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Int'l Business Times
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Bosnia Ends Warrant For Bosnian Serb Leader After Questioning
Bosnian authorities on Friday dropped an arrest warrant against Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik after he agreed to be questioned over accusations of making secessionist moves in the divided Balkan nation. After months of ignoring calls to speak with authorities, Dodik voluntarily reported to the public prosecutor's office, accompanied by his lawyer, "to be questioned as a suspect in the investigation", the prosecutor's office and Bosnian State Court said in a statement. The Republika Srpska (RS) president had been wanted since March 18 by authorities who issued an arrest warrant after he refused to show up for questioning -- setting of a crisis that many observers considered the worst since Bosnia's 1992-95 war. Despite the warrant, Dodik traveled abroad accompanied by Republika Srpska police, visiting neighboring Serbia, Russia and Hungary. Bosnia's request to Interpol to issue international warrant was refused by the international police agency. Since the end of its war, Bosnia has been split into the Serb Republika Srpska and a Muslim-Croat Federation. Each has its own government and parliament, with only weak central institutions binding the country of 3.5 million people together. "The suspect Milorad Dodik voluntarily presented himself on July 4 before the prosecutor's office of Bosnia-Herzegovina, accompanied by his lawyer, to be questioned as a suspect in the investigation," said the joint statement. The court accepted the prosecutors' proposal to "terminate" the warrant, and Dodik was given conditional release, it said. According to the statement, the court ordered Dodik to regularly report to the authorities, and a new detention decision will be issued if he does not comply. "It's an important thing for me, but it's also important in relation to those who were ill-intentioned and wanted destabilization, an escalation of problems in Bosnia through this case," Dodik told a public TV channel. "I don't feel triumphalist. I'm tired of it all," he added. The arrest warrant was issued after Dodik, 66, banned the central police and judiciary -- a move deemed secessionist by prosecutors. That came after he was sentenced in February to one year in prison and banned from holding political office for six years for failing to comply with decisions of the international high representative who oversees the 1995 peace accord that ended the Bosnian war. A decision on Dodik's appeal is expected soon. Dodik rejected the trial as "political" and urged the Republika Srpska parliament to ban the federal police and judiciary from operating in the Serb statelet. The State Prosecutor's Office deemed the activities secessionist and opened an investigation that includes the entity's prime minister Radovan Viskovic and parliament president Nenad Stevandic. Bosnia's Constitutional court in May annulled the secessionists laws adopted by Republika Srpska which plunged Bosnia into a crisis described by some observers as the worst since the war.
Straits Times
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Poland charges citizen with spying for Russia
WARSAW - Poland has detained and charged one of its citizens with spying for Russian intelligence services, the State Prosecutor's Office said on Wednesday. Warsaw says its role as a hub for supplies to Ukraine has made it a target for spies and sabotage from Russia. Moscow has repeatedly dismissed such accusations. "The prosecutor charged the detained Polish citizen Wiktor Z. with declaring readiness to act for the intelligence of the Russian Federation and conducting activities for its benefit," the State Prosecutor's Office said in a press release. These included collecting and transmitting information concerning, among other things, the functioning of facilities key to Poland's defence, according to the statement, which did not elaborate. "The suspect, Wiktor Z., is 28 years old and has higher education. According to the findings, he acted out of ideological motives and pro-Russian beliefs," it added. Wiktor Z. was detained on June 4 by Poland's Internal Security Agency and could face between eight years and life in prison, according to the press release. The Russian embassy in Warsaw did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Warsaw says Moscow has been behind a series of acts of sabotage in Poland, including a huge fire at a Warsaw shopping centre last year, as well as cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. Moscow has accused Warsaw of 'Russophobia'. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Poland charges citizen with spying for Russia
