February 20, 2024

The Ukrainian Air Force said that it shot down two Russian fighter jets in the east of the country, and the armed forces said they held off a series of Russian attacks in the southeast. Meanwhile, amid growing international concern about Ukraine’s dwindling supplies of weaponry, Sweden said it would provide a record aid package to Kyiv. And, in Russia, a US-Russian dual citizen was arrested by security services on treason charges, according to authorities. Here are the latest headlines: Ukraine downs 2 Russian jets: The Ukrainian Air Force shot down two Russian fighter jets — an Su-34 and an Su-35S — in the eastern part of the country, it reported Monday. Ukraine repels attacks: Ukraine’s armed forces said they held off Russian attacks toward the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia during a “difficult” night, repelling 11 attacks near Malynivka and Robotyne. Sweden pledges $683 million to Ukraine: Sweden announced its largest support package to Ukraine. “As global military stocks dwindle we will focus more on donations,” Defense Minister Pål Jonson said, outlining Sweden’s commitment to “stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.” US dual citizen arrested in Russia: The FSB security service arrested a dual US-Russian citizen on charges of treason for collecting funds for Ukrainian organizations and openly supporting Kyiv. FSB said the 33-year-old Los Angeles resident was detained in the city of Yekaterinburg. Kremlin hits back at Navalny accusations: The Kremlin dismissed Yulia Navalnaya’s accusation that Russian President Vladimir Putin is behind the death of her husband Alexey Navalny. The opposition leader’s mother on Tuesday issued an appeal to Putin to release his body. US journalist to remain in Russian jail: The Moscow City Court upheld a decision to keep US journalist Evan Gershkovich in Russian detention until March 30. Gershkovich, a journalist for the Wall Street Journal, was arrested in Russia in March 2023 on spying charges. “Let me finally see my son.” Mother of Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny addresses Putin in video From CNN’s Anna Chernova Lyudmila Navalnaya, left, the mother of late Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny, and lawyer Vasily Dubkov arrive at the regional department of Russia’s Investigative Committee in the town of Salekhard in the Yamal-Nenets Region, Russia, on February 17. Maxim Shemetov/Reuters Lyudmila Navalnaya, Alexey Navalny’s mother, has released a video appealing directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin to “let me finally see my son.” Navalnaya filmed the video standing outside the penal colony in Siberia where her son died. “Behind me is the IK-3 “Polar Wolf” colony, where my son, Alexey Navalny, died on February 16. I haven’t been able to see him for five days. They won’t give me his body. They don’t even tell me where he is,” she says, directly staring at the camera. “I am addressing you, Vladimir Putin. The solution to the issue depends only on you. Let me finally see my son. I demand that Alexey’s body be immediately handed over so that I can bury him humanely.” Some context: The opposition figure died while serving a sentence in a Russian penal colony. The cause of his death remains unclear, and a Navalny spokesperson said Monday that the body won’t be released to the family for at least 14 days. Russia arrests dual US-Russian citizen on charges of treason for collecting funds for Ukraine From CNN’s Sebastien Shukla, Nathan Hodge and Anna Chernova Russia’s FSB security service has arrested a dual US-Russian citizen on charges of treason for collecting funds for Ukrainian organizations and openly supporting Kyiv. FSB said Tuesday that a 33-year-old Los Angeles resident was detained in Russia’s city of Yekaterinburg for “providing financial assistance to a foreign state in activities directed against the security of our country.” The funds raised were used to “purchase tactical medicine, equipment, weapons and ammunition by the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” the FSB said. The FSB said the US citizen took part in public actions that supported what it called the “Kyiv regime.” “Operational search activities and investigative actions continue. The court chose a preventive measure in the form of detention for the accused,” the statement said. The statement did not specify her alleged actions in support of Kyiv. CNN has reached out to the US Embassy in Moscow for comment. Moscow court rejects US journalist Evan Gershkovich’s appeal against extending his detention From CNN’s Anna Chernova US journalist Evan Gershkovich, appears inside a defendants’ cage before a hearing to consider an appeal on his extended pre-trial detention, at the Moscow City Court in Moscow, Russia, on February 20. Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP/Getty Images The Moscow City Court has upheld a decision to keep US journalist Evan Gershkovich in Russian detention until March 30. Gershkovich, a journalist for the Wall Street Journal, was arrested in Russia in March 2023 on spying charges. The FSB, Russia’s main security service, accused him of trying to obtain state secrets – a charge Gershkovich, his employer and the US government have strenuously denied. The Moscow City Court said it considered the appeal but would support the decision made earlier by the Lefortovo District Court to extend Gershkovich’s period of detention. Already, he has had his pre-trial detention extended twice since his arrest, once in May and again in August. If convicted of spying, he faces up to 20 years in prison. Kremlin says Yulia Navalnaya’s accusations that Putin killed Navalny are unfounded From CNN’s Anna Chernova and Radina Gigova Alexey Navalny, center, his wife Yulia, center right, and other demonstrators march in memory of murdered Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov in downtown Moscow, Russia, on February 29, 2020. Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images The Kremlin has dismissed Yulia Navalnaya’s accusation that Russian President Vladimir Putin is behind the death of her husband Alexey Navalny as “absolutely unfounded” and “boorish.” Navalny, Russia’s highest-profile opposition leader, died in prison on Friday. Days later, Navalnaya released a video message in which she said “Vladimir Putin killed my husband.” CNN asked Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov to comment on her statement during a call with journalists Tuesday. “No, we leave this without comment,” he said. “Of course, these are absolutely unfounded, boorish accusations against the head of the Russian state. But given that Navalnaya became a widow just a few days earlier, I will

The Saudia Airlines flight from Bangladesh Tuesday made an emergency landing in the port city after a passenger’s health worsened mid-flight. The Riyadh-bound flight, SV 805, departed from Bangladesh’s capital city, Dhaka, at 3:57am and was in the Indian airspace when the 44-year-old Bangladeshi passenger fell sick during the flight, according to airline sources. Abu Tahir, the Bengali passenger, was in a bad condition with high blood pressure, and continuously vomiting due to his health, airline sources said. Following the passenger’s health, the pilot diverted the aircraft towards Mumbai and sought permission from the Air Traffic Controller in Mumbai for a humanitarian landing. By the time the air traffic controller could issue permission, the plane had taken the landing approach towards Mumbai. The ATC sought the nationality and other details of the affected passenger and refused to offload the Bangladeshi Muslim passenger. The Saudi plane was refused entry into the Indian territory, citing the presence of Bengali passengers who were on board the flight. After receiving instructions from the Mumbai ATC, the pilot sought Karachi Air Traffic Controller for permission to land a flight in the port city after which the aircraft was flown towards Karachi and touched down at the Jinnah International Airport at 7:28am. The Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) medical team took emergency measures at the airport with doctors arriving to treat the patient as soon as the plane landed. The Bengali passenger on board the plane was examined by the doctor present at the spot who provided medical aid to him. Following the check-up, the plane flew to Riyadh from Karachi. Source:https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1159598-flight-from-dhaka-lands-in-karachi-after-passengers-health-worsens

Oral proceedings continue at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legal consequences of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories. South Africa, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Bangladesh and Belgium present early arguments. More than 50 states and at least three international organisations will address judges at the United Nations’ top court until February 26. A nonbinding legal opinion is expected after months of deliberation by the judges. On Monday, Palestinian representatives presented their arguments on the legal consequences of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip. The occupation is illegal and must be brought to an immediate, unconditional and total end, they argued. Israel is not attending the hearings but sent a five-page written statement saying an advisory opinion would be “harmful” to attempts to resolve the conflict because questions posed by the UN General Assembly are prejudiced. Israel cannot rely on self-defence to justify its actions The representative of Bangladesh Riaz Hamidullah is stressing that the principle of self-defence does not offer legal grounds for prolonged occupation. Israel’s occupation runs counter to three basic tenants of international law: The right to self-determination; the prohibition to acquire territory by force; the prohibition of racial discrimination and apartheid. As mandated by international law, any occupation must be temporary and acquiring territory is illegal. Israel’s prolonged occupation, coupled with the acquisition of territory, violates