The Pharmacovigilance Sector of the Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices of B&amp;H has so far received 22 reports of adverse reactions, after the vaccine against COVID-19 received in B&amp;H, and classified as "non serious".

As the director of the Agency, Aleksandar Zolak, told FENA, the reported symptoms are common reactions to the vaccine, which are fever, rash, pain at the administration site, headache, fatigue, prolonged diarrhea, with recovery without consequences.
-A total of 18 reports of adverse reactions were to the vaccine, received on the basis of the Donation Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, from March 2. Four applications were received for the vaccine from the Covax supply program, manufactured by BioNTech Manufacturing GmbH. One application was received, with recovery in progress- he said.
Director Zolak adds that two reports of adverse effects were received from B&amp;H citizens who were vaccinated in Serbia, for the Covishield vaccine, Serum Institute India.
-Every report of an adverse effect on the vaccine becomes part of the important information for assessing the safety of the vaccine- said Zolak.
He adds that patients who have been vaccinated and have side effects after vaccination, should report it to a healthcare professional (doctor, pharmacist).
He recalls that the treatment of COVID-19 disease is symptomatic, not causal. This means that there is no medicine that cures the disease, there are medicines that alleviate the symptoms of the disease.
-The medicine used against the disease is a vaccine, as a prophylaxis or prevention of the disease. The vaccine creates passive immunity, which ensures that the human body does not develop the disease after contact with the virus- he emphasized.
The Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices of B&amp;H is also the National Center for Monitoring the Side Effects of Medicines in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a full member of the WHO-UMC network of national adverse reaction centers in the world, and the only one with access to WHO-UMC databases for global reporting and monitoring of adverse reactions from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

All of them are classified as "non serious"

Zolak: Every report of an adverse effect on the vaccine becomes part of the important information for assessing the safety of the vaccine

Zolak: Agency for Medicines received 22 reports of reactions after vaccination

Thirty people over the age of 65 were vaccinated today at the Srebrenica Health Center.

The director of the Srebrenica Health Center, Aleksandar Jovanović, told the media that they received 30 doses of Pfizer vaccines from the RS Institute of Public Health.
-We administered all 30 doses today. We still expect that they will send us vaccines, and we do not know at what pace, but we will inform our citizens. The lists have been made, we have contact numbers- said Jovanović.
He emphasizes that the vaccination is on a voluntary basis and that about 300 citizens over the age of 65 have applied.
-We follow the list, we tell our fellow citizens which vaccine we have and they decide whether they want to be vaccinated. We hope that we will get more vaccines so that we can vaccinate all the citizens that have applied- said Jovanović.

This is on a voluntary basis and about 300 citizens over the age of 65 have applied

Thirty people over the age of 65 were vaccinated today at the Srebrenica Health Center

Vaccination of people over 65 years of age begins in Srebrenica

A total of 4,396 samples were registered with the Public Health Institute of the Federation of B&amp;H in the past 24 hours, of which 1,001 were positive for SARS-CoV-2.

New cases have been registered in all the cantons in the Federation of B&amp;H, stated the FB&amp;H Public Health Institute.
Currently, there are 19,454 active cases of SARS-CoV-2.
In the past 24 hours, 63 new deaths were reported to the FB&amp;H Public Health Institute. As of today, the number of deaths in the Federation of B&amp;H is 4,103.
After testing 183 samples, 124 new cases of coronavirus infection were registered in the Brčko District. Nine patients recovered. Five people have died in the last 24 hours.
In the entity of Republic of Srpska, 1,154 samples were tested in the last 24 hours, and coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was confirmed in 457 people.
In the last 24 hours, 16 deaths were reported. A total of 2,878 people have died in the RS so far.
The total number of hospitalized is 1,447. There are 117 people on the ventilators.

Currently, there are 19,454 active cases of SARS-CoV-2 in FB&H

There are 117 people on the ventilators in RS

COVID-19 confirmed in 1,582 people in B&H, with 84 deaths

There is not enough data to suggest whether vaccines prevent transmission of the coronavirus and whether the use of vaccine passports would be an effective strategy, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Tuesday.

