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ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh Election Commission officially published the gazette notification of the 13th National Elections, confirming the results and listing 297 newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs), state media reported.&nbsp;The notification was issued late Friday and signed by the Commission&rsquo;s Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, according to state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).&nbsp;The names of the successful candidates were published in line with clause (4) of Article 39 of the Representation of the People Order, 1972 (President&rsquo;s Order No. 155 of 1972).&nbsp;The gazette provides comprehensive details of the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-election-results" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">elected representatives</a>, including their names, fathers&rsquo; or husbands&rsquo; names, mothers&rsquo; names, residential addresses, and the constituencies they will represent in the National Parliament.&nbsp;The general elections were held on Feb. 12. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured 209 seats on its own. Its alliance partners, Gano Odhikar Parishad, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), and Gano Sanghati Andalon, won one seat each.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-jamaateislami-chief-recognizes-overall-outcome-of-election" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami</a> emerged as the main opposition party after winning 68 seats. Its allied groups &mdash; National Citizen Party (NCP) secured six seats, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis two seats, and Khelafat Majlish one seat.&nbsp;Islami Andolon Bangladesh won one seat, while independent candidates were victorious in seven constituencies.

Bangladesh Election Commission (Photo: BSS)

Bangladesh

The gazette provides comprehensive details of the elected representatives, including their names, fathers’ or husbands’ names, mothers’ names, residential addresses, and the constituencies they will represent in the National Parliament.

Bangladesh's Election Commission publishes gazette of newly elected MPs

MUNICH: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to reassure a nervous Europe on Saturday, saying that Washington wanted to &quot;revitalize&quot; the transatlantic alliance so that a strong Europe could help the US on its mission of global &quot;renewal&quot;. Washington&#39;s top diplomat struck a markedly reassuring tone as he addressed a security conference in Munich after months of turmoil in US-European relations sparked by US President Donald Trump&#39;s vows to seize Greenland and his often derisive remarks about Washington&#39;s allies. &quot;We do not seek to separate, but to revitalise an old friendship and renew the greatest civilization in human history,&quot; Rubio said. &quot;What we want is a reinvigorated alliance.&quot; &#39;Belong together&#39; &quot;We want Europe to be strong. We believe that Europe must survive,&quot; Rubio said, adding that the continent and the US &quot;belong together.&quot; The United States will be &quot;driven by a vision of a future as proud, as sovereign, and as vital as our civilization&#39;s past,&quot; he said. &quot;And while we are prepared, if necessary, to do this alone, it is our preference and it is our hope to do this together with you, our friends here in Europe,&quot; he said. Rubio&#39;s speech marked a sharp contrast to that of US Vice President JD Vance a year ago, when he used the same stage to attack European policies on immigration and free speech, shocking European allies. &#39;Destabilizing societies&#39; Rubio reiterated the Trump administration&#39;s stance that immigration is &quot;destabilizing societies&quot; but otherwise largely avoided the MAGA flashpoint and culture war issues that, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Friday, had deepened a &quot;rift&quot; between US and Europe. Bruised by Trump&#39;s designs on Greenland and his often hostile comments about America&#39;s traditional allies, European leaders who have gathered at the Munich Security Conference have pledged to shoulder more of the burden of shared NATO defences. &#39;Right time&#39;&nbsp; Key leaders have pushed the message that this is essential for Europe to counter a hostile Russia, with NATO chief Mark Rutte saying that &quot;a strong Europe in a strong NATO means that the transatlantic bond will be stronger than ever&quot;. French President Emmanuel Macron told the gathering on Friday that &quot;this is the right time for a strong Europe,&quot; that would be &quot;clear in the support of Ukraine&quot; and &quot;building its own architecture of security&quot;. &quot;This Europe will be a good ally and partner for the United States of America,&quot; he said. &#39;A sleeping giant&#39; British leader Keir Starmer was expected to tell the conference that Europe is &quot;a sleeping giant&quot; and must rely less on the United States for its defence. The Trump administration&#39;s new National Security Strategy similarly launched an unprecedented attack against Europeans, charging that the continent is threatened with &quot;civilizational decline&quot;. Ties plunged further last month when Trump stepped up threats to annex Greenland, an autonomous territory of NATO member Denmark, forcing European nations to stand firm in protest. Ukraine war in focus&nbsp;German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday had appealed to Washington: &quot;Let&#39;s repair and revive transatlantic trust together.&quot; The high-powered Munich meeting of government leaders, diplomats, defense and intelligence chiefs comes shortly before Russia&#39;s full-scale war on Ukraine is set to enter its fifth gruelling year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has been in Munich since Friday and meeting multiple allies, was expected to address the meeting on Saturday.&nbsp; No Russian officials have been invited. At the White House on Friday, Trump urged him to &quot;get moving&quot; to end the war. &quot;Russia wants to make a deal... He has to move,&quot; the US leader said. &quot;We don&#39;t know if the Russians are serious about ending the war,&quot; Rubio said in his speech on Saturday. A German government source said Merz and Rubio met at the conference on Friday and discussed &quot;Ukraine, the status of negotiations with Russia and further support for the country, particularly in terms of military aid&quot;. &#39;An aggressive Russia&#39; They also discussed Europe&#39;s role in NATO, and &quot;Rubio praised Germany&#39;s steps to strengthen the alliance&quot;, the source added. Macron said a new framework was needed to deal with &quot;an aggressive Russia&quot; once the fighting in Ukraine ends. Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky said he feared &quot;a new cold war&quot; between Europe and Russia in the coming decade, making reopening dialogue with Moscow essential. &quot;If it makes sense to talk, we are willing to talk,&quot; said Merz, but he also charged that &quot;Russia is not yet willing to talk seriously&quot;.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during the 62nd Munich Security Conference (MSC) on February 14, 2026, in Munich, southern Germany. (Photo: AFP)

