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Serbia school attack: Silence and teddies at scene of shooting

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The community in central Belgrade is in mourning after the worst school shooting in Serbian history, which took place at the Vladislav Ribnikar elementary school. A 13-year-old student entered the school armed with two guns and a “kill list”, and killed eight fellow students and a security guard. Six other children remain in hospital.

Mourners are arriving at the school to pay their respects and lay flowers and toys. Students from the neighboring college stood in silence to remember the victims.

A 19-year-old student named Alex Oborina expressed the sentiment that many are feeling, that as a society, they have failed because a 13-year-old should not be able to grab a gun and shoot his friends. He adds that this is probably the worst thing that has ever happened in his life and hopes that they can use this tragedy as a stepping stone to rebuild.

Some are questioning whether the fact that the suspect is only 13 years old will make it harder for Serbian society to come to terms with the school shooting since he is too young to face prosecution. However, one mourner notes that justice would never be served for the parents who lost their children, regardless of the perpetrator’s age.

The motive for the attack is still unclear. Seven of the eight victims who were killed were girls. Mourners are leaving flowers and candles at the site of the shooting, with one mother of two saying that her 10-year-old son asked what would happen if a shooting happened at his school.

She believes that her country needs to look beyond just the actions of one teenager and address issues of violence both online and in real life urgently, as she fears that this tragedy may be the beginning. She adds that they need to take care of their kids and address the problems in their society.

The woman responsible for preventing violence in Serbian classrooms, Milja Krivokuca, says that nothing in the suspect’s school records showed any sign of his capability for such violence. She notes that the most important thing now is to support everyone, stabilize the situation, and retrospectively review if something could have been done differently. Two teacher unions have announced a strike to demand better protection for staff and pupils.

President Aleksandar Vucic has suggested lowering the age of criminal liability from 14 to 12 in response to the tragedy, and Krivokuca agrees with this proposal, stating that it is necessary to secure maximum protection for schools. She suggests that Serbia should compare its legislation with other European countries and beyond where legal responsibility starts at 12 or 10 years old.

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Ukraine war: Zelensky visits The Hague after new strikes in Ukraine

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There have been reports of explosions in several Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa, a day after Russia accused Ukraine of carrying out a drone attack on the Kremlin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is currently in the Netherlands, where he is expected to address the International Criminal Court’s investigation into alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

Mr. Zelensky denied his country’s involvement in the attack on Putin, stating that they are only fighting to defend their own territory. During his visit, Mr. Zelensky is scheduled to meet with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to discuss his request for more military support from the Netherlands.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte had previously stated that supplying fighter jets to Ukraine was not out of the question but would be a significant step. Following Russia’s accusation of a drone attack by Ukraine on the Kremlin, Russia threatened to retaliate at their discretion. In response, Ukraine reported air raids in several cities, and Russia launched strikes on Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, causing 21 fatalities.

Some commentators have suggested that the alleged drone attack on the Kremlin was staged by Russia as it is unlikely for two drones to penetrate multiple layers of air defense and detonate over the heart of the Kremlin. They believe that Russia may have orchestrated the attack to mobilize societal support and prepare for wider conflict.

However, some experts dispute this theory, stating that Russia would not want to appear vulnerable by staging an attack on the Kremlin, which may lead to questions about the efficacy of their air defenses and Putin’s protection.

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Lionel Messi suspended by Paris St-Germain for two weeks over Saudi Arabia trip

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Lionel Messi, the captain of Paris St-Germain, has been suspended for two weeks by the club for travelling to Saudi Arabia without their permission. This came after the team’s recent loss to Lorient, in which Messi played the entire game. Messi had requested permission to travel for commercial purposes, but the club denied the request. Messi claims that he had initially been granted permission to travel, but that it was later rescinded due to a change in the club’s training schedule. During the two-week suspension, Messi will not be allowed to participate in any training or games with PSG.

