February 22, 2024

Biden calls Putin a “crazy S.O.B.” Kremlin responds comments a “huge disgrace” to US From CNN’s Anna Chernova US President Joe Biden speaks during an event at the Julian Dixon Library in Culver City, California, on February 21. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images US President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin a “crazy S.O.B.” at a fundraiser Wednesday in San Francisco, drawing sharp criticism from the Kremlin. According to pool reporters traveling with the president, Biden said: “We have a crazy S.O.B. that guy, Putin, others. And we always have to be worried about a nuclear conflict. But the existential threat to humanity is climate,” Biden said. In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the “rude” statements were “unlikely to offend in any way the head of another country, especially President Putin but this is a huge disgrace for the country.” “Clearly, Mr. Biden is demonstrating behavior in the style of a Hollywood cowboy to cater to domestic political interests,” he said Thursday, responding to a question from a reporter for state-owned network Russia 1. CNN’s Samantha Waldenberg contributed to this report. Analysis: Europe faces difficult questions over Ukraine funding Analysis from CNN’s Luke McGee President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen speaks at a joint press conference with President of the European Council Charles Michel in Brussels, Belgium on February 1. The 27 EU leaders and heads of states discuss the 2021-2027 budgetary plan and the financial of a 50 billion Euro support package for Ukraine in addition to military, political, economic, diplomatic and humanitarian aid. Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/Getty Images As the world prepares to mark the second anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine invasion, Europe must ask itself some searching questions about the war that unexpectedly erupted on its borders — and how it will approach the next 12 months. Arguably most important among those questions: How long can it practically sustain such draining financial support for Ukraine? While the West’s resounding support for Ukraine since 2022 has surprised many in the diplomatic world, the longer the war drags on, the more fatigue sets in as the bills grow. Between there being no end to the conflict in sight, and competition for political attention in the Middle East — as well as domestic concerns from inflation-led cost-of-living crises around the world — spending huge sums on Ukraine could become politically harder to stomach for governments. It’s morning in Ukraine. Here’s what you should know From CNN staff Civilians walk on a road as a tank drives by in a village nearby Avdiivka frontline on February 20. Narciso Contreras/Anadolu/Getty Images President Vladimir Putin’s former speechwriter has said that discontent toward the leader is on the rise in Russian society. Abbas Gallyamov noted that Russia’s capture of the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka will be a key factor to “suppress this discontent” and “strengthen Putin’s domestic standing” ahead of the Russian elections. Referring to people reportedly detained across Russia over vigils for opposition figure Alexey Navalny, Gallyamov said “sooner or later this will definitely backfire” because the discontent in society is growing and “at some moment it can become very strong.” Gallyamov said Putin is trying to get rid of all the opposition leaders to at least make discontent in Russian society be “unstructured,” “disorganized” and “leaderless” ahead of future elections. Here are the latest developments in the region: US-Russia citizen charged with treason: A US-Russian dual citizen charged with treason when she visited her hometown in Russia had intended to see her grandparents and did not anticipate she would be arrested, her boyfriend told CNN. According to her American employer, she was detained because she donated $51.80 to a Ukrainian charity while she was in the US. Commenting on Karelina’s case, a Russian investigative journalist said FSB is trying to keep tabs on everyone with a US passport who comes to Russia. Territory disputes: Russia said it captured Krynky, a key village on the left bank of the Dnipro River in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region. But Ukraine’s armed forces have denied the claim. In eastern Ukraine, footage geolocated by CNN showed Russian forces hoisting their flag over the Donetsk village of Pobieda, near Mariinka. Jets down: Ukraine shot down seven Russian fighter jets over the past seven days, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukraine’s armed forces said Russia has lost 338 aircraft since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, the general staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported. Sanctions: The UK is sanctioning six individuals who were in charge of the “Polar Wolf” penal colony, where Russian opposition leader Navalny died last week. The US, too, will