A South Korean court on Friday sentenced a former justice minister, Cho Kuk, to two years in prison, after he was found guilty of creating fake credentials to help his children get into prestigious schools, a scandal that rocked the country’s previous government and sparked huge protests. Cho was also found guilty of abusing his powers while serving as a senior aide to former President Moon Jae-in, by blocking an investigation into a former Financial Services Commission official seen as close to Moon who was eventually arrested for taking bribes from businesspeople.But the Seoul Central District Court decided not to place Cho under immediate arrest, saying he wasn’t a threat to flee and that his wife was already serving a prison term over the charges related to their children. Cho told reporters after the ruling that he plans to appeal, and if he does within seven days he will stay out of prison until at least the appellate ruling.The ruling culminated the public demise of the former Seoul National University law professor and liberal icon, whose political rise during the Moon government had him considered as a future presidential contender.“I will appeal the charges that I was found guilty of and put up a more sincere argument (in court),” Cho told reporters after the ruling. He left without taking any questions.After initially serving as Moon’s senior secretary of civil affairs, Cho was appointed as justice minister in 2019 but was forced to resign months later after allegations emerged that he colluded with his wife to forge documents and certificates to help their daughter get into a medical school. The couple later faced similar accusations surrounding the education of their son.Cho apologized for the perks his daughter has received as he stepped down as justice minister but has steadfastly denied legal wrongdoing.The charges struck a nerve in a country grappling with widening rich-poor gaps and where teenagers toil in hyper-competitive school environments because graduating from elite universities is seen as crucial to career prospects.Cho’s legal saga also tarnished the reformist image of Moon, who vowed to restore faith in fairness and justice after winning a presidential by-election in 2017 to replace his conservative predecessor, Park Geun-hye, who was impeached and jailed for corruption.Cho’s wife, Chung Kyung-shim, had already been serving a four-year prison sentence before the Seoul court on Friday added another year to her term, after finding her guilty of additional charges related to her son and also for trying to conceal her dubious private equity investments after her husband joined Moon's government.The court said it was clear Cho had an active role in colluding with his wife to fake the credentials of their daughter to help her get into the medical school of Seoul National University, the most coveted school in the nation.Cho's daughter didn't make it there but later got into Pusan National University's medical school in 2015. The PNU nullified her enrollment last year, saying it was based on false records.The court found Cho guilty of violating an anti-graft law governing public servants by receiving 6 million won ($4,800) in the form of her daughter’s scholarship from Roh Hwan-jung, former head of PNU’s medical school, from 2017 and 2018.However, the court said it couldn’t apply more serious bribery charges against Cho over the payments, saying it was unclear whether Roh had specifically sought favors related to Cho’s job as Moon’s senior civil affairs secretary. The court sentenced Roh to a sixth-month prison term that was suspended for a year.The court found Cho and another former Moon aide, Baek Won-woo, guilty of abusing authority by blocking a government inspection into former Financial Services Commission official Yoo Jae-soo, months before Yoo became vice mayor in Busan.Yoo, seen as a close ally to Moon, was later arrested for receiving bribes from businesspeople in exchange for favors during his time at the financial regulator. Baek was sentenced to 10 months in prison on Friday.

Cho apologized for the perks his daughter has received as he stepped down as justice minister but has steadfastly denied legal wrongdoing

Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, center, is questioned by reporters upon his arrival at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea

S. Korean court sentences ex-minister to 2 years in prison

Turkey says West failed to share details of security threatAP-EU--Turkey-Consulate ClosuresFeb 3, 2023 10:56 AM - 534 wordsEds: UPDATES: With AP Photos.ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey for a second day on Friday railed against a group of Western countries that temporarily shut their consulates in Istanbul, accusing them of failing to share information on the security threat that led to the closures and of aiming to cause harm to Turkey.This week, nine Western nations either closed down their consulates in Istanbul or issued travel warnings to citizens visiting Turkey, citing security threats. The measures angered Turkey, which on Thursday summoned the countries’ ambassadors in protest. Turkey’s interior minister accused the countries of waging “psychological warfare” and attempting to wreck Turkey’s tourism industry.Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu insisted that the nine countries did not share information with Turkish authorities about the alleged security threat. His ministry has identified the nine countries as the United States, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Britain, Germany, Belgium, France and Italy.“They tell us that they have concrete information that there is a threat. ... But where did it come from, where is the threat, who will carry it out? There is no information about that,” Cavusoglu said during a joint news conference with his Argentinian counterpart.“We asked our Interior Ministry. They say there is no concrete sharing of information. ... We asked our intelligence agency. There is no concrete sharing of information.”The minister also said Turkey suspects an “ulterior motive” behind the closures, including alleged intent to hurt President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections that are likely to be held on May 14.“If they are trying to create the image that Turkey is unstable and that there is a threat of terrorism, this does not fit friendship or the spirit of alliance, he said. “This is especially true before the elections. If they are trying to put the (ruling party) government, the Presidential government, in a difficult situation, our people know very well what is behind it. ... It won’t serve their purpose.”The German Embassy this week cited the risk of possible retaliatory attacks following Quran-burning incidents in some European countries in announcing the closure of its consulate. The U.S. embassy cautioned its citizens about possible attacks against churches, synagogues and diplomatic missions as well as other places that Westerners frequent.In November, a bombing on Istanbul’s bustling Istiklal Avenue, located in the heart of the city and near a number of foreign consulates, killed six people and wounded several others. Turkish authorities blamed the attack on Kurdish militants.Radical Islamic groups and leftist militants have also carried out deadly attacks in Turkey the past.Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Thursday that Turkey had conducted as many as 60 operations against the Islamic State group so far this year and detained 95 people. Last year, close to 2,000 IS suspects were detained in more than 1,000 operations against the group, he said.Last weekend, Turkey’s foreign ministry issued a travel warning for European countries due to anti-Turkish demonstrations and what it described as Islamophobia. The warning followed demonstrations the week before outside the Turkish Embassy in Sweden, where an anti-Islam activist burned the Quran and pro-Kurdish groups protested against Turkey.

