A member of the BiH Presidency, Denis Bećirović, spoke today in London with the British Minister of Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth and Development, James Cleverly, and the British Prime Minister's Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Stuart Peach, about the actions of the entity of RS that threaten the Dayton Peace Agreement and the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina.Bećirović pointed out the danger of destabilization of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region due to the dangerous anti-Dayton activities of the authorities of the RS.A member of the BiH Presidency emphasized that the statement that the actions of the RS entity are primarily a security, not a political problem, proved to be correct, and he once again urged that the president of the RS entity should be removed from office before he causes destabilization of the country and the region.- It is better to remove Milorad Dodik than to allow his politics to existentially threaten the citizens and peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina - said Bećirović.He also emphasized that it is extremely important that a world superpower like Great Britain stands firmly by Bosnia and Herzegovina and its citizens.Cleverley stated that the UK's interest was to preserve peace and respect for the Dayton Peace Agreement.He pointed out that his country's commitment to democratic forces and the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina is unquestionable and that Great Britain will take additional steps towards stabilizing the situation in this part of Europe.Peach emphasized that Great Britain, as a witness to the Dayton Peace Agreement, is an ally of Bosnia and Herzegovina and announced that it will continue to support the preservation of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bećirović pointed out the danger of destabilization of B&H and the region due to the dangerous anti-Dayton activities of authorities of the RS

Bećirović in London: Dodik should be removed from office before he causes a conflict

HDZ and HNS BiH President Dragan Čović met in Mostar with the US Ambassador to BiH Michael Murphy, with whom he discussed the current political situation in BiH.Čović wrote on his on Twitter that he had a constructive conversation with the US Ambassador, as always.- We discussed the current political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and efforts to achieve broad and sustainable progress. Our closest partnership with the USA remains crucial for our path towards the EU and NATO - Čović said.

Čović wrote on his on Twitter that he had a constructive conversation with the US Ambassador

Čović and Murphy discuss current political situation in BiH

Two migrants attacked a bus driver and injured him with a knife in Mostar on Monday. As stated in a press release from the Ministry of the Interior of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, the attack took place at 18:15 at the main bus station.- At the site of the incident, the police officers find the bus driver who had a visible injury in the area of his right leg. He stated that two migrants entered the bus and when he told them to get off the bus, one of them took out a small knife from his pocket and injured him in the leg. After that, they ran away - the MoI stated.After checking the area and conducting operational work, police officers found people matching the description of the perpetrators in the courtyard of a mosque. They found a folding knife in their possession. The two individuals have been detained and will be subject to a criminal investigation, and the prosecutor has been informed about the incident.&nbsp;

After checking the area and conducting operational work, police officers found people matching the description of the perpetrators in the courtyard of

