THE SHARIF SHUFFLE: SHEHBAZ'S SURGE AND NAWAZ'S STEP BACK IN PAKISTANI POLITICS

Shehbaz Sharif's emergence as the likely Prime Minister of Pakistan, representing the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N), has stirred both surprise and speculation within his party. Many had anticipated that his older brother, Nawaz Sharif, would reclaim the top post. However, Shehbaz's ascension signals a strategic shift, indicating that Nawaz may not be seeking leadership at this time.

Maryam Nawaz, Nawaz Sharif’s daughter and political successor, clarified that her father's decision was not due to a lack of interest in leadership but a strategic move in response to the split mandate. She emphasized that Nawaz remains a significant political figure and will continue to guide the federal and Punjab governments, with Shehbaz and herself following his directives.

One of the key factors behind Shehbaz's elevation is his reportedly more amicable relationship with the military establishment compared to Nawaz. While Nawaz has had confrontations with the military, Shehbaz is perceived to have a smoother rapport with the generals, which may have influenced the decision to put him forward as the PM candidate.

Overall, the political landscape in Pakistan is witnessing a significant transition, with Shehbaz poised to lead the government while Nawaz takes on a more advisory role, highlighting the complex dynamics of power and influence in the country's political arena.

IMRAN KHAN'S CONTROVERSIAL CHOICE: OMAR AYUB NOMINATED AS PM CANDIDATE FROM HIDING

Former PM Imran Khan picked Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf secretary-general Omar Ayub to contest for PM against Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif, and tasked his party with engaging with all political forces protesting the Feb 8 results.

Ayub, who has been in hiding since May last year to avoid arrest, is the grandson of Pakistan’s first military dictator, Gen Muhammad Ayub Khan, who ruled the country from 1958 to 1969 after toppling President Iskandar Ali Mirza.

Khan’s party also called for countrywide protests against widespread rigging in polls and directed all PTI tiers to bring out the public on Saturday. Winning 93 seats in last week’s polls, PTIbacked Independent candidates make up the largest group in the National Assembly. But a lawmaker re quires 134 votes to become leader of the House, which comprised 266 elected members. It means PTI is not in a position to form govt without forging a coalition with other parties.

“Omar Ayub has been appointed as prime minister candidate by Khan,” PTI stalwart and former NA speaker Asad Qaiser told media after his meeting with Khan in Adiala jail. “We hope the PM will be ours, and Omar Ayub will be our representative.”

Qaiser quoted Khan as saying, “This election is neither being accepted in Pakistan by anyone, neither does it have any credibility, nor is anyone internationally taking it seriously or considering it (sic).”

NYC MAYOR FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST SOCIAL MEDIA GIANTS OVER YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS

Mayor Eric Adams announced on Wednesday that his administration has initiated legal action against major social media companies, including Meta's Facebook and Instagram, for contributing to a mental health crisis among young people.

The lawsuit, filed in the California Superior Court, also names Alphabet's YouTube, Snap Inc's Snapchat, and ByteDance's TikTok, alleging that these platforms were intentionally designed to manipulate and addict children and teenagers.

This legal action adds to the growing number of lawsuits these companies are facing regarding the addictiveness of social media, particularly concerning their impact on young users. Mayor Adams emphasized the harmful effects of the online world on children, stating that it exposes them to a constant stream of detrimental content, which has contributed to a national youth mental health crisis.

ISRAEL RAIDS MAIN KHAN YOUNIS HOSP IN ‘PRECISE & LIMITED’ OP

Rafah : Israel conducted a targeted raid on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, alleging Hamas militants were hiding there and holding hostages. Hamas denied these claims. The raid led to chaos and forced many to flee, including staff, patients, and families seeking shelter.

Despite assurances that medical staff and patients could remain, Israel reportedly shelled Nasser Hospital, forcing MSF staff to flee, leaving patients behind. Israel accuses Hamas of using hospitals for military purposes, which Hamas denies.

The Israeli military also carried out an airstrike killing a Hamas commander allegedly involved in an earlier attack and the execution of an Israeli soldier.

ISRAEL STRIKES IN LEBANON: RISING TENSIONS WITH HEZBOLLAH

Israel launched air strikes in southern Lebanon for a second day after killing 10 civilians and three Hezbollah fighters on Wednesday in response to a rocket attack that killed an Israeli soldier and wounded several others. It was the deadliest exchange of fire along the border since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Israel and Hezbollah have traded fire on a daily basis, raising the risks of a broader conflict.

Hezbollah has not claimed Wednesday’s rocket attack. A senior member said it is “prepared for the possibility of expanding the war”. On Thursday, Hezbollah fired rockets at a northern Israeli town in what it said was “preliminary response”to the killings.