The minister also said Turkey suspects an “ulterior motive” behind the closures

An an armored police vehicle guards outside the German consulate in Istanbul, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023

Turkey says West failed to share details of security threat

Top European Union officials were due to meet Friday in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a show of support for the country as it battles to counter Russia’s invasion and strives to join the EU as well as NATO. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel, as well as 15 European commissioners, traveled to the Ukrainian capital for what they described as a summit meeting.The last such summit was held in Kyiv in October 2021 — a few months before the war started. The highly symbolic visit is also the first EU political mission of its kind to a country at war.“There will be no let-up in our resolve,” Michel said in a tweet on his apparent arrival in Kyiv. “We will also support (Ukraine) every step of the way on your journey to the EU.”EU assistance for Ukraine has reached almost 50 billion euros ($55 billion) since the fighting started, according to EU officials.The EU is providing Ukraine with financial and humanitarian aid, among other things. It also plans to adopt a 10th package of sanctions again Russia in the coming weeks.The EU has also announced it’s ramping up its military training mission for Ukraine, from an initial target of pushing 15,000 troops through the schooling to up to 30,000 troops. One focus is to train the crews of tanks that Western countries have offered Ukraine.Ukraine wants to join the 27-nation bloc, and formally submitted its application last June, though that could take years and require the adoption of far-reaching reforms. In the meantime, von der Leyen said Thursday that the European Commission is willing to let Kyiv join what she called some “key European programs” that will bring benefits similar to membership.Those programs were due to be discussed in Friday’s meeting, which will also address one of the main obstacles to Ukraine’s EU membership: endemic corruption.Von der Leyen, on her fourth visit to Kyiv since Russia’s invasion, said Thursday she was “comforted” by Ukraine’s anti-corruption drive.The previous day, Zelenskyy had taken aim at corrupt officials for the second time in the space of a week. Several high-ranking officials were dismissed.Zelenskyy was elected in 2019 on an anti-establishment and anti-corruption platform in a country long gripped by graft.The latest corruption allegations came as Western allies channel billions of dollars to help Kyiv fight Moscow’s forces.Ukraine’s government is keen to get more Western military aid, on top of the tanks pledged last week, as the warring sides are expected to launch new offensives once winter ends. Kyiv is now asking for fighter jets.The U.S is expected to announce Friday it will send longer-range bombs to Ukraine as part of a new $2.17 billion aid package.

Those programs were due to be discussed in Friday’s meeting, which will also address one of the main obstacles to Ukraine’s EU membership

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with a Ukrainian flag and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the EU-Ukraine summit in Kyiv

EU officials hold Kyiv talks in show of support for Ukraine

Top European Union officials arrived in Kyiv on Thursday for talks with the Ukrainian government as rescue crews dug through the rubble of an apartment building in eastern Ukraine that was struck by a Russian missile, killing at least three people and wounding 21 others. The scene of devastation in the eastern Donetsk provincial city of Kramatorsk, where emergency workers spent the night searching for survivors after the missile hit late Wednesday, served as a grim reminder of the war’s toll almost a year after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.At least one more victim was believed to be under the debris, Ukraine's presidential office said.Russia has frequently struck apartment buildings during the war, causing civilian casualties, although the Kremlin has denied targeting residential structures.Russian shelling across Ukraine over the previous 24 hours killed at least eight civilians and wounded 29 others, the presidential office said. Along with the victims in Kramatorsk, the toll included four who died when a Russian mortar shell hit a basement where they were sheltering in the northeastern Chernihiv region.<h2>EU’s strongest message of support to all Ukrainians</h2>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was due to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell before what officials described as a summit on Friday.Borrell tweeted that the visit aimed “to convey EU’s strongest message of support to all Ukrainians defending their country.”EU assistance for Ukraine, he said, has reached 50 billion euros ($55 billion) since the start of Russia’s war on Feb. 24.“Europe stood united with Ukraine from day one. And will still stand with you to win and rebuild,” Borrell tweeted.It was Von der Leyen’s fourth visit since the invasion. The last such summit was held in Kyiv in October 2021 — a few months before the war started.Ukraine’s anti-corruption drive was expected to be on the agenda of the talks. Kyiv’s long path toward potential membership in the 27-nation bloc will be a key issue under discussion, with stamping out corruption a key condition for joining.Von der Leyen tweeted: “We are here together to show that the EU stands by Ukraine as firmly as ever. And to deepen further our support and cooperation.”Zelenskyy on Wednesday took aim at corrupt officials for the second time in the space of a week. Several high-ranking officials were dismissed.Zelenskyy was elected in 2019 on an anti-establishment and anti-corruption platform in a country long gripped by graft.The latest corruption allegations came as Western allies are channeling billions of dollars to help Kyiv fight Moscow’s forces and as the Ukrainian government is introducing reforms so it can potentially join the EU one day.Ukraine's government is keen to get more Western military aid, on top of the tanks pledged last week, as the warring sides are expected to launch new offensives once winter ends. Kyiv is now asking for fighter jets.Kyiv expects Russia to “attempt something” on the Feb. 24 anniversary, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov told France’s BFM television. He stressed his government’s urgency on getting weapons without delay.“We are telling our partners that we too need to be ready as fast as possible,” he said in an interview late Wednesday.U.S. President Joe Biden has ruled out providing F-16s to Ukraine. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday during a trip to the Philippines that the focus of American aid is to increase Ukraine’s military capabilities by sending artillery, armor, air defense and providing training to Ukrainian troops.The U.S. is “focused on providing Ukraine the capability that it needs to be effective in its upcoming anticipated counteroffensive in the spring,” Austin said.<h2>Lavrov said that strategy would backfire</h2>“And so we’re doing everything we can to get them the capabilities that they need right now to be effective on the battlefield,” he said.Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that strategy would backfire, by prompting Moscow to ensure that potential Russian targets were out of range.“The longer range the weapons supplied to the Kyiv regime, the farther we would need to push them away from the territories that are part of our country,” Lavrov said in an interview with Russian state media.He said Moscow would like to see the war end, but noted that the length of the conflict was less important than its outcome: to protect Russian territory and “people who want to remain part of the Russian culture,” reaffirming Moscow’s declared goal to defend Russian speakers in Ukraine.