Two migrants injured a bus driver in Mostar with a pocket knife

After the general elections on October 2 last year, the authorities in BiH showed positive momentum in the executive and legislative branches of government. Now both governments, both in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the Republika Srpska, are appointed and functional, said the high representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schmidt in his report, covering the period from October 16, 2022 to April 15, 2023, before the Council security of the United Nations. Russia expressed dissatisfaction with the presence of Christian Schmidt, the high representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the meeting. However, Russia failed to block Schmidt's address at the meeting, which took place today.Tensions have arisen because Russia believes that Schmidt has no right to speak on behalf of the international community. Instead, they argue that Schmidt's role is limited to his personal opinion.In his report, the high representative said that the full implementation of the Dayton Agreement requires the functionality of the government as one of the key factors. The process of creating a functional government of Bosnia and Herzegovina reached a critical point when the country received the status of a candidate for accession to the European Union on December 15 last year, which was met with great approval by the population.However, the government in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was paralyzed due to a deadlock in the parliament. This was partially resolved by decisions made in October and April. This decision led to relief and improvement in the functioning of the authorities in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.Overall, all these positive changes in Bosnia and Herzegovina create a stimulating momentum for the successful implementation of the Dayton Agreement. A functional government with strong political and economic potential is essential for the development of Bosnia and Herzegovina and further approximation to the European Union.- The ultimate goal in the implementation of the Dayton Agreement is a stable and fully functional Federation. The Constitutional Court decided that my decisions are fully in accordance with the constitution - said Schmidt.One of the key challenges in the implementation of the Dayton Agreement is Republika Srpska. Developments in this entity show that Milorad Dodik openly advocated independence and even spoke publicly about how the RS could become part of Serbia.- The action plan for the secession of state property challenges the powers of the Constitutional Court and suspends decision-making at the state level. Calls for the police unit that would carry out the so-called monitoring the border between entities clearly endangers state institutions and undermines the unity of the country. Bosnia and Herzegovina must not become a country divided into authoritarianism in one entity and democracy in the other - says the high representative.According to him, Bosnia and Herzegovina is the only post-Yugoslav state that has not yet resolved the issue of state property from the time of Yugoslavia. It is necessary to establish equal relations and functioning cooperation between both entities in order to ensure the unity of the state and progress on the way to the EU.- Authorities in the entities ignore binding decisions, trying to regulate issues in their own way. An example of this is the law on immovable state property, which I suspended in Ferbuar. International partners must continue to react with a unified approach - said Schmidt.He reminded that Serbia and Croatia fully respect the integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He also thanked EUFOR, which is a necessary tool in preserving peace and stability in the country.Despite all the challenges, economic growth continues in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, genocide denial and the lack of prosecution of war criminals remain major problems. Reconciliation and recognition of the past are necessary steps for the transition from the post-war period to a progressive society.- I am glad that Mostar changed the names of the streets that bore the names of members of the Ustasha regime and renamed them to other names - said Schmidt.When it comes to prosecuting war criminals, Bosnia and Herzegovina is the most advanced in the region, but it needs the full support of the international community. War criminals must be entered into national registers.The diversity of the constituent nations must be respected, but space must also be created for those who do not feel they are members of the constituent nations, especially young people who are leaving the country in record numbers. When asked for reasons, they cite nepotism and corruption.- The participation of women in politics is very low, but since October it is slightly higher and amounts to around 20 percent. I call on political leaders to initiate constitutional and legal reforms in order to introduce new legislation against discrimination, in accordance with Annex 4 of the Dayton Agreement - said Schmidt.During his speech, he also highlighted the issue of discrimination faced by minorities, especially the Roma community, in terms of employment, health care and education.- I reminded everyone that the reis-ul-ulema of the Islamic community in Bosnia and Herzegovina is actively involved in inter-religious dialogue, which is crucial for promoting understanding and tolerance between different communities. We must fulfill the promise we made to BiH in 1995 that such crimes will never happen again - he stated.He also emphasized that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH are not subject to negotiation, and that there can be no borders within the country.Despite all the challenges, economic growth continues in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, genocide denial and the lack of prosecution of war criminals remain major problems. Reconciliation and recognition of the past are necessary steps for the transition from the post-war period to a progressive society.- I am glad that Mostar changed the names of the streets that bore the names of members of the Ustasha regime and renamed them to other names - said Schmidt.When it comes to prosecuting war criminals, Bosnia and Herzegovina is the most advanced in the region, but it needs the full support of the international community. War criminals must be entered into national registers.The diversity of the constituent nations must be respected, but space must also be created for those who do not feel they are members of the constituent nations, especially young people who are leaving the country in record numbers. When asked for reasons, they cite nepotism and corruption.- The participation of women in politics is very low, but since October it has been slightly higher and amounts to around 20 percent. I call on political leaders to initiate constitutional and legal reforms in order to introduce new legislation against discrimination, in accordance with Annex 4 of the Dayton Agreement - said Schmidt.During his speech, he also highlighted the issue of discrimination faced by minorities, especially the Roma community in terms of employment, health care and education.- I reminded everyone that the reis-ul-ulema of the Islamic community in Bosnia and Herzegovina is actively involved in inter-religious dialogue, which is crucial for promoting understanding and tolerance between different communities. We must fulfill the promise we made to BiH in 1995 that such crimes will never happen again - he stated.He also emphasized that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH are not subject to negotiation, and that there can be no borders within the country.- Despite the challenges, I remain optimistic about the future of BiH, especially with the younger generation that dedicates itself to building a better future. They understand that the progress of the country lies in their hands and their determination can bring the best momentum to this country. We must work together, regardless of ethnicity, religion or political affiliation, in order to build a stable, democratic and prosperous BiH - said Schmidt.