Americas

Europe

Washington's top diplomat strikes a markedly reassuring tone as he addresses a security conference in Munich after months of turmoil in US-European relations sparked by US President Donald Trump's vows to seize Greenland and his often derisive remarks about Washington's allies.

Rubio tells allies US and Europe 'belong together'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar, expressed cautious optimism during a United Nations Security Council briefing on the situation in Syria on Friday regarding recent developments, while underscoring the complexity of the challenges facing the country. Ambassador Iftikhar welcomed the 30 January agreement between the Syrian Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), voicing hope that its faithful implementation would bring stability and strengthen Syria&rsquo;s unity and territorial integrity.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 767px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2022517880252772697&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=1dfd8a62c6207cbc21c0529808556923ad9aba06&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2022517880252772697">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>He noted that over the past 14 months, notable steps have been taken to advance Syria&rsquo;s political transition.&nbsp; Although gradual and intricate, these measures reflect movement toward stabilization after years of conflict. He emphasized the importance of continuing this trajectory in a steady and inclusive manner, anchored in national ownership, reinforcing state institutions, consolidating security and creating conditions conducive to durable peace.&nbsp;&nbsp;Constructive steps&nbsp;In this context, Ambassador Iftikhar also appreciated recent state initiatives, including the 16 January presidential decree concerning the rights of the Kurdish community, describing them as constructive steps toward national cohesion. At the same time, Ambassador Iftikhar stressed that significant challenges persist.&nbsp; He warned that the threat of terrorism remains acute, citing the continued presence and activities of terrorist groups, including foreign terrorist fighters, especially ETIM, as serious risks to Syria&rsquo;s stability and regional security.&nbsp; He called for these elements to be addressed in a coordinated and effective manner, consistent with international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.&nbsp; Counter-terrorism efforts, he said, must remain precise and focused, without conflating state institutions with non-state actors, and detention facilities holding terrorists must be managed and transitioned responsibly to prevent instability or spillover.&nbsp;Humanitarian situation&nbsp;He also highlighted the dire humanitarian situation, with millions of Syrians in need of sustained assistance as infrastructure, basic services, and livelihoods remain under severe strain.&nbsp; Ensuring safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, alongside enhanced early recovery support, he said, is essential to alleviate suffering and restore dignity.&nbsp; With the lifting of sanctions, he noted, there is an opportunity to gradually shift toward revitalizing economic and commercial activity to enable meaningful recovery. Ambassador Iftikhar strongly condemned violations of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and other destabilizing actions by Israel, calling them unacceptable.&nbsp; He stressed the need for full respect for existing agreements and for Syria&rsquo;s sovereignty and territorial integrity, urging the Council to ensure Israel&rsquo;s full withdrawal from occupied Syrian territory in compliance with its resolutions. Reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s solidarity with the Government and people of Syria, he said the country would continue to engage constructively in support of a stable, unified, and sovereign Syria.&nbsp;

Foreign Affairs

Ambassador Iftikhar welcomes the 30 January agreement between the Syrian Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), voicing hope that its faithful implementation will bring stability and strengthen Syria’s unity and territorial integrity. 

