February 21, 2024

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari will be the prime minister and president, respectively, as both allies are set to form the next government. After days-long parleys and much uncertainty, top leaders from both parties confirmed that they were once again joining forces to form the government “in the nation’s interest”. While the politicos did not reveal much, sources told Geo News that the Senate chairman and Punjab governor would be from PPP, while Sindh and Balochistan’s governors and National Assembly’s speaker would be from the PML-N. “The Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz now have complete numbers and we are in the position to form the next government,” PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari told a press conference in Islamabad alongside top leaders from both the parties late Tuesday. No political party secured a simple majority in the February 8 elections, forcing parties to join hands in their bid to come into power, but the delay of an agreement had raised eyebrows. After the Feb 8 polls, the PTI-backed independent candidates controlled the most National Assembly seats (92) followed by the PML-N (79) and the PPP (54). While parties were wheeling and dealing over the government formation, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had allied with the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) to ensure it gets the required numbers through reserved seats in the assemblies. However, the PPP chief told reporters that the SIC did not have sufficient numbers to form the next government in the Centre. Bilawal said Shehbaz would be the next prime minister and Zardari would be the joint candidate for both parties for the president’s slot. He added that both parties would form the next government to pull the country out of the ongoing crises and expressed hope that they would be able to deliver. To a question regarding PML-N leader Ishaq Dar’s nomination as Senate chairman, Bilawal replied that decisions were taken in the meetings, but would be announced separately by each party. “If we look at the past, we have announced the coalition and made decisions with consensus very quickly compared to previous tenures,” he continued. PPP Co-chairman Zardari said that he wants to assure people that their struggle is for “you, Pakistan, and the coming generations”. “We have come to terms on the point that we have to ensure Pakistan’s success for the coming generations,” he added. ‘Middle point’ Speaking on the occasion, PML-N’s Shehbaz said that he had asked the PTI-backed winning candidates to prove their majority and form the government, but they didn’t have sufficient numbers. “We have sufficient numbers to form the next government,” he added. The PML-N stalwart also thanked Bilawal and Zardari for their cooperation. Shehbaz said that both parties decided that Zardari would be fielded as the joint candidate for the post of president. Responding to a question about whether the PPP was getting any portfolios, Shehbaz said that the Bilawal-led party hasn’t demanded any ministry from the first day. “Parleys take place between two parties and issues are resolved through [mutual consultation]. It doesn’t mean that we accept their demands or they accept ours; they have their views but reaching a middle point is the real political success,” he said. The former prime minister added that the decisions on the “offices” would be made mutually later under the guidance of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and the PPP’s top leadership. Shehbaz also thanked the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, who will be part of the next government. He vowed the upcoming coalition government would restore the country’s economy and fight against the menace of terrorism. The PML-N leader said that the alliance would bring economic progress and development to the country. He said they would take measures to increase agricultural and industrial production in the country. Source:https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1159717-bilawal-addresses-presser-after-days-long-ppp-pml-n-govt-formation-meeting

A European Space Agency satellite is expected to reenter and largely burn up in Earth’s atmosphere on Wednesday morning. The agency’s Space Debris Office, along with an international surveillance network, is monitoring and tracking the Earth-observing ERS-2 satellite, which is predicted to make its reentry at 11:32 a.m. ET Wednesday, with about a 4.5-hour window of uncertainty. The ESA is also providing live updates on its website. “As the spacecraft’s reentry is ‘natural’, without the possibility to perform manoeuvers, it is impossible to know exactly where and when it will reenter the atmosphere and begin to burn up,” according to a statement from the agency. The exact time of the satellite’s reentry remains unclear due to the unpredictability of solar activity, which can change the density of Earth’s atmosphere and how the atmosphere tugs on the satellite. As the sun nears its 11-year cycle’s peak, known as solar maximum, solar activity has been ramping up. Solar maximum is expected to occur later this year.  Related article‘Odie’ lunar mission takes off, aiming for historic US moon landing The sun’s increased activity already had an impact on speeding up the reentry of the ESA’s Aeolus satellite in July 2023. The ERS-2 satellite has an estimated mass of 5,057 pounds (2,294 kilograms) after depleting its fuel, making it similar in size to other space debris that reenters Earth’s atmosphere every week or so, according to the agency. At around 50 miles (80 kilometers) above Earth’s surface, the satellite is expected to break apart and the majority of the fragments will burn up in the atmosphere. The agency said that some fragments could reach the planet’s surface, but they won’t contain any harmful substances and will most likely fall into the ocean. ERS-2’s backstory The Earth-observing ERS-2 satellite first launched on April 21, 1995, and it was the most sophisticated satellite of its kind at the time to be developed and launched by Europe. Along with its twin, ERS-1, the satellite collected valuable data on the planet’s polar caps, oceans and land surfaces and observed disasters like flooding and earthquakes in remote areas. The data gathered by ERS-2 is still used today, according to the agency. In 2011, the agency decided to end the satellite’s operations and deorbit it, rather than adding to the swirl of space junk orbiting the planet. The satellite executed 66 deorbiting maneuvers in July and August of 2011 before the mission officially concluded later that year on September 11. The maneuvers burned through the rest of the satellite’s fuel and decreased its altitude, setting ERS-2’s orbit on a trajectory to slowly spiral closer to Earth and reenter the atmosphere within 15 years. The chances of an individual person being injured by space debris each year are less than 1 in 100 billion, about 1.5 million times lower than the risk of being killed in an accident at home, according to the agency. Source:https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/19/world/ers-2-european-space-agency-satellite-reentry-scn/index.html