WARSAW (Reuters) -Poland has detained and charged one of its citizens with spying for Russian intelligence services, the State Prosecutor's Office said on Wednesday. Warsaw says its role as a hub for supplies to Ukraine has made it a target for spies and sabotage from Russia. Moscow has repeatedly dismissed such accusations. "The prosecutor charged the detained Polish citizen Wiktor Z. with declaring readiness to act for the intelligence of the Russian Federation and conducting activities for its benefit," the State Prosecutor's Office said in a press release. These included collecting and transmitting information concerning, among other things, the functioning of facilities key to Poland's defence, according to the statement, which did not elaborate. "The suspect, Wiktor Z., is 28 years old and has higher education. According to the findings, he acted out of ideological motives and pro-Russian beliefs," it added. Wiktor Z. was detained on June 4 by Poland's Internal Security Agency and could face between eight years and life in prison, according to the press release. The Russian embassy in Warsaw did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Warsaw says Moscow has been behind a series of acts of sabotage in Poland, including a huge fire at a Warsaw shopping centre last year, as well as cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. Moscow has accused Warsaw of 'Russophobia'. (Reporting by Karol Badohal; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Indian Express
Man saves 2 passengers from burning hot air balloon; tragic video of him falling to death goes viral
A man lost his life after saving two people from a burning hot air balloon during the First Balloon Festival in Zacatecas, Mexico. A balloon festival is a gathering of hot air balloons, and it features flights, races, and associated activities. The victim was identified Luicio N, 40. He was attending the First Balloon Festival, a part of the Enrique Estrada 2025 Fair, the local police said. The incident occurred on Sunday. A video capturing the moments the man was hanging off the balloon soaring into the sky, as flames engulfed it, has gone viral. As per Riviera Maya News reports, Luicio helped two passengers escape the fire-engulfed hot air balloon but got tied up in its rope. Below the burning basket, Luicio was seen clinging to the rope as the balloon ascended higher before ultimately collapsing, leading to his tragic death. Rodrigo Reyes Mugüerza, the secretary general of Zacatecas, confirmed the details in a Facebook post. The translation of his post said, 'I regret to inform you that during the First Balloon Festival, part of the Enrique Estrada 2025 Fair organised by the city council of this municipality, a person lost their life in an unfortunate incident while aboard a hot air balloon. Authorities immediately rushed to the scene to provide care and support to those affected. We have requested the State Prosecutor's Office to conduct the relevant investigations to clarify the facts and determine responsibilities.' The other two passengers were treated for first-degree burns at a local hospital, as per the New York Post. TRIGGER WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT NEW: Man falls from the basket of a hot air balloon after it caught on fire in Zacatecas, Mexico. The man was seen hanging onto a rope as the balloon continued to go higher in the sky. The incident unfolded when the basket caught fire on the ground. In a final act of… — Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 13, 2025 Social media users were deeply moved by Lucio's heroic actions. One user said, 'Rest in peace! Sending love and prayers.' Another user wrote, 'May God have mercy on Lucio's soul, and may He comfort Lucio's family and friends, meeting them at their point of need with grace, strength, and peace. Life is precious; cherish every moment with those you love, for we never know how much time we have.'
NBC News
14-05-2025
- NBC News
Man dies following hot air balloon disaster at festival in Mexico
A man was killed following a hot air balloon disaster at a festival in Mexico, officials said. Rodrigo Reyes Mugüerza, the secretary general of government in Zacatecas, said the incident occurred during the "celebration of the First Balloon Festival." "A person lost his life after a unfortunate incident while on board a hot air balloon," Mugüerza said Sunday in a translated Facebook post. "Immediately, authorities rushed to the scene to provide care and support to the affected people. We have requested the State Prosecutor's Office to carry out the relevant investigations to clarify the facts and disclose responsibilities." Two people were injured, Zacatecas' Attorney General's Office said in a translated Facebook post that announced an investigation had been launched. The office said two people who organized the event "have been obtained" after initially leaving the scene. Riviera Maya News reported that three people were in the hot air ballloon when the basket caught on fire around 8 a.m. local time Sunday. It was still on the ground with two other hot air balloons but broke free of the tether as a flame erupted in the basket. The man helped the two others get out but he became entangled in a rope as the balloon lifted into the air, according to the news outlet. He was seen suspended high in the air before falling to his death, the news outlet reported.
