SHEHBAZ SHARIF NOMINATED AS NEXT PAKISTAN PM

Shehbaz Sharif, the younger brother of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, is poised to become Pakistan's next prime minister. This surprising development means that Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, despite winning the most seats in the February 8 elections, will not retain power. The elections were marked by allegations of rigging.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) nominated 72-year-old Shehbaz as its prime ministerial candidate instead of Nawaz Sharif. Shehbaz, along with Asif Ali Zardari of the Pakistan Peoples Party and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan, met for a consultative meeting and agreed on government formation. PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed that Nawaz Sharif nominated Shehbaz for prime minister, while Maryam Nawaz was nominated for the post of chief minister of Punjab province.

UNRAVELING PAKISTAN'S ELECTION CONTROVERSY: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FORMS 45 AND 47

Pakistan's February 8 elections have been marred by allegations of rigging and result manipulation. At the center of this controversy are Forms 45 and 47, which play crucial roles in documenting and compiling election results.

Form 45 serves as a formal record of votes polled at a polling station. It contains vital information such as the station number, constituency details, total number of registered voters, total votes cast, and a breakdown of votes for each candidate. Signed by the presiding officer and polling representatives of candidates, it acts as a basic record of electoral outcomes. By law, copies of Form 45 are publicly displayed to ensure transparency.

After completion, the Presiding Officer submits Form 45 to the Returning Officer, who tallies results from all Form 45s in the constituency to determine final results. Form 47 is then prepared, compiling results from all Form 45s.

Controversy arose when candidates and their representatives were reportedly denied access to Form 45s by presiding officers on election night. PTI raised concerns over non-provision of Form 45s, alleging a plot to alter results. They claimed discrepancies between Form 45 data and results in Form 47s.

Imran Khan claimed victory based on Form 45 data, stating PTI won "170 seats," but Form 47s showed only 93 seats. These results are now subject to legal challenges in Pakistani courts, highlighting the critical role of these forms in the election process.

TRUCE TALKS IN CAIRO HIT SNAG AS NETANYAHU RECALLS NEGOTIATION TEAM

Jerusalem : Efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas faced a setback as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly recalled his negotiation team. Netanyahu accused Hamas of hindering the talks by sticking to what he called "delusional" demands.

The mediation, involving the US, Egypt, and Qatar, aimed to secure a truce in the long-standing conflict. However, Netanyahu stated that Israel did not receive any new proposal from Hamas regarding the release of captives, a key sticking point in the negotiations. Hamas has demanded that Israel end its offensive, withdraw from Gaza, and release a large number of Palestinian prisoners, including militants, before agreeing to release captives.

The situation escalated further as deadly violence continued, with a female Israeli soldier killed in rocket fire from Lebanon, and four Lebanese civilians, including two children, killed in Israeli strikes. These events raised fears of a broader conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The talks continued at a lower level, but there were no signs of a breakthrough.

SINWAR STILL ALIVE? HAMAS CHIEF SEEN IN TUNNEL IN ISRAEL CLIP

Israel’s army released a video on Tuesday that it said was of Hamas’ chief in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, filmed on Oct 10 with his family members in a tunnel in the Palestinian territory. The black and white images showing a man said to be Sinwar being led through a tunnel with a woman and three children are said to be the first of him since the war broke out last Oct. Army spokesman Daniel Hagari said Israeli troops would not stop until they had captured Sinwar “dead or alive”.

BLASTS HIT IRAN NATURAL GAS PIPELINE, OFFICIAL CALLS IT ‘ACT OF SABOTAGE’

Dubai: Explosions hit an Iran natural gas pipeline in a suspected act of sabotage, according to an official. The pipeline, stretching approximately 1,270km from Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province to cities on the Caspian Sea, experienced blasts along several areas.

Saeed Aghli, manager of Iran’s gas network control centre, labeled the incident as a "sabotage and terrorist" action. No specific group has been identified, and the province where the blasts occurred is not known for insurgent activity. Iran's oil minister compared this incident to unclaimed attacks on gas pipelines in 2011, occurring around the anniversary of the country's Islamic Revolution.

KYIV SINKS RUSSIAN SHIP OFF CRIMEA IN BLOW DAYS BEFORE WAR’S 2ND ANNIV

Kyiv : Ukraine’s military said Wednesday it used naval drones to sink a Russian landing ship in the Black Sea, a report that has not been confirmed by Russian authorities. The Caesar Kunikov amphibious ship sank near Alupka, a city on the southern edge of the Crimean Peninsula that Moscow annexed in 2014, Ukraine’s general staff said. It said the ship can carry 87 crew members.