Russia expressed dissatisfaction with the presence of Christian Schmidt

Schmidt: BiH mustn't become divided into authoritarianism in one entity and democracy in other

Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH PA) Denis Zvizdić met today with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to BiH Maria Teresa Lizaranza Perinat. He pointed out that Bosnia and Herzegovina and Spain are two friendly countries with good bilateral relations and informed about the very successful visit to the parliament of the Kingdom of Spain, from April 15 to 18 this year. They agreed that, in the coming period, it is necessary to intensify mutual visits at the highest level.He informed Ambassador Perinat about the current political and security situation in BiH and pointed out that the main foreign policy priority of BiH remains European and NATO integration. Zvizdić thanked for Spain's overall help and support to Bosnia and Herzegovina.The Ambassador thanked for the welcome and confirmed the continuity of good relations between the two countries. She pointed out that Spain strongly supports the Euro-Atlantic integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina.Zvizdić and Perinat agreed that, in the coming period, it is necessary to strengthen economic and inter-parliamentary cooperation, especially through joint parliamentary forums and the exchange of civil servants for the purpose of education and taking over the best practices and that within the framework of the contractual cooperation between the two countries, the signing and ratification of the agreement on the mutual recognition of driver's licenses and on the improvement of cultural cooperation, especially through the Sephardic heritage in BiH, is expected as soon as possible.Given that the Kingdom of Spain is a participant in the EUFOR Althea mission, Zvizdić said that the mission's survival is extremely important for peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina and emphasized the importance of the arrival of EUFOR troops in the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a key point for the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina, announced the Cabinet of the Speaker of the House of Representatives of BiH PA.

They agreed that, in the coming period, it is necessary to intensify mutual visits at the highest level

Zvizdić-Perinat: Strengthen economic and inter-parliamentary cooperation between BiH and Spain

Milorad Dodik is wrong if he thinks that the United States will step aside while he pushes BiH toward conflict, announced the US Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the occasion of repeated secessionist statements by the president of the Republika Srpska entity, Milorad Dodik. "Here are the facts: Republika Srpska is an entity in BiH. It does not exist outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and there is no right under BiH’s constitution for an entity or any other sub-state unit to secede or unify with another state, the US Embassy pointed out. The Embassy stated that the United States will protect Bosnia and Herzegovina and ensure it maintains its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and multiethnic character.

Republika Srpska is an entity in BiH

US Embassy: The US will not step aside while Dodik pushes BiH toward conflict

The Office of the High Representative, with the support of the PIC Steering Board, has established an expert Working Group as a part of a technical consultation process on State Property. The task of this Working Group will be to discuss expert legal analysis on various aspects pertaining to the apportionment of property between the State and other levels of government. The first working session as part of the technical consultation process took place today in Sarajevo.The Working Group, composed of distinguished local and international legal experts, will hold regular working sessions during which its members will assess various technical and legal aspects of ownership, use, and management of state property, and analyze different models of property management, including international examples.The goal of the Working Group is to produce a set of expert opinions and information to facilitate the work of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly in resolving the issue of State Property.An acceptable and sustainable resolution of the issue of apportionment of property between the State and other levels of government is the first objective of the 5+2 agenda and has been a longstanding obligation of the BiH authorities, stated the OHR.&nbsp;

The first working session as part of the technical consultation process took place today in Sarajevo

First expert consultation meeting on state property takes place in Sarajevo

Citizens and patriots of Bosnia and Herzegovina will not allow anyone to play with this country and its future. There is no backing down, we are determined to preserve the institutions of the internationally recognized state of BiH, first of all, relying on our forces and the democratic means at our disposal. These are some of the messages from the meeting on the topic "The future of Bosnia and Herzegovina through the prism of the current political and security situation", held today in Sarajevo and organized by the Union of veterans' associations of the Patriotic League of Bosnia and Herzegovina in cooperation with other veterans' associations.The participants of the meeting pointed out the importance of finding an adequate institutional response to the current complex political and security situation, first of all, through the decisive action of judicial institutions and to thwart as efficiently as possible the intentions of those who persist in the goals directed by the protagonists of the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s. An MP in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, Šemsudin Mehmedović, commenting on the frequent threats of the President of the RS Milorad Dodik, which question the integrity and sovereignty of BiH, pointed out that it is, in fact, a product of the international community.“In this way, they want to discipline Bosniaks in Bosnia and Herzegovina so that we are not a significant factor and that we do not question anything in our own country,” said Mehmedović, underlining that it is necessary to observe this in the light of some new realignment in the Balkans. In this context, he specified how the international power centers are trying to create a 'tripod in the Balkans' on the Zagreb-Belgrade-Tirana route and to eliminate or minimize the political influence and existence of Bosniaks in this region.An MP in the House of Representatives in the BiH Parliamentary Assembly and former vice president of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milan Dunović, said that today's meeting shows that there are people in Bosnia and Herzegovina who are ready to defend the state and its sovereignty peacefully, by political means.He reminded that in the past period, the DF caucus also proposed to amend the CC of BiH, which would punish violations of the sovereignty of BiH, and that certain structures strongly objected to this initiative but DF will continue to insist on this.