In a UN news briefing, WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said not everyone has access to vaccines in many countries.
Harris cited pregnant women or children under 18 or large numbers of people who are immunosuppressed.
-And then of course there's the lack of access to vaccines in many countries- she said, adding: -We are still waiting on adequate supplies to provide the vaccines to all the countries that need them.-Harris said that the equity issue is very important.
-And ultimately, of course, when we know more about whether or not it prevents transmission and when there's greater equity, this is something that may well be important in the future- she added.
As of April 5, the WHO said, more than 604 million vaccine doses have been administered, but overwhelmingly in developed countries.
The COVAX facility aimed at speeding up vaccines to nations in need has delivered 35 million doses to more than 78 countries.

There is lack of access to vaccines in many countries

As of April 5, the WHO said, more than 604 million vaccine doses have been administered, but overwhelmingly in developed countries

Not enough data to support vaccine passports

Germany said Wednesday there was a “real chance” to rescue the Iran nuclear accord following the latest round of talks in Vienna between Iran and the four world powers still party to the 2015 deal.

Speaking at a press conference in Berlin, Christofer Burger, the deputy Foreign Ministry spokesman, praised the “constructive” stance in the meeting between senior officials of Iran, China, Russia, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.
-I can say that from our point of view all delegations are behaving constructively. From our point of view, there is a real chance to preserve the JCPOA and to achieve a return of the USA to the agreement- Burger said, referring to the deal’s official name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
He added that it is important for all sides to show a “willingness to compromise” amid intensified diplomatic efforts to return the US to the landmark accord and lift the Trump-era sanctions on Iran.
Burger made also clear all sides face “hard work” ahead to save the nuclear agreement.
The countries will continue to discuss ways to revive the deal, which then-US President Donald Trump unilaterally abandoned in May 2018.
A US delegation was also in the Austrian capital on Tuesday in a bid to save the accord, but the team headed by Special Envoy Robert Malley did not participate in the meeting with other world powers, as Iran refuses to directly negotiate with the US until so-called “maximum pressure” sanctions are lifted.

Berlin urges 'willingness to compromise' amid intensified diplomacy to return US to nuclear deal

Burger made also clear all sides face “hard work” ahead to save the nuclear agreement

Germany stresses 'real chance' to save Iran nuke deal

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) confirmed on Wednesday that there was a “possible link” between the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and “very rare cases of unusual blood clots.”

-EMA’s safety committee has concluded today that unusual blood clots with low blood platelets should be listed as very rare side effects of Vaxzevria (formerly COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca)- the EU regulator said in a statement.
The agency upheld its recommendation to continue using the vaccine, saying that its benefits outweigh the risks.
However, the EU regulator advised healthcare professionals and people receiving the vaccine “to remain aware of the possibility of very rare cases of blood clots combined with low levels of blood platelets occurring within two weeks of vaccination.”
The agency said it conducted a detailed review of 62 cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis – blood clots in veins in the brain – and 24 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis – blood clots in veins in the abdomen.
A total of 18 of these cases were fatal, according to the EMA.
In March, several European countries – including Sweden, Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway – suspended the use of the AstraZeneca jab for a while after reports of blood clots in some vaccinated people.
The EU regulator has since repeatedly confirmed the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine and stressed that its benefits outweigh the risks.
The agency, however, decided to release a new assessment after a senior official said in an interview on Tuesday that there was a clear link between the vaccine and rare blood clots in the brain.
-In my opinion, we can now say it, it is clear that there is an association [of the brain blood clots] with the vaccine. However, we still do not know what causes this reaction- Marco Cavaleri, head of the EMA’s vaccine evaluation team, told Italian newspaper Il Messagero.
He also mentioned that such incidents occurred in a higher proportion than expected among younger people.

Unusual blood clots with low blood platelets should be listed as very rare side effect, says European Medicines Agency

EMA’s safety committee has concluded today that unusual blood clots with low blood platelets should be listed as very rare side effects of Vaxzevria (formerly COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca)

AstraZeneca jab has 'possible link' to blood clots: EU regulator

Germany's Bavaria region has signed a provisional agreement to buy doses of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine once it is approved by European regulators, state premier Markus Soeder said Wednesday.

