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Ukrainian President Zelensky lands in Saudi Arabia to push for peace and a POW exchange with Russia

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Ukrainian President Zelensky lands in Saudi Arabia to push for peace and a POW exchange with Russia

Ukrainian President Zelensky lands in Saudi Arabia to push for peace and a POW exchange with Russia

Dubai, UAE (AP/SPA) — Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and met the kingdom’s powerful crown prince to push for a peace plan and the return of prisoners of war from Russia.

At the Royal Terminal in King Khalid International Airport, the Ukrainian President was received by the Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, the Minister of State, and Member of the Cabinet (accompanying minister), Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, the Mayor of Riyadh Region, Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, the Saudi Ambassador to Ukraine, Mohammed Al-Mas-har Al-Jibreen, the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Anatolii Petrenko, and several other officials.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has sought to position himself as a potential mediator to end the war between Ukraine and Russia — even as Riyadh remains closely aligned with Russia on energy policies through the OPEC+ group of countries. The day before, the prince hosted Vyacheslav Volodin, the chairman of Russia’s Duma, the lower house of its parliament, and a host of other Russian officials.

READ MORE : Ukrainian troops pull back again as Russia’s onslaught pushes ahead in eastern Ukraine

Zelenskyy’s trip came as Kyiv’s forces were slowly being pushed back in eastern Ukraine. Russia has gained the initiative due to its big advantage in troop numbers and weapon supplies, military analysts say, as Kyiv waits for news of new provisions from its Western partners.

The Ukrainian military said Tuesday it withdrew its forces from two more villages near Avdiivka in the eastern Donetsk region following intense overnight fighting, according to a Ukrainian army spokesman.

Ukrainian troops have pulled back from Sieverne and Stepove, Dmytro Lykhovyi said on national television. The two villages had a population of some 100 people in total before the full-scale invasion, he said.

Ukraine continues to “rely on Saudi Arabia’s ongoing active support” in pushing forward with what has been described as a “Peace Formula” to end the full-scale invasion, which marked its second anniversary over the weekend, Zelenskyy said in a message on X, formerly Twitter.

Zelenskyy has presented a 10-point peace formula that, among other things, seeks the expulsion of all Russian forces from Ukraine and accountability for war crimes — at a time when the two sides are fighting from largely static positions along a roughly 1,500-kilometer (930-mile) front line. Such ideas are rejected out of hand by Moscow.

“The second topic is the return of POWs and deportees,” Zelenskyy wrote. “The kingdom’s leadership has already contributed to the release of our people. I am confident that this meeting will also yield results.” He also said economic cooperation would be discussed.

The state-run Saudi Press Agency said that Zelenskky arrived at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and was met by government officials. Later footage showed Zelenskyy along with top officials in his government meeting with a smiling Prince Mohammed. Also on hand was Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz.

In this photo provided by state-run Saudi Press Agency, SPA, shows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is greeted by Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Riyadh, upon his arrival at King Khalid International Airport, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Feb.27,2024.Photo : SPA via AP

Footage showed the prince and Zelenskyy, both of whom speak English, talking among themselves without translators in a vast greeting hall at a palace as other officials sat nearby.

Over the last several years, Crown Prince Mohammed has reached a detente with Iran, pursued a peace deal with Yemen’s Houthi rebels, and also offered himself as a leader in other crises worldwide. That’s after facing widespread international condemnation for the Saudi-led war in Yemen and the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, which U.S. intelligence agencies believe was carried out on his orders.

Neither Saudi Arabia nor Ukraine immediately offered a detailed readout of the leaders’ discussions. On Monday, the kingdom described Prince Mohammed discussing “issues of common interest” with the Russian Duma leader.

“Volodin relayed the greeting and good wishes from Russian President Vladimir Putin,” Russia’s state-run Tass news agency said.

In May, Zelenskyy traveled to Saudi Arabia for a meeting of Arab leaders and also met then with Crown Prince Mohammed. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar — all neighbors on the Arabian Peninsula — have been involved in prisoner exchanges since the war broke out in 2022.

Associated Press writer Susie Blann in Kyiv, Ukraine contributed to this report.