At least one more victim was believed to be under the debris, Ukraine's presidential office said

Emergency workers and local residents clear the rubble after a Russian rocket hit an apartment building in Kramatorsk, Ukraine

EU officials visit Kyiv as Russia strikes civilian target

Nermin Nikšić, president of the SDP BiH, told the "Avaz" portal today that everything is very clear regarding the Eight (now the Seven) and the further functioning of these parties when it comes to the process of forming the government. <h2>Agreed on arrangement</h2>He claims that, regarding the Pokret za nove generacije, "as far as SDP BiH and our partners from the Trojka are concerned, they are no longer part of the majority at any level."- Yesterday we found out that even before the elections, they agreed on an arrangement with the NES on the withdrawal of Zlatko Miletić from the House of Representatives of BiH in favor of the NES candidate, and on his election to the House of Peoples of BiH. Mr. Damir Marjanović should have informed the Trojka about his intention and about this agreement. We think he kept it quiet because he was aware that in that case he would not have received our support for election to the House of Peoples of FBiH. He has the right to do so, just as we have the right to consider it an act by which mutual trust has been completely lost, and that because of this, further cooperation is not possible - says Nikšić.Nikšić claims that yesterday they redefined the relations within the majority and in relation to other partners, as well as the principles of work.This, he says, refers to their partners.- Everyone has the right to leave certain positions to partners within their quota, which is determined based on the number of mandates won. We expect to collect the signatures for the formation of the FBiH Government by the beginning of next week. There are malicious and senseless spins that we will submit the signatures of the majority to the international community in order to impose the appointment of a new government. They, like the public, will be presented with a clear majority, and signatures are needed tomorrow when we elect the president and vice-president of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in order to ask them to act in accordance with the law and give consent to a clear majority for the formation of the FBiH Government - says Nikšić.<h2>Process unblocking</h2>He emphasizes that he will then inform the OHR about all this, "from whom he expects that, in the event of an anti-democratic blockade of the establishment of the authorities by the declared majority, he will react and unblock the process".The High Representative clearly said that he made decisions on election night with the intention of unblocking the process of establishment of government, so in the event of the opposite, i.e. abuse of his decision and certain vagueness, it is logical that we expect him to react and prevent the challenge of the democratic right of the parliamentary majority to form the government - says Nermin Nikšić.

It is logical that we expect the high representative to react

Nikšić for "Avaz": What did Ogrešević and Marjanović agree before the elections!

Nusret Selimović submitted yesterday to Minister Admir Katica and v. d. Prime Minister Darja Softić-Kadenić's resignation from the position of police commissioner of the SC MUP. As we remind you, he was subjected to the worst kind of pressure for months because certain structures clearly did not like his courage and determination to persevere in the intention of discovering the members of the mafia who used Sky.<h2>Moral act</h2>Selimović will remain in this position until the KS Government appoints an acting commissioner. But the question is whether the resignation will be accepted.In an exclusive interview for "Avaz", Selimović explained the reasons for his resignation.- I will not allow anyone to impute anything that does not belong to me. I will not allow anyone to attack my dignity, name and honor with anything, and in this case I am afraid that it is going exactly in that direction. This is a moral act, first of all. My conscience is completely clear and calm and I leave with my head held high, my spine straight and clear name - he said.For months, Selimović has been told that there are not enough employed police officers, that they don't have the equipment... But the positive aspects, such as the exposure of the Sky mafia, have been totally ignored.- Unfortunately, these are the facts. That is the bitter truth. Among those who should see and notice objectively the results of our work, and to some extent appreciate it and give support to our future work, obviously, for reasons known to them, they do not want it. Likewise, what is pointed out to be the subject of interest is not the product of indolence, ignorance and lack of effort on the part of either the Police Administration or the Police Commissioner. Unfortunately, why this is so, we can only guess. But, as professionals, we will stick to the facts - said Selimović.He claims that the public should judge what it is about.<h2>Detailed report</h2>- Our work against persons who belong to the milieu of serious organized crime with an international character cannot and must not be on the back burner. They cannot help but be interested in the fact that for more than a hundred people, documentation has been submitted to the State Prosecutor's Office in the form of official reports on crimes committed, or analyzes that indicate the commission of serious crimes in the field of organized crime, drug trafficking, weapons, extortion, blackmail, preparation of executions, money laundering. They cannot be uninterested in the fight against corruption in their own ranks, the fight against corruption in general because, if they were interested in it, they would like to receive reports on it, as far as is legally possible, without jeopardizing the investigations, and they would provide full support for the work of the Police Administration - stressed Selimović.Also, as he said, they are clearly not interested in a serious reduction in the total number of criminal offenses in the area of SC.- Because, I emphasize, it is a serious figure. The total number of reported crimes in the SC area decreased by 16 percent. Rarely any agency in this country, and perhaps beyond, can boast of that result. Someone cannot be uninterested in the complete neutralization of the automafia. And you ask me if I felt pressured by the information that came in advance that a negative annual assessment for my work in 2022 would be made. I heard that too. However, in these circumstances, you cannot receive such information positively - said Selimović.<h2>Their own ranks</h2>Commenting on the results of the work of the Police Administration, Selimović said that they had significantly succeeded in cleaning their ranks of corrupt individuals.

