The company on Saturday said it is fully prepared for such a situation and that deliveries to its refinery can be made entirely by sea…reports Asian Lite News
Russia has halted oil supplies to Poland via the Druzhba pipeline, Poland’s leading oil and gas conglomerate PKN Orlen said.
Local media reported that the supply halt through the pipeline, exempted from the sanctions imposed by the European Union on Russia following the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, came a day after Poland delivered its first Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
The company on Saturday said it is fully prepared for such a situation and that deliveries to its refinery can be made entirely by sea.
“Only 10 per cent of the raw material came from Russia, and we will replace it with oil from other directions,” Daniel Obajtek, CEO of the Polish refiner, said on Twitter.
The party has drawn up analysis based on World Bank data which says that, on current trajectories, per capita GDP in the U.K. will be some $600 behind that of Poland by 2030…reports Asian Lite News
Keir Starmer will on Monday ask British voters to judge him on whether they “feel better off after five years of a Labour government” as he tries to flesh out the opposition party’s economic thinking ahead of the next election.
The Labour leader — who current polls suggest is on course to be the U.K.’s next prime minister — will join his Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves and a host of business leaders Monday for a roundtable aimed at selling Labour’s promise to achieve the highest sustained growth in the G7 group of industrialized nations.
And he will insist that the U.K. economy does not have to lag behind Poland’s as some British commentators have predicted could happen by the end of the decade.
“The British people are falling behind while our European neighbors get richer, in the east as well as in countries like France and Germany,” Starmer will say, according to extracts released by the party overnight.
Today, @Keir_Starmer and @RachelReevesMP are setting out Labour's mission to secure the highest sustained growth in the G7.
Watch here to find out the difference that would make for you and your family: https://t.co/7e7QjRMC2e
“I’m not comfortable with that. Not comfortable with a trajectory that will soon see Britain overtaken by Poland. Nor am I prepared to accept what the consequences of this failure would mean.”
The party has drawn up analysis based on World Bank data which says that, on current trajectories, per capita GDP in the U.K. will be some $600 behind that of Poland by 2030.
Labour has struggled to make a play on the economy since being ejected from office in 2010 in the wake of the global financial crisis. But the party senses a major opening after the short-lived Conservative administration of Liz Truss sparked market turmoil with a push for unfunded tax cuts. The International Monetary Fund has projected that Britain’s will be the only G7 economy to shrink in 2023.
Starmer will accuse the Conservatives of leaving the U.K. in a “low wage, high tax, doom-loop,” and call on his party to “be frank about the path of decline the Tories have set our country on.” Labour will, he is set to promise, “take on vested interests,” work to “shape markets” and shake up a planning system that currently favors “the already wealthy, not the new houses, wind farms and laboratories we need to create more wealth.”
A new government and a new way of governing – that's what Labour will provide.
We'll put an end to the short-term sticking plaster politics of the past 13 years and deliver on our long-term missions to build a better Britain. pic.twitter.com/VtNlmbLGaD
The comments received a cautious welcome from some U.K. business leaders, with Carolyn Fairbairn, the former boss of lobby group the Confederation of Business Industry, saying that while Labour had “much heavy lifting to do,” the party’s pitch for a “true partnership with business to build predictable long-term policy, particularly in skills, education, innovation and infrastructure” marked “the right direction of travel.”
The governing Tories dismissed Starmer’s latest intervention, however, accusing Labour of flirting with higher inflation and taking potshots at its previous stint in office, which Conservative Chairman Greg Hands said had left public debt “spiraling.”
“Starmer’s Labour are too weak to stand up for the British people, let alone bring forward a credible plan for the economy,” he added.
European nations have started to arm themselves, with the biggest buyers including Germany, Poland and others that sit close to Ukraine and Russia. ..reports Asian Lite News
The United States has planned to sell rocket launchers and ammunition worth about $10 billion to Poland amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, The Hill reported.
The package will include 18 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, 45 Army Tactical Missile Systems, the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System and related equipment, as per The Hill report. The US State Department on Tuesday said that the package will improve “the security of a NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.” The US administration notified Congress of the possible sale earlier Tuesday. US weapons sales to other countries experienced a significant increase in the past year largely due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, as per the news report.