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Bulgaria and Slovenia Forge Bilateral Relations Rooted in Mutual Respect and Friendship: Slovenian President, Natasa Pirc Musar

Shasi Kumar
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Bulgaria and Slovenia Forge Bilateral Relations Rooted in Mutual Respect and Friendship: Slovenian President, Natasa Pirc Musar

Bulgaria and Slovenia Forge Bilateral Relations Rooted in Mutual Respect and Friendship: Slovenian President, Natasa Pirc Musar

Sofia, BULGARIA (BTA/DT) – Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar stated during a joint news briefing with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev on Tuesday that Bulgaria and Slovenia have resolved all outstanding issues and can now concentrate on collaborating on matters crucial to Europe and the global community.

Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar is currently undertaking an official visit at the invitation of President Radev.

Natasa Prits Musar expressed gratitude for Bulgaria’s support to Slovenia following the floods last year. “Numerous countries extended assistance during this challenging time.

READ MORE : Czech, Polish leaders say they’re united in their support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia

The alterations in our climate are undoubtedly a result of human negligence. Slovenia is actively addressing this issue to prevent similar disasters in other nations and share our expertise,” she stated. “The solidarity demonstrated during our ordeal underscores the strong bond that exists among us and the European Union member states,” added the Slovenian President.

She also highlighted the cultural ties between the two nations.

Her itinerary encompasses a trip to the southern city of Plovdiv on Wednesday, during which she will pay tribute to the Slovenian journalist and shorthand expert Anton Bezenšek.

She further emphasized, “Peace and security stand as the two pillars binding us together. Over the years, our two countries have been steadfast partners within the EU and NATO. This year marks Slovenia’s 20th anniversary since joining both organizations. We appreciate your support for the notion that the inclusion of Western Balkan countries will foster a more peaceful and stable region, although we acknowledge that this endeavor requires collective effort. Since Bulgaria’s accession to the European Union, the region has experienced increased stability, and it is incumbent upon us to extend our assistance.”

She expressed her aspiration for Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia to resolve their outstanding issues. She emphasized that it is crucial for the Western Balkan countries to join the EU “because without their inclusion, the security framework will remain incomplete.”

Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar engages in discussions with businessmen in Sofia on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. Photo : Slovenian President’s Twitter/X

Natasa Prits Musar highlighted the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, stating, “This tragic event still haunts us, and we must redouble our efforts to facilitate the accession of these countries to the EU.”

The Slovenian President highlighted her arrival in Bulgaria with a substantial business delegation. Later today, at a business forum, they will deliberate on enhancing cooperation, fostering economic ties, and promoting trade exchanges.

“We experienced a 40% surge in investments and exchanges in 2022. We aspire for further growth in the future. Bulgaria holds significant appeal for numerous Slovenian enterprises, particularly in the culinary and agricultural sectors, and across various industries,” remarked the Slovenian President.

Diplomatic Relations Between Bulgaria and Slovenia

Diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Slovenia were established in 1992, with the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Ljubljana opening its doors in 1993. Conversely, Slovenia inaugurated its Embassy in Sofia on October 24, 2018.

Bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Slovenia are characterized by their excellence, with no outstanding issues. These relations are marked by regular political dialogue and the deepening of cooperation across various sectors. The successful progression of bilateral relations is underpinned by shared objectives stemming from their membership in the EU and NATO, as well as their joint commitment to supporting the European integration of Western Balkan countries and ensuring regional security and prosperity.

Both nations boast strong bilateral cooperation in public order, crime prevention, and the protection of external Schengen borders.

Efforts to bolster bilateral economic cooperation are encouraged. The re-establishment of the Trade and Economic Affairs Office of the Republic of Bulgaria in Ljubljana underscores Bulgaria’s commitment to furthering fruitful economic ties between the two nations.

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Biden signals there could be a truce in Gaza soon but Israel and Hamas indicate no deal is imminent

Diplomat Times
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Biden signals there could be a truce in Gaza soon but Israel and Hamas indicate no deal is imminent

Biden signals there could be a truce in Gaza soon but Israel and Hamas indicate no deal is imminent

Jerusalem, ISRAEL (AP) — U.S. President Joe Biden signaled that a cease-fire in Gaza could be at hand, saying that Israel has agreed to pause its offensive during the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan if a deal is reached to release some hostages held by Hamas.