- As many as 42 police officers were suspended due to violations of their official duties, while a number of police officers were ordered to terminate their employment, as a result of the confirmation of indictments by the competent courts due to the well-founded suspicion that they had committed criminal acts of a corrupt nature. Termination of employment for these police officers followed the implementation of appropriate procedures based on the Law on the Protection of Secret Data - said Selimović.<h2>Enormous pressure</h2>- As a professional, I will not allow anyone, anyone in this world, to impute things that do not belong to me, completely undeservedly. If they don't want to see the results of the work that we did with enormous difficulties, pressures and problems, I can't change that. But I can not allow myself to be slandered and wallow in the mud, or to be imputed to me for things that I am neither responsible for nor did I initiate - Selimović added.<h2>The right to retire</h2>Speaking about plans for the future, Selimović said:- I cannot predict how the SC Government will determine itself according to this. I have never shied away from responsibility, because I have been carrying the burden of responsibility for a long time. I'm not running away this time either. I'm a legalist. We'll see, so we don't prejudge things, whatever the Government decides about my position, I will respect it. If it is a continuation of the work, it will be at full intensity, as it has been so far. I didn't think about any of my further plans.<h2>"Dženan Memić" case</h2>- The police is carrying out intensive investigative measures in the case of the murder of Dženan Memić, which have already resulted in significant developments in the investigation. These activities will be intensively continued until the final resolution of the criminal act in question - said Nusret Selimović.

I will not allow anyone to attack my dignity, my name and my honor with anything, and in this case I am afraid that it is going in that direction

Police Commissioner Nusret Selimović for "Avaz": They won't break my back!

The U.K. Supreme Court says people who live in glass houses have a right to privacy too. The court ruled Wednesday that a viewing platform at London’s Tate Modern art gallery made residents of glass-walled luxury apartments next door feel like animals in a zoo, and impeded “the ordinary use and enjoyment” of their homes.The justices overturned earlier lower court rulings that sided with Tate Modern in the long-running privacy battle between the gallery — one of London’s biggest tourist attractions — and residents of four apartments in the neighboring Neo Bankside complex.Justice George Leggatt said that the platform is visited by hundreds of thousands of people a year, who “frequently take photographs of the interiors of the flats and sometimes post them on social media."“It is not difficult to imagine how oppressive living in such circumstances would feel for any ordinary person — much like being on display in a zoo,” he wrote in the court's majority ruling.“It is beyond doubt that the viewing and photography which take place from the Tate’s building cause a substantial interference with the ordinary use and enjoyment of the claimants’ properties."The court ruled that the gallery had violated “the common law of private nuisance.” Three judges backed the majority decision and two dissented.Tate Modern opened in 2000 in a former power station on the south bank of the River Thames. It helped transform the surrounding Bankside neighborhood from a riverside backwater into an arts and nightlife hub dotted with luxury apartment towers.The viewing terrace is part of a pyramid-shaped extension that opened in 2016 at the gallery, which sees more than 5 million visitors a year. Neo Bankside was completed a few years earlier.Lawyers for the residents argued the 10th-floor platform, used by more than half a million gallery visitors a year, constituted a “relentless” invasion of residents’ privacy. They said gallery visitors subjected the apartments to “intense visual scrutiny,” with some using binoculars and zoom lenses to get a better look.The gallery said residents could solve the problem by drawing their blinds or putting up curtains — and judges at the High Court and Court of Appeal agreed.But the Supreme Court found that the viewing platform was an “abnormal” use of Tate Modern’s land, and the beleaguered residents had a point.“The claimants cannot be obliged to live behind net curtains or with their blinds drawn all day every day to protect themselves from the consequences of intrusion caused by the abnormal use which the Tate makes of its land,” the judges said.The residents had asked for the gallery to shield their apartments from view, or to pay damages. The Supreme Court sent the case back to the High Court to decide on the appropriate remedy.

The viewing terrace is part of a pyramid-shaped extension that opened in 2016 at the gallery, which sees more than 5 million visitors a year

People stand in an area by the lifts in the new Switch House building extension to the Tate Modern gallery in London

