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Nawaz Sharif tells crowds in Lahore he will seek to form a coaltion

NewsFeed Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif says he’ll speak with coalition partners to form Pakistan’s next government, as results continue to come in. Days earlier, Sharif rejected the idea of forming a coalition, telling reporters he sought single-party rule. Published On 9 Feb 20249 Feb 2024 Adblock test (Why?)

The way forward for Palestine: A call for international protection

In the wake of the landmark International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that Israel is plausibly engaged in a genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza, all states that are party to the Genocide Convention now have a legal obligation to take material steps to put an end to Israel’s genocidal acts in the besieged Strip. In this context, the decision by many Western nations to withdraw funding to UNRWA, the UN’s main humanitarian agency for Palestinian refugees, over unsubstantiated “terror” allegations made by Israel, is not only perplexing – the very opposite of what the court legally obliged them to do – but also highly abhorrent as starving Palestinians face a deepening famine and deadly disease outbreaks in besieged Gaza. The real aim of Israel’s lobbying efforts to undermine UNRWA is the liquidation of the Palestinian identity and the right of return of the Palestinian people that the UN agency has come to embody. If the Western states, and especially the United States, continue to bow down to Israel’s genocidal demands they will only add further weight to the accusations that they are complicit in its genocide in Gaza. What is at stake today is not only the future of millions of Palestinians and the very viability of the Israeli state, but the stability of an entire region, and the future of the rules-based world order. Unabated, Israel’s assault on Gaza, with the unconditional backing of the West, risks a regional conflagration further inflaming conflicts from Yemen to Iraq and Syria, and paving the way for an unprecedented surge in terrorism across the globe. Today, there is mounting anger towards Western powers not only in the Arab world, but across the Global South, for their perceived complicity in Israel’s massacres of Palestinian civilians. Terrorist organisations like ISIL and al-Qaeda could not have asked for a better environment to regroup and mount new attacks on the West, as the global majority now views the West solidly as an enabler of the ongoing genocide of an occupied and oppressed Indigenous people. There is every reason to expect such terror groups, or brand new ones like them, to take advantage of this moment and launch attacks against Western populations and their allies and supporters across the globe. The future of the entire rules-based world order – and international law itself – is also very much at risk. The stark contrast between the West’s response to the war on Ukraine and the war on Gaza, has convinced many that international law applies to the West’s enemies, like Russia, alone. With the West demonstrating clearly that it considers itself and its allies, in this case, Israel, as being beyond the constraints of the law, there has been an immense loss of trust in international institutions like the United Nations. Indeed, the UN not only found itself completely powerless to stop Israel’s blatant violations of international law and attacks on Palestinian civilians, but could not even hold it to account for its outbursts against its secretary-general and targeting of UN staff in Gaza. Given the global majority’s strong opposition to the continuation of Israel’s war on Gaza, and the expressed position in favour of a two-state solution of the vast majority of the UN member states, including the permanent five at the Security Council, there is only one way to give another life to the rules-based world order, bring stability to the Middle East, and prevent the dawn of a new era of terror across the globe: ending the occupation of Palestine. This is also the only feasible way forward for Israel. After Hamas’s October 7 attack, as is evident in the erratic actions of its far-right government and the desperate acts of extreme violence it unleashed on the Palestinians, Israel has lost all confidence in its deterrence capabilities in the region. Israelis are feeling more vulnerable and exposed today than ever before. Many of its citizens have lost trust in the ability of the state of Israel to ensure their security, and are questioning the state’s viability in the region. Only the end of the illegal occupation, supported by a settlement in which the Arab states assure Israel that it is indeed a part of the region, and can exist among them in peace and prosper, would allow Israel to regain a sense of security and permanence. Clearly, the longest ongoing occupation in recent history must end – and quickly. However, given the current gridlock and the total devastation of Gaza, the first step towards ending occupation should be to bring the Palestinian people – who have now been identified by ICJ as a unique “group” – under international protection. This interim arrangement must be put in place under the auspices of the UN – whose involvement would restore the legitimacy of the rules-based order, for a period of three to five years, until a fully functional and independent Palestinian state can be realised. During this period of international protection, an independent tsar, appointed by the UN with the approval of the global community, must lead the process and be responsible for day-to-day governance, with guidance and support from a special council made out of individuals representing all Palestinian factions, including Hamas. There would likely be serious objections to the inclusion of an official Hamas representative into this set-up, but it should be possible to include in the council a non-member who is acceptable to the group, and can represent its interests. The inclusion of Hamas in any peace process is crucial as no sustainable settlement can be achieved without acknowledging the concerns and expectations of the group that has led Palestinian armed struggle against occupation for many years. Given the West’s undeniable pro-Israel bias, the countries that have shown care and consideration for the rights and wellbeing of the Palestinians, and respect for international law, throughout this latest conflict, such as South Africa, Turkey, and Brazil, should be part of the international protection coalition. This coalition should also ensure the security and

Why is Israel competing in European sport and Eurovision despite Gaza war?