But both Israel and Hamas downplayed on Tuesday the idea that a breakthrough was imminent.

READ MORE : Three Russian nationals remain as Hamas’ captives in Gaza, Russian diplomat

In the wake of Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, Israel’s air, sea and ground campaign in Gaza has killed tens of thousands of people, obliterated large swaths of the urban landscape, displaced 80% of the battered enclave’s population and sparked concerns that a famine could be imminent, according to the United Nations.

Now, the prospect of an invasion of Rafah has prompted global alarm over the fate of civilians trapped there.

Talks to pause the fighting have gained momentum recently and were underway Tuesday. Negotiators from the United States, Egypt and Qatar have been working to broker a cease-fire that would see Hamas free some of the dozens of hostages it holds in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, a six-week halt in fighting and an increase in aid deliveries to Gaza.

The start of Ramadan, which is expected to be around March 10, is seen as an unofficial deadline for a deal. The month is a time of heightened religious observance and dawn-to-dusk fasting for hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world. Israeli-Palestinian tensions have flared in the past during the holy month.

“Ramadan’s coming up and there has been an agreement by the Israelis that they would not engage in activities during Ramadan as well, in order to give us time to get all the hostages out,” Biden said in an appearance on NBC’s “Late Night With Seth Meyers” that was filmed Monday.

In separate comments the same day, Biden said that he hoped a cease-fire deal could take effect by next week.

At the same time, Biden did not call for an end to the war, which was triggered when Hamas militants killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted roughly 250 people, according to Israeli authorities.

President Joe Biden talks with seth Meyers during a taping of the “Late Night with Seth Meyers” Monday, Feb. 26,2024, in New York. Photo : Evan Vucci/AP

Israeli officials said Biden’s comments came as a surprise and were not made in coordination with the country’s leadership. A Hamas official played down any sense of progress, saying the group wouldn’t soften its demands.

The Israeli officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the sensitive talks with the media, said Israel wants a deal immediately, but that Hamas continues to push excessive demands. They also said that Israel is insisting that female soldiers be part of the first group of hostages released under any truce deal.

Hamas official Ahmad Abdel-Hadi indicated that optimism on a deal was premature.

“The resistance is not interested in giving up any of its demands, and what is proposed does not meet what it had requested,” he told the Pan-Arab TV channel Al Mayadeen.

Hamas has previously demanded that Israel end the war as part of any deal, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called “delusional.”

At a news conference in Doha on Tuesday, Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said “we feel optimistic” about the talks, without elaborating.

A senior official from Egypt has said the draft deal includes the release of up to 40 women and older hostages in return for up to 300 Palestinian prisoners — mostly women, minors and older people.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations, said the proposed six-week pause in fighting would allow hundreds of trucks to bring desperately needed aid into Gaza every day, including to the hard-hit north.

Biden, who has shown staunch support for Israel throughout the war, left open the door in his remarks for an eventual Israeli ground offensive in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, on the border with Egypt, where more than half of the enclave’s 2.3 million people have fled under Israeli evacuation orders.

Netanyahu has said a ground operation in Rafah is an inevitable component of Israel’s strategy for crushing Hamas. This week, the military submitted for Cabinet approval operational plans for the offensive, as well as evacuation plans for civilians there.

Biden said he believes Israel has slowed its bombardment of Rafah.

“They have to and they have made a commitment to me that they’re going to see to it that there’s an ability to evacuate significant portions of Rafah before they go and take out the remainder Hamas,” he said. “But it’s a process.”

Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed more than 29,700 people, most of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. It does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its count.

The first and only cease-fire in the war, in late November, brought about the release of about 100 hostages — mostly women, children and foreign nationals — in exchange for about 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, as well as a brief halt in the fighting.

Roughly 130 hostages remain in Gaza, but Israel says about a quarter of them are dead.