In this way, they want to discipline Bosniaks in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mehmedović: Current situation should be viewed in the light of new realignment in the Balkans

Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denis Zvizdić, is participating in the Conference of Speakers of the Parliaments of the European Union (EU) Member States, organized by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. This is the first participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Conference of Speakers of the Parliaments of the EU Member States after Bosnia and Herzegovina received the status of a candidate for full membership in the EU in December last year.The conference is an opportunity for the speakers of the parliaments of EU member states and candidate states for EU membership to discuss current topics and challenges facing the EU.In his address, Zvizdić spoke about the security situation in BiH and emphasized that individuals from the RS entity have again started blocking the work of BiH institutions and jeopardizing the country's constitutional and legal order, which has significantly slowed down Bosnia and Herzegovina's EU path.Zvizdić called for preventive action to protect territorial integrity, sovereignty and lasting peace.The conference opened with a session on Russian aggression against Ukraine and the EU's response within the broader geopolitical context – EU enlargement, energy security and post-war reconstruction.Speaker Zvizdić said that he is proud of the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina received candidate status for EU membership in December of last year, at the very time when the Czech Republic chaired the Council of the EU.“We know how much the Czech Republic advocated making such a decision, and I use this opportunity to thank you for that. I am glad that for the first time, I can participate in today's conference with my colleagues from Moldova and Ukraine in the capacity of the speaker of the parliament of a country that has candidate status,” said Zvizdić during his address.

Zvizdić called for preventive action to protect territorial integrity, sovereignty and lasting peace

Zvizdić in Prague: Individuals from RS started to block the work of BiH institutions again

Moon Bin, a singer from South Korean boyband Astro, was found dead at his home in Seoul, his management agency said Thursday. The 25-year-old was reportedly found by his manager who went to the singer's home Wednesday evening because he wasn’t responding to contacts. Police are investigating his death but have so far found no signs of foul play, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency. Officials at Seoul’s Gangnam district police station did not respond to calls for comment.Moon Bin’s management agency, Fantagio, confirmed his death in a statement, saying that he “suddenly left us and became a star in the sky” and that fellow artists and company staff were mourning him with “very deep sadness and shock.”Fantagio said Moon Bin’s funeral will be held “as quietly as possible,” with the attendance mostly limited to family, close friends and colleagues, based on the wishes of his relatives.Moon Bin began his music career in 2016 as a member of the six-member boyband Astro, which debuted shortly after the singers appeared in a TV reality show. The group quickly found success in South Korea and Japan and was listed on Billboard’s top 10 list of new K-pop groups that year, with the magazine praising them for their “bright, synthpop sound that won over K-pop lovers from around the world.”According to Billboard, Astro had seven albums on the magazine’s World Albums Chart with Moon Bin as a member, peaking at No. 5 in 2017 with “Dream Part.02.”Fans flooded Moon Bin’s social media accounts with comments expressing grief and shock over his death, which came months after he renewed his contract with Fantagio along with four other Astro members.“It’s hard to believe,” radio host Jang Seong-kyu wrote on Instagram. “We only met several times over broadcasts, but whenever we met, Moon Bin was always bright and expressed immense love for his family. I can’t imagine the pain he was going through.” Moon Bin had also performed as a member of the duo Moonbin &amp; Sanha with Astro bandmate Yoon San-ha. Indonesian event promoter Lumina Entertainment on Wednesday announced the cancellation of the duo’s performance in Jakarta due to “unforeseen circumstances beyond our control.”Helix Publicity, a U.S.-based public relations agency that has represented Moonbin &amp; Sanha, issued a statement on Twitter that it was “absolutely heartbroken.”“Sending our thoughts, prayers, and deepest condolences to Moon Bin’s family, friends, loved ones, and to AROHA who always cheered for him and supported him,” it said, referring to the name that Astro’s fans call themselves.Moon Bin entered the entertainment industry as a child actor and landed a role in the 2009 TV series “Boys Over Flowers,” which was hugely popular in Asia. His sister, Moon Sua, is also a K-pop artist, a member of the girl band Billlie.Several South Korean singers and actors have died by suicide in recent years, which has touched off soul-searching about harsh competition in the fast-growing entertainment industry, an abusive online culture and failure by management to address the mental health problems of their stars.Last week, 26-year-old actress Jung Chae-yull was found dead at her home. Her agency did not say what caused her sudden death.

