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Viorel Moldovan. Photo: Lukáš Vráblik Lenin of the Rovers

Despite harsh criticism from rights groups, international organisations and the media, the assembly of Republika Srpska, one of two entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Thursday adopted draft amendments to the criminal code, making defamation a crime. 

With 48 votes in favour and 21 against, the law will go to a 60-day public consultation period before its final adoption. 

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Wednesday awarded Statehood Day honours at a ceremony also attended by PM Ana Brnabic, Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik and Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Legendary former Serbian footballer and coach Sinisa Mihajlovic and composer Kornelije Kovac were posthumously awarded the Order of Karadjordje's Star.

Slovenian director Mateja Koležnik's take on Maxim Gorky's play Children of the Sun, staged at the German theatre Schauspielhaus Bochum, has made a list of ten remarkable productions from the last season in German-speaking theatre. A panel of critics applauded her work as highly topical.

The municipality of Karlovo declared a partial state of emergency for the villages of Karavelovo and Bogdan due to rising water levels in the river. There is no danger to the population, said the mayor of Karlovo, Emil Kabaivanov.

Migrants paid up to 10,000 euros to be trafficked from Turkey to Serbia through the territory of Bulgaria. This was stated at a joint briefing by the Prosecutor's Office, the Ministry of the Interior, the State Police and the Security Services.

The toll from a devastating strike on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro was expected to rise past 40 on Tuesday as rescuers searched the rubble for 25 people still missing after one of Russia's deadliest attacks since its invasion.

President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced the missile strike as a war crime.

Here are the highlights of events related to the war in Ukraine over the past 24 hours:

Zelensky expects more weapons from the allies, heavy fighting for Soledar

Ukraine says its troops are holding their ground in the eastern town of Soledar, where heavy fighting is taking place. President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the need for more weapons from the allies.

The TV channel ITV News revealed new details about a scandalous party in April 2021 with the participation of former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, which became one of the factors for the resignation of the politician.

The fugitive suspect wanted for 12 years in the murder of Turkmen businessman Chary Gaipov has been caught in Istanbul's Maltepe district.

During the identity check, it was determined that Ümit D., 42, was wanted with a 25-year prison sentence for "premeditated murder" and "escape from the convict." During the body search, an unlicensed gun was also seized.