The southern state has "signed a memorandum of understanding today... for the supply of Sputnik," Soeder told reporters in Munich. 
If the Sputnik vaccine is approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Bavaria is set to receive around 2.5 million doses in the summer through a company in the Bavarian town of Illertissen, Soeder said.
The German government said last month that it would be open to using Sputnik V if it is greenlit by the EMA. 
Such approval "would provide the opportunity to use the vaccine in inoculation campaigns in Europe, and it would then also be worth considering for Germany," Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesperson Steffen Seibert said. 
Merkel herself has also suggested Germany would be open to using the jab, saying it "should use any vaccine that has been approved" by the EMA. 
The EMA has launched a rolling review of Sputnik V, a key step towards it being approved as the first non-Western coronavirus vaccine to be used across the 27-nation bloc.
Yet Sputnik has faced criticism in Western countries, and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has accused Russia and China of using their jabs to gain influence abroad. 
Russia registered Sputnik V in August, ahead of large-scale clinical trials, prompting worries among many experts over the fast-track process.
But later reviews have been largely positive, with leading medical journal The Lancet publishing results showing it is safe and more than 90 percent effective.

They are set to receive around 2.5 million doses in the summer through a company in the Bavarian town of Illertissen

The German government said last month that it would be open to using Sputnik V if it is greenlit by the EMA

Germany's Bavaria plans to buy Sputnik vaccine

The vaccination against Covid-19 infection for users of the services of nursing home institutions, whose staff was vaccinated about 20 days ago, started today in the homes for the elderly and palliative care centers in the Zenica-Doboj Canton.

As Kemal Efendić, the director of the Public Institution Home for the Elderly Zenica, pointed out in a statement for FENA, that 64 out of a total of 77 users of the institution's services received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
-Everyone who has expressed a desire to be vaccinated has been vaccinated. We are happy that, after 19 out of a total of 25 of our employees, who agreed to be vaccinated, our protégés also received the first dose of the vaccine. I hope that everything will go well- says Efendić, who pointed out that so far, no side effects have been registered in those who were vaccinated.
However, the Pensioners' Home in the ZDC has asked for additional time to start vaccination in order to secure the signatures of relatives or guardians of their beneficiaries.
-It has been agreed that we will perform the vaccination process in our institution on Friday. We do not want to risk anything, given that only the AstraZeneca vaccine is used for now, which has been placed on hold in a large number of European countries. Fifty-three out of a total of 143 of our beneficiaries expressed desire to be vaccinated- says the director of that institution, Damir Jukić.
He notes that the first dose of the same vaccine went to 25 of the 53 employees of that institution.&nbsp;

64 out of a total of 77 users of  Public Institution Home for the Elderly Zenica services received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine

They received the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine today

Vaccination of the elderly begins in nursing home institutions

At today's meeting of the Operational Group for the situation with migrants in the Una-Sana Canton (USC), it was confirmed that in recent days all migrants from the temporary reception center Miral in Velika Kladuša were tested on COVID-19, and that 135 of them tested positive.

-Unfortunately, that information is correct, but it is especially worrying that 55 infected migrants left the center after that and headed in an unknown direction. This is an inadmissible error of international and security organizations and agencies that manage the center. Therefore, we appeal to the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office of the USC to react on this issue and examine the responsibility for such a threat to the epidemiological situation in our canton- said the Prime Minister of the USC Mustafa Ružnić.
He added that the help of the competent state institutions in finding adequate space for the treatment of people with a more severe clinical picture was requested, given that city and municipal health centers, as well as the Cantonal Hospital in Bihać are near capacity.
-We simply need help in the treatment of migrants and refugees positive for COVID-19, because we no longer have any capacity. We hope for an adequate response, so that we can provide appropriate assistance to people with a possible severe clinical picture- said Prime Minister Ružnić.
Due to the increased number of infected persons at the reception centers, the Operational Group announced that the supervision and control will be intensified, i.e. the prevention of the entry of migrants and refugees into the Una-Sana Canton.