In addition to being suspended by PSG for two weeks, Lionel Messi has also been fined by the club. Messi has been serving as a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia, which is believed to be the reason for his unauthorized trip to the country. His contract with PSG is set to expire this summer.

Reports from March suggest that Barcelona has been in contact with Messi about the possibility of returning to the Nou Camp. Messi has played 71 games for PSG, scoring 31 goals and contributing 34 assists. He helped the team win the Ligue 1 title last season. Due to his suspension, Messi will miss PSG’s upcoming matches against Troyes and Ajaccio. PSG is currently leading the league by five points with five games left to play, and is aiming to win their ninth league title in 11 seasons.

Lionel Messi has made a decision that indicates the end of his time with Paris St-Germain. While the team has three games left to play after his suspension, PSG’s future plans do not involve Messi, who less than five months ago won the World Cup.

PSG sees their actions as standard employee punishment for someone who left for work during work hours and outside of the approved location. However, this move is also a statement about the team’s future direction, which they plan to center around younger players, as well as their strict approach to discipline. PSG fans no longer want Messi, and it is highly unlikely that his contract will be renewed.

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Belgrade shooting: Huge police operation after Serbia school attack

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A shooting at a school in Belgrade, Serbia, resulted in the deaths of at least eight students and a security guard. Six other pupils and a teacher were also injured and taken to the hospital. The suspect, a 14-year-old seventh-grade student, was arrested, and officials claim that he used his father’s gun. The motive behind the attack is currently under investigation.

The police immediately cordoned off the area, and an intensive investigation is underway to determine the circumstances that led to the tragedy. Parents were heard crying in the streets around the school hours after the shooting, with some still unsure if their children were alive. Some of them expressed frustration with the lack of information provided by the police.

Parents of students who were caught up in the shooting pleaded with police officers for any information about their children’s whereabouts, while others frantically called hospitals and doctors in Belgrade. Local media showed images of the suspect, who was handcuffed and had his head covered by a jacket, being led away from the scene by police.

Three pupils who were injured in the shooting were transferred to a local hospital, where two boys were stable but had gunshot wounds to their lower extremities, while a girl had a serious head injury and was undergoing surgery. The teacher who was shot was fighting for his life. The shooting is a rare occurrence in Serbia, which has strict gun laws, but gun ownership is among the highest in Europe.

The western Balkans are flooded with illegal weapons following wars and unrest in the 1990s, and Serbia has the third-highest number of firearms per 100 people in the world.

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Dog diplomacy: Turkey sends Mexico puppy after search dog’s death

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Mexico is receiving a German Shepherd puppy from Turkey as a token of gratitude for Mexico’s search and rescue dogs’ help during February’s earthquake in Turkey. The puppy is intended to continue the legacy of Proteo, a Mexican rescue dog who passed away during the rescue operations.

The Mexican Ministry of Defense has asked people to vote on one of three names for the puppy: Proteo II, Arkadas, or Yardim. Mexico has specialized civilian and military teams with canine units that search for survivors during natural disasters.

These dogs gained popularity after saving several lives during the 2017 earthquake in central Mexico. When Turkey and Syria were struck by a massive earthquake in February, Mexico quickly deployed rescue teams with search dogs to assist in finding survivors.

During the rescue mission in Turkey, Proteo, a nine-year-old German Shepherd, located a man and a woman under the rubble before he died from exhaustion, according to his trainer. Proteo’s remains were returned to Mexico, where he was honoured in a ceremony before being buried.

Mexico’s Ministry of Defense, on its Facebook page, expressed gratitude for the puppy donated by Turkey, and hoped it would continue Proteo’s legacy in their search and rescue missions.

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Ukraine war: More than 20,000 Russian troops killed since December, US says

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According to newly declassified intelligence, the US estimates that over 20,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in fighting in Ukraine since December, with an additional 80,000 wounded. Half of the casualties are from the Wagner mercenary company, which has been attacking the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine.