Shurafa reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip, and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press writers Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut, Josef Federman in Jerusalem and Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.

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Czech, Polish leaders say they’re united in their support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia

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Czech, Polish leaders say they’re united in their support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia

Czech, Polish leaders say they’re united in their support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia

PRAGUE (AP) — The prime ministers of Czech Republic and Poland said Tuesday their countries are united in their support for Ukraine and pledged to look for ways to increase their help in its fight against Russian military aggression.

“I’m glad that we absolutely share the same view of Ukraine, the Russian aggression and what we need to do,” Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said at a joint news conference with his Polish counterpart, Donald Tusk.

READ MORE : Ukrainian troops pull back again as Russia’s onslaught pushes ahead in eastern Ukraine

“We know who’s the aggressor, we know who’s the victim,” Fiala said. “We’re clearly ready to strongly support Ukraine and to look for all possible ways of further boosting our support.”

Tusk said it is important “that in this region, quite complicated recently, there are two capital cities that speak in one voice practically on all issues. On Ukraine, on Russia’s aggression, on the responsibility for this tragedy, we have been speaking in one voice since the beginning of this conflict.”

Poland says it is ready to contribute to a Czech plan to acquire ammunition that Ukraine badly needs from third countries outside the European Union.

Fiala and Tusk spoke ahead of a meeting in Prague later Tuesday with their counterparts from Hungary and Slovakia, Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico, whose views of the war in Ukraine differ sharply from theirs.

The four countries form an informal grouping within the EU known as the Visegrad Four.

Czech Republic’s Prime Minister Petr Fiala, right, welcomes Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, at the V4 meeting in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, Feb. 27,2024. Photo : Petr David Josek/AP

Slovakia and Hungary have refused to give Ukraine arms and ammunition.

Fico, a leftist populist, has repeatedly said the West’s approach to the war is “an absolute failure.”

Orbán, a right-wing populist, has forged close ties with Russia.

Fico has repeated Russia’s narrative about the causes of the Ukraine war, including Putin’s unsupported claim that the current Ukrainian government runs a Nazi state from which ethnic Russians living in the country’s east needed protection.

He also opposes EU sanctions on Russia and wants to block Ukraine from joining NATO. He said no amount of Western weapons for Ukraine would change the course of the war.

Fiala and Tusk also welcomed Monday’s vote in Hungary’s parliament to ratify Sweden’s bid to join NATO, ending more than 18 months of delays that frustrated the alliance as it sought to expand in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

___

Associated Press writer Monika Scislowska in Warsaw contributed to this report.

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Ukrainian troops pull back again as Russia’s onslaught pushes ahead in eastern Ukraine

Shasi Kumar
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Ukrainian troops pull back again as Russia’s onslaught pushes ahead in eastern Ukraine

Ukrainian troops pull back again as Russia’s onslaught pushes ahead in eastern Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian troops have pulled out of a village in the east of the country, an army spokesman said Monday, as Russian forces display advantages in manpower and ammunition on the battlefield at the start of the war ’s third year.

The latest setback for Kyiv’s soldiers was in the village of Lastochkyne, where they fell back to nearby villages in an attempt to hold the line there, Dmytro Lykhovii, a spokesman for one of the Ukrainian troop groupings, said on national television.

READ MORE : Russia says at least 6 killed, 17 injured in Ukrainian shelling on Belgorod

Lastochkyne lies to the west of Avdiivka, a suburb of Donetsk city that the Kremlin‘s forces captured on Feb. 18 after a four-month battle. The outnumbered defenders were overwhelmed by Moscow’s military might, and Ukraine chose to pull out its troops and mount a defense elsewhere.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense said its troops had “liberated” Lastochkyne.

Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti quoted local commander Andrei Mordvichev as saying troops had pushed Ukrainian forces back by 10 kilometers (6 miles) and were continuing with their offensive. The agency said a key Ukrainian supply route ran through Lastochkyne.

It was not possible to independently verify each side’s claims.

Though not in itself a major loss, abandoning the village illustrates the battlefield challenges Ukraine is currently facing. The new phase of the war has brought some bleak developments for Ukraine.