55 infected migrants left the center after that and headed in an unknown direction

The help of the competent state institutions in finding adequate space for the treatment of people with a more severe clinical picture was requested

More than 130 migrants from Miral reception center tested positive for COVID-19

The trial in the "Respirators" case continued today in the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in which Fadil Novalić, Prime Minister of FB&amp;H, Jelka Milićević, Federal Minister of Finance, Fahrudin Solak, suspended director of FCPA and Fikret Hodžić, owner of "Srebrna malina" are accused of a corruption affair worth 10.5 million KM.Today, prosecutors continued to question witness Bahra Džaka, the secretary in the Office of the accused Novalić, who knew about all the offers that reached the Government, including those of "Srebrena malina" by Fikret Hodžić.When asked by prosecutor Mirza Hukeljić, she replied that it was not an envelope that went to the director of KCUS, Sebija Izetbegović, by mistake, "but a piece of paper with the handwritten „Canada“ " on it.

She confirmed that several offers had arrived at the Office of the Government of FB&amp;H, at least three, and that the last offer was from Fikret Hodžić and "Srebrena malina".
However, as she said, this offer of "Srebrena malina" did not seem serious to her, which is why she did not send it to the FB&amp;H Public Health Institute.
-Only at the end of May can we deliver the first quantities. There are 400 pieces in stock, price 90,000 KM + VAT. That is the only thing that is available today. This is best in class. They can be delivered in Sarajevo in seven days – it is written in one of Hodžić's messages to Džaka.
She also confirmed that in later correspondence with Hodžić, he sent an e-mail stating that the government must send a letter of intent to the Chinese, and even sent a letter of intent from the Serbian government about buying respirators, which they sent to China.
Džaka said that the Government wrote the letter and translated it into English, but that by mistake, she wrote 200 respirators, instead of hundred. Džaka later explained that the first letter of intent contained a facsimile of the signature of Prime Minister Novalić, which she had placed because the prime minister was busy.
She added that the first letter of intent signed on 2nd of April was an offer for HC-VE003 respirators, but that a second letter of intent which was brough by Zoran Blagojević, Prime Minister Novalić's external public relations consultant, was signed on 15th of April . There was a hurry and as she said, she pulled Novalić out of the meeting and he just signed while standing.

However, after the respirators arrived in B&amp;H on May 16th last year, Prime Minister Fadil Novalić sent a message to Džaka at 3:30 PM:
-Please check this one more time. I found out about the AM812A from the media. That one did not cross us- Novalić wrote to the secretary, and she had previously written to him "as far as I remember, there are none of those we asked for"
As she said, she concluded that Novalić did not know which respirators were ordered. In the message, Džaka reminded him that the second letter of intent he had signed contained that code.
She explained that the letters of intent are not a binding act, but only an expression of intent to procure respirators.
Answering the question of Novalić's lawyer Vasvija Vidović, Džaka explained that Fikret Hodžić's offer did not have any special treatment in relation to the offers from the other two offers, including offer „Canada“.
Prosecutor Džermin Pašić later reformulated that into a question "did you communicate with others who sent offers in the same way as with Fikret Hodzic", to which Džaka briefly replied "no".
She also confirmed that Hodžić had sent another offer for medical equipment, and that she had previously sent him a table with the required equipment. She could not answer the question where the table came from and who made it, but later, when asked by the defense, she confirmed that the Public Health Institute had sent a list of necessary medical devices.