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) hears arguments from 52 countries and three international organisations this week – the largest number of parties to participate in any single World Court case. The 15-judge panel is asked to review Israel’s “occupation, settlement and annexation” as well as policies “aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem”. The six-day hearings are based on a request by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) for a nonbinding advisory opinion on the legality of Israel’s policies in the occupied Palestinian territories. Israel is not taking part in this week’s oral arguments and reacted angrily to the 2022 UNGA request of the ICJ with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it “despicable” and “disgraceful”. US concludes remarks advocating for two-state solution The ongoing suffering in Gaza and the rise in violence in the West Bank reinforces the US’ resolve to urgently achieve a “final peace”, which requires the “full realisation of Palestinian self-determination”. This means a Palestinian state living alongside an Israeli state, Visek says. “The lack of meaningful progress in a negotiated end to the conflict cannot and must not persist,” he added. “This conflict cannot be resolved through violence or unilateral actions. Negotiations are the path to a lasting peace.” Click More from Visek The US representative says that international law has a central and important role to play within the established framework set forth by the Security Council and General Assembly. The challenge for the court, he says, is how to provide its advice in a way that “promotes the framework” rather than “disrupting its balance, potentially making the possibility of negotiations even more difficult”. He says that under the established framework, “a movement towards Israel’s withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza requires consideration of Israel’s very real security needs” he says. We were all reminded of those security needs on October 7, and they persist,” he says before adding, “Regrettably, those needs have been ignored by many of the participants in asserting how the court should consider the questions before it”. Click ‘Land for peace’ remains only possible framework: US Visek argued the UN has already established the principle by which the withdrawal of Israeli forces relies on “the termination of belligerence and respect of Israel’s right to live peacefully in the region”. This principle is recognised as “land for peace” and was also adopted by Israelis and Palestinians in the Oslo Accords, he said. “This remains the only basis to achieve a lasting peace and the framework for ongoing US efforts.” The World Court can play a role in promoting this framework without “undermining the maintenance of peace and security”. “The US is by no means suggesting there is no role for the court or that it should not rule on violations of international law, but in exercising its advisory role it must take into consideration the extent to which the UN Security Council has already taken action to address the matter, including in its Resolution 2720 in December that reiterated the need for a two-state solution,” said the State Department official. Richard Visek, left, at the World Court in 2019 [File: Peter Dejong/AP] Click here to share on social media Richard Visek of the US State Department takes the floor Since the UN General Assembly first requested the ICJ’s advisory opinion, the international community has confronted “the horror of the terrorist attacks of October 7” and ensuing war on Gaza that has had “severe widespread and tragic consequences for Palestinian civilians”. The United States is “engaging intensively with the Palestinians, with Israel and with other states in the region” not only to address the current crisis, but “to advance a political settlement that will lead to a durable peace in the region that includes lasting security for Israelis and Palestinians, and a path to Palestinian statehood”. “There is broad international support for achieving a negotiated solution to the conflict that will give rise to a Palestinian state,” said Visek. UAE delivers concluding remarks The UAE’s Nusseibeh requested the following from the ICJ’s advisory: Israel must end its siege of Gaza, let aid in and stop the forcible transfer of the Palestinian population. “In practical terms, it must mean a ceasefire,” she said. Israel must dismantle settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories and prevent acts of violence perpetrated by settlers. States must cooperate to bring Israel’s breaches to an end. “Israel’s administration of East Jerusalem constitutes annexation of territory on which the Palestinian people have the right to self-determination. International law is unequivocal in this respect. All measures by Israel that affect or aim to alter the status of East Jerusalem are null and void and have no legal effect.” “Israelis and Palestinians must thrive side by side in their own independent, prosperous and secure states,” she said. Click here to share on social media Israel hinders access for Muslims and Christians to holy places: UAE Lana Nusseibeh is now focusing on Israel’s actions in occupied East Jerusalem. “Israel has, in agreements with Jordan and with the Holy See, committed to the historic status quo and freedom of access to the holy places in Jerusalem. It is, therefore, gravely disconcerting that Israel has taken, and continues to take, measures which undermine the special character of Jerusalem and erase its cultural heritage.” Israel is in breach of its obligations by “repeatedly interfering with the holy places and hindering freedom of access to them”. Since the start of Israel’s occupation in 1967, “Muslims and Christians have been impeded from worshipping at their holiest sites.” Israeli forces stop Muslim worshippers at Lion’s Gate as they make their way to Al-Aqsa Mosque [File: Ahmad Gharabli/AFP Click Israeli violations ‘worsening at an alarming pace’ Nusseibeh outlined how the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories rapidly deteriorated over the past year. “The level of human suffering for people in Gaza is on a level rarely seen in human history. Israel has imposed a policy of collective punishment on the Palestinian people,” she said. Last