Moon Bin’s management agency, Fantagio, confirmed his death in a statement

Moon Bin, a member of K-Pop group ASTRO, poses for photos on the red carpet for the 2021 Asia Artist Awards in Seoul, South Korea

K-pop star Moon Bin found dead at home

Raisu-l-ulama of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina Husein effendi Kavazović today extended a message to all Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina, homeland countries and the diaspora on the occasion of the holiday of Eid al-Fitr. "Dear brothers and sisters, today we say farewell to Ramadan, our dearest guest. We send him off with sadness in our hearts because of parting, but also with joy because we tried to welcome it as nicely as we could, to give it its due. We had a nice and wonderful time in the month of Ramadan. It brought us many visible and invisible comforts and blessings and brought us closer to the Dear God, the source of all existence. I ask Almighty Allah to accept all our Ramadan efforts so that our actions reflect positively on both the living and the dead.Tomorrow, brothers and sisters, we celebrate Eid, the holiday of joy - a joy for the reason of success in Ramadan. Let's spend it, with a cheerful face and an open heart, with our families, relatives, friends and neighbors.Let's remember dear people, but let's not forget the sick, those abandoned and lonely - let's make them happy with something, even if only with a nice word, some expression of respect. And let's not forget the poor, neither during Eid nor outside of Eid. May the joy of Eid be embraced by everyone. That joy is not complete if it is not shared," stated Rais Kavazović.To everyone who celebrates Eid in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and the diaspora, Kavazović congratulated Eid with the traditional message: "Eid Shereif Mubarek Olsun!".

Dear brothers and sisters, today we say farewell to Ramadan, our dearest guest

Reis Kavazović's Eid message: Joy is not complete if it is not shared

The clubs of representatives of the People's European Alliance (NES) and the Party for BiH (PBiH) in the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament submitted to the parliamentary Constitutional Committee for consideration and adoption a proposal for amendments that, they say, will enable the implementation of the election results. It is a proposal of amendments that treat the procedure for appointing the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with a detailed explanation, according to the joint statement of the mentioned parties.According to the proposed amendments, the possibility is introduced that the president of the Federation of BiH with the consent of one of the vice presidents or two vice presidents without the consent of the president of the Federation of BiH appoint the Government of the Federation of BiH.If it is not possible to appoint the Government of the Federation in this way, the proposal of the decision on the appointment of the Government can be sent to the Parliament of FBiH by the president of the Federation of BiH or one of the vice-presidents, within the additional period prescribed by this amendment.In the proposal, it is reminded that in accordance with the valid provisions of Article IV.B.2.5 of the Constitution of the Federation of BiH, the President of the Federation of BiH, with the consent of both vice-presidents of the FBiH, appoints the Government of the FBiH after consultation with the Prime Minister or with the candidate for that position, within 30 days from the election of the president and two vice-presidents.According to the proposal of the NES and the SBiH, if an agreement is not reached on the appointment of the Government of the Federation of BiH, the decision on the appointment of the Government is made by the President of the FBiH with the consent of one of the vice-presidents, or two vice-presidents without the consent of the President of the Federation of BiH, within three days after the deadline, which is submitted to the House of Representatives for confirmation by majority vote."If the decision on the appointment of the Government of the Federation is not made even then, the president of the Federation of BiH or one of the vice-presidents, within three days of the expiration of the deadline, submits the proposed decision to the House of Representatives for consideration and decision," it is clarified and specifies how the Government of the Federation of BiH was elected after the appointment was confirmed by the majority of the House of Representatives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.In the following, the procedure is also explained, if there is no confirmation from the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament."If the House of Representatives does not confirm the appointment of the Government of the Federation of BiH, the procedure will be repeated, and the 30-day period begins the next day after the House of Representatives does not confirm the appointment of the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina," it is stated in the proposal.&nbsp;