European organisations have no plan to ban Israel, unlike swift action that was taken against Russia. European organisations have no plans to ban Israel from events such as the UEFA football championships and Eurovision song contest, despite its war on Gaza. Meanwhile, swift action was taken against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. So, why does Israel compete in Europe? And why are European organisations defending its continued participation? Presenter: Adrian Finighan Guests: Andrew Feinstein – Writer and campaigner who served as an MP under former South African President Nelson Mandela Omar Barghouti – Co-founder of the Boycott, Divestments and Sanctions (BDS) movement and founding member of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel Chris Rose – Director of Amos Trust, a creative human rights organisation that has a long history of campaigning for Palestinian rights Adblock test (Why?)

GOP campaign arm launches media blitz against Dems who opposed violent crime bill as crisis in DC spirals

FIRST ON FOX: Republicans are launching a massive assault against House Democrats who opposed overturning Washington, D.C.’s soft-on-crime criminal code last year as the city’s crime crisis continues to spiral. Friday marks the one-year anniversary since 173 Democrats voted against H.J. Res. 26, a bill that nullified the overhaul of Washington, D.C.’s criminal code by the city council that softened penalties for violent crime offenders — a fact the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is amplifying in its new media blitz. “173 extreme House Democrats voted to put violent criminals before the safety of families one year ago today. If Democrats support this move in the city they work, they’ll support slaps on the wrist for carjackers and murderers across America,” NRCC spokesman Will Reinert told Fox News Digital. ‘SQUAD’S’ JAMAAL BOWMAN HONORED RADICAL BLACK ACTIVIST, CONVICTED MURDERER ON MIDDLE SCHOOL’S ‘WALL OF HONOR’ “The NRCC won’t let them get away with this dangerous extremism, and neither should voters this November,” he added. The NRCC’s media campaign is targeting 14 of the 173 House Democrats who opposed the legislation — which President Biden ultimately broke with his party to sign — and are at risk of losing their swing-district seats in elections this year as Republicans aim to bolster their narrow majority in the chamber. Those being targeted include Reps. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., Dina Titus, D-Nev., Emilia Sykes, D-Ohio, Frank Mrvan, D-Ind., Gabriel Vasquez, D-N.M., Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., Jahana Hayes, D-Conn., Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, Matt Cartwright, D-Pa., Mike Levin, D-Calif., Seth Magaziner, D-R.I., Steven Horsford, D-Nev., Susan Wild, D-Pa., and Val Hoyle, D-Ore. HISPANIC BUSINESS OWNER, GOP CANDIDATE RIPS DEM CRIME POLICIES AFTER DRUG ADDICTS TORCH HIS LAS VEGAS PROPERTY Candidate-specific ads will run in each of the 14 districts highlighting their votes on the legislation. “Murderers given reduced sentences, carjackers given slaps on the wrist by pandering politicians, not just the D.C. City Council. 173 House Democrats voted to support reduced sentences for violent crimes. So crazy, even President Biden won’t support the anarchy. What’s next, defund the police?” the ad says, before referencing the district-specific Democrat being targeted. The media blitz comes as 2023 saw significant increases in violent crime across D.C., including a 35% increase in homicides, and a 67% increase in robberies, according to the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Foreign outlets rail over Biden ‘confusion,’ ‘rage’ after surprise press conference