European nations have started to arm themselves, with the biggest buyers including Germany, Poland and others that sit close to Ukraine and Russia. With the newest sale, Poland intends to use the advanced missile systems to “modernize its armed forces and expand its capability to strengthen its homeland defence and deter regional threats,” according to the US State Department.
Poland will also receive M1A1 Abrams battle tanks from Washington as part of an estimated USD 3.75 billion deal to purchase 116 vehicles, cleared in December. Furthermore, another USD 4.75 billion sale for 250 of the systems which was signed in April.
Last week, the United States announced a new security package plan, including authorisation of a Presidential Drawdown of security assistance valued at upto USD 425 million and USD 1.75 billion in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds, according to the statement released by US Defence Department.
The package pulled USD 425 million from existing Defence Department stocks, and USD 1.75 billion in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds. The new package marks USD 29.3 billion provided to Ukraine since Russia’s started its military operation last February.
In Friday’s announcement, the US also includes the critical air defense capabilities to help Ukraine defend its people. According to the statement, the specific capabilities include additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), additional 155mm artillery rounds, additional 120mm mortar rounds.
Furthermore, the security assistance includes 190 heavy machine guns with thermal imagery sights and associated ammunition to counter Unmanned Aerial Systems, 181 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles; 250 Javelin anti-armor systems, 2,000 anti-armor rockets; claymore anti-personnel munitions, Demolitions munitions; cold weather gear, helmets, and other field equipment. (ANI)
A company typically consists of 14 tanks. Any re-export of Leopard tanks requires approval by the government in Berlin….reports Asian Lite News
Poland has decided to send German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine, the country’s President, Andrzej Duda, said.
On a visit to the city of Lviv in western Ukraine, Duda on Wednesday held talks with his Ukrainian and Lithuanian counterparts, Volodymyr Zelensky and Gitanas Nauseda, respectively, in the so-called Lublin Triangle format (a regional alliance of the three countries).
After the meeting, the Polish President told journalists that “A company of Leopard tanks will be handed over as part of building an international coalition,” he said.
“The decision has already been made in Poland,” Duda said, adding that he expected more countries to soon join the effort, Xinhua news agency reported.
A company typically consists of 14 tanks. Any re-export of Leopard tanks requires approval by the government in Berlin.
Russia, Ukraine exchange 50 soldiers
Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange on Sunday with a total of 100 soldiers returning to their home countries, CNN reported citing authorities from both nations.
According to the Russian Defence Ministry, 50 Russian soldiers who had been captured by Ukraine returned to Russia due to the negotiation process.
This was the 36th exchange that took place between the two nations since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine started on February 24. Meanwhile, Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, stated that 50 Ukrainian soldiers captured by Russia returned to Ukraine. In a statement, Yermak said that Ukraine returned the people who were captured in Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Mariupol, Kherson, Kyiv, and other regions.
He stressed that this was not the last exchange between two nations and their work is to bring back all the people of Ukraine.
“We returned the people who were captured at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, as well as the defenders of Mariupol, the guys from the Donetsk direction, from near Bakhmut, as well as from Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kherson, and other regions,” said Andriy Yermak.
“This is not the last exchange. Our task is to return all our people and we will fulfill it,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Russian-declared ceasefire ended on Saturday at midnight (local time). Two missile strikes were reported in Kharkiv on Saturday which claimed the life of one civilian, CNN reported citing the head of the regional military administration Oleh Syniehubov. The ceasefire was announced from noon Moscow time on Friday to midnight on Saturday.
In April 2022, Poland signed another deal worth $4.74 billion with the US to buy 250 M1A2 Abrams tanks…reports Asian Lite News
The Polish government signed a $1.4-billion deal to buy 116 battle tanks from the US.
The US Department of State in December 2022 approved the sale of the M1A1 Abrams tanks to Poland, alongside other military equipment, Xinhua news agency reported.
In April 2022, Poland signed another deal worth $4.74 billion with the US to buy 250 M1A2 Abrams tanks. Polish Deputy Prime Minister and defence chief Mariusz Blaszczak said these tanks will be delivered in late 2024.