Prying eyes: Neighbors win privacy feud with UK Tate gallery

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government presented to Parliament on Wednesday an annual budget of $550 billion that calls for ramping up capital spending by 33% to spur economic growth and create jobs ahead of a general election next year. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said private investment was rising after the pandemic and the government should focus on driving growth.India’s economy is projected to grow 7% in the fiscal year ending in March. The government forecasts growth of 6%-6.5% next year. But the government is struggling to generate enough jobs for its population of 1.4 billion people.“The budget makes the need once again to ramp up the virtuous cycle of investment and job creation,” Sitharaman said.India's economy surpassed that of the United Kingdom last year to become the world's fifth-largest. Its population is expected to overtake China's in size this year.Despite steady economic growth, the Modi government has struggled to dismiss unemployment concerns and is under pressure to generate enough jobs, especially as it faces key state polls this year and a general election in 2024 which it is still expected to win.According to the Center for Monitoring Indian Economy, the unemployment rate stood at 8.3% in December, up from 6.5% in January 2022.The government is aiming for a budget deficit of 5.9% of India's gross domestic product (GDP) for the 2023-24 financial year, lower than the 6.4% for this fiscal year.Despite worries that the world economy is headed for a slump, the finance minister she was confident the country's future was bright. “India is on the right track,” she said.Apart from raising capital spending on construction of schools, airports, heliports and other infrastructure to $122 billion, the budget extended a $24 billion scheme to provide free grains to vulnerable households for one year.The government will also increase by 66% its spending on providing affordable housing to the urban poor, Sitharaman said, and prioritize “green growth” with a $4.3 billion investment towards helping India meet its goal of going carbon neutral by 2070.The budget also announced new tax relief measures aimed at bringing some respite for India's large middle class. But it slashed spending by 30% on India's rural jobs program, a boon for the country's most vulnerable, triggering criticism from activists and the opposition.On Wednesday, Modi praised the budget as laying a strong “foundation for the aspirations and resolutions of a developed India," and said the government's investment into infrastructure has increased by more than 400% since 2014 when he first became prime minister.Opposition lawmakers chanted “Adani, Adani” at one point, prompting Sitharaman to pause. Political opponents have urged India's market regulator to investigate India's richest man, Gautam Adani, after a U.S.-based short-seller issued a report last week accusing him and his company of stock market manipulation and accounting fraud. The resulting sell-off of Adani related shares wiped out tens of billions of dollars worth of market value for his business empire.Critics of the 60-year-old billionaire say his rise has been boosted by his apparent close ties to Modi.The budget requires approval from both houses of parliament, but it is bound to be enacted as Modi's party holds a strong majority.

“The budget makes the need once again to ramp up the virtuous cycle of investment and job creation,” Sitharaman said

A vegetable seller takes rest at a wholesale vegetable market in Guwahati, India

India to raise spending on job creation ahead of election

After speculations appeared in the media that the Bingo group could take over the license for the popular fast food chain McDonald's, the portal "Avaz" has learned that this company has no intentions of returning to our country for a long time. <h2>A series of scandals</h2>We remind you that the global corporation McDonald's is filing a lawsuit against Haris Ihtijarević. His company Gliese 581g lost its license after a series of scandals. First came the judgment of the court in Sarajevo, because Ihtijarević did not pay the rent for the McDonald's premises in Titova street.Then numerous financial frauds were discovered.As we previously published, Ihtijarević kept quiet and decided to sell the parking space in Marindvor. It is believed that he is selling property in Sarajevo in order to leave BiH as soon as possible.<h2>Stole water from "Avaz"</h2>Ihtijarević, we remind you, also defrauded the company "Avaz". As a tenant of the space for "McDonald's" in Nedžarići, he stole water from "Avaz" because he was illegally connected. He did this for 12 years, causing great financial damage to "Avaz" in the amount of more than 400,000 KM.For this reason, the management of "Avaz" submitted a criminal complaint to the SC Prosecutor's Office through a lawyer.

Numerous financial frauds of Ihtijarević were discovered

McDonald's has no intention of continuing to do business in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Central Investigation Office of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina is rocked by the scandal in which the investigators of this police agency are involved, and in connection with the Sky application and investigations that are linked to certain criminogenic persons! This scandal comes at a time when the chief state prosecutor, Milanko Kajganić, said that information from police agencies is leaking when it comes to Sky investigations, which is an indirect message that individuals are in cahoots with certain criminal persons. It's been that way for months.<h2>Its own ranks</h2>This police agency does not deny the information of "Avaz". It was confirmed that "the BiH Border Police consistently and continuously fights against crime and corruption within its own ranks, and that anyone who acts illegally will be prosecuted and sanctioned."- The aforementioned case is under the jurisdiction of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Office for Professional Standards and Internal Control of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina is conducting an internal investigation - the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced.Due to the investigation related to the Sky application and the attempt to change the team proposed by the Prosecutor's Office, Spomenka Markulj, the contact person of the BP BiH with Europol, was dismissed on Friday by the decision of the Director of the BiH Border Police, Zoran Galić.Markulj was also the head of the investigation office, and now she has been transferred to another position.An internal investigation was launched against her in the BiH Border Police because, among other things, she refused to act according to the order of the head of this office, Adnan Kosovac. But she wasn't caught on Sky, her investigators were.One of them, after 15 days of receiving the Sky codes, decided to make an official note to inform the Agency that his name was mentioned in Sky. But why was he silent for days.<h2>Codes and lists</h2>It is about experienced investigator Edin Husomanović. The question is what waited 15 days, from January 11th, to report that his name was mentioned in Sky codes and why Markulj, going to the Prosecutor's Office, insisted on changing the prosecutor.Investigator S. K. was part of the team that worked with Markulj and Husomanović. They had Sky codes and lists from January 11th.The real question is whose name individuals in BP BiH tried to hide, given that certain members of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the RS (MUP RS) are also mentioned in the crypts. A member of the Border Police was also discovered, on suspicion of accepting bribes.The name of the person on the crypt is allegedly also a high-ranking SIPA member.