President Biden is coming under fire on the world stage after defending his mental clarity in a surprise press conference while confusing the leaders of Mexico and Egypt, international headlines show. “Joe Biden’s confusion-in-chief: rage of ‘elderly man with poor memory’ who leads free world,” reads a headline from The Australian. Biden held a press conference Thursday evening where he fielded questions from the media regarding his mental clarity, memory, and age following Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report on Biden’s handling of classified documents. Amid Biden defending his mental state, he confused Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi as the “president of Mexico,” sparking concern stateside as well as abroad. “Biden hits back at memory loss claims in fiery speech before making another glaring gaffe,” The Mirror, a UK outlet, stated. CONSERVATIVES RIP BIDEN AFTER CLASSIFIED DOCS PROBE DOESN’T CHARGE HIM, CITING ‘POOR MEMORY’: ’25TH AMENDMENT’ Hur had carried out a months-long investigation into Biden’s possession of classified documents, ultimately deciding against criminally charging the president. “We conclude that no criminal charges are warranted in this matter,” the report, released Thursday, states. “We would reach the same conclusion even if the Department of Justice policy did not foreclose criminal charges against a sitting president.” The special counsel also described Biden as “a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,” with the president later that day holding a press conference to address concerns surrounding his mental clarity. Stateside, conservative lawmkakers and critics lambasted the president for the press conference gaffes, and they expressed concern over him leading the nation. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, asked, “Let me get this straight. Biden is too cognitively impaired to be charged with a crime, but he’s not too cognitively impaired to be the Commander-in-Chief?” Popular conservative account “End Wokeness” remarked, “The Biden DOJ is not charging Joe Biden, because he is too mentally unwell to be accountable for his crimes. Yes, that is their defense. This is the man with the nuclear codes.” Internationally, outlets hammered Biden for the press conference and the findings in Hur’s report. ‘BIDEN SEEMS LIKE THE DANGER,’ SAYS LIBERAL PROTESTER OUTSIDE PRESIDENT’S ELITE NYC FUNDRAISER “Biden’s attempt to defend his memory backfires with new gaffe after classified documents report,” Canadian outlet the National Post reported. Hur’s report found that Biden had a “hazy” memory about when he was previously in office and when his son Beau died, and appeared to become visibly angry during the press conference when asked about his son. “In his interview with our office, Mr. Biden’s memory was worse,” the report states. “He did not remember when he was vice president, forgetting on the first day of the interview when his term ended (‘if it was 2013 — when did I stop being Vice President?’), and forgetting on the second day of the interview when his term began (‘in 2009, am I still Vice President?’).” “He did not remember, even within several years, when his son Beau died,” the report continued. “And his memory appeared hazy when describing the Afghanistan debate that was once so important to him. Among other things, he mistakenly said he ‘had a real difference’ of opinion with General Karl Eikenberry, when, in fact, Eikenberry was an ally whom Mr. Biden cited approvingly in his Thanksgiving memo to President Obama.” BIDEN LASHES OUT AT REPORTERS ASKING ABOUT AGE CONCERNS AFTER SPECIAL COUNSEL REPORT: ‘THAT IS YOUR JUDGMENT!’ International headlines also reported on the Hur report, citing that the president can’t remember when his son died. “Special Counsel Says Biden Is ‘Elderly Man with Poor Memory’, Can’t Recall When His Son Died,” Fars News Agency, an Iranian government news outlet, headlined a piece. “Biden’s anger against prosecutor Hur: “Do I have a poor memory? I know what the hell I’m doing.” The case of removal for incapacity under the 25th Amendment,” Italian outlet La Stampa wrote in a headline, which was translated to English. “Biden faces serious doubts about his health nine months before presidential election,” French outlet Le Monde headlined a piece. “FORGET IT Joe Biden, 81, dodges trial over keeping secret documents due to ‘poor memory,’” U.K. outlet The Sun wrote. Fox News Digital reached out the White House for comment on the international headlines but did not immediately receive a response. Fox News Digital’s Joseph A. Wulfsohn and Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report.

Foreign outlets pull no punches over Biden ‘confusion’ and ‘rage’ after surprise press conference

Acting ICE director says ‘increased risk’ by overwhelming border crossings keeps him up at night

Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Patrick Lechleitner is warning about illegal immigrants with “various forms of criminality” who are not stopped at the border and allowed to roam free, some sheltered by sanctuary cities. In an exclusive interview with Fox News, the acting ICE director described the battle in the interior to apprehend criminal immigrants, often in sanctuary cities with little cooperation. “What makes it very important is — people lose sight or maybe not aware if they’re not in this space as much — is there is a surge of individuals, noncitizens at the border, but those individuals go somewhere,” Lechleitner said. When asked what keeps him up at night, Lechleitner said he is concerned ICE cannot detain all the bad guys. “Every time you’re dealing with increased numbers, there is increased risk,” he said. NEW YORK’S ‘CATCH AND RELEASE’ POLICIES FAIL TO HOLD CRIMINALS ACCOUNTABLE: POLICE REP “These individuals, many of them have various forms of criminality, are coming through. And these, the migrants that are, you know, going through are being preyed upon either by human smugglers, traffickers or other criminal organizations,” Lechleitner explained to Fox News. Lechleitner said they are doing everything they can to help their sibling agency, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), at the border. However, he said, that “stretches our resources thin and pulls resources off our interior mission, which is our core mission, to go after the civil immigration enforcement in the interior of the United States.” AMERICAN PEOPLE ‘EXHAUSTED’ BY LAWMAKERS ‘KICKING THE BALL’ ON IMMIGRATION: BORDER TOWN MAYOR While ICE often apprehends illegals with a criminal history, a revolving-door justice system lets some back out. For example, in Baltimore, ICE arrested an illegal MS-13 member who was released by a sanctuary jurisdiction that ignored a detainer. In turn, ICE had to re-arrest the gang member convicted of accessory to murder. Lechleitner said, “Anything that happens out there in the community is going to be inherently more dangerous, because you don’t have control of the situation, even if you have a very good operational plan. It’s just more dangerous and has more room for error than something in a controlled environment.” DEMOCRATS IN DISARRAY ON BORDER SECURITY, PUSH FOR ACTION FROM BIDEN AFTER DOWNPLAYING ‘OPEN-BORDER’ CRISIS “The sanctuary jurisdictions are inherently more unsafe, because they’re letting these individuals out who have, you know, very serious convictions at times and are public safety threats, if not national security threats. It is a concern, and I’m very baffled by it,” said Lechleitner. Lechleitner said there is “no question” that sanctuary jurisdictions make ICE’s job “significantly harder.”

Former NJ news personality launches GOP bid for Menendez Senate seat

A former TV news reporter known for his aggressive on-camera demeanor is getting into New Jersey’s U.S. Senate race as a Republican candidate for the seat currently held by Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, who’s facing federal corruption charges. Alex Zdan, 38, a former news reporter for News 12 New Jersey, announced his candidacy Friday in an online video showing him at the U.S.-Mexico border in Nogales, Arizona, where he called for an end to illegal border crossings in what has emerged as a major campaign theme for Republican candidates nationwide. The video depicts gaps in the border fence. MENENDEZ ATTORNEYS ALLEGE FBI ‘ILLEGALLY’ SEARCHED, ‘RANSACKED’ HOME, SEIZING GOLD BARS AND $500,000 CASH Zdan joins a GOP field that is quickly filling with candidates, including Mendham Borough Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner and southern New Jersey businessman Curtis Bashaw on the GOP side. New Jersey has not elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate since 1972, but Republicans are hoping the turmoil surrounding Menendez gives them a pickup opportunity in the narrowly divided chamber. The Democratic primary remains unsettled, with Menendez not yet saying if he’ll seek reelection even as he has pleaded not guilty to federal charges that he took bribes in exchange for helping foreign countries. He’s vowed to fight the charges, though many of his fellow Democrats have abandoned him and some have said he should resign. A contest between New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy and Rep. Andy Kim is taking center stage, though other Democrats, including civil rights activists Lawrence Hamm and labor leader Patricia Campos-Medina, have also stepped into the ring. Zdan left TV journalism after being laid off during cutbacks at News 12 late last year. He frequently clashed with Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy during the governor’s COVID-19 news conferences, asking aggressive questions, and got attention in 2020 when he told a Trump supporter who interrupted a news report to “buzz off.” In a phone interview, Zdan said it’s time for a new generation of conservative leaders focused on winning working class and multicultural voters and that he decided to move from journalism to politics because he views reporting as a public service. “If you know me and you know my energy and my abilities and my desire to serve and make people’s lives better, it kind of makes sense to go from the anchor desk to the floor of Congress,” he said.

Biden campaign call sidetracked by fitness questions, surrogates insist he is ‘in full control’