Hodžić made an offer which he sent on the same day, April 1st, last year, 15:01 with a total value of equipment of 3,393,000 KM.
Explaining the way of working in the office of Prime Minister Novalić, Bahra Džaka explained that Hasan Ganibegović was the director of the Prime Minister's Office and her direct superior, and that every act was reviewed so that he could initial it. The witness said that Ganibegović had certain objections to her work, but that they overcame everything. Judge Branko Perić was just interested in what Ganibegović resented to Džaka.
- The director did not want to initial the first letter of intent - said Džaka, who replied via viber that she must send it because of the hurry, to which he replied "send it" briefly.
The prosecutors were interested in the communication between Bahra Džaka and Vildana from KCUS (then the secretary of the general director Sebija Izetbegović), considering that Džaka confirmed that they did not know each other personally, and that she sent the offers they received for respirators. She confirmed that she had talked to Vildana on two occasions and that it was probably a matter of resolving the "Canada" paper problem.
Džaka also forwarded offers for respirators to her friend, anesthesiologist Aida Čorbeg, in order to inform her "what is available on the Chinese market and whether those that FB&amp;H wants to buy are good". Čorbeg will be questioned in the continuation of the trial scheduled for April 16th.

Please check this one more time. I found out about the AM812A from the media. That one did not cross us, Novalić wrote to his secretary Džaka

Fadil Novalić ordered respirators, but he didn't know which ones came?!

The trial in the "Respirators" case ended today in the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in which Fadil Novalić, Prime Minister of FB&amp;H, Jelka Milićević, Federal Minister of Finance, Fahrudin Solak, suspended director of FCPA and Fikret Hodžić, owner of "Srebrna malina" are accused of a corruption affair worth 10.5 million KM.
Today, prosecutors continued to question witness Bahra Džaka, the secretary in the Office of the accused Novalić, who knew about all the offers that reached the Government, including those of "Srebrena malina" by Fikret Hodžić.
When asked by prosecutor Mirza Hukeljić, she replied that it was not an envelope that went to the director of KCUS, Sebija Izetbegović, by mistake, "but a piece of paper with the handwritten „Canada“ " on it.
She confirmed that several offers had arrived at the Office of the Government of FB&amp;H, at least three, and that the last offer was from Fikret Hodžić and "Srebrena malina".
However, as she said, this offer of "Srebrena malina" did not seem serious to her, which is why she did not send it to the FB&amp;H Public Health Institute.
Only at the end of May can we deliver the first quantities. There are 400 pieces in stock, price 90,000 KM + VAT. That is the only thing that is available today. This is best in class. They can be delivered in Sarajevo in seven days – it is written in one of Hodžić's messages to Džaka.
She also confirmed that in later correspondence with Hodžić, he sent an e-mail stating that the government must send a letter of intent to the Chinese, and even sent a letter of intent from the Serbian government about buying respirators, which they sent to China.
Džaka said that the Government wrote the letter and translated it into English, but that by mistake, she wrote 200 respirators, not a hundred.
She said that when the respirators came, it turned out that they were not looking for ACM812 respirators but others, HCVE003.
She added that the first letter of intent signed on 2nd of April was an offer for HC-VE003 respirators, but that a second letter was signed on 15th of April relating to ACM812A respirators.
She confirmed that both letters were signed by Prime Minister Fadil Novalić and that he then sent her a message after respirators came to B&amp;H.
-Please check this one more time. I found out about the AM812A from the media. That one did not cross us- Novalić wrote to the secretary, and she had previously written to him "as far as I remember, there are none of those we asked for"
Also, she didn't have answers to some questions because she said she doesn't remember everything.

Today's hearing of Fadil Novalić and others in the Court of B&H has ended

The European Union’s slow COVID-19 vaccine rollout will damage Ryanair’s prospects in the coming year, Europe’s biggest low-cost airline said on Wednesday, as it flagged a smaller than expected loss for its financial year just ended.The Irish company said it now expected passenger traffic in the year to March 31, 2022, to be towards the lower end of its previously estimate of 80-120 million people.-Easter travel restrictions/lockdowns and a delayed traffic recovery into the peak Summer 21 season, due to the slow rollout in the EU of COVID-19 vaccines, means that FY22 traffic is likely to be towards the lower end of our previously guided range- it said in a statement.
Ryanair flew 27.5 million passengers in the last 12 months, down from 149 million passengers in the year to March 2020, before the pandemic had a significant impact.
The airline, one of the harshest critics of European politicians’ handling of the COVID-19 crisis, said that while it was too soon to make meaningful profit guidance for the new financial year, it expected to be “close to breakeven.”
Goodbody Stockbrokers said in a note it expected “some adjustment down” from its current 252 million euro ($299 million) profit forecast for the year to end-March 2022.
Ryanair, which is due to publish its annual results on May 17, said it expected to announce a net loss of 800-850 million euros compared with 850-950 million previously.
The airline had 3.15 billion euros of cash at the end of March, down from 3.5 billion at the end of December.
Its shares were unchanged at 16.95 euros at 0844 GMT.