Israel’s military said it killed a senior commander Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, Ali Dibs, who it says played a role in a sophisticated attack last year that unnerved Israelis, as well as other attacks directed at Israel over the past four months. It said Dibs was killed along with his deputy Hassan Ibrahim Issa, as well as another Hezbollah operative.

JAPAN SLIPS TO FOURTH-LARGEST ECONOMY, ENTERS RECESSION

Japan has fallen to the world's fourth-largest economy, behind Germany, after experiencing a contraction in the last quarter of 2023. This decline is attributed to various factors, including a weaker Japanese yen and demographic challenges such as a declining population and lagging productivity.

The country's economy shrank at an annual rate of 0.4% in October to December, marking two consecutive quarters of contraction, which is considered a technical recession. Japan's nominal GDP totaled $4.2 trillion last year, slightly behind Germany's $4.4 trillion.

Despite its historical economic prowess, Japan has faced challenges since the collapse of its financial bubble in 1990. Its economy has grown only moderately in recent years, in contrast to its rapid growth in the 1970s and 1980s.

Germany, another strong economy, also contracted in the last quarter, reflecting broader global economic challenges. Britain's economy also entered a technical recession in late 2023, with a 0.3% contraction in October to December.

Japan's future economic outlook is uncertain, with challenges like a shrinking and aging population, stagnating wages, and a reluctance to embrace immigration as a solution to labor shortages. The country's GDP growth is expected to slow to around 0.5% in 2024, according to economists.

US WARNS OF NEW RUSSIAN THREAT: A SPACE-BASED NUCLEAR WEAPON

Washington : The US has informed Congress and its allies in Europe about Russian advances on a new, space-based nuclear weapon designed to threaten America’s extensive satellite network, according to current and former officials briefed on the matter.Such a satellite-killing weapon could destroy civilian communications, surveillance from space and military command-and control operations by the US and its allies. At the moment, the US does not have the ability to counter such a weapon, a former official said.

Officials said the intelligence, which they did not describe in detail, raised questions about whether Russia was preparing to abandon the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which bans all orbital nuclear weapons. But since Russia does not appear close to deploying the weapon, they said, it is not considered an urgent threat.

The intelligence was made public, in part, in a cryptic announcement on Wednesday by Rep. Michael Turner, R-Ohio, chair of the House Intelligence Committee. Moscow denied the “malicious” and “unfounded” reports, describing them as a White House ploy to try to pass a multi-billion-dollar Ukrainian war aid package stalled in Congress.

PUTIN PREFERS BIDEN TO TRUMP: ‘MORE PREDICTABLE’

Moscow : President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday Russia would prefer to see President Joe Biden win a second term, describing him as “more experienced, more predictable” than Donald Trump.

In an interview with Russian state television, Putin declared he would work with any US leader who is elected.

Putin’s comments were his first about the upcoming US presidential election, likely to pit Biden against Trump, and come as tensions between Republicans and Democrats are high over Biden’s attempts to send more aid to Kyiv.

GREECE LEGALISES SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

Greece has become the first Christian Orthodox-majority country to legalize same-sex marriage, with a 176-76 vote in parliament also allowing same-sex couples to adopt children. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hailed the law as a step to "abolish a serious inequality," but it has faced strong opposition from the Orthodox Church, which led protest rallies in Athens.

Archbishop Ieronymos criticized the measure, saying it would "corrupt the homeland's social cohesion." Mitsotakis, who championed the bill, needed support from opposition parties to pass it, as many MPs from his governing party opposed it.

The vote has been celebrated by LGBTQ groups in Greece, with Stella Belia from Rainbow Families calling it a "historic moment." Greece's move brings it in line with 15 other EU countries and 35 nations worldwide that allow same-sex marriage. The country had lagged behind due to Church opposition, but it is now the first in southeastern Europe to achieve marriage equality.

SOUTH KOREA OPENS DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH NORTH’S PAL CUBA

Seoul : South Korea’s presidential office claimed Thursday that country’s move to establish diplomatic relations with Cuba would deal a “political and psychological blow” to South’s war-divided rival North Korea, whose diplomatic footing is largely dependent on a small number of Cold War allies. South Korea on Wednesday said it has agreed to open ambassador-level ties with Cuba following a meeting between their UN representatives in New York. Seoul and Havana first established diplomatic ties in 1949, but they were ruptured a decade later when Fidel Castro seized power during the Cuban Revolution. Cuba then turned to fellow communist nation North Korea.

Cuba has maintained ties with North Korea since 1960s and has an embassy in Pyongyang.

BANGLADESH REPATRIATES MYANMAR SOLDIERS WHO ABANDONED POSTS

DHAKA: Bangladesh on Thursday repatriated 330 of Myanmar’s paramilitary soldiers and civilians, more than a week after they fled their posts and took refuge in the country amid fierce clashes between government troops and insurgents. They fled their posts and offices in February first week from their bordering Rakhine State.