The new batch, however, “will become part of the Polish Armed Forces this year,” Blaszczak said.
The tanks will be shipped to the east of the country, he explained, adding that the deal will not only boost Poland’s security, but “will also increase the security of the entire eastern flank of NATO”.
WWII damages from Germany
Poland had asked for the intervention of the United Nations (UN) over World War II reparations with Germany, a Polish Deputy Foreign Minister has said.
“The United Nations system offers instruments for dialogue as well as for introducing the international community to the scale of the damages caused by the German aggression and occupation during the war, and Poland intends to use them,” Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk said during a press conference on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported.
Later in the day, Mularczyk tweeted a photo of the letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
On September 1, 2022, the Polish government presented a report detailing the material losses suffered by Poland during World War II, along with a pledge to demand money from Germany in reparations, to the tune of 6.2 trillion zloty ($1.4 trillion). On October 3, 2022, Poland’s Foreign Ministry sent a diplomatic note to Germany demanding compensation for the damage.
On Tuesday, Germany’s Foreign Ministry responded to the note regarding WWII reparations, stating that the “issue remains closed”. Mularczyk said this displayed a “disrespectful attitude” toward Poland and its people.
The two nations agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations at mutually convenient dates in New Delhi…reports Asian Lite News
India and Poland held 10th round of Foreign Office Consultations in Warsaw on December 12. During the meeting, the two sides discussed regional and international issues, including developments in the Indo-Pacific, India’s neighbourhood, the Ukraine conflict, cooperation in multilateral fora including the United Nations, and United Nations Security Council reforms.
10th round of India-Poland Foreign Office Consultations held in Warsaw.
Secretary West @SanjayVermalFS met @marcin_przydacz@PolandMFA and had wide-ranging discussions on expanding bilateral cooperation as well as on regional & global issues.
The two nations noted the potential of bilateral trade and investment ties. According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the bilateral trade between India and Poland has witnessed steady growth in recent years and it stood at USD 4.3 billion in 2021. The MEA noted that Indian companies have invested more than USD 3 billion in Poland while Polish investments in India were worth USD 700 million. During the meeting, India and Poland identified agriculture, food processing, information technology and green transition as areas of interest for further enhancing bilateral ties. The two sides have expressed satisfaction at the discussions during the sixth round of the India-Poland joint commission meeting on Economic Cooperation held in October 2022.
For the meeting, the Indian side was led by Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs. Marcin Przydacz, Under Secretary of State for Security, the Americas, Asia & European Policy in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland held the Polish side.
India and Poland also signed the agreement on gainful occupation by family members of diplomatic missions and posts. The two nations agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations at mutually convenient dates in New Delhi.
The Ministry of External Affairs in the press release said, “India and Poland share long-standing friendly relations with historical linkages. The consultations provided an opportunity to review the bilateral cooperation agenda across various sectors. Both sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.”
On November 11, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar extended wishes to the government and people of Poland on their Independence Day. Jaishankar in a tweet expressed confidence that the “historical friendship” between the nations will continue to grow.
Dr S Jaishankar tweeted, “Independence Day greetings to FM @RauZbigniew and the Government and people of Poland. Confident that our historical friendship will continue to grow.”
Independence Day greetings to FM @RauZbigniew and the Government and people of Poland.
It is pertinent to mention here that Poland assisted India in ‘Operation Ganga.’ Notably, ‘Operation Ganga’ was an evacuation operation launched by the government of India to evacuate Indian nationals from Ukraine after Russia began its offensive on February 24. (ANI)
The agreement will see DMCC and KSEZ work closely together to exchange knowledge and professional expertise, in turn further connecting the two countries’ business communities…reports Asian Lite News
Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), the world’s flagship Free Zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Katowice Special Economic Zone (KSEZ), aimed at creating new business opportunities and expanding upon the UAE-Poland strong economic relations.
The agreement will see DMCC and KSEZ work closely together to exchange knowledge and professional expertise, in turn further connecting the two countries’ business communities and supporting the growth of enterprise and trade relations.
The MoU was signed by Ahmed bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC, and Janusz Michałek, Ph.D., President of the Board, Katowice SEZ Co. on 24th November, 2022.