Pakistan welcomes Syria-SDF Agreement, urges inclusive political transition

<figure class="fr-media">ISLAMABAD: India has stepped up its engagement with Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim government, delivering 131 cartons of the tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccine to the Afghan Ministry of Public Health, according to state-run Bakhtar News Agency. Each carton reportedly contains 768 doses. The Td vaccine protects against diphtheria and tetanus, with the current batch produced in August 2025 and valid until July 2028.<img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/941d2999-ce05-42be-b7ea-cd3981ea5f75-Td vaccine.webp" alt="India donates 131 cartons of the Td (tetanus-diphtheria) vaccine to Afghanistan. (Photo: Bakhtar News Agency)" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic" style="text-align: left;">India donates 131 cartons of the Td (tetanus-diphtheria) vaccine to Afghanistan. (Photo: Bakhtar News Agency)</figcaption></figure>The shipment, received on Friday, follows India&rsquo;s recent donation of around 9.5 tons of anti-cancer medicines. Earlier, New Delhi also announced 20 ambulances for Afghanistan, five of which were handed over in October 2025. The growing outreach comes at a time when&nbsp;Afghanistan&rsquo;s ties with Pakistan are strained, especially over border tensions, and India&rsquo;s engagement is seen as a strategic counterbalance to Pakistan&rsquo;s influence. India also aims to limit Chinese dominance in Afghanistan through infrastructure and diplomatic presence. Pakistan had initially expected the authorities in Kabul to act decisively against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil. However, Islamabad has repeatedly <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-raises-concerns-over-indiaafghanistan-statement-rejects-afghan-ministers-remarks" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">expressed concern</a> that no effective measures were taken despite its cautions over rising cross-border terrorism. The 37th report of the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, issued on Feb. 4, endorsed Pakistan&rsquo;s position that Afghan territory continues to be used by terrorist groups to launch attacks. The report noted an <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/un-warns-ttp-emerging-as-significant-regional-threat-from-afghan-soil" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">increase in TTP attacks against Pakistan from Afghanistan</a>, leading to heightened regional tensions. It further stated that while the Afghan de facto authorities claimed no terrorist groups were operating inside the country, no UN member state supported this view. The report observed that the TTP was accorded greater operational freedom, resulting in a surge in attacks inside Pakistan. It also highlighted that Al Qaeda continued to benefit from patronage in Afghanistan and provided training and advisory support to militant groups, particularly the TTP. The group has been linked to many attacks, particularly in the latter half of 2025, contributing to heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier. Last week, at least 33 people were martyred and around 169 others injured in a suicide blast at Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra during Friday prayers. Just this week, two police officers were martyred, and six others were injured in separate attacks in two districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan has taken firm steps to safeguard its national security, including targeted actions against militant hideouts and stricter border management measures. Officials maintain that durable peace in the region requires concrete action against terrorist elements operating from Afghan soil.

Afghan Interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi stands with his counterpart S. Jaishankar during his official visit to India on October 10, 2025. (File photo: X/Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Afghanistan

The growing outreach comes at a time when ties between Pakistan and the Afghan interim government have faced challenges since the fall of Kabul in August 2021.