The battle for Bakhmut has taken on significant symbolic importance for both sides, with Ukrainian officials stating that they are using it to wear down Russia’s reserves. Despite holding most of Bakhmut, Russia has been unable to seize any significant territory. The toll in Bakhmut accounts for losses since the start of December, according to the US figures.

According to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, Russia’s attempted offensive in Ukraine has failed, with extraordinary losses suffered by Russian soldiers. The US estimates that over 20,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the fighting, with an additional 80,000 wounded.

Kirby did not give estimates of Ukrainian casualties, as he considers Ukraine to be the victim in the conflict. Bakhmut, the city being fought over, has little strategic value, but has become a focal point for Russian commanders who have struggled to deliver any positive news to the Kremlin. The Wagner mercenary group, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, has taken centre stage in the Russian assault on Bakhmut.

However, Prigozhin has threatened to pull his troops out of Bakhmut if they are not provided with much-needed ammunition by the Russian defence ministry, warning that Wagner fighters could be redeployed to Mali. It should be noted that the figures given by the US cannot be independently verified, and Moscow has not commented on them.

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Ukraine war: Russia launches second pre-dawn missile attack in three days

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Early in the morning, Russia launched a series of missile attacks on Ukrainian cities for the second time in three days. One of the targets was Pavlohrad, a logistics center close to Dnipro, ahead of an anticipated counter-offensive by Ukraine. The attack caused a significant fire, destroyed many homes, and left 34 people injured. The air raid alert was sounded across Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv. According to the Ukrainian army, they were able to shoot down 15 of the 18 cruise missiles fired.

The most severe damage was in Pavlohrad, which is in Ukrainian-controlled territory, approximately 70 miles from the frontline. Social media posts showed a massive blaze. A resident, Olha Lytvynenko, reported that both doors of her home were smashed open by the explosion wave while she was getting dressed to leave.

She ran outside to find her garage destroyed, everything on fire, and glass shards everywhere. She added that if they had been outside, they would have died.

The Dnipropetrovsk military administration in Ukraine referred to the missile attack as a “tragic night and morning,” stating that an industrial site was among the targets. Nineteen high-rise apartment blocks, 25 private houses, six schools and kindergartens, and five shops were also damaged. According to Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed official, the strike targeted railway infrastructure and fuel depots. Later, the air raid alert went off in Kyiv at around 04:00 local time, and it lasted for three hours.

However, the military administration confirmed that all missiles and drones aimed at the capital were neutralized. Meanwhile, in the Kherson region, which is partially controlled by Russia, Ukrainian regional authorities disclosed that Russia had conducted 39 shelling, including ground-based weapons, drones, and planes, killing one person.

Recent days have witnessed an increase in attacks in Ukraine, with even areas far from the front lines being targeted. On Friday, 23 individuals lost their lives in Uman, a central city. Ukraine has claimed that it is finalizing plans for a long-awaited offensive against Russian forces, with the support of weapons and military equipment supplied by the West.

Russia, in the meantime, is also preparing for a possible Ukrainian push and has fortified its positions in the occupied territory. Cl Gen Mikhail Mizintsev, who oversaw armed forces logistics as the Russian deputy defense minister, was sacked in the latest change at the country’s military leadership. There have been long-standing complaints that troops on the front line are not receiving enough military equipment and suffer from food and uniform shortages.

On Monday, a Ukrainian official announced that the army had removed Russian forces from some positions in Bakhmut, an eastern city that had been under siege for several months. According to General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the ground forces commander, the situation remained “quite difficult,” but “the enemy is unable to take control of the city.”

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Pope Francis urges Hungarians to ‘open doors’ to migrants

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Pope Francis has called on Hungary and its leaders to open their doors to migrants during his visit to the country. Speaking at an open-air mass in Budapest, he expressed his disappointment that doors were being closed to those who were different.

Despite Hungary’s anti-immigration stance, up to 100,000 people, including Prime Minister Viktor Orban, attended the mass. Pope Francis urged everyone, especially those with political and social responsibilities, to be more open towards migrants and the poor. During the mass, he also prayed for peace between Ukraine and Russia, who are currently at war.