Ahmed bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC, said, “With an ever-strengthening bilateral relationship, there is a significant opportunity to deepen ties between Poland and Dubai. This was the core goal of our recent Made For Trade Live roadshow event in Warsaw, and is exactly what we will achieve through this agreement with Katowice Special Economic Zone. We look forward to working together over the coming years to open up opportunities for Polish enterprises seeking expansion through Dubai.”
DMCC has played a significant role in enhancing UAE-Poland commercial relations and is currently home to over 40 leading Polish businesses, which use the free zone as a hub for doing business and trading with countries around the world.
For his part, Janusz Michałek added, “The symbiotic partnership between DMCC and KSEZ presents companies in both business districts with new ways to connect and engage with international peers. Through this MoU, we are proud to be playing a role in driving the growth of the Poland-UAE relationship.”
With a long-standing history of deep cultural, diplomatic and commercial ties, Poland is an important growth market for businesses in Dubai and DMCC.
For nearly a decade, the UAE has been Poland’s largest economic and trade partner in the Arab world. Non-oil trade between the two countries totalled US$1.3 billion in the first nine months of 2022.
This collaboration agreement comes just a few months after Ahmed Bin Sulayem and DMCC successfully concluded their first official visit to Warsaw as part of DMCC’s flagship Made for Trade Live roadshow.
DMCC explored bilateral opportunities and held discussions with several businesses and trade associations to enhance collaboration in key areas such as technology, telecommunications, and financial institutions.
Dider Deschamps side aiming to retain the trophy will aim to continue their strong start to the tournament in the hope of reaching the quarter-finals…reports Asian Lite News
Lionel Messi missed a controversial first-half penalty for Argentina against Poland but his side recovered in time to register a 2-0 win, their second successive one and move into the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup as Group C winners.
On Wednesday night at the 974 Stadium, one goal apiece from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez helped two-time champions Argentina to collect full points.
La Albiceleste scored both the goals in the second half to finish with six points, having started their campaign with a shocking 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in the Group C opener.
Argentina as group winners will take on Australia, which finished second in Group D. Poland with one win against Saudi Arabia and one loss, finished second behind the group leaders and also qualified for the last 16 stage and will take on defending champions France, which despite their 1-0 loss to Tunisia finished as group winners.
Dider Deschamps side aiming to retain the trophy will aim to continue their strong start to the tournament in the hope of reaching the quarter-finals.
Argentina and Poland join Australia, Portugal, Brazil, England, France, the Netherlands, Senegal and USA, making it ten teams making it to the last 16 stage with another six set to join the qualified teams in the next stage of the tournament.
Argentina were the dominant team in the first session in which Messi struck two shots on target in the opening ten minutes as Argentina battered at the door of Poland.
They continued to rack up shots through the first half, including a stunning attempt from Rodrigo de Paul from the corner flag.
Julian Alvarez – replacing Lautaro Martinez in the starting line-up – also had a shot blocked from close range in the 36th minute.
Then controversy struck when Messi was awarded a penalty after a VAR review. Poland keeper Wojciech Szczesny had attempted to punch away an Argentina cross but missed, and his hand struck the head of Messi at the back post. Messi had already headed the ball wide of the upright.
But, in a stunning twist, Szczesny saved Messi’s penalty with a brilliant diving block – his second penalty save of the tournament.
Argentina, playing their best football of the tournament, which will please Lionel Scaloni ahead of the round of 16, overcame the penalty save with two goals in the second session.
Argentina went into the lead 60 seconds after the restart with a goal by the Brighton midfielder Mac Allister. Molina got to the touch line and cut the ball back where Mac Allister was waiting – the 23-year-old didn’t make a clean connection as he swept it with his right foot, but the direction was perfect and just kissed the far post after passing Szczesny.
The second goal had been coming. It was a brilliant finish from Alvarez. Enzo Fernandez drives at the defence and finds Alvaraz, who takes a touch, swivels and blasts a rocket into the top corner. A brilliant, instinctive finish from the Manchester city man in the 67th minute to confirm Argentina as group winners.