In the following, the procedure is also explained, if there is no confirmation from the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament

NES and Party for BiH propose amendments to the Constitution of the Federation of BiH

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said today in Sarajevo that a candidate status for Bosnia and Herzegovina comes with increased expectations for compliance with the EU's foreign and security policy, including restrictive measures against Russia. After the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, Billstrom stated that the EU is very concerned about the efforts of the RS to criminalize defamation, and about the law on non-governmental organizations and restrictions for the LGBT community, which would represent a step backward for BiH's European path.He warned that the repeated threats of secession by the RS are unfounded and contribute to mistrust and tensions at a time of crisis in Europe when stability and cooperation are needed."Bosnia and Herzegovina deserves to be part of the European Union and there is no alternative to that, but in order to achieve it, you have to carry out reforms in which Sweden and the EU will support you," said Billstrom.Minister Konaković pointed out that BiH and Sweden significantly increased trade exchange last year, and that it was proposed to sign a memorandum on cooperation in the field of tourism."We talked about the stability of the region and it is very important for us to send a message of support for the territorial integrity of BiH and that there is no room for different policies," said Konaković.He called on his colleagues in BiH to focus on the realization of the 14 priorities that are a condition for EU membership and to take advantage of the EU's increased interest in the integration process due to Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

Bosnia and Herzegovina deserves to be part of the European Union and there is no alternative to that

Billstrom: Repeated threats of secession by the RS are groundless and contribute to mistrust

Black teen Ralph Yarl was shot twice, in the head and arm, after going to the wrong home in Kansas City, Missouri, to pick up his younger brothers. Andrew Lester, an 84-year-old white man, told police he fired at honors student Yarl, 16, out of fear last week. But whether Lester will ultimately claim self-defense in court has yet to be seen. The case raises anew questions about race relations in the United States.Here’s a look at what happened, where the criminal case stands, how the teen is faring and the role gun laws in Missouri could play in the case.<h2>WHAT LED UP TO THE SHOOTING?</h2>Yarl mixed up an address. Instead of going to 115th Terrace to pick up his twin brothers Thursday night, Yarl showed up at Lester's home on 115th Street, at 10 p.m.Lester told police he had just gotten in bed when he heard the doorbell. Before answering, he grabbed his revolver. Lester said he then saw Yarl pulling on the storm door handle, something Yarl disputes, according to the probable cause statement.Lester told police he thought the teen was attempting to break into the home and he was “scared to death,” the statement said. Without saying a word, Lester fired twice.Yarl said the first shot struck him in the head, knocking him to the ground. As he lay there, the second bullet pierced his arm. Yarl told police he fled as the homeowner yelled, “Don't come around here,” the statement said.Yarl said he went to “multiple” homes asking for help. A neighbor ultimately used towels to stem the bleeding until paramedics arrived.<h2>WHERE DOES THE CRIMINAL CASE STAND?</h2>Lester was charged with first-degree assault Monday and turned himself in Tuesday.Some civil rights leaders have called for a hate crime charge, but Zachary Thompson, Clay County prosecuting attorney, said first-degree assault is a higher-level crime with a longer sentence — up to life in prison.Lester also was charged with armed criminal action, which has a penalty range of three to 15 years.Lester was to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon. An attorney was not yet listed for him.<h2>WHERE IS YARL NOW?</h2>The wounded teen is recovering at home, but his mother, Cleo Nagbe, said the trauma is evident.She told “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King that her son is “able to communicate mostly when he feels like it, but mostly he just sits there and stares and the buckets of tears just rolls down his eyes.”“You can see that he is just replaying the situation over and over again, and that just doesn’t stop my tears either,” she said.Yarl's classmates rallied for him Tuesday, holding signs that read, “We Walk For RALPH,” “Stop The Hate” and “Justice 4 RALPH.”<h2>WHAT ARE THE RACIAL ELEMENTS OF THE CASE?</h2>The shooting outraged many in Kansas City and across the country. Civic and political leaders including President Joe Biden demanded justice. Biden also invited Yarl to the White House.Thompson said Monday that there was a “racial component” to the shooting, without elaborating. But Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Alexander Higginbotham clarified in an email to The Associated Press on Tuesday that “there is not a racial element to the legal charges that were filed.”Still, some — including lawyers for Yarl’s family — pressed the racial dimension of the case.Missouri NAACP President Nimrod Chapel Jr. said in a statement that a Black suspect would have been been in jail from the start.<h2>HOW COULD GUN LAWS PLAY A ROLE?</h2>Legal experts believe Lester’s lawyers will claim self-defense under Missouri’s “stand your ground” law, which allows for the use of deadly force if a person fears for his or her life. Missouri is one of roughly 30 states with such statutes.Robert Spitzer, a professor emeritus of political science at the State University of New York, Cortland, whose research focuses on gun policy and politics, said the Missouri law provides “wide latitude for people to use lethal force.”St. Louis defense attorney Nina McDonnell agreed. She said prosecutors have a strong case but the “stand your ground” defense is a “huge hurdle” to overcome.