India deepens outreach to Afghanistan amid strains in Islamabad-Kabul ties

Muhammad Ibrahim

Ayesha Mir

DHAKA: Bangladesh&rsquo;s election has simultaneously reshaped political power and locked in constitutional reform, as voters handed the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) a commanding parliamentary mandate while overwhelmingly approving a binding reform charter in a rare nationwide referendum. The vote, the first national election since a 2024 uprising ended years of political paralysis, was described as credible and competently managed by <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladeshs-election-commission-publishes-gazette-of-newly-elected-mps" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">international observers</a>, adding external validation to the country&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-jamaateislami-chief-recognizes-overall-outcome-of-election" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">democratic reset</a>. &ldquo;The 2026 parliamentary elections were credible and competently managed, marking a pivotal step towards restoring democratic governance and rule of law,&rdquo; said Ivars Ijabs, head of the European Union observer mission, speaking to reporters on Saturday. Final results of the 13th National Parliamentary Election show the BNP emerging as the dominant force in parliament, while voters also endorsed the July National Charter. A reform package designed to prevent a return to authoritarian rule and restructure core institutions of the state. According to the Election Commission (EC), voting was held in 299 of 300 constituencies, with results declared in 297. The BNP won 209 seats outright, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68 seats. Smaller parties and independents filled the remaining seats. Overall voter turnout stood at 59.44%. With alliance partners included, the BNP&rsquo;s total rises to 212 seats, while Jamaat&rsquo;s tally increases to 77 seats, giving it a significantly enlarged role as the main opposition in the new parliament. Running in parallel with the election, the national referendum on the July National Charter drew more than 70 million votes, with turnout at 60.26%. Official results show about 48 million voters, roughly 68%, backed the reforms, while nearly 23 million voted against. A government gazette notification, signed by Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed and issued on Friday night, confirmed that the referendum outcome makes the reform charter binding on parties that form the next government. Chief Adviser of the interim government Muhammad Yunus congratulated BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on what he described as a decisive and historic mandate. &ldquo;The clear mandate delivered by the people in this historic democratic transition marks a significant milestone for the country&#39;s constitutional continuity, democratic consolidation and institutional stability,&rdquo; Yunus said in a written message. Expressing confidence in the incoming leadership, he added that Rahman would guide Bangladesh toward &ldquo;a stable, inclusive and development-oriented trajectory,&rdquo; grounded in democratic values, the rule of law, and accountable governance. From the opposition benches, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman announced that his party would accept the results and operate as a responsible opposition. &ldquo;We accept the overall results and respect the rule of law,&rdquo; he said in a public statement, describing the party&rsquo;s expanded presence in parliament as &ldquo;a foundation, not a setback.&rdquo; International reaction, particularly from Pakistan, framed the outcome as a milestone for democratic continuity. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif telephoned Rahman to congratulate him on what he termed a &ldquo;historic and resounding victory,&rdquo; reaffirming Islamabad&rsquo;s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation. President Asif Ali Zardari also congratulated Rahman and the people of Bangladesh on the successful and peaceful conduct of the polls, while Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan would continue to engage Bangladesh &ldquo;on the basis of sovereign equality and mutual respect.&rdquo; With electoral legitimacy restored, reforms approved by popular vote, and both winners and opposition accepting the verdict, Bangladesh closes its election chapter with a rebalanced political order and a constitutionally anchored path forward.

European Union observers called Bangladesh’s polls credible as voters delivered a landslide parliamentary mandate and simultaneously endorsed sweeping constitutional reforms through a nationwide referendum with turnout.

Bangladesh vote resets power balance, backs reforms after years of upheaval

ISLAMABAD: Three days after members of the BJP Yuva Morcha&nbsp;(youth wing)&nbsp;vandalised a Bangladeshi food stall at an international food festival held at MIT World Peace University&nbsp;(MIT-WPU), the Kothrud Police Station has still not registered an FIR against the accused.&nbsp;The institute had submitted a police complaint on February 11, but opposition leaders and activists say the Pune police are dragging their feet, especially as the accused has posted videos of the vandalism online.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2022315538194784350&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=0bed99bd90766b07f2a109e6e3f0cf489d5d1cff&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Speaking to The Indian Express,&nbsp;DCP (Deputy Commissioner of Police)&nbsp;Sambhaji Kadam said, &ldquo;Submitting a written application is different&hellip; the college should &nbsp;provide additional details.&rdquo; Lawyer-activist Asim Sarode argued that since the incident is clearly visible on video, police should take suo motu cognizance. When asked why an FIR was not being registered despite the footage, Kadam said police are &ldquo;investigating&rdquo; and would act afterward.&nbsp; Akshay Jain of the Maharashtra Youth Congress alleged selective enforcement, saying small protests by his side quickly attract cases, while &quot;trespass and vandalism caught on video have seen no immediate FIR.&quot;&nbsp; Anish Gawande of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) said Bangladeshi students have studied in Pune for decades and urged intervention against hate crimes by the Maharashtra CM, who also holds the home portfolio.&nbsp; Meanwhile,&nbsp;Siddhant Jambhulkar&nbsp;of NSUI (National Students Union of India) called the incident &ldquo;condemnable&rdquo; and warned it could shake international students&rsquo; confidence. This development comes as a &ldquo;secular&rdquo; India experiences a Government aided rise in xenophobia and hate crimes.

