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 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

Newly-elected Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan began the voting process for the election of chief minister on Sunday (today) with members of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) boycotting the session.  The session, which began with over a 30-minute delay, was disrupted after SIC members walked out of the assembly after the speaker turned down their request to address the forum. At the start of the session, Speaker Khan administered oath to two MPAs and then assured the lawmakers that he would run the House without any bias. The speaker then briefed the Assembly that after completing the scrutiny of the nomination papers, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Maryam Nawaz and SIC’s Aftab Ahmad Khan had emerged as the candidates vying for the chief minister’s slot. Following this, the speaker directed the secretary of the Assembly to brief the members about the voting process. Once this was completed, the SIC’s candidate for CM requested the speaker to address the House on a point of order but was barred from speaking. “In today’s session, only a chief minister has to be elected. You cannot talk in today’s meeting,” the PA speaker said, following which a commotion erupted and the SIC members walked out of the assembly. Speaker Khan constituted a four-member committee to convince the SIC members to participate in the CM’s election. The SIC members said they would not return to the house until they were given permission to talk on the point of order. The negotiating committee included Khawaja Salman Rafique, Imran Nazeer, Khalil Tahir Sindhu and Samiullah. The speaker said he had to run the house in accordance with the constitution and the point of order could not be held on election day. Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) candidate Maryam Nawaz, said that the opposition should not leave the house or boycott the election. “They should contest the poll, whether they win or get defeated, as it was the beauty of a democracy,” she maintained. The speaker then also sent PPP’s Ali Haider Gilani and PML-Q’s Chaudhry Shafay Hussain to convince the SIC MPAs to return for the last time. While sending them the speaker warned that if the lawmakers do not return then he would move forward with the proceedings. However, the efforts to bring back the SIC lawmakers went in vain and the speaker continued with the proceedings to elect a new speaker with female members casting their votes. The members will remain in the lobby till completion of the voting process. Who will win CM election? Maryam is expected to win the election as her party has the backing of a majority of the house members, 224, after the February 8 general elections. The PML-N’s senior vice-president will create a new history by becoming Pakistan’s first-ever female chief minister if elected. Maryam’s opponent, Aftab Ahmad Khan, is the candidate fielded by the SIC, who has the support of 103 MPAs in the house. Aftab has served as a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA for three terms in the Punjab Assembly in 1988, 1993 and 2002. He joined the PTI in 2013 and is now serving his fourth term. To win the CM’s election, a candidate needs to win the backing of the majority which is 187 members in the house that currently has 327 seats. The PML-N and SIC are expected to hold separate meetings of the parliamentary parties ahead of the assembly session. Maryam to be 4th Punjab CM from Sharif family Apart from becoming the first female chief minister in the country, Maryam will also become the fourth member of the Sharif family and the first woman member of her family to get elected as CM if she wins the contest. The PML-N’s chief organiser was elected on two seats in Lahore — NA 119 and PP-159 — but later she withdrew from the National Assembly seat. In the PP-159 constituency, she contested against the PTI-affiliated candidate Mehr Sharafat and won with a slim margin. Overall, she is the sixth member of the Sharif family who has been elected in a general or a by-election. Before her, Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, Abbas Sharif, Hamza Shehbaz and Begum Kalsoom Nawaz were elected from Lahore. PML-N decides cabinet members Meanwhile, the PML-N has started finalising the names for Maryam’s cabinet. Party sources said that it was decided that the provincial cabinet would be constituted in a phased manner and for the first phase some names were under discussion. They said the provincial cabinet of the PML-N leader will contain ministers from the allied parties. Sources said in the first phase, 15 to 20 ministers were expected to be included in the cabinet from the PML-N with two each from the PPP and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), and one from the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP). The names under discussion included PML-N leaders Marriyum Aurangzeb, Azma Bokhari, Tahir Sindhu, Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rahman, Khawaja Salman Rafiq, Bilal Yasin, Khawaja Imran Nazir, Rukhsana Kausar, Manshaullah Butt, Sardar Sher Ali Gurchani, Kazim Ali Pirzada, Colonel (retired) Muhammad Ayub Khan Gadhi, Malik Asif Bhai, Akhtar Bosal, Rahila Khadim Hussain, Mian Yawar Zaman, Fida Hussain Watto, Tanveer Aslam Malik, Malik Asad Khokhar, Farrukh Ali Javed and Sheikh Salman Naeem. Sources further claimed that PPP’s Syed Ali Haider Gillani, Malik Ghazanfar Abbas Chheena of the IPP and Chaudhary Shafay Hussain of the PML-Q are likely to be inducted into the provincial cabinet. Source:https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1161693-punjab-assembly-to-elect-new-chief-minister-with-prospect-high-for-maryam