Sinking the vessel would be another embarrassing blow for the Russian Black Sea fleet and a significant success for Ukraine 10 days before the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion. Ukraine has moved onto the defensive in the war, hindered by low ammunition supplies and a shortage of personnel, but has kept up its strikes behind the largely static front line.

It is the second time in two weeks that Ukrainian forces have said they sank a Russian vessel in the Black Sea. Last week, they published a video that they said showed drones assaulting the Russian missilearmed corvette Ivanovets.

KANSAS CITY SHOOTING: ONE DEAD AND 21 INJURED NEAR SUPER BOWL PARADE

One person died and 21 others were injured in a shooting near the end of the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl victory parade. Eight victims were in critical condition, with seven others also facing potentially life-threatening injuries. Nine children were among the wounded.

Police arrested three suspects connected to the shooting, which occurred west of Union Station, where the parade ended. Despite the violence, the parade continued as planned, with players on stage when the shots were fired.

More than 800 police officers were on hand, and the fire department provided immediate medical assistance. The city's police chief stated that 22 people were shot, one fatally, and three suspects were in custody. The injured were taken to local hospitals, with nine children treated at a hospital specializing in pediatric care. The shooting marred the celebration of the Chiefs' Super Bowl victory.

MALDIVES DEPORTS 186 FOREIGNERS, INCLUDING 43 INDIANS ON CRIMINAL CHARGES

The Maldives deported 186 foreigners, including 43 Indians, for crimes such as visa violations and drug offenses. Most were from Bangladesh, with 83 deported, followed by 43 Indians, 25 Sri Lankans, and 8 Nepalis. The deportations were part of efforts to shut down illegal businesses, with the Home Ministry working to close businesses operated by foreigners instead of the registered owner. Immigration Controller Shamaan Waheed stated that those found committing crimes were deported, with operations conducted regularly targeting foreign workers involved in criminal activities.

CHINA CONDEMNS TAIWAN AFTER TWO NATIONALS KILLED IN BOAT CRASH

BEIJING: China condemned Taiwanese authorities on Wednesday after two Chinese nationals died in a boat accident while pursued by Taiwan’s coast guard. The Chinese boat was carrying four persons when it capsized near the Kinmen Islands, throwing all onboard into the water, Chinese and Taiwanese authorities said.

IN A 1ST IN NEARLY 150 YRS, US HOUSE IMPEACHES PREZ CABINET OFFICIAL

Brussels/Paris : The Republican-controlled US House of Representatives Tuesday narrowly voted to impeach Democratic President Joe Biden’s top border official, as immigration shapes up to be a major issue in this year’s elections. By a vote of 214-213, the House approved two articles of impeachment accusing Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of not enforcing US immigration laws, which Republicans argue led to record flows of migrants across the USMexico border, and making false statements to Congress.

The vote marked second time in US history, and the first time in almost 150 years, that the House has impeached a member of a president’s Cabinet. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office said senators would be sworn in as jurors shortly after they return from a break on Feb 26. The Democratic-led chamber is highly unlikely to vote to remove Mayorkas.

FEARED EX-GENERAL CLAIMS VICTORY IN INDONESIA POLLS

Jakarta : Indonesia’s defence minister, a feared former general who was removed from the army after he was found responsible for the kidnapping of political dissidents, appeared to be on track to win the presidential election outright on Wednesday, casting doubts on the future of one of the world’s most vibrant democracies.

The candidate, Prabowo Subianto, had a commanding lead in the three-way race for president, with more than 58%of the vote, according to unofficial tallies that have a history of accurately predicting the final results. The two other presidential candidates said it was too early to declare a winner.

If the projections are confirmed, Indonesia — the world’s third-largest democracy — will be left contending with a president who has said that the country needs neither elections nor democracy, who was barred from entering the US for two decades because of his human rights record and who was long associated with Indonesia’s former dictator, Suharto. Prabowo served as a special forces commander in a unit linked to torture and disappearances, allegations that he vehemently denies. The era of liberty that followed the ouster of Suharto, critics say, could now be under threat with Prabowo’s ascent to power.

On Wednesday night, supporters of Prabowo chanted his name as he gave his victory speech in the capital, Jakarta. “This victory must be a victory for all the Indonesian people,” he said. The election in Indonesia matters far beyond its borders. The world’s fourth-most-populous country, it is of growing strategic importance to both the US and China. Indonesia is one of the world’s top producers of coal, palm oil and nickel, and it sits atop the supply chains of many global companies.

Crucially, Prabowo has the tacit backing of the wildly popular incumbent Joko Widodo, who is betting on his former rival as a continuity candidate to preserve his legacy, including the inclusion of his 36-year-old son Gibran on the ticket.