Moscow’s troops are driving on, smashing towns and cities with their superior firepower, despite suffering high losses of troops and equipment, Ukraine says.

Western analysts say the Russians are attacking in strength along four parallel axes in the northeast, aiming to press deeper into the Ukraine-held western part of the Donetsk region and also penetrating into the Kharkiv region north of it.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustan Umerov complained Sunday that half of promised Western military support to Ukraine fails to arrive on time. That, he said, makes it hard to undertake proper military planning and ultimately costs the lives of soldiers.

Western leaders have sworn to stand by Ukraine as long as they need to defeat Russia’s full-scale invasion of Feb. 24 2022, and Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov arrived in Kyiv on Monday to show his support.

More than 20 European heads of state and government and other Western officials were due to meet in Paris on Monday to discuss the war at what French President Emmanuel Macron called a “critical” juncture. He says Kyiv needs more military resources and likely will require them over an extended period of time.

Addressing the summit via video, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the need to increase joint production of weapons and ammunition, improve Ukrainian air defenses and put pressure on Russia via sanctions and confiscation of assets.

“We have to prove that we can deprive Russia of its advantage in the sky, in financing aggression, and in the political sphere. This is the task of the year,” Zelenskyy said.

U.S. President Joe Biden was also seeking to remove political roadblocks on providing more aid to Ukraine, convening the top four congressional leaders at the White House on Tuesday.

In other developments, Moscow-installed officials in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region claimed that Russian troops had destroyed a U.S.-made Abrams tank for the first time since they were deployed in Ukraine last fall, RIA Novosti reported.

A drone strike on the Russian city of Belgorod near the Ukraine border killed three people and wounded three more, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said Monday evening.

Russia launched seven missiles of various types and 14 Shahed drones over Ukraine early Monday morning. Ukraine’s Air Force said it intercepted nine drones and three missiles.

A guided aerial bomb killed a married couple at home in the northeastern Sumy region of Ukraine, regional authorities said.

Also on Monday, Zelenskyy marked the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of Crimea and Sevastopol. The annual holiday commemorates a 2014 demonstration by thousands of Crimean Tatars against the Russian occupation of Crimea.

In a video address published on Monday evening, Zelenskyy said the day Russia occupied the peninsula ten years ago was the day “the future fate of international security and international relations was determined.”

“It all started with Crimea — this Russian revanchism, this Russian war. And it is there, in Crimea, that Russian evil must suffer its key defeat,” Zelenskyy said.

BY ILLIA NOVIKOV

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Indian farmers orchestrate a ‘tractor chain’ to encircle the capital

Diplomat Times
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Indian farmers orchestrate a ‘tractor chain’ to encircle the capital

Indian farmers orchestrate a ‘tractor chain’ to encircle the capital

New Delhi, INDIA (EFE) – Indian farmers called for a “tractor chain” to create a blockade around New Delhi on Monday, as part of the massive agrarian protests underway for almost two weeks demanding minimum support prices (MSP) for their crops.

“A program to take out a ‘tractor chain’ has been decided. Tractors will be parked on the highway that leads to Delhi, especially the divider highway,” Rakesh Tikait, one of the leaders of the protest – in which they have been attempting to march towards the capital -, told ANI agency.

“It was decided to register a different kind of protest so that the government would listen to us and not forget the farmers,” he added.

READ MORE : Black Friday in India after farmer died in anti-government protests

To prevent their march and the blockade, authorities in New Delhi and the city of Noida, adjacent to the capital, announced on Monday that they would install barriers and increase controls on their border, and warned of the possibility of major traffic disruptions in the area.

The New Delhi Police and the Noida Police will conduct intensive checks by installing barriers at all borders from Noida to the New Delhi border, according to a statement by the Noida Traffic Police.

This “tractor chain” is part of the mass agrarian protest that began almost two weeks ago in northern India, when a group of farmers began a rally toward New Delhi, in an attempt to pressurize the government to implement a law that guarantees MSP for crop production to protect its value from market fluctuations..

However, on the first day, the police stopped them at the border between the northern states of Punjab and Haryana. It led to clashes between the farmers and security forces, who used tear gas to stop their march.