On his flight back home, Pope Francis disclosed that the Vatican was involved in a peace mission to put an end to the war between Ukraine and Russia, though he did not reveal the details of the mission yet. He also expressed his willingness to assist in the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia since the invasion.

During his three-day visit to Hungary, Pope Francis discussed the conflict in Ukraine with Prime Minister Viktor Orban and a representative of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Pope’s visit to Hungary was his first since he became Pope 10 years ago, and it was driven by his support for Catholics and concern over the war in Ukraine.

Hungary shares a border with Ukraine, and Prime Minister Orban has maintained relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, refusing to support military aid for Ukraine unlike other leaders of the European Union. During his visit, the Pope met with people from all walks of life, including youths, the poor, politicians, and academics.

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Walrus Freya killed by Norway gets Oslo sculpture

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Oslo has revealed a bronze statue of a walrus named Freya, who was previously a famous attraction but was euthanized due to concerns for public safety. The statue portrays Freya lying on her side on a shore and was created by Astri Tonoian, who named it “For Our Sins” to represent how humans treat wild nature and each other.

An online campaign raised $25,000 to fund the statue’s creation, with campaign organizer Erik Holm expressing anger towards the Norwegian Fisheries Directorate and the state’s handling of the situation.

Last August, Freya, who weighed around 600kg, was put down due to safety concerns, which sparked criticism across Norway. The walrus had become famous for climbing onto boats to sunbathe, sometimes causing them to sink.

The local authorities claimed that people had disregarded warnings to avoid getting too close to the animal, endangering themselves and Freya. In one instance, police blocked off a bathing area after the walrus chased a woman into the water. Additionally, the Norwegian fisheries ministry shared a photo showing a large group of people, including children, standing dangerously close to the animal.

Frank Bakke-Jensen, the director general of fisheries, defended the decision to euthanize Freya, stating that it was based on an assessment of the continuing threat to human safety. Bakke-Jensen explained that the public had disregarded recommendations to keep a safe distance from the walrus, and therefore, the potential for harm to people was high, and animal welfare was not being maintained.

He added that the operation to put Freya down was done humanely, and her body was taken for examination by veterinarians.

Freya, who was first seen in Oslo in July last year, was named after the Norse goddess of beauty and love. As a protected species, walruses are typically found further north in the Arctic and generally do not attack humans, although there have been a few rare incidents. In 2016, at a wildlife park in China, a tourist and a zookeeper were killed by a walrus.

The tourist had allegedly been taking selfies with the animal when he was grabbed and pulled underwater, while the zookeeper attempted to rescue him and was also pulled under.

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Ukraine war: Crimea oil tank set ablaze by reported drone

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A drone strike caused a large fire at an oil depot in Sevastopol, the main city in Crimea, which is controlled by Russia. Social media footage showed flames from the site early on Saturday, but the fire was later extinguished and no injuries were reported. The governor of the region, who was appointed by Moscow, said the preliminary information suggested a drone strike caused the fire.

This incident occurred five days after Russia claimed to have repelled a drone attack by the Ukrainian military in the same area. Crimea has experienced frequent attacks since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. On Friday, Russia launched airstrikes in several cities in Ukraine, killing at least 25 people, marking the first such attack in months.

In a recent Russian airstrike, a block of flats in the central Ukrainian city of Uman was hit, killing 23 people, including four children, and a woman and her three-year-old daughter died in Dnipro. Kyiv was also targeted for the first time in 51 days, but no casualties were reported. Ukraine’s air defence system intercepted 21 of the 23 missiles and two drones. The Russian defence ministry claimed that Ukrainian army reserve units were targeted and denied deliberately targeting civilians.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for increased global sanctions against Russia and stated that the attacks indicated the need for further international action. Ukraine’s forces claim they are prepared to launch a military offensive, and Western allies have provided them with new equipment. Russia has struggled to make progress in a winter offensive, including a 10-month battle for control of the strategically significant city of Bakhmut.

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