India

Police have not registered FIR despite videos of the assault; opposition denounces the incident amid rising hate crimes across India under the Modi government.

BJP youth wing vandalises Bangladeshi food stall in Pune

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Pro-Khalistan leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun launched a fierce attack on the Indian government, accusing it of orchestrating a global campaign of assassinations and intimidation against Sikh activists on Western soil. His remarks come on the heels of a dramatic development in New York, where an Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy charges tied to a plot to assassinate Pannun in Manhattan. US prosecutors alleged that Gupta coordinated with an Indian government employee in arranging the attempted hit. US Attorney Jay Clayton said following the plea, in what observers view as a pointed warning to New Delhi, &ldquo;Our message to nefarious foreign actors should be clear: steer clear of the United States and our people.&rdquo; According to court filings and statements by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the plot involved direction from an Indian official, raising serious concerns in Washington about foreign-sponsored violence targeting US citizens and residents. &ldquo;A state-sponsored killing machine&rdquo;In a blistering exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, Pannun alleged that the evidence presented in US federal court &ldquo;speaks loudly&rdquo; and directly implicates the office of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in authorising and funding assassination plots abroad. &ldquo;After making Punjab a killing field in the 1980s and 1990s, India is now exporting violence,&rdquo; Pannun said. &ldquo;They are sending hitmen to America, Canada, and the UK to silence the Khalistan referendum movement.&rdquo; He linked the New York plot to the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, describing it as part of what he called a coordinated campaign to eliminate prominent voices advocating Sikh self-determination. Canadian officials have previously acknowledged investigating credible allegations of Indian involvement in Nijjar&rsquo;s death. Pannun further alleged that Khalistan activists in the United Kingdom, including Paramjit Singh Pamma, have also been targeted. Diplomatic backlash mountsThe guilty plea in New York has intensified scrutiny of India&rsquo;s actions abroad and fueled diplomatic unease across Western capitals. The idea that a foreign government could attempt to carry out assassinations in the United States has sparked bipartisan concern in Washington. Security analysts describe the alleged plot as part of a broader pattern of &ldquo;transnational repression,&rdquo; in which governments pursue critics beyond their borders. For Pannun, the case represents what he calls a turning point. &ldquo;They tried to label us terrorists. When we turned to ballots instead of bullets, they answered with bullets again,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But the world is watching now.&rdquo;

In a blistering exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, Gurpatwant Singh points to Modi government’s direct involvement in targeting activists in the US, Canada and UK

Pro-Khalistan leader says India running global assassination campaign to kill Sikh activists on Western soil