The march was supposed to resume on Saturday after a temporary two-day truce by the farmers following the death of a farmer.

Farmers Protest Live: Protesting farmers disperse after a tear gas firing during their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, near the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu Border, in Patiala district, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. (PTI)

Farmers blame the police for the death of 23-year-old Shubh Karan Singh at the Khanauri border and demand prosecution of those responsible.

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court alleging rights violations of “peacefully protesting” farmers by the government.

Meanwhile, Haryana police said they had asked the farmers to cooperate in maintaining order, assuring they would not arrest protest leaders, as they had previously threatened.

Thousands of farmers on hundreds of tractors from Haryana and Punjab are marching to the capital to press home their demands, which include pensions for farmers, debt waivers, and the withdrawal of police cases filed against demonstrators during the 2021 protests.

The farmers also plan to carry out the burning of effigies by government authorities or the World Trade Organization (WTO), which they blame for the government’s moves towards ending subsidies.

India witnessed a massive farmer protest between 2020 and 2021, when thousands of farmers camped for almost 15 months outside Delhi, opposing an agrarian reform of the Indian government.

Modi had to bow to pressure and repeal a newly enacted law, which farmers said gave too much power to big companies by deregulating the market.

Peasant associations say the government has not met all their demands. EFE

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Pakistan’s Ex-PM Nawaz’s daughter Maryam Nawaz becomes first female provincial chief minister

Qaseem Hassan
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Pakistan’s Ex-PM Nawaz’s daughter Maryam Nawaz becomes first female provincial chief minister

Pakistan’s Ex-PM Nawaz’s daughter Maryam Nawaz becomes first female provincial chief minister

Islamabad, PAKISTAN (EFE) – Maryam Nawaz, the eldest daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, made history by becoming the first female chief minister of a Pakistani province on Monday.

Mariam Nawaz, 50, defeated her rival, Rana Aftab, in a 220-0 vote during a televised assembly session in Lahore after the controversial Feb. 8 general elections.

The fiery female politician thus closely followed in the footsteps of her father, who began his political career as the chief minister of Punjab in 1985, marking the beginning of a political dynasty that now includes his daughter.

READ MORE : Pakistan political impasse nears end as two parties agree to form government

“Maryam Nawaz Sharif is elected the chief minister of Punjab,” Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan announced.

In her victory speech, Maryam Nawaz wryly thanked her opponents, “who put me in difficulties, which included death cells, solitary confinements, years of court visits without a crime, incarceration of my father, and the death of the mother.”

Newly elected members of the provincial assembly take the oath during a ceremony at the Punjab Assembly in Lahore, Pakistan, 23 February 2024. EFE-EPA/STRINGER

“But despite all these difficulties, I feel indebted to my adversaries. They have done me many favors because they put me through a struggle that is second to none,” she said, asserting that she harbored no feelings for revenge in her heart.

Her rival, Aftab, was supported by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), an ally of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote and walked out.

Who is Maryam Nawaz ?

Maryam becomes the fourth member of her family to assume the role of Punjab chief minister, following her father Nawaz Sharif, his brother Shehbaz, and Shehbaz’s son Hamza, who briefly held the post last year.

Born in 1973, Maryam is the eldest among four siblings and initially remained distant from politics until 2013 when Nawaz became the prime minister for the third time. Subsequently, she emerged as the family’s apparent political heir while her brothers managed the family business.

Following Nawaz’s disqualification from the prime minister’s post in 2017 due to discrepancies in his asset declarations before the ECP, Maryam assumed a more prominent role within the party.

In 2017, Maryam was honored to be listed among the BBC’s 100 Women, a prestigious recognition of influential women globally. Additionally, she earned a place on The New York Times’ list of 11 Powerful Women Around the World for the year 2017, further highlighting her impactful presence on the international stage.

Maryam Nawaz’s Family

As per information available on Wikipedia, in 1992, Maryam married Safdar Awan at the age of 19 and adopted her husband’s surname, becoming Maryam Safdar. At the time of their marriage, Safdar was serving as a captain in the Pakistan Army and was also Nawaz Sharif’s security officer during his tenure as Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Maryam Safdar and Safdar Awan have three children together: a son named Junaid, and two daughters named Mahnoor and Mehr-un-Nisa.