unveil a new sanctions package against Russia on Friday in response to Navalny’s death. Detainees drafted: Some of the men detained at vigils for Navalny in Russia’s city of St. Petersburg were handed military draft summonses, according to a human rights monitor. Another ambassador summoned: Canada has joined a growing list of nations that have summoned the Russian ambassador to their countries over Navalny’s death. Former Putin speechwriter says discontent toward Putin in Russian society is on the rise From CNN’s Mariya Knight Discontent toward Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russian society is on the rise, according to Abbas Gallyamov, Putin’s former speechwriter. Gallyamov noted that Russia’s capture of Avdiivka will be a key factor to “suppress this discontent” and “strengthen Putin’s domestic standing” ahead of Russian elections. If there were no victory in Avdiivka, Putin would fail to “solidify his control” over Russia, Gallyamov told CNN’s Brianna Keilar Wednesday. This military gain gave him “an additional injection of legitimacy” and is very beneficial for his presidential campaign. Talking about people reportedly detained across Russia over vigils for opposition figure Alexey Navalny, Gallyamov said “sooner or later this will definitely backfire” because the discontent in society is growing and “at some moment it can become very strong.” Gallyamov said Putin is trying to get rid of all the opposition leaders to at least make discontent in Russian society be “unstructured,” “disorganized” and “leaderless” ahead of future elections Source:https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-02-22-24/index.html

The inaugural session of the 18th Punjab Assembly will be conducted at 10am tomorrow (Friday), Geo News reported on Thursday. The recently elected members of the provincial assembly, who won the February 8 general elections, will take oath in tomorrow’s session. Punjab Governor Baligh Ur Rehman has issued a notification to convene a meeting of the Punjab Assembly, while Speaker Sibtain Khan will administer the oath to the newly elected members. Khan would be administering the oath to the newly elected lawmakers as the speaker withholds his position till a new speaker is elected by the new house. With the summons, the Punjab Assembly also becomes the first legislative body that will take oath post-election. The announcement comes a day after the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) held its parliamentary meeting at the Jati Umra in Lahore. According to the PML-N sources, 218 members — including independent members, PML-N MPAs as well as members nominated for reserved seats — attended the meeting presided over by Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz. Sources said 137 successful candidates of PMLN, 58 women nominated for specific seats and more than 22 independent members, who joined the PMLN after the elections, were present. It merits a mention that 186 members were required to form the government. Among the newly elected members, Maryam will be one of the new entrants to step foot inside the provincial legislature as an elected member. She is also nominated as the party’s candidate for the chief minister slot after her victory from both the national and provincial assembly seats — NA-119 and PP-159, respectively — in the February 8 polls. During the meeting on Wednesday, Maryam pledged to serve the province in a way that would “set records” of good governance in the country. Revealing her game plan for Punjab in a media talk, the CM-hopeful said: “A new era will usher in Punjab. I congratulate the PML-N for securing victory [and gaining a majority in the Punjab Assembly].” If voted into power, Maryam will become the first woman to be elected as a chief minister in Pakistan’s seven-decade-plus history. She will take over the province with a population of more than 127 million people, more than half of Pakistan’s population. “This was a tough election, I thank the people of Punjab for providing us with a clear majority. We will set records of service; I haven’t rested since the election results, all of us will have to work as a team,” she added. Maryam, who holds the portfolios of PML-N’s senior vice-president and chief organiser, said it was a “huge honour” for her to be nominated as Punjab’s first chief minister and dedicated it to the “daughters, mothers, sisters, and reserved seats’ women”. The CM nominee said the province faces “major challenges” in the health care and education sectors as well as the local government. “There’s also a huge issue of sewage, clean water in rural areas.” Maryam told the newly-elected MPAs that they would have to view Punjab’s 297 constituencies as 297 districts in order to ensure development in every lawmaker’s constituency. Source:https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1160325-newly-elected-members-to-take-oath-in-first-punjab-assembly-session-tomorrow