A campaign call in support of President Biden did not go as planned after reporters asked a series of questions regarding recent reports of the president’s failing memory. In what was supposed to be a conference call about former President Trump and his upcoming speech to the National Rifle Association, press officials asked reporters to stay on topic after questions veered to Special Counsel Robert Hur’s recent report. “Sen. Fetterman, I was hoping to ask you a question given some of the recent news,” the first reporter said to Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman. “You faced questions about your health during the campaign. I’m wondering what you think the Biden campaign needs to do today to respond to what special counsel Hur said in his report and the new concerns surrounding his fitness for office.” NO CHARGES FOR BIDEN AFTER SPECIAL COUNSEL PROBE INTO IMPROPER HANDLING OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS “Of course, the president was very clear that he is absolutely in full control. And you really have to remember this, too. You have a Trump appointee now that’s 350 pages to just say that Joe Biden isn’t going to be indicted here too,” the Democratic senator responded. “It was just a smear and cheap shots and just taking things out of context or even just inventing any of them. You don’t need 350 pages to say that we’re not going to have these kinds of changes. So clearly, there is an agenda there.” That question was followed by another on the same topic. “How can the current discussion around Biden’s age impact your Democratic colleagues running in Congress who are also elderly?” the next reporter asked. “Yes. Okay. We know President Biden is old, okay?,” responded Democratic Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost. BIDEN ‘DID NOT REMEMBER WHEN HE WAS VICE PRESIDENT,’ WHEN HIS SON BEAU DIED, DURING SPECIAL COUNSEL INTERVIEWS He continued, “But it doesn’t sound like breaking news to me. But what sounds like news to me is, number one, 15 million jobs being created, wages being up, inflation coming down. That sounds like news.” Hur has been investigating Biden’s improper retention of classified records since last year. The papers included classified documents about military and foreign policy in Afghanistan, among other national security and foreign policy records, which Hur said implicated “sensitive intelligence sources and methods.” The report contained an eye-opening portion on how Biden struggled to remember when he served as vice president in the Obama administration while being interviewed for the investigation. Additionally, Hur’s office believed Biden’s lawyers would use those “limitations” in his recall if it went to trial. “In his interview with our office, Mr. Biden’s memory was worse,” the report states. “He did not remember when he was vice president, forgetting on the first day of the interview when his term ended (‘if it was 2013 — when did I stop being Vice President?’), and forgetting on the second day of the interview when his term began (‘in 2009, am I still Vice President?’).” “He did not remember, even within several years, when his son Beau died,” the report continued. “And his memory appeared hazy when describing the Afghanistan debate that was once so important to him. Among other things, he mistakenly said he ‘had a real difference’ of opinion with General Karl Eikenberry, when, in fact, Eikenberry was an ally whom Mr. Biden cited approvingly in his Thanksgiving memo to President Obama.” Hur announced he would not seek criminal charges against Biden. Fox News Digital’s Joe Schoffstall, Brooke Singman, David Spunt and Jake Gibson contributed to this report.

Nebraska state senator wants to hire a hacker to break into state systems

One state lawmaker wants Nebraska to take measures to protect it from cyberattacks. His answer? Hire its own hacker. State Sen. Loren Lippincott presented a bill Thursday to the Legislature’s government committee that would give the Nebraska State Patrol $200,000 to hire “an ethical hacker.” The hacker would spend his or her days trying to break into the state’s computer network, as well as election equipment and software, to find any vulnerabilities in those systems. Lippincott said he got the idea from a nephew of his who did similar work. The lawmaker’s staff did not find other states that have hired independent hackers, although Missouri has hired a company that employs “white hat hackers” to provide that service. NEBRASKA LAWMAKER PROPOSES ‘STAND YOUR GROUND’ GUN LAW “We hope to lead the way,” Lippincott said. His bill also would allow hiring a security company that provide hackers to find weaknesses in the state’s system. Security challenges continue to grow for state and local election officials across the country, including potential cyberattacks waged by foreign governments, criminal ransomware gangs and election misinformation that has led to harassment of election officials and undermined public confidence. Lippincott presented the bill on the heels of FBI Director Christopher Wray’s warning that Chinese government hackers are targeting critical U.S. infrastructure, including water treatment plants, the electrical grid and transportation systems. The Nebraska bill’s hearing was also held on the same day that the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency launched a program aimed at boosting election security in the states and after a recent cyberattack on government operations in Georgia that has created some elections challenges ahead of that state’s March presidential primary. “This idea is that an ethical hacker can find vulnerabilities that can be fixed before they can be exploited by bad actors,” Lippincott said. “They can say, ‘Here’s the hole in the dike.’” Lippincott’s hacker-for-hire bill accompanies an $11 million cybersecurity bill also presented to the committee Thursday that would give the state’s chief information officer, local governments and school districts more ability to bolster cybersecurity through the purchase of security software and hardware, training and preparedness drills. The bills drew a handful of supporters and no opponents at Thursday’s hearing. The committee will decide in the coming days whether to advance the proposals. If advanced, they would have to survive three rounds of debate to be passed in Nebraska’s unique one-chamber Legislature.

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