MUNICH:&nbsp;US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was set to address European leaders on Saturday as they try to step up their autonomy in defense while salvaging transatlantic ties badly strained under President Donald Trump. Bruised by Trump&#39;s designs on Greenland and his often hostile comments about America&#39;s traditional bedrock allies, European leaders gathered at the Munich Security Conference have pledged to shoulder more of the burden of shared <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/in-show-of-support-canada-france-open-consulates-in-greenland" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">NATO defenses</a>. &lsquo;Right time&rsquo;&nbsp;Key leaders have pushed the message that this is essential for Europe to counter a hostile Russia, with NATO chief Mark Rutte saying that &quot;a strong Europe in a strong NATO means that the transatlantic bond will be stronger than ever&quot;. &quot;This is the right time for a strong Europe,&quot; said French President Emmanuel Macron, who stressed on Friday that the continent was &quot;clear in the support of Ukraine&quot; and &quot;building its own architecture of security&quot;. &quot;This Europe will be a good ally and partner for the United States of America.&quot; &lsquo;A sleeping giant&rsquo;British leader Keir Starmer was expected to tell the conference that Europe is &quot;a sleeping giant&quot; and must rely less on the United States for its defense. &quot;I&#39;m talking about a vision of European security and greater European autonomy that does not herald US withdrawal but answers the call for more burden sharing in full and remakes the ties that have served us so well,&quot; he will say, according to his office. Conciliatory choice&nbsp;Rubio is seen as a more conciliatory choice of US envoy, a year after Vice President JD Vance used the same stage to attack European policies on immigration and free speech, shocking European allies. The Trump administration&#39;s new National Security Strategy similarly launched an unprecedented attack against Europeans, charging that the continent is threatened with &quot;civilizational decline&quot;. Ties plunged further last month when Trump stepped up threats to annex Greenland, an autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, forcing European nations to stand firm in protest. Ukraine war in focus&nbsp;German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged a &quot;rift&quot; had opened up between Europe and the United States, fueled by culture wars, but issued an appeal to Washington: &quot;Let&#39;s repair and revive transatlantic trust together.&quot; &quot;In the era of great power rivalry, even the United States will not be powerful enough to go it alone,&quot; said the conservative leader, who has ramped up defense spending in the top EU economy. The high-powered Munich meeting of government leaders, diplomats, defense and intelligence chiefs comes shortly before Russia&#39;s full-scale war on Ukraine is set to enter its fifth grueling year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has been in Munich since Friday and meeting multiple allies, was expected to address the meeting on Saturday.&nbsp; No Russian officials have been invited. &lsquo;Get moving&rsquo;&nbsp;At the White House on Friday, Trump urged him to &quot;get moving&quot; to end the war.&nbsp; &quot;Russia wants to make a deal... He has to move,&quot; the US leader said. A German government source said Merz and Rubio met at the conference Friday and discussed &quot;Ukraine, the status of negotiations with Russia and further support for the country, particularly in terms of military aid&quot;. They also discussed Europe&#39;s role in NATO, and &ldquo;Rubio praised Germany&#39;s steps to strengthen the alliance&rdquo;, the source added. &lsquo;An aggressive Russia&rsquo;Macron said a new framework was needed to deal with &quot;an aggressive Russia&quot; once the fighting in Ukraine ends. Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky said he feared &quot;a new cold war&quot; between Europe and Russia in the coming decade, making reopening dialogue with Moscow essential. &quot;If it makes sense to talk, we are willing to talk,&quot; said Merz, but he also charged that &quot;Russia is not yet willing to talk seriously&quot;.

British leader Keir Starmer is expected to tell the conference that Europe is ‘a sleeping giant’ and must rely less on the United States for its defense.

Rubio at Munich security meet to address Europeans rattled by Trump

DHAKA: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami said Saturday it had accepted the &quot;overall outcome&quot; of the election won by the rival nationalist party, despite earlier having alleged problems with the vote count. The elections on Thursday were the first since the deadly 2024 uprising, and Election Commission figures showed the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) had won a landslide victory.&nbsp;Jamaat chief <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-religious-party-leader-eyes-power-after-decades-in-politics" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Shafiqur Rahman</a>, 67, had said on Friday he would &quot;seek redress&quot; from the commission, with his party alleging &quot;inconsistencies and fabrications&quot;.&nbsp;But on Saturday, he conceded defeat.&nbsp;&quot;In any genuine democratic journey, the true test of leadership is not only how we campaign, but how we respond to the verdict of the people,&quot; Rahman said in a statement.&nbsp;&quot;We recognize the overall outcome, and we respect the rule of law.&quot;&nbsp;Interim leader Muhammad Yunus congratulated BNP leader Tarique Rahman on &quot;the landslide victory of his party&quot; as he prepared to step down and hand over power to the elected government.&nbsp;The 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner, who has led Bangladesh as its &quot;chief adviser&quot; since the August 2024 uprising, said in a statement that Tarique Rahman &quot;would help guide the country toward stability, inclusiveness, and development&quot;.&nbsp;The BNP alliance won 212 seats compared with 77 for the Jamaat-led alliance, according to the Electoral Commission.&nbsp;Shafiqur Rahman said Jamaat would take part in parliament.&nbsp;&quot;We will serve as a vigilant, principled, and peaceful opposition, holding the government to account,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&quot;Our commitment to principled, peaceful politics remains unshaken.&quot;&nbsp;He noted the huge leap in seats the JI had won compared to past elections, including when they were crushed under the autocratic tenure of ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.&nbsp;&quot;Our movement has never been about a single election. It is about strengthening democratic culture, protecting citizens&#39; rights, and building a just and accountable state,&quot; Jamaat&#39;s Rahman added.&nbsp;&quot;With 77 seats, we have nearly quadrupled our parliamentary presence and become one of the strongest opposition blocs in modern Bangladeshi politics. That is not a setback. That is a foundation.&quot;&nbsp;The announcement comes hours after the country&#39;s <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladeshs-election-commission-publishes-gazette-of-newly-elected-mps" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Election Commission officially published the gazette</a>&nbsp;notification of the 13th National Elections, confirming the results and listing 297 newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs).&nbsp;The notification was issued late Friday and signed by the Commission&rsquo;s Senior Secretary, Akhtar Ahmed, state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported&nbsp;According to the announcement, the names of the successful candidates were published in line with clause (4) of Article 39 of the Representation of the People Order, 1972 (President&rsquo;s Order No. 155 of 1972).&nbsp;The gazette provides comprehensive details of the elected representatives, including their names, fathers&rsquo; or husbands&rsquo; names, mothers&rsquo; names, residential addresses, and the constituencies they will represent in the National Parliament.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman speaks at an electoral rally at the Padua ACM High School ground in Lohagara, Chattogram, on February 02, 2026. (Photo: BSS/File)

