February 27, 2024

 House Speaker Mike Johnson faces a defining dilemma on Ukraine Mike Johnson talks to reporters during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center in Washington, DC. on February 14. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images House Speaker Mike Johnson has the fate of a democracy and a people in his hands. It’s not the United States, which will survive even if the coming general election results in another existential test for the constitutional system. Johnson has the power to save Ukraine, two years after Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded, decreeing that it didn’t have the right to exist. Ukraine’s soldiers are running out of bullets. There are signs that Russia may be about to break a stalemate and tip the war its way. Johnson, a backbencher who was the last-ditch choice to lead the mutinous House GOP majority last year, could relieve Ukraine’s agony and help ensure its survival as an independent nation in the coming days. He could allow a vote on a bill that includes $60 billion in aid that the Pentagon says is needed for Kyiv to continue to fight effectively. It would likely pass with a comfortable bipartisan majority. The Louisiana Republican’s reluctance to do so is a commentary on the growing power of GOP front-runner Donald Trump, the sharp turn of his party away from its globalist pro-democracy heritage, and perhaps even his own ambition since borrowing Democratic votes to finance Ukraine’s defense could cost him the speakership. His predicament will be highlighted at a meeting of the top four congressional leaders at the White House on Tuesday called by President Joe Biden. It’s morning in Ukraine. Here’s what you need to know Sweden has cleared a final hurdle in its bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) after Hungary approved its accession to the alliance. Sweden and Finland sought to join the alliance in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, abandoning the decades-long policy of non-alignment. Sweden can expect that Russia will “not like” the country’s accession to NATO, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the move toward Sweden’s membership, and said that Ukraine is looking forward “to working closely with Sweden and other NATO allies to advance Ukraine’s NATO membership.” A decision to admit Ukraine would extend the sacred NATO pledge that an attack on one member is an attack on all to a nation Russia regards, at a minimum, as part of its sphere of influence Here are the top headlines: Biden pushes for aid: President Joe Biden will convene the top four congressional leaders on Tuesday as the White House ratchets up pressure on lawmakers to pass additional funding to Ukraine, and ahead of a partial government shutdown deadline this week. European support: French President Emmanuel Macron has said that sending Western troops to Ukraine cannot be ruled out. He also announced a new coalition to supply medium and long-range “missiles and bombs” to Ukraine at a European aid summit for the war-hit country. On the front lines: Ukrainian forces have retreated from the village of Lastochkynein the eastern Donetsk region, both sides have confirmed, as Russian forces intensify attacks and continue to push west. Lastochkyne is near Avdiivka, where Russia raised its flag on February 18. Fighting elsewhere: In Russia, a Ukrainian attack killed at least three people and wounded three others after a drone strike hit a car with civilians in a village in the Belgorod region, the regional governor said. Prisoner exchange: Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny was due to be exchanged in a prisoner swap before he died, according to his aides. A Western official confirmed that early discussions of an exchange were underway, but said no formal offer had been made. The US State Department would not comment on the reports. Navalny funeral: A public farewell to Navalny is expected to be held this week. Navalny’s mother had previously said she was being pressured into having a secret burial. Biden to convene top four congressional leaders as pressure builds for Ukraine aid President Joe Biden delivers remarks from the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC. on February 16. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images President Joe Biden will convene the top four congressional leaders on Tuesday as the White House ratchets up pressure on lawmakers to pass additional funding to Ukraine, and ahead of a partial government shutdown deadline this week. The meeting – which will include Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries – comes at a pivotal moment following Johnson’s resistance to Ukraine aid. Biden has repeatedly framed the need to support the country against Russia as a matter of national security abroad and at home. In the face of congressional inaction on a package that includes $60 billion in aid to Ukraine, the president has directed his team to make the consequences “abundantly clear,” a US official told CNN. Russia will not like Sweden’s accession to NATO, Swedish prime minister says Ulf Kristersson attends a press conference in Stockholm, Sweden, on February 26. Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images Sweden can expect that Russia will “not like” the country’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Monday. “As for Russia, the only thing we can safely expect is that they do not like Sweden becoming a NATO member. They didn’t like Finland becoming a NATO member either,” Kristersson said at a news conference in Stockholm. Kristersson highlighted that Russia’s ambitions to limit NATO expansion have backfired, and also noted the historic nature of his country’s ascension into the alliance. “Sweden is leaving behind 200 years of neutrality and non-alignment. It’s a big step and something to take seriously but it is also a very natural step that we take. Membership in NATO means that we now come home to a large number of democracies’ cooperation for peace and freedom. A very successful cooperation,” Kristersson said. Earlier on Monday, Hungary’s parliament approved Sweden’s bid to join NATO, clearing the last hurdle for the country to become the 32nd member of the military alliance. Source:https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-02-27-24/index.html