This scandal comes at a time when the chief state prosecutor, Milanko Kajganić, said that information from police agencies is leaking

Who is in fear in police structures: Big "fishes" on Sky

Demonstrations were getting underway across France on Tuesday in the latest clash of wills with the government over its plans to push back the retirement age. Labor leaders aimed to bring more than 1 million demonstrators into the streets in what one veteran left-wing leader described as a “citizens' insurrection." The nationwide strikes and protests were a crucial test both for President Emmanuel Macron’s government and its opponents. The government says it is determined to push through Macron's election pledge to reform France's pension system. Labor unions and left-wing legislators fighting in parliament against Macron's plans are counting on protesters to turn out massively to strengthen their efforts to kill the retirement reform bill.Veteran left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon predicted “a historic day" of protests and defeat for Macron, as crowds of protesters began marching in cities and towns outside Paris — ahead of a major demonstration planned later Tuesday through the French capital.“It's not often that we see such a mass mobilization," Mélenchon, speaking in the southern city of Marseille. “It's a form of citizens' insurrection.”A first round of strikes and protests brought out between 1 million and 2 million demonstrators earlier this month, including many tens of thousands in Paris. Labor leaders were aiming to at least match or even better those numbers Tuesday, with around 250 demonstrations expected around the country. The government mobilized 11,000 officers to police the protests.Positions are hardening on both sides as lawmakers begin locking horns in parliament over the government's bill that would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.On Monday, Macron described the reform as “essential.” His prime minister, Elisabeth Borne, insisted this past weekend that raising the retirement age to 64 is “no longer negotiable.”Strikes and protesters intend to prove otherwise.Rail operator SNCF warned of major network disruptions Tuesday because of strikes. It recommended that passengers cancel or postpone trips and work remotely if possible.Strikes also hit some schools and other sectors. Radio station France Inter played music instead of its usual morning talk shows and apologized to its listeners because employees were striking.

It's not often that we see such a mass mobilization

Strikes, protests hit France in round 2 of pension battle

A senior police official in Pakistan says the death toll in the Peshawar suicide mosque bombing has now climbed to 95 and acknowledges a serious “security lapse" that led to the tragedy. Kashif Aftab Abbasi, a senior officer in Peshawar, told reporters on Tuesday that along with the 95 now confirmed fatalities, at least 225 people were wounded, most of them policemen who were praying inside the mosque when the bomber struck the day before.“Yes, there was a security lapse and the inspector-general of the police has set up an inquiry committee, which will look into all aspects of the bombing," he said. “Action will be taken against those whose negligence” caused the attack.A suicide bombing that killed dozens of policemen at a mosque in a government compound in northwest Pakistan reflects “security lapses,” current and former officials said. The blast, which ripped through a Sunni mosque inside a major police facility the mosque, was one of the deadliest attacks on Pakistani security forces in recent years, with a death toll that rose to 88 Tuesday.More than 300 worshippers were praying in the mosque in the city of Peshawar, with more approaching, when the bomber set off his explosives vest on Monday morning, officials said.The explosion blew off part of the roof, and what was left soon caved in, injuring many more, according to Zafar Khan, a police officer. Rescuers had to remove mounds of debris to reach worshippers still trapped under the rubble.More bodies were retrieved overnight and early Tuesday, according to Mohammad Asim, a government hospital spokesman in Peshawar, and several of those critically injured died. “Most of them were policemen,” Asim said of the victims. The bombing also wounded more than 150 people.Bilal Faizi, the chief rescue official, said rescue teams were still working Tuesday at the site as more people are believed trapped inside. Mourners were burying the victim at different graveyards in the city and elsewhere.Counter-terrorism police are investigating how the bomber was able to reach the mosque, which is in a walled compound, inside a high security zone with other government buildings.“Yes, it was a security lapse,” said Ghulam Ali, the provincial governor in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, of which Peshawar is the capital.Talat Masood, a retired army general and senior security analyst said Monday’s suicide bombing showed “negligence.”"When we know that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is active, and when we know that they have threatened to carry out attacks, there should have been more security at the police compound in Peshawar,” he told The Associated Press on Tuesday, referring to a militant group also known as the Pakistani Taliban or TTP.Kamkan Bangash, a provincial secretary-general with opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf called for an investigation and said Pakistan will continue to face political instability so long as the current government is in power.“The current government of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has failed to improve the economy and law and order situation, and it should resign to pave the way for snap parliamentary elections,” he said.The military’s media wing declined an Associated Press interview request for the chief of army staff. Asim Munir, who took office in November, has yet to do any media appearances.Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited a hospital in Peshawar after the bombing and vowed “stern action” against those behind the attack.“The sheer scale of the human tragedy is unimaginable. This is no less than an attack on Pakistan,” he tweeted.Authorities have not determined who was behind the bombing. Shortly after the explosion, TTP commander Sarbakaf Mohmand claimed responsibility for the attack in a post on Twitter.But hours later, TTP spokesperson Mohammad Khurasani distanced the group from the bombing, saying it was not its policy to target mosques, seminaries and religious places, adding that those taking part in such acts could face punitive action under TTP’s policy. His statement did not address why a TTP commander had claimed responsibility for the bombing.Pakistan, which is mostly Sunni Muslim, has seen a surge in militant attacks since November, when the Pakistani Taliban ended a cease-fire with government forces, as the country was contending with unprecedented floods that killed 1,739 people, destroyed more than 2 million homes, and at one point submerged as much as a third of the country.The Pakistani Taliban are the dominant militant group in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and Peshawar has been the scene of frequent attacks. But the Islamic State in Khorasan Province, a regional affiliation of the Islamic State group and a rival of the Taliban, has also been behind deadly attacks in Pakistan in recent years. Overall, violence has increased since the Afghan Taliban seized power in neighboring Afghanistan in August 2021, as U.S. and NATO troops pulled out of the country after 20 years of war.The TTP is separate from but a close ally of the Afghan Taliban. It has waged an insurgency in Pakistan in the past 15 years, seeking stricter enforcement of Islamic laws, the release of its members in government custody and a reduction in the Pakistani military presence in areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province it has long used as its base.Earlier this month, the Pakistani Taliban claimed one of its members shot and killed two intelligence officers, including the director of the counterterrorism wing of the country’s military-based spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence. Security officials said Monday the gunman was traced and killed in a shootout in the northwest, near the Afghan border. In 2014, a Pakistani Taliban faction attacked an army-run school in Peshawar and killed 154, mostly schoolchildren.The Taliban-run Afghan Foreign Ministry said it was “saddened to learn that numerous people lost their lives" in Peshawar and condemned attacks on worshippers as contrary to the teachings of Islam.U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on a visit to the Middle East, tweeted his condolences, saying the bombing in Peshawar was a “horrific attack."“Terrorism for any reason at any place is indefensible," he said.Pakistan is also contending with political and economic crises in the wake of the floods and a disputed election.Condemnations also came from the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad, as well as the U.S. Embassy, which said that the “United States stands with Pakistan in condemning all forms of terrorism.”U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the bombing “particularly abhorrent” for targeting a place of worship, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan also expressed his condolences, calling the bombing a “terrorist suicide attack.”