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in action in the two years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion. Speaking at the “Ukraine. Year 2024” forum in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said that “each of these losses is a great sacrifice” for Ukraine. end of list He added that “tens of thousands of civilians” had been killed in occupied areas of Ukraine, but said that no exact figures would be available until the war was over. It’s the first time that Kyiv has confirmed the number of its losses since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Russia has also provided few official casualty figures. Independent Russian news outlet Mediazona said on Saturday that about 75,000 Russian men died in 2022 and 2023 fighting in the war. A United States intelligence report declassified in mid-December 2023 estimated that 315,000 Russian troops had been killed or wounded in Ukraine. If accurate, the figure would represent 87 percent of the roughly 360,000 troops Russia had before the war, according to the report. Delays in arms shipments It has been two years since Russia invaded Ukraine and commemorations to mark the second anniversary brought expressions of continued support, new bilateral security agreements and new aid commitments from Ukraine’s Western allies. But Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov highlighted that they still needed to deliver on their commitments if Kyiv is to have any chance of holding out against Moscow and stressed that delays in arms shipments will cost lives. “We look to the enemy: Their economy is almost $2 trillion, they use up to 15 percent official and nonofficial budget [funds] for the war, which constitutes over $100bn annually. So basically whenever a commitment doesn’t come on time, we lose people, we lose territory,” he said, speaking at the Kyiv forum. Europe has admitted it will fall far short of a plan to deliver more than one million artillery shells to Ukraine by March, instead hoping to complete the shipments by the end of the year. Umerov highlighted that such delays put Ukraine at a further disadvantage “in the mathematics of war” against Russia, which the West has said is increasingly building a war economy. Kyiv has also been weakened by the blocking of a vital $60bn US aid package amid political wrangling in the US Congress. US President Joe Biden said the hold-ups directly contributed to Ukraine being forced to withdraw from Avdiivka. On Sunday, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said he was “deeply convinced that the US will not abandon Ukraine in terms of financial, military and armed support”. ‘Plan for new offensive against Russia’ In recent weeks, fighting has intensified on parts of the front line. On Sunday, Russian shelling and rocket strikes continued to pummel Ukraine’s south and east, as local Ukrainian officials reported that at least two civilians were killed and eight others were wounded in the Zaporizhia and Kherson provinces. Moscow and Kyiv also continued to trade nightly drone attacks, with Ukraine’s air defences shooting down 16 of 18 Iranian-made Shahed drones launched overnight by Moscow and a Russian drone on Sunday morning striking an unspecified facility in Ukraine’s western Khmelnytskyi region, the regional military administration reported without giving details. Russian troops also appeared to be pressing on west of Avdiivka, the strategic city whose capture this month handed Moscow a significant victory. Zelenskyy told a news conference on Sunday that Ukraine has a clear plan for a new counteroffensive against Russian forces. Kyiv’s troops conducted a counteroffensive last year, but were unable to break through prepared defensive lines in the Russian-occupied south and east. Advertisement AD “There is a plan [for a counteroffensive], the plan is clear, I can’t tell you the details,” Zelenskyy said. He said that a major shake-up that saw the head of Ukraine’s military replaced earlier this month was connected to the new plan of action on the battlefield. “This plan is related to the change of management; there are corresponding changes. Several plans will be prepared due to a leak of information,” Zelenskyy said, without elaborating. Earlier he said that Kyiv’s plans to conduct a counteroffensive last year had been leaked and ended up “on a desk in the Kremlin” before the operation had even begun. Meanwhile at the forum in Kyiv, besides highlighting issues in military deliveries, Umerov insisted that Ukrainian forces were doing “everything that’s possible, and also what’s impossible, to secure a breakthrough” this year. The defence minister said that a “strong” military strategy is already in place for the coming months, but did not disclose details. Source:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/25/ukraines-umerov-says-delays-in-western-arms-deliveries-costing-lives