Gaza has become a death zone”: WHO chief says “inhumane” health and humanitarian situation worsens. Palestine Red Crescent Society warns of dire situation at al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis as Israeli siege continues for 30th day. Medical charity MSF “outraged” by Israeli attack on its shelter in al-Mawasi that killed two family members of staff and injured six. Residents of northern Gaza Strip have only animal feed to eat for past three weeks, says head of Gaza’s government media office. At least 29,313 Palestinians killed and 69,333 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The revised death toll in Israel from the October 7 attacks stands at 1,139. Hamas says Jerusalem shooting ‘natural response’ to Israeli massacres Hamas has said the attack on a highway near the Maale Adumim settlement in the occupied West Bank is a “natural response to the [Israeli] occupation’s massacres and crimes in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank”. We reported earlier that at least three people were killed and eight wounded during the shooting this morning, with Israeli police saying two gunmen were killed and a third arrested. Hamas also raised concerns about Israel’s planned restrictions for Arabs at the Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan. Click here to share on social media Iran says ICJ opinion can set ground for saving thousands of innocent people Raza Najafi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, says at the ICJ that “we remain at a turning point in the history of mankind”. “The opinion of this court can set the ground for saving the lives of thousands of innocent women and children and contribute to the legitimate demand of the people deprived of their inherent right to self-determination,” he said. Najafi then listed a series of measures that, he said, constitute the ongoing violation by the Israeli occupying regime: Prolonged occupation Altering demographic composition in the occupied territories Altering the character and the status of the Holy City Discriminatory measures Violations of the rights of Palestinian people to permanent sovereignty over their natural resources Click here to share on social media China calls for two-state solution at ICJ Ma Xinmin, a Foreign Ministry legal adviser, says that China “has consistently supported the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate right”. “Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed on multiple occasions that China calls for a comprehensive ceasefire and the early solution to the question of Palestine on the basis of a two-state solution through negotiation,” he said. “In pursuit of the right to self-determination”, he states, the Palestinian people’s use of force to “resist foreign oppression” and complete the establishment of an independent state is an “inalienable right”. Click If you’re just joining us It’s 11:30am (09:30 GMT) in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel. Here are some of the latest developments: Three people were killed and eight wounded in a shooting attack near the Maale Adumim settlement in the occupied West Bank. Turkey pushed for a ceasefire and two-state solution at the G20 meeting. A report by US intelligence assessed with “low confidence” that a handful of UNWRA staff participated in the October 7 attacks on Israel, according to the Wall Street Journal. US official Brett McGurk and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh visited Cairo amid efforts to broker a truce deal. The Israeli military said it intercepted air attacks from the Red Sea. Click Missile attack causes fire on vessel off Yemen coast: UK agency We now have more information on the attack reported off Yemen’s coast. The missile attack targeted a vessel transiting the Gulf of Aden and caused a fire on board, the British maritime security agency said. “A vessel was attacked by two missiles, resulting in a fire onboard,” the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said, adding that “coalition forces are responding”. Gaza death toll rises The death toll from Israel’s war on Gaza has increased to 29,410 since October 7, the Gaza Health Ministry said in a statement. At least 69,465 people have been wounded. Click Israeli minister says ‘our right to life overrides the Palestinians’ freedom of movement’ Israel’s Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir has said Palestinians’ freedom of movement should be restricted, following a shooting attack on a highway near the Maale Adumim settlement in the occupied West Bank that we reported on earlier. “Our right to life overrides the Palestinians’ freedom of movement,” Ben-Gvir said, according to Israeli media reports. “I will fight for barriers around the villages that will limit the freedom of movement of the residents of the Palestinian Authority.” At least three people were killed and eight wounded during the shooting this morning, with Israeli police saying two gunmen were killed and a third arrested. Source:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/22/israels-war-on-gaza-live-gaza-has-become-a-death-zone-says-who-chief