Ryanair flew 27.5 million passengers in the last 12 months, down from 149 million passengers in the year to March 2020, before the pandemic had a significant impact

Ryanair planes at Dublin Airport after the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Dublin, Ireland, May 1, 2020.

Ryanair says slow EU vaccine rollout to hit passenger forecast

Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has tested negative for the coronavirus, his lawyer Olga Mikhailova said on Wednesday, adding that he has taken a second test.

Navalny, 44, an opponent of President Vladimir Putin, announced that he going on a hunger strike last week in protest at what he said was the refusal of prison authorities to treat him properly for acute back and leg pain.
Human rights group Amnesty International earlier on Wednesday said Navalny had been incarcerated in conditions that amount to torture and may slowly be killing him.

Opponent of President Vladimir Putin, announced that he going on a hunger strike last week in protest at what he said was the refusal of prison authorities to treat him properly for acute back and leg pain

Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny delivers a speech during a rally to demand the release of jailed protesters, who were detained during opposition demonstrations for fair elections, in Moscow, Russia September 29, 2019.

Jailed Kremlin critic Navalny tests negative for coronavirus, says lawyer

A total of 4,594 samples were registered with the Public Health Institute of the Federation of B&amp;H in the past 24 hours, of which 1,163 were positive for SARS-CoV-2.

New cases have been registered in all the cantons in the Federation of B&amp;H, stated the FB&amp;H Institute of Public Health.
There are currently 19,313 active cases of SARS-CoV-2.
In the past 24 hours, 46 new deaths were reported to the FB&amp;H Public Health Institute. As of today, the number of deaths in the Federation of B&amp;H is 4,040.
After testing 157 samples, 105 new cases of coronavirus infection were registered in the Brčko District. 14 patients recovered. Three people have died in the last 24 hours.
In the entity of Republic of Srpska, 1,266 samples were tested in the last 24 hours, and coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was confirmed in 474 people.
Thirty deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.
So far, a total of 2,863 people have died in the RS.
The total number of hospitalized is 1,461. There are 108 people on the ventilators, stated the RS Public Health Institute.&nbsp;

As of today, the number of deaths in the Federation of B&H is 4,040

There are currently 19,313 active cases of SARS-CoV-2 in FB&H

COVID-19 confirmed in 1,742 people in B&H, with 79 deaths

Chancellor Angela Merkel supports demands for a short, tough lockdown in Germany to curb the spread of the coronavirus as infection rates are too high, a German government spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

Germany is struggling to tackle a third wave of the pandemic and several regional leaders have called for a short, sharp lockdown while the country tries to vaccinate more people.
-Every call for a short, uniform lockdown is right- deputy government spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer told reporters, adding Germany was seeing a growing number of intensive care patients.
-We need a stable incidence below 100- she said, referring to the number of cases over seven days per 100,000 inhabitants. It is currently 110.1, according to the Robert Koch Institute.
She also said that the government was looking at whether nationwide, rather than regional, measures were needed.
-The range of regulations does not help acceptance- said Demmer. While some states have imposed night-time curfews over Easter, others are experimenting with some easing of restrictions.
The majority of Germany’s 16 federal state premiers was against bringing forward talks scheduled for April 12 on what action to take.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany rose by 9,677 on Wednesday to more than 2.9 million, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases said. It has warned that the numbers may not yet show the full picture as not all cases were registered over Easter. Some 77,401 people have died.

Germany is struggling to tackle a third wave of the pandemic and several regional leaders have called for a short, sharp lockdown while the country tries to vaccinate more people

German Chancellor Angela Merkel puts on her face mask as she briefed the media after a virtual meeting with federal state governors at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, March 30, 2021.