Maryam’s Panama Papers Link Sparks Controversy

Maryam’s involvement in the Panama Papers leak stirred controversy. On April 3, 2016, the Panama Papers were disclosed, implicating Maryam along with her two brothers, Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz. Documents unearthed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) revealed Maryam as the owner of the British Virgin Islands-based firms Nielsen Enterprises Limited and Nescoll Limited.

She was also alleged to be the owner of properties in the United Kingdom jointly owned by her brothers. Maryam responded by refuting ownership of any company or property outside Pakistan. She clarified, “My brother has appointed me as a trustee in one of his corporations, which only allows me to distribute assets to my brother Hussain’s family/children if needed.”

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At least 15 Hindu devotees killed as tractor falls into pond in northern India

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At least 15 Hindu devotees killed as tractor falls into pond in northern India

At least 15 Hindu devotees killed as tractor falls into pond in northern India

Lucknow, INDIA (AP) — A farm tractor pulling a wagon loaded with Hindu devotees overturned and fell into a pond in northern India on Saturday, killing at least 23 people, including eight children, officials said.

The wagon was carrying around 40 devotees on their way to take a ritual bath in the Ganges River when it veered off the road in Kasganj district of Uttar Pradesh state, police said. Officials said at least nine injured were being treated in hospitals, some of them in serious condition.

This morning in India, a tragic accident occurred as a tractor carrying Hindu devotees veered off the Patiyali-Daryaganj road in Kadarganj, Uttar Pradesh, and plunged into a pond, claiming the lives of at least 15 individuals and injuring 10 others.

READ MORE : Several dead in building fire in Spanish city of Valencia

Authorities have banned tractor-pulled wagons from transporting passengers, but the order is generally flouted in rural India.

In 2022, 26 people were killed in a similar accident, also in Uttar Pradesh.

Police officer Aparna Kaushik said an initial investigation indicated that the tractor was traveling at a considerable speed before the driver lost control. It wasn’t clear if the driver had survived.

India has some of the highest road death rates in the world, with hundreds of thousands of people killed and injured annually. Most crashes are blamed on reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and aging vehicles.

The District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, and other law enforcement and administrative personnel later arrived at the scene.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his ‘heartfelt condolences’ to the families of the victims, expressing ‘profound sorrow’ over the tragic incident.

He announced a compensation of Two Lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and 50,000 Rupees for the injured.

The Chief Minister said he had directed officials in the Kasganj district to ensure that the accident victims receive prompt and adequate medical attention.

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Several dead in building fire in Spanish city of Valencia

Rania Lampou
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Several dead in building fire in Spanish city of Valencia

Several dead in building fire in Spanish city of Valencia

Valencia, SPAIN (EFE) – Emergency services have so far found four bodies in the residential buildings that caught fire on Thursday in the Spanish city of Valencia and are searching for 19 missing people.

The deputy director general of Valencia’s emergency services, Jorge Suarez, announced the discovery of the bodies in a press conference from the command post next to the still-burning buildings.

READ MORE : At least 64 killed in Papua New Guinea ambush

The emergency teams working on the two towers are searching for 19 people who are missing since the start of the fire, according to the city council.

View of the fire declared on Feb. 22, 2024 around 5:30 this afternoon on a fifth floor of a residential building in Valencia that has totally affected the building and has spread to another annex. EFE/ Kai Fösterling

Firefighters had to rescue affected neighbors from balconies after the fire was reported on the fifth floor of a fourteen-story residential building around 5:30 pm local time and then spread to another annex.

The number of people injured remains unchanged at 14, of which 6 are firefighters and the rest civilians, the Information and Emergency Coordination Center reported.

The emergency services have assisted nine men between 25 and 57 years old, four women between 27 and 81 years old, and a minor of 7 years old.

Except two women who were discharged “in situ,” the rest were transferred to different hospitals in Valencia, according to the same sources.