Al Zeyoudi explained that in recent years, the UAE has also become Poland’s key partner in the Arab world in terms of political dialogue and economic cooperation…reports Asian Lite News
The Abu Dhabi – Poland Business Forum kicked off today to discuss the prospects of accelerating investment and trade cooperation between the two countries in areas of energy, industry, advanced technology and food security.
On the sidelines of the forum, organised by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), the Government of Silesia, and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in the UAE, the Polish Silesian government announced the launch of a representative office in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, in a step aimed at fuelling growth and prosperity in bilateral, trade and investment relations between the two countries.
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said that the UAE is currently one of Poland’s largest trade partners in the region, noting that non-oil trade between the two countries totalled US$1.3 billion in the first nine months of 2022, with a growth rate of 21 percent over the same period in 2021. “By comparison, in the whole of 2021, non-oil trade between the two countries amounted to US$1.45 billion, a 12 percent growth on 2020,” he said.
Al Zeyoudi explained that in recent years, the UAE has also become Poland’s key partner in the Arab world in terms of political dialogue and economic cooperation, with more than 20 agreements signed between the two countries in various fields.
“The UAE’s total direct investment into Poland amounts to nearly US$208 million, which is spread across the fields of aviation, tourism, electronics, automobiles, food industries, science, and technology sectors. Meanwhile, Polish FDI into the UAE currently totals US$94 million, distributed in the real estate, technology, science, modern technologies, and retail sectors,” he said.
For his part, Rashed Abdulkarim Al Blooshi, Under-Secretary of ADDED, said that the inauguration of the Polish representative Office in Abu Dhabi is a key milestone in the UAE-Poland relationship, affirming that it will pave the way for more fruitful collaboration between the two countries.
Al Blooshi stressed that the UAE is one of Poland’s largest trade partners in the region, noting to the growth rate of 22 percent in non-oil trade between the two countries in the first half of 2022, compared to the same period of 2021, totalling almost AED 3 billion in the first half of 2022.
“Furthermore, non-oil trade between the two countries amounted to almost AED 5.3 billion last year, which represents an increase of 12 percent in comparison 2020,” he added.
Al Blooshi then highlighted the anticipated growth in the near future, especially since the UAE and Poland launched a joint economic collaboration programme, which promotes bilateral business and investment partnerships between them.
“This programme promotes cooperation between public and private sectors in a range of priority areas such as food security, renewable energy, advanced technology, agriculture, transportation, tourism, and space. There are incentives and opportunities for investors and exporters on both sides, which promote the growth and diversification of bilateral trade,” he explained.
There is a lot of potential for our economies to increase cooperation even further, as Abu Dhabi is a popular investment destination, Al Blooshi emphasised, stating that the “Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy” aims to cement our emirate status as the most competitive industrial hub in the region.
Through six transformational programmes, the Abu Dhabi government is investing AED 10 billion to double Abu Dhabi’s manufacturing sector to AED 172 billion by 2031, create 13,600 skilled jobs, and boost Abu Dhabi’s trade with international markets, with the goal of boosting non-oil exports by 143 percent to AED 178.8 billion, he said in conclusion.
Israel and Poland have agreed to improve their ties, which were stained over Polish legislation to limit Jewish Holocaust restitution claims, an Israeli statement has said…reports Asian Lite News
“It was agreed that relations would be restored to their proper course,” said a statement released on behalf of Israeli President Isaac Herzog after he held a phone talk with Polish President Andrzej Duda, Xinhua news agency reported.
The two leaders agreed to mutually restore the ambassadors. According to the statement, Herzog, in a joint initiative with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, requested the return of the ambassador of Poland to Israel.
“Duda agreed that the Polish ambassador should be appointed soon and announced that the new Israeli ambassador-designate to Poland will present his letters of credence within the next few days,” the statement added.
The relations between the two countries have deteriorated over a legislation Warsaw introduced in 2021 which was aimed at limiting the ability of Jewish Holocaust survivors to make restitution claims over property seized by the Nazis during World War II.
The move marks an attitude shift by newly-appointed caretaker Prime Minister Lapid, who in 2021 as foreign minister denounced the Polish bill as “anti-Semitic and immoral”.