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited a hospital in Peshawar after the bombing and vowed “stern action” against those behind the attack

 A suicide bombing that killed dozens of policemen at a mosque in a government compound in northwest Pakistan reflects “security lapses"

Police say death toll in Pakistan mosque bombing now at 95

The same-sex life partnership law in Montenegro came into force on July 15th, 2021, and Budva has become a hit destination for same-sex weddings. In the first year when the law entered into force, four LGBTQ couples said the fateful "yes", while in 2022, 27 same-sex marriages were concluded.<h2>Make their love official</h2>Of those, as registrar Žana Kapa confirmed to us, three people from Bosnia and Herzegovina entered into a same-sex marriage.- Two girls from Bosnia and Herzegovina have married, while the third person from Bosnia and Herzegovina has a mixed marriage, i.e. the other partner was not from BiH, but from another country. However, such marriage concluded in Montenegro in Bosnia and Herzegovina means nothing because it is not recognized due to the absence of a law on entering into a same-sex partnership. They come to us, probably, to make their love official in some way, but legally in Bosnia and Herzegovina they do not have the status of married partners - Kapa stated for "Avaz".

In addition to citizens of Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, same-sex marriages were also concluded in this coastal city by citizens of Serbia, Croatia, North Macedonia, Russia, Ukraine, Great Britain...For this year, currently, more weddings have been announced than last year.<h2>Closed space</h2>- The Law is still "fresh" in enforcement, so people do not yet have the freedom to publicly enter into such a partnership. All this happens in some closed rooms, offices, where the two of them appear with two witnesses. It is interesting that the mother of one person from Bosnia and Herzegovina was at the wedding. There are almost no other guests, they still don't dare to do it somewhere public and transparent, like open spaces, beaches, hotels, restaurants. But it is expected that there will be many more couples this year. Currently, foreign citizens have more of that freedom - Kapa told us and added:- We married only one couple, two men, they were foreigners, outdoors. It was on a ship, near Budva, and it was a very beautiful ceremony.<h2>What is the procedure</h2>In terms of procedure, same-sex marriages require a birth certificate, a certificate of unmarried status, a certificate of citizenship and a passport.- If we are talking about foreigners who do not come from the countries of the region, the papers must be translated by an authorized court interpreter - explained Kapa.

I married two girls from BiH, and the third person's partner was from another country, Kapa said

Three persons from Bosnia and Herzegovina entered into same-sex marriages

On the one hand, there are serious objections between us, on the other hand, there is a lot of interest in the SDA, which, through its regime portals, and perhaps some people within our structures, is trying to catch the last train and save itself from the absolute opposition, which for them would be problematic. <h2>Big mistakes</h2>Elmedin Konaković, the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the leader of Narod i pravda, said this in an interview with "Avaz", commenting on the relations within the Eight after Semir Efendić's Stranka za BiH, Nermin Ogrešević's NES and Damir Marjanović's Za nove genercije left the SDP without delegate in the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly.- I didn't have a chance to talk in person with my colleagues, we will do it at the beginning of the week and, after I talk live with first of all Nermin Nikšić and Edin Forto, and then with the other representatives of the Eight, we will express our position on everything - Konaković said.He referred to the beginning of his mandate as head of diplomacy, saying that from Thursday and from the first few contacts with important representatives of the international community, the fact was confirmed that Bosnia and Herzegovina did almost nothing in lobbying the European Union, the administration of the United States of America, and friends in the East and West, and neighboring countries and that those processes have been started.

As he said, right at the beginning, they noted the big mistakes of his predecessor, Bisera Turković (SDA), and above all, they concern the opening of consulates in Rijeka and Novi Pazar. Konaković pointed out that these consulates were opened exclusively for the SDA campaign.<h2>Audit report</h2>- They were opened without systematized workplaces, there are no people in those buildings, or there are individuals who apparently work illegally or through other channels. Expenses of around one hundred thousand euros were incurred where there is no systematized work nor was it possible to open those consulates, but only for the sake of the campaign or the interests of the party. I'm not gloating, but we were talking about how those who call themselves protectors used BiH institutions exclusively and primarily for party and private interests or as ATMs - said Konaković.

