Ezeiza International Airport outside Buenos Aires, was inspected Thursday by agents from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), according to local news.
The intervention of the US resulted in Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordering a team of "experts" to go to Argentina to fight the "battle for Venezuela.” He said the US was attempting to "steal" the plane and has questioned Argentina's justice system for "kneeling before" the US.
MQM leader Wasim Akhtar speaks during a press conference. — Twitter/File
KARACHI: MQM-P on Sunday has expressed fury toward the federal and Sindh government again.
Speaking during a press conference, MQM’s deputy convener Wasim Akhtar has asked the federal and provincial governments of Sindh to revise the policy.
He said that the party’s Rabita Committee is gravely concerned about the lack of implementation of the agreements signed with coalition parties before the vote of no-confidence.
“The committee will announce its next action plan,” he emphasised.
The former Karachi mayor added that efforts are being made to divide MQM’s vote bank by forming "fake political parties".
“Agreements are signed with MQM, which aren’t upheld later,” he said.
It should be noted that MQM is part of the coalition government in the federation, which includes other political parties such as PML-N, PPP, and JUI.
State Minister for Petroleum Mussadiq Malik (L), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (C) and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah. — PID/AFP/File
ISLAMABAD: The coalition government Thursday reiterated its demand, urging the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to issue the verdict on PTI's "foreign funding" case — which has been pending since 2014.
PTI's founding member Akbar S Babar had filed the case in 2014, alleging that the party received foreign funding and the ECP, on June 21, reserved the verdict in the case.
Taking to his Twitter handle, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the foreign funding case is an example of "how ladla (blue-eyed boy) was being protected".
The premier wrote: “[Nawaz Sharif] was convicted for not taking a salary, 'Ladla' is untouchable. Eight years on, the decision is still elusive.”
He further mentioned that in order to stop the foreign funding case, Khan filed nine writ petitions in the Islamabad High Court and got 50 adjournments.
Meanwhile, while addressing a press conference in the federal capital flanked by State Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik, Adviser to Prime Minister on Kashmir Affairs Qamar Zaman Kaira also questioned the delay in the announcement of the verdict.
“We don’t want to head towards a clash between institutions; however, people are waiting for the verdict which has been reserved,” he said, emphasising that the decision should be announced as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Malik said: “We are used to accepting decisions but, at least, bring the decision to the fore so that we can know what was the outcome of the case.
'Delay incomprehensible'
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah also took to his Twitter to urge ECP to “immediately” announce the verdict of the foreign funding case.
“PTI Lawyers resorted to delaying tactics for eight years by filing nine writ petitions during the proceedings but now the decision is already reserved,” he wrote, adding that a further delay is “incomprehensible”.
PTI hid funds worth millions of rupees from ECP: report
The PTI hid funds worth millions of rupees from the ECP, the report of an ECP scrutiny committee probing the party's funds revealed on January 4.
The report stated that the PTI provided "false information" regarding the party's funding to the ECP. It said that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP's) bank statement revealed that the party had received Rs1.64 billion in funding.
According to the report, the party did not disclose funding worth more than Rs310 million to the ECP.
The scrutiny committee was formed in 2019 to audit foreign funding received by the PTI.
Prince William recently opened up about his new environmental initiative. (Photo: Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Anton Mzimba was shot and killed on Tuesday.
Mzimba was a park ranger and head of services at Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.
Prince William, who met with Mzimba last year, has demanded "justice" for the "wildlife warrior".
Prince William has released a statement following news of Anton Mzimba's death.
Mzimba, head of services at Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, was hailed as a "wildlife warrior", fighting off poachers at the reserve where he worked for over 25 years.
He was shot and killed on Tuesday. Further details around his death are unknown.
Head of Ranger at Timbavati, Anton Mzimba, was shot and killed outside of his home last night. This follows recent death threats and highlights the daily threat facing Rangers. Our deepest condolences to Anton’s loved ones and co-workers at this difficult time pic.twitter.com/fRayloiFjB
The Duke of Cambridge met with Mzimba via Zoom last year when they learnt about a new device to combat ivory smugglers.
"This is a very well-organised crime. It involves local people. But, down the line, it goes across the border of the country," Mzimba told the prince, per People.
I’m deeply saddened to learn of the killing of Anton Mzimba who I spoke to in November. Committed and brave, rangers like Anton are central to the conservation of Africa’s fantastic wildlife. Those responsible must swiftly be brought to justice. My thoughts are with his family. W
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) July 27, 2022
In a personal statement, Prince William said on Wednesday: "I'm deeply saddened to learn of the killing of Anton Mzimba who I spoke to in November. Committed and brave, rangers like Anton are central to the conservation of Africa's fantastic wildlife.
"Those responsible must swiftly be brought to justice. My thoughts are with his family."
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