international law. The right to self-defence does not justify the violation of international law, including the right to self-determination. Israel cannot rely on self-defence to justify its actions. There is broad consensus that Israel, through its denial of self-determination of the Palestinian people, has violated peremptory norms of international law while also hindering the prospects for a just and lasting peace. Click What Israel is saying about the UN court proceedings Israel rejects accusations of committing “apartheid” against the Palestinians and usually dismisses UN bodies and international tribunals as unfair and biased against it. Israel isn’t making an oral statement during the hearings, taking place against the backdrop of the war in Gaza that has killed more than 29,000 Palestinians. Israel sent a five-page written statement saying an ICJ advisory opinion would be “harmful” to attempts to resolve the conflict with the Palestinians. The hearings are “designed to harm Israel’s right to defend itself from existential threats”, and “dictate the results of a diplomatic settlement without any negotiations”, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said. Relatives mourn loved ones killed in Israeli attacks in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza [Ashraf Amra/Anadolu Agency] Click More from the Netherlands’ representative More on the remarks made by the Netherlands’ representative René J.M. Lefeber. The occupying power shall not deport or transfer part of the population in the territory it occupies, which constitutes a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Once an occupation has occurred, the occupying power has the duty to respect and protect civilians. A serious breach of a peremptory norm should be dealt with in the context of the United Nations, but if this fails, states shall cooperate to bring the unlawful situation to an end. They shall not recognise as lawful the situation created by such breach and shall not render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation. Click The Netherlands presents its arguments The representative for the Netherlands, René J.M. Lefeber, has presented his arguments before the court. The court has jurisdiction to give advisory opinion. All people have a right to self-determination as per the UN Charter. There is a duty to abstain from actions that contravene this right. The right to self-determination is applicable to people under occupation and colonial domination, as well as people living in independent states. A prolonged occupation obstructs the principle of self-determination. The occupation of foreign territory can be legitimate in response to an armed attack provided the principles of necessity and proportionality are respected. An occupation that fails to fulfil these requirements may lose its legal basis and therefore violate the prohibition of the use of force. Click More from Algerian jurist Ahmed Laraba A violent contrast exists between theoretical appearances sketched out by Israel with a very broad brush and the reality Algeria considers. The situation created in 1948 and continuing shows up starkly in the misuse and abuse of the concept of occupation by Israel in occupied Palestinian territories. The establishment of Israeli legal rules in the West Bank and successive phases of planned military occupation is followed by the beginning of colonisation. The most striking feature of the West Bank resides in the spectacular increase in the establishment of settlements between 2012 and 2022, the numbers went from 520,000 settlers to 700,000. All historians of colonisation stress the compelling importance of the dispossession of land in establishing an accelerated colonisation. That to Algeria is a particularly striking example. Click here to share on social media First statements at ICJ very damaging for Israel Step Vaessen So far the statements made in front of the 15 judges of the ICJ have been absolutely damaging for Israel. South Africa was focusing on the apartheid regime that Israel has imposed on the Palestinian people, calling it a colonial system, and all three speakers demanded the court put an end to the occupation and have illegal settlements removed. They also called for reparations for the Palestinian people to be put in place. They also talked about the bloody assault taking place in Gaza. South Africa played a key role in an earlier case brought to the same court accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Israel was given provisional measures to avoid such a scenario. Click here to share on social media More from Saudi Arabia’s envoy Ziad al-Atiyah Israel has committed the most egregious violations of its fundamental international obligations regarding its treatment of the Palestinians. It has ignored multiple UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions condemning its conduct. These violations include measures preventing the Palestinian people from exercising their right of self-defence through various policies and practices. These include the continuing illegal