UNRWA was last able to deliver aid to northern Gaza on January 23, says UN agency chief Philippe Lazzarini as he describes the “looming famine” as a “man-made disaster”. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Monday will conclude its six-day hearings into the legality of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories since 1967. Israel is due to report to the ICJ on Monday on the progress it has made in implementing the top UN court’s last month’s order of preventing genocide in Gaza. This case was brought by South Africa. Netanyahu says military operation in Rafah “will be delayed somewhat” if a captives deal is reached, but “it will happen” regardless. At least 29,692 Palestinians have been killed and 69,879 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The revised death toll in Israel from the October 7 attacks stands at 1,139. Dozens arrested as Israeli forces conduct raids across the occupied West Bank The Israeli military has arrested eight Palestinians, three children among them, from the Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate in the occupied West Bank, the Wafa news agency reports. Israeli forces stormed the village of Deir Ammar, west of Ramallah and arrested three 17-year-olds. They also stormed the town of Silwad, east of Ramallah, and arrested five Palestinians. Wafa also reports that the Israeli military has arrested eight people in Hebron Governorate. Four men were arrested from the town of Ithna, west of Hebron, while four people, including a 17-year-old and a 15-year-old, were arrested in the town of Beit Ummar. Six Palestinians, including a 16-year-old, have also been arrested in the Hizma and Al-Issawiya neighbourhoods of occupied East Jerusalem. Wafa also reports that Israeli forces have arrested “dozens” of Gazan workers in the city of Nablus. A Palestinian from Nablus was also arrested in the raids. Click here to share on social media Return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza not something Israel will ‘allow’: Report One of the points of dispute in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas is the Palestinian group’s request to allow the return of displaced Gaza residents to their homes in the north of the Strip, says Israeli army radio correspondent Doron Kadosh in a post on X. According to the post, Israel rejects the notion altogether, saying it’s not something it will “allow” as it wants to avoid a potential return of Hamas members. Separately, Israel is reportedly considering setting up tent cities in Gaza’s central area and Khan Younis for residents who have lost their homes. More than 30 Palestinian fighters killed in 24 hours: Israeli military The Israeli military has released its daily update in which it also made other claims: In central Gaza, Israeli forces say they killed more than 10 Palestinian fighters. In Khan Younis, they claim to have killed a fighter armed with an RPG with the help of a fighter jet. With the use of snipers and tanks, the Israeli military claims to have killed an unspecified number of Palestinian fighters from close quarters in western Khan Younis. Click WATCH: Gaza residents embrace biking amid damaged roads, surging fuel prices People in Gaza have turned to bicycles for transport as the Israeli bombing of the Strip leaves full neighbourhoods, roads and cars destroyed. Some have set up makeshift repair shops to help put old bicycles to use. Watch our report below: Click here to share on social media Israeli industry minister meets Saudi counterpart at WTO conference Nir Barkat met his Saudi counterpart, Majid bin Abdullah Alkassabi, on the sidelines of a UAE-hosted WTO conference and voiced confidence that the countries can “make history together”, according to the Israeli economy and industry minister’s spokesperson. Before Israel’s war on Gaza, Saudi Arabia signalled its willingness to normalise relations with Israel in exchange for a US defence pact and civilian nuclear programme. However, after Israel began its military assault on the enclave, it appeared that Saudi Arabia had put the US-backed plans to normalise ties on ice. Saudi Arabia on Tuesday called for an end to decades-long Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, deeming it “illegal”. Saudi Ambassador Ziad al-Atiyah told the ICJ that “Israel’s actions indicate that it has no intention of making peace”. “The Israeli occupation is illegal and must be ended without conditions,” he added. Riyadh backs the international consensus that Israel must withdraw from lands it captured in the 1967 war for the realisation of a viable Palestinian state. The 1993 Oslo Accords raised hopes of a Palestinian state, but Israel has since built more settlements on Palestinian lands in violation of the pacts brokered by the US. Source:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/26/israels-war-on-gaza-live-man-made-disaster-as-israel-blocks-food-aid Click here to share on social

The newly-elected members of the Punjab Assembly, who clinched victory in the February 8 elections, took oath on Friday in the maiden session. The Punjab Assembly is the first house to convene its inaugural session, out of five assemblies that went to the elections on February 8. The session was scheduled to start at 10am, however, it faced a delay of more than two hours. The session was attended by 313 lawmakers out of which 215 belonged to the PML-N and its allied parties while 98 members of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) also took oath. The secretary of the assembly said that the speaker and deputy speaker will be elected tomorrow (Saturday) via secret ballot. “Nomination papers for speaker and deputy speaker will be collected till 5pm and scrutinised today,” he added. At the outset of the delayed session, members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and SIC candidates chanted slogans against each other. Scores of newly-elected members arrived at the assembly including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President and CM nominee Maryam Nawaz. Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan presided over the session. Talking to media persons outside the Punjab Assembly earlier, Speaker Muhammad Sibtain Khan said the elected MPAs should not be prevented from attending the assembly session. He admitted that some members got a level playing field while others were deprived of it. To a query, he said he came too early as sessions had been delayed in the past up to six hours. The speaker also said the election for the provincial assembly’s speaker and deputy speaker would be held on Saturday (tomorrow). Members not being allowed to enter: SIC During the session, members of PML-N and SIC exchanged barbs with the latter saying that their members were not being allowed to enter the assembly. The SIC has around 97 members inside the assembly while PML-N has 215 members. SIC members tried talking to the assembly speaker, however, they were told that they would be heard once they took an oath. “The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has not yet [issued a list] of reserved seats,” said Speaker Sibtain. PML-N leader Uzma Bokhari said that none of the members can speak unless they take an oath. “The decision on some reserved seats is still not taken due to their ineligibility. We currently have a two-thirds majority after forming an alliance,” she said. Bokhari said that her party respects the decision and wants to work with them. “Sindh Assembly session is convened tomorrow and National Assembly session will also be called in a couple of days,” she said. Punjab police stopping members from entering assembly: PTI On the other hand, PTI has claimed that the Punjab police was stopping its elected members from participating in the session and from taking the oath. “All these police officers are standing here so they can attempt arrest on our CM candidate Mian Aslam Iqbal,” it claimed. Speaking to media persons outside PA, PML-N leader Ishaq Dar said if the PTI founder has written anything against the country’s interest then it is condemnable. “The letter by the PTI founder has no importance,” he said. Source:https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1160661-newly-elected-members-reach-punjab-assembly-as-maiden-session-faces-delay

At least four people were killed and up to 14 others remain missing after a large blaze ripped through an apartment building in Valencia on Thursday, according to authorities in the Spanish city. Jorge Suárez, the city’s deputy director of emergencies, said firefighters struggled to contain the blaze and were working “exclusively” on cooling the building’s exteriors. Given the “characteristics of the building,” firefighters had not been able to enter to address the fire from inside, he added. At least 14 people were injured in the blaze, with most taken to local medical centers, Suárez said. Among those treated for injuries are at least six firefighters, Valencia’s Emergency Services said on social platform X. Footage from the scene shows the entire complex ablaze as flames tear through apartments and thick smoke billows overhead. In one video, fire crews can be seen rescuing people from a balcony as the fire rages behind them. The fire started around 5:30 p.m. local time [11.30 a.m. ET] in the Campanar neighborhood, and 16 firefighting units were sent to the scene, emergency services told CNN en Espanol. Suárez said firefighters were analyzing the building to assess if there’s a risk of it collapsing. The fire raged into the evening as nearby residents looked on in horror, with one telling Reuters the scenes were “tremendous, unbelievable – I can’t believe it.” Valencia Mayor María José Alcalá told residents in a post on X to avoid the scene to help rescue services. Hotel rooms were being organized for people whose homes were affected by the fire, emergency services said. Three days of official mourning have been declared starting Friday, the mayor said. “There are no words that describe the enormous pain that the city of Valencia is feeling right now,” she said. “All our support and deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims.” Source:https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/22/europe/spain-valencia-apartment-fire-intl/index.html

Israeli army shelling of residential homes in central Gaza kills at least 40 Palestinians, local authorities say. The UN’s top court is hearing arguments from more than 50 states following a request by the UN General Assembly to issue a non-binding opinion on the legal consequences of the Israeli occupation. With Western donors freezing funds, UN agency UNRWA says it has reached “breaking point” during a time of “unprecedented humanitarian needs in Gaza”. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that Israeli forces have re-entered the besieged Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis after withdrawing from it briefly amid deteriorating conditions at the medical centre. At least 29,514 Palestinians have been killed and 69,616 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The revised death toll in Israel from the October 7 attacks stands at 1,139. Israeli strike kills two paramedics in southern Lebanon Lebanon’s civil defence says two of its paramedics have been killed in an Israeli air strike on a healthcare centre in Lebanon’s southern town of Bint Jbeil. Lebanon’s Health Ministry strongly condemned Thursday’s deadly attack, which also resulted in the complete destruction of the civil defence facility, along with damage to a number of ambulances belonging to the centre. Click Namibia remembers painful colonial history in ICJ remarks on Israel’s occupation Namibia’s Justice Minister Yvonne Dausab has taken the floor at the ICJ, demanding the court recognises Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories as illegal. She made the following points: “Namibia considers it a moral duty and a sacred responsibility to appear before this court” and address the question of the “indefensible occupation of Palestine by Israel.” The parallels between Palestine and Namibia are “striking and painful”. Instead of exerting their right to govern themselves, “Palestinians and Namibians suffered the loss of human dignity … and the outright theft of their land and natural resources”. Namibia still suffers from the effects of a long and unlawful occupation. The ICJ “played a vital role in our liberation struggle”. In its 1971 opinion, the court confirmed the right to self-determination as a “legal imperative”, paving the way to Namibia’s independence in 1990. Because of Namibia’s experience with apartheid, “we cannot look the other way in the face of the brutal atrocities committed against the Palestinian people”. We ask the court “not to look away either”, she added. Click What is Netanyahu’s post-war Gaza plan? Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu has presented the security cabinet with a document regarding the “management” of Gaza after the war, the Times of Israel has reported. Here are its main points: The Israeli army will continue the war in Gaza until it achieves its goals: the dismantlement of military capabilities and infrastructure operated by Hamas and Islamic Jihad; the return of all captives abducted on October 7; and the removal of all security threats originating from Gaza. Once the war ends, Gaza will be run by “local officials” who are not tied to “countries or entities that support terrorism”. It is unclear whether representatives of the Palestinian Authority will be involved. Israel will promote a “de-radicalisation plan … in all religious, educational and welfare institutions in Gaza” with the involvement of “Arab countries that have experience in promoting de-radicalisation”. The plan envisions Gaza’s “complete demilitarisation … beyond what is required for the needs of maintaining public order”. Israel will only allow the reconstruction of Gaza to begin after the completion of the Gaza’s de-militarisation and the commencement of a “de-radicalisation process”. The Israeli army will maintain indefinitely the freedom to intervene in Gaza to prevent the resurgence of “terror activity”. Israel will continue to establish a security buffer zone on the Palestinian side of the Strip’s border that will remain in place “as long as there is a security need for it”. Israel will enforce a “southern closure” on the border between Egypt and Gaza with assistance from the US and in cooperation with Egypt “as much as possible”. Israel will maintain security control “over the entire area west of Jordan” from the land, air and sea to “thwart threats” from the occupied West Bank. The UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, will be shut. Israel rejects any international dictates regarding a permanent settlement with the Palestinians, which should only be reached through direct negotiations between the parties, and will continue to oppose the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, which it views as a “reward for terror”. Click here to share on ‘Beaten, stripped, used as human shield’: Gaza victim recalls terror Maram Humaid Reporting from Deir el-Balah, Gaza Blood all over his face, eyes swollen, Ramadan Shamlakh arrived at a hospital after passersby found him struggling to walk southwards from northern Gaza. The 21-year-old man said he had endured beatings, a stripping and a war crime – he was used as a human shield – by Israeli soldiers when they raided his family home in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighbourhood. “We were telling them that we are civilians and it is not our fault, but to no avail,” the young man said, while receiving treatment at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza. After a period of torture and interrogation, the soldiers who had raided his home ordered Shamlakh to take off his clothes, remain in his underwear, and head south. “I was walking with great difficulty, my body bleeding and my face coated in blood. The cold chilled me to the bone, and I shivered uncontrollably.” Gaza resident brutally assaulted by Israeli soldiers [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera] Click At least 29,514 Palestinians killed in Gaza: Ministry At least 29,514 people have been killed in Gaza by Israeli attacks since October 7, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry which added that another 69,616 people have been injured. More than 100 people have been killed in the past 24 hours. Click Palestinian presidency rejects Netanyahu’s post-war Gaza plan The Palestinian presidency has rejected Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan for the future of Gaza, saying it continues Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories and prevents the

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