Black teen Ralph Yarl was shot twice, in the head and arm, after going to the wrong home in Kansas City

What to know about KC shooting of Black teen Ralph Yarl

The Supreme Court is deciding whether women will face restrictions in getting a drug used in the most common method of abortion in the United States, while a lawsuit continues. The justices are expected to issue an order on Wednesday in a fast-moving case from Texas in which abortion opponents are seeking to roll back Food and Drug Administration approval of the drug, mifepristone.The drug first won FDA approval in 2000, and conditions on its use have been loosened in recent years, including making it available by mail in states that allow access.The Biden administration and New York-based Danco Laboratories, the maker of the drug, want the nation’s highest court to reject limits on mifepristone’s use imposed by lower courts, at least as long as the legal case makes it way through the courts. They say women who want the drug and providers who dispense it will face chaos if limits on the drug take effect. Depending on what the justices decide, that could include requiring women to take a higher dosage of the drug than the FDA says is necessary.Alliance Defending Freedom, representing anti-abortion doctors and medical groups in a challenge to the drug, is defending the rulings in calling on the Supreme Court to let the restrictions take effect now.The legal fight over abortion comes less than a year after conservative justices reversed Roe v. Wade and allowed more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright.Even as the abortion landscape changed dramatically in several states, abortion opponents set their sights on medication abortions, which make up more than half of all abortions in the United States.The abortion opponents filed suit in November in Amarillo, Texas. The legal challenge quickly reached the Supreme Court after a federal judge issued a ruling on April 7 that would revoke FDA approval of mifepristone, one of two drugs used in medication abortions.Less than a week later, a federal appeals court modified the ruling so that mifepristone would remain available while the case continues, but with limits. The appeals court said that the drug can’t be mailed or dispensed as a generic and that patients who seek it need to make three in-person visits with a doctor, among other things.The generic version of mifepristone makes up two-thirds of the supply in the United States, its manufacturer, Las Vegas-based GenBioPro Inc., wrote in a court filing that underscored the perils of allowing the restrictions to be put into effect.The court also said the drug should only be approved through seven weeks of pregnancy for now, even though the FDA since 2016 has endorsed its use through 10 weeks of pregnancy.Complicating the situation, a federal judge in Washington has ordered the FDA to preserve access to mifepristone under the current rules in 17 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia that filed a separate lawsuit.The Biden administration has said the rulings conflict and create an untenable situation for the FDA.In an order issued last Friday by Justice Samuel Alito, the court put the restrictions on hold through Wednesday to give the court time to consider the emergency appeal.If the justices aren't inclined to block the ruling from taking effect for now, the Democratic administration and Danco have a fallback argument, asking the court to take up the challenge to mifepristone, hear arguments and decide the case by early summer.The court only rarely takes such a step before at least one appeals court has thoroughly examined the legal issues involved.The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans already has ordered an accelerated schedule for hearing the case, with arguments set for May 17.Mifepristone has been available for use in medication abortions in the United States since the FDA granted approval in 2000. Since then, more than 5 million women have used it, along with another drug, misoprostol, to induce abortions.