By the way, "Avaz" is in possession of the audit report for the year 2022, which speaks of the completely non-domestic management of one of the most important institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The report also states how much it costs the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina to rent empty consulates. Thus, renting this space in Rijeka costs us 3,720 euros per month, in Novi Pazar 3,850 euros, in Tirana 2,120 euros...&nbsp;

I will talk first with Nikšić and Forto, and then with the other representatives of the Eight about everything

Konaković for "Avaz": SDA wants to be saved from becoming the opposition

Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that President Vladimir Putin didn’t seem serious about avoiding war in the days before Russia invaded Ukraine — and at one point told the British leader it would be easy to kill him with a missile. The Kremlin denied Putin made any such threat.In a documentary released Monday, Johnson says he called Putin in February 2022 and tried to dissuade him from war, telling him Ukraine would not be joining NATO in the foreseeable future – a longstanding concern of the Russian leader – and warning invasion would bring “massive” Western sanctions.“From the very relaxed tone that he was taking, the sort of air of detachment that he seemed to have, he was just playing along with my attempts to get him to negotiate,” Johnson says in the BBC series “Putin vs the West.”Johnson says that Putin “threatened me at one point and said, ‘Boris, I don’t want to hurt you, but with a missile, it would only take a minute’, or something like that.”The three-part series produced by veteran documentary-maker Norma Percy recounts how Western leaders dealt with Russia’s president in the years leading up to the Feb. 24, 2022 invasion.Percy said Monday that she did not think Putin was making a direct threat but “it was a reminder that he could do it, and (Johnson) should remember that when he is dealing with him.”Asked about Johnson’s comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that his account was untrue, “or, more precisely, it was a lie.” Peskov said Johnson may have deliberately lied or failed to understand what Putin was telling him.“There were no threats with missiles,” Peskov said on a conference call with reporters. "While talking about security challenges to Russia, President Putin said that if Ukraine joins NATO the potential deployment of U.S. or other NATO missiles near our borders would mean that any such missile could reach Moscow in minutes.”Johnson was one of the most prominent international allies of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy until he was forced out of office in mid-2022 by ethics scandals. Britain remains a major supplier of military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Johnson says that Putin “threatened me at one point and said, ‘Boris, I don’t want to hurt you, but with a missile, it would only take a minute"

Boris Johnson says Putin said he could hit him with missile

Russian shelling killed at least five people and wounded 13 others during the previous 24 hours, Ukrainian authorities said Monday as the Kremlin’s and Kyiv’s forces remained locked in combat in eastern Ukraine. The casualties included a woman who was killed and three others who were wounded by the Russian shelling of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city in the country’s northeast, according to regional Gov. Oleh Syniyehubov.Moscow’s troops seized large areas of the northeastern Kharkiv region in the months following its invasion of its neighbor last February. But Ukrainian counteroffensives that began in August snatched back Russian-occupied territory, most notably in Kharkiv.Those successes lent weight to Ukraine’s arguments that its troops could deliver more stinging defeats to Russia if its Western allies provided more weaponry.Kyiv last week won promises of tanks from the United States and Germany to help its war effort.Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Monday hinted at the prospect of more upcoming pledges, saying that “any activity aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s defense powers is under consultation with our NATO partners.”Military analysts say more aid for Ukraine is crucial if Kyiv is to block an expected Russian offensive in the spring and launch its own effort to push back the Russian forces.“The pattern of delivery of Western aid has powerfully shaped the pattern of this conflict,” the Institute for the Study of War, a U.S.-based think tank, said late Sunday.But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted that supplies of Western weapons won’t stop Russia.“Ukraine keeps demanding new weapons and the West is encouraging those demands,” Peskov said in a conference call with reporters Monday. “It’s a deadlock, it results in a significant escalation and makes NATO countries increasingly involved in the conflict.”Ukraine’s presidential office said the eastern Donetsk region, which has been the scene of intense fighting for months, remains “invariably hard.”Heavy fighting continued to rage around Bakhmut and Vuhledar, with regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko saying that 15 towns and villages in the region came under shelling Sunday.Russian forces have been trying for months to capture Bakhmut, with the effort being led by the Wagner Group, a private military company led by a rogue millionaire with longtime links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.Ukrainian troops last week said they conducted an organized retreat from Soledar, a few kilometers (miles) from Bakhmut, amid pressure from Wagner, which is believed to have a large number of convicts in its ranks.Ukrainian authorities said the southern city of Kherson also has come under Russian shelling. The bombardment damaged residential buildings, a hospital, a school, a bus station, a bank and a post office.Two foreign vessels were damaged in the port of Kherson, the presidential office added without elaborating.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted that supplies of Western weapons won’t stop Russia

A Ukrainian soldier looks out of an APC during combat training in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023.

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Strikes, protests hit France in round 2 of pension battle

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News

S. Korean court sentences ex-minister to 2 years in prison

Turkey says West failed to share details of security threat

EU officials hold Kyiv talks in show of support for Ukraine

EU officials visit Kyiv as Russia strikes civilian target

Nikšić for "Avaz": What did Ogrešević and Marjanović agree before the elections!

Police Commissioner Nusret Selimović for "Avaz": They won't break my back!

Prying eyes: Neighbors win privacy feud with UK Tate gallery

India to raise spending on job creation ahead of election

McDonald's has no intention of continuing to do business in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Who is in fear in police structures: Big "fishes" on Sky

Strikes, protests hit France in round 2 of pension battle

Police say death toll in Pakistan mosque bombing now at 95

Three persons from Bosnia and Herzegovina entered into same-sex marriages

Konaković for "Avaz": SDA wants to be saved from becoming the opposition

Boris Johnson says Putin said he could hit him with missile

Russian shelling kills 5 in tough eastern Ukraine combat