Merkel backs tougher COVID lockdown in Germany

Russia on Wednesday warned Zoom that it could be completely blocked in the country after local media reported that it had restricted access to government agencies and state-owned companies.

The US company has emerged as the global leader in video-conferencing applications, becoming ubiquitous as companies and schools moved online after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. 
Russian media reported Wednesday that Zoom had banned its distributors from selling to government agencies and companies in Russia and a number of post-Soviet countries known as the Commonwealth of Independent States over concerns of new US sanctions against Moscow.
Alexander Bashkin, a member of Russia's upper house of parliament, told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency that Moscow could be forced to respond.
-Russia is not a supporter of sanctions, but if Zoom takes such a decision with respect to government agencies and state-owned companies, then it is possible to block this service in our country as a reciprocal, symmetrical measure- the Federation Council lawmaker was cited as saying.
Russia has previously blocked Western online platforms such as LinkedIn, and in March began slowing down the speeds of Twitter's services in the country in an attempt to force the US social media giant to remove what it says is "illegal content".
President Vladimir Putin has complained that large tech companies are competing with states and authorities are aiming to build up local competitors that can replace Western platforms. 
Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov said that Russia's schools would not be affected by a potential Zoom ban, adding that the country's new video-conferencing system Sferum could serve as a replacement.
-We are ready for any situation. And of course we will focus more on our own software- he was cited by the state-run TASS news agency as saying.
Russia's nuclear agency Rosatom said it would likewise have no problem with Zoom being banned.
-The Russian nuclear industry uses its own internal closed platform for communications- a spokesperson was cited by RIA Novosti as saying.

The US company has emerged as the global leader in video-conferencing applications

Russian media reported Wednesday that Zoom had banned its distributors from selling to government agencies and companies in Russia and a number of post-Soviet countries known as the Commonwealth of Independent States over concerns of new US sanctions against Moscow

Zolak: Agency for Medicines received 22 reports of reactions after vaccination

Vaccination of people over 65 years of age begins in Srebrenica

COVID-19 confirmed in 1,582 people in B&H, with 84 deaths

Not enough data to support vaccine passports

Germany stresses 'real chance' to save Iran nuke deal

AstraZeneca jab has 'possible link' to blood clots: EU regulator

Germany's Bavaria plans to buy Sputnik vaccine

Vaccination of the elderly begins in nursing home institutions

More than 130 migrants from Miral reception center tested positive for COVID-19

Fadil Novalić ordered respirators, but he didn't know which ones came?!

Today's hearing of Fadil Novalić and others in the Court of B&H has ended

Ryanair says slow EU vaccine rollout to hit passenger forecast

Jailed Kremlin critic Navalny tests negative for coronavirus, says lawyer

COVID-19 confirmed in 1,742 people in B&H, with 79 deaths

Merkel backs tougher COVID lockdown in Germany

Russia warns could block Zoom if it prohibits govt use

News

Zolak: Agency for Medicines received 22 reports of reactions after vaccination

Vaccination of people over 65 years of age begins in Srebrenica

COVID-19 confirmed in 1,582 people in B&H, with 84 deaths

Not enough data to support vaccine passports

Germany stresses 'real chance' to save Iran nuke deal

AstraZeneca jab has 'possible link' to blood clots: EU regulator

Germany's Bavaria plans to buy Sputnik vaccine

Vaccination of the elderly begins in nursing home institutions

More than 130 migrants from Miral reception center tested positive for COVID-19

Fadil Novalić ordered respirators, but he didn't know which ones came?!

Today's hearing of Fadil Novalić and others in the Court of B&H has ended

Ryanair says slow EU vaccine rollout to hit passenger forecast

Jailed Kremlin critic Navalny tests negative for coronavirus, says lawyer

COVID-19 confirmed in 1,742 people in B&H, with 79 deaths

Merkel backs tougher COVID lockdown in Germany

Russia warns could block Zoom if it prohibits govt use