Superintendent of Police (SP) Ijaz Khan was martyred while a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and two other officials sustained injuries in an intelligence-based operation against terrorists in the early hours of Tuesday morning in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.  According to the counter-terrorism department (CTD), two wanted terrorists were also killed in the exchange of fire in Mardan’s Katlang tehsil. One of them included Mohsin Kadir, who was a most wanted militant. The injured police officials were shifted to a hospital. Following the incident, the funeral prayers of SP Ijaz were performed and were attended by District Police Officer (DPO) Najeeb and other police officials. On the other hand, a police officer, Qaisar Khan, also embraced martyrdom after he was gunned down by motorcyclists on Monday night in Peshawar. The picture shows the site of the attack in Peshawar. — Provided by the reporter The funeral prayer of policeman Qaisar was performed at Malik Saad Police Lines. It was attended by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kashif Aftab Abbasi and other police officials. According to the statistics issued by the Department of Interior and Tribal Affairs KP, the areas most affected by terrorism include Peshawar, Khyber, Bajaur, and Tank while DI Khan and North Waziristan and South Waziristan are included in the terror-affected areas. The documents of the Home and Tribal areas revealed that a total of 1,050 incidents of terrorism took place in KP last year while 419 incidents of terrorism took place in the arranged districts, and 631 incidents in the merged districts. Source:https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/category/national

Three people killed, three wounded as during Israeli forces’ raid across the occupied West Bank. Intense fighting was also reported in the Far’a refugee camp. President Biden says he hopes “by next Monday we will have a ceasefire”, adding that “my national security adviser tells me that we are close – close but not done yet”. Doctors at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City are treating victims on the floor after Israeli forces opened fire on people waiting for aid. Hamas has slammed the Biden administration for enabling the siege of Gaza and said hunger in the territory “is a disgrace to humanity that history will not erase”. At least 29,782 people have been killed and 70,043 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The revised death toll in Israel from the October 7 attacks stands at 1,139. What we know about a possible ceasefire deal President Biden said he hopes “by next Monday we will have a ceasefire”, saying “we are close – close but not done yet”. Biden added that Israel would halt Gaza “activities” during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan under the ceasefire deal. The US Mission to the UN has circulated a draft resolution to members of the UN Security Council calling for them to “urgently” reach a “temporary ceasefire” agreement. Biden’s comments come a day after his national security adviser said representatives from Israel, Egypt, Qatar and the US discussed the terms of the ceasefire deal in Paris. The talks did not include Hamas, but the Palestinian group is reviewing the Paris truce proposal, which involves a 40-day pause and a hostage exchange. Reuters news agency, citing Egyptian security sources, earlier said the Paris meeting would be followed by talks involving Israel and Hamas, first in Qatar and later in Egypt. Israeli media reports that a delegation from Israel arrived yesterday in Qatar for ceasefire talks. Qatar’s emir is due in Paris today for talks with the French president. Click What’s happening at the Lebanon-Israel border? Hezbollah fighters and Israeli forces have exchanged fire since the early days of the war on Gaza. In recent weeks, tensions have escalated, with an increase in cross-border attacks that have resulted in fatalities on both sides. Yesterday marked a further escalation when Israel struck eastern Lebanon for the first time since the war began, killing two people on the outskirts of Buday village near Baalbek, a Hezbollah stronghold in the Bekaa Valley. Today, both sides confirmed that dozens of rockets were fired towards northern Israel from Lebanon. Here are several incidents from yesterday: Hezbollah said it fired a volley of rockets at an Israeli military base in retaliation to the attack in the Bekaa Valley. The Israeli military confirmed this. Hezbollah said its fighters shot down an Israeli drone over its stronghold in southern Lebanon. A missile fired by Hezbollah towards the drone was intercepted by Israel and landed near a synagogue in a town close to Nazareth in northern Israel. Hassan Salami, a senior officer of Hezbollah in the Hujair Valley region in southern Lebanon, was killed by a missile fired by an Israeli fighter jet. Click Dozens of missiles launched towards Israel from Lebanon The Israeli military says around 40 missiles have been launched towards Israel from southern Lebanon. Lebanese Hezbollah group said it fired missiles at the Meron air control base on Mount Meron in the Upper Galilee area. Sirens have sounded in the Israeli towns of Sasa, Kfar Hoshen, Dovif and Safsufa.  Click Hozier apologises after fan told to remove ‘Free Palestine’ scarf at concert Hozier has apologised after one of his fans was asked to remove a scarf saying “Free Palestine” at his concert at London’s Wembley Stadium. Wembley Stadium also apologised, clarifying that Hozier was not involved, and making a donation to the UNICEF Children in Gaza Appeal. In a post on social media, Hiba Ahmad said she was “pulled aside and escorted to wardrobe with a body cam for wearing a Palestine solidarity” item. Known for his song Take Me to Church, the Irish singer-songwriter has called for a ceasefire in Gaza and urged his fans to do the same. Source:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/27/israels-war-on-gaza-live-biden-comments-turn-focus-back-to-gaza-ceasefire