The announcement comes hours after the country's Election Commission officially published the gazette notification of the 13th National Elections, confirming the results and listing 297 newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs).

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief recognizes 'overall outcome' of election

BEIJING: China&#39;s foreign minister told his French and German counterparts that Beijing was not to blame for Europe&#39;s economic and security problems as he pushed for more cooperation at a summit in Munich, a foreign ministry statement said Saturday.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/china-hails-coming-of-multipolar-world-ahead-of-trumpxi-talks" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wang Yi</a> made the comments at a meeting with France&#39;s Jean-Noel Barrot and Germany&#39;s Johann Wadephul on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Friday.&nbsp;He sought to promote China as a reliable partner of the European Union at a time when the bloc is trying to reduce its dependence on both Beijing and an increasingly unpredictable Washington.&nbsp;&quot;China&#39;s development is an opportunity for Europe, and Europe&#39;s challenges do not come from China,&quot; Wang said, according to the statement.&nbsp;Warning that &quot;unilateralism, protectionism, and power politics&quot; were on the rise globally, he said he hoped Europe would &quot;pursue a rational and pragmatic policy towards China&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;The two sides are partners, not adversaries; interdependence is not a risk; intertwined interests are not a threat; and open cooperation will not harm security.&quot;&nbsp;The meeting came against the backdrop of trade tensions between the two giant economies and disputes over what the EU sees as China&#39;s support for Russia&#39;s war in Ukraine.&nbsp;The EU is seeking to cut its reliance on China for strategic goods like rare earths while also rebalancing a trade relationship that sees it run a large deficit with the world&#39;s second-largest economy.&nbsp;In recent years, the two sides have clashed over Chinese electric-vehicle exports, which Brussels argues are based on unfair subsidies and threaten Europe&#39;s car industry, and Chinese tariffs on EU goods ranging from cheese to cognac.&nbsp;Wang urged&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/germany-blames-russia-for-cyberattack-on-air-safety-election-interference" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Germany</a>&nbsp;and France to help &quot;give a clear direction for the development of China-Europe relations&quot;.&nbsp;In a separate meeting with Wadephul, also on Friday, Wang touted economic and trade cooperation as &quot;the cornerstone of China-Germany ties&quot;, according to a foreign ministry readout.&nbsp;Wang also met Britain&#39;s foreign minister, Yvette Cooper, telling her that Beijing and London should &quot;explore more potential for cooperation&quot;, while the two sides also discussed Ukraine and Iran.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) attends a bilateral meeting with the US Secretary of State (not in picture) in Munich, on February 13, 2026, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference (MSC). (Photo: AFP)China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) at

Asia

Wang Yi makes the comments at a meeting with France's Jean-Noel Barrot and Germany's Johann Wadephul on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Friday.


Bangladesh's Election Commission publishes gazette of newly elected MPs

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