Photo of the fire declared around half past five in the afternoon on February 22, 2024 on a fifth floor of a residential building in Valencia that has completely affected the property and has spread to another annex, and firefighters are still trying to rescue neighbors from balconies. EFE/Manuel Bruque

After the press asked Suarez if the building could collapse, he replied that the main priority right now is to ensure safety. However, he admitted that the fire has been burning for several hours at very high temperatures.

He also pointed out that it is unknown when they will be able to access the interior and that they are working with the relatives of a missing resident.

The mayor of Valencia, María José Catalá, sent her regards to the relatives of the victims and announced that on Friday the City Council will declare several days of official mourning.

“The firefighters are doing everything they can, but so far this is all the information they can provide,” the mayor said.

Without knowing the causes of the fire, witnesses told EFE that the flames spread “very quickly” in a very short time and formed “a brutal cloud of smoke that practically turned the day into night.”

The President of the Generalitat Valenciana, Carlos Mazón (c), and the mayor of the city, María José Catalá (d), during the fire declared on February 22, 2024 around 5:30 pm on a fifth floor of a residential building in València. EFE/Manuel Bruque

The vice-president of the Valencia College of Industrial and Technical Engineers, Esther Puchades, who inspected the building, attributed the fire’s ferocity to the polyurethane coating on the facade.

The wind in the city, with gusts of between 50 and 60 kilometers per hour at the time, may have contributed to the spread of the flames.

The Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, expressed his dismay at the devastating fire and offered “all the help he can provide.”

On his X account, Sanchez said he had spoken with local authorities to get a first-hand account of the situation and to offer any assistance needed.

“I would like to express my solidarity to all those affected and my appreciation to all the emergency forces already on the scene,” the Spanish prime minister wrote. EFE

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Black Friday in India after farmer died in anti-government protests

Shasi Kumar
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Black Friday in India after farmer died in anti-government protests

Black Friday in India after farmer died in anti-government protests

New Delhi, INDIA (EFE) – Several peasant organizations have called for a “Black Friday” demonstration in India following the death of a farmer in anti-government protests earlier this week.

The protesting farmers, who have been demanding government guarantees for better crop prices for almost two weeks, said the pan-India was to express their grief over the death of a protester in clashes with police during their march that has been halted on its way to the Indian capital, New Delhi.

READ MORE : Farmer Protest in Delhi : Peasant march to New Delhi challenges India government’s farm policy

Peasant leader Rakesh Tikait told reporters that they “will observe ‘Black Friday’ to condole the death of a farmer at the Khanauri border crossing,” some 200 km from Delhi, in the northern state of Punjab.

Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a coalition of over 40 farmer unions, said, the day would be marked by burning effigies, torchlight processions, and protest demonstrations against police repression.

An SKM press statement urged the state government in Punjab to press charges “against the police for the murder,” and damages to several tractors at the protest site.

The Indian police have stopped the farmers marching from Punjab to the capital as they pressure the government for pro-agrarian measures and safeguards.

Their demand is the enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price policy to protect the price in the face of market fluctuations.

But since the farmers began marching on Feb. 13, Indian security forces have barricaded all entrance points to New Delhi and fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse the protestors.

On Wednesday, Shubh Karan Singh, 23, was reportedly killed at the Khanauri border during clashes with the police, while three others were seriously wounded.

Singh “died in police firing” when the neighboring state of Haryana’s police “crossed the border illegally and shot at the protestors,” the SKM said.

The farmer unions have blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government for conspiring with the state forces “to carry out severe repression on the protestors” and have demanded the resignation of the Haryana state chief minister.

Thousands of farmers on hundreds of tractors from Haryana and Punjab are marching to the capital to press home their demands, which include pensions for farmers, debt waivers, and the withdrawal of police cases filed against demonstrators during the 2021 protests.

India witnessed a massive farmer protest between 2020 and 2021, when thousands of farmers camped for almost 15 months outside Delhi, opposing an agrarian reform of the Indian government.

Modi had to bow to pressure and repeal a newly enacted law, which farmers said gave too much power to big companies by deregulating the market.

Two years later, farmers’ associations say the government has not met all their demands. EFE

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