The drug first won FDA approval in 2000, and conditions on its use have been loosened in recent years, including making it available by mail in states

Supreme Court poised to rule on abortion pill restrictions

Connecticut divers have discovered the wreckage of an experimental submarine that was built in 1907 and later scuttled in Long Island Sound. The Defender, a 92-foot-long (28-meter-long) boat, was found Sunday by a team led by Richard Simon, a commercial diver from Coventry, Connecticut.Simon said he had been interested in the story of the Defender for years. He spent months going over known sonar and underwater mapping surveys of the bottom of the sound, as well as government documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, to identify any anomaly that fit the size of the sub.“A submarine has a very distinct shape,” he said. “It needs to be 100 feet long and 13 feet in diameter. So I made a list of everything that was that long and there was one target on that list.”Simon then assembled a group of top wreck divers to determine if the Defender was in the location he had identified.Poor tidal conditions forced them to abandon an attempt last Friday. They returned on Sunday and discovered the Defender lying on the bottom, more than 150 feet (45 meters) beneath the water's surface, off the coast of Old Saybrook.“It was legitimately hiding in plain sight,” he said. “It’s on the charts. It’s known about in Long Island Sound, just no one knew what it was.”Simon described the agony of waiting on the deck of his research vessel, staring at a dive buoy in the fog and waiting for his two divers to surface. Once they did and confirmed they had found a sub, the team erupted in “pure joy,” he said.Simon said he didn't want to give the exact depth, because he said that could give away the sub's location.The submarine, originally named the Lake, was built by millionaire Simon Lake and his Bridgeport-based Lake Torpedo Boat Company in hopes of winning a competition for a U.S. Navy contract, according to NavSource Online, a website dedicated to preserving naval history.It was experimental vessel, with wheels to move along the sea bottom and a door that allowed divers to be released underwater, Simon said.The company lost that competition and Lake then tried refitting the boat for minesweeping, salvage and rescue work, renaming it the Defender. But he never found a buyer. It was a well-known sub and was even visited by aviator Amelia Earhart in 1929, Simon said.But the submarine spent many years unused, docked in New London before eventually being abandoned on a mud flat near Old Saybrook. It was scuttled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1946, but the corps never disclosed where, Simon said.Simon said it was clear when his team found the wreckage that it was indeed the Defender. The length, the size and shape of protrusions on the submarine’s distinct keel, and the shape and location of diving planes characteristic of Lake-built vessels, all helped identify it, he said.Simon and his team plan to spend the summer diving on the sub, filming it and taking photographs. He said he and the company he and his wife own, Shoreline Diving, put up the money for the search. He said he hasn’t figured out how to monetize the find, but said that wasn’t the goal in looking for it.He has already contacted the Navy to see if it would be interested in helping preserve the wreckage.The ship has some protections under what is known as the Abandoned Shipwreck Act, a 1988 law that would allow it to be treated as an archaeological or historical site instead of a commercial property to be salvaged, he said..“So, as a wreck diver, I can go visit history; I can touch it; I can experience it,” he said. “It's just a different connection to history, to the past that we don't have in any other activity.”

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Reis Kavazović's Eid message: Joy is not complete if it is not shared

NES and Party for BiH propose amendments to the Constitution of the Federation of BiH

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What to know about KC shooting of Black teen Ralph Yarl

Supreme Court poised to rule on abortion pill restrictions

Wreckage of submarine found by divers in Long Island Sound

News

Bećirović in London: Dodik should be removed from office before he causes a conflict

Čović and Murphy discuss current political situation in BiH

Two migrants injured a bus driver in Mostar with a pocket knife

Schmidt: BiH mustn't become divided into authoritarianism in one entity and democracy in other

Zvizdić-Perinat: Strengthen economic and inter-parliamentary cooperation between BiH and Spain

US Embassy: The US will not step aside while Dodik pushes BiH toward conflict

First expert consultation meeting on state property takes place in Sarajevo

Mehmedović: Current situation should be viewed in the light of new realignment in the Balkans

Zvizdić in Prague: Individuals from RS started to block the work of BiH institutions again

K-pop star Moon Bin found dead at home

Reis Kavazović's Eid message: Joy is not complete if it is not shared

NES and Party for BiH propose amendments to the Constitution of the Federation of BiH

Billstrom: Repeated threats of secession by the RS are groundless and contribute to mistrust

What to know about KC shooting of Black teen Ralph Yarl

Supreme Court poised to rule on abortion pill restrictions

Wreckage of submarine found by divers in Long Island Sound