The World Health Organization-led team investigating the origins of COVID-19 during a mission that has been tightly controlled by its Chinese hosts visited a hospital on Saturday in the central city of Wuhan that treated early coronavirus patients.On its second day after two weeks in quarantine, the team went to Jinyintan Hospital, where doctors had collected samples from patients suffering from an unidentified pneumonia in late 2019.
-Important opportunity to talk directly w/ medics who were on the ground at that critical time fighting COVID!- team member Peter Daszak said on Twitter.
Team members leaving the hospital did not speak to journalists, who have been kept at a distance since the group left its quarantine hotel on Thursday.
-Just back from visit at Jinyintan hospital, that specialised in infectious diseases and was designated for treatment of the first cases in Wuhan. Stories quite similar to what I have heard from our ICU doctors- team member Marion Koopmans tweeted.
The WHO-led probe has been plagued by delays, concern over access and bickering between Beijing and Washington, which accused China of hiding the extent of the initial outbreak and criticised the terms of the visit, under which Chinese experts conducted the first phase of research.
The WHO, which has sought to manage expectations for the mission, said on Friday that team members would be limited to visits organised by their Chinese hosts and would not have any contact with community members, due to health restrictions.
Exactly a year ago, the WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), its highest level of alarm.
The group’s itinerary has not been announced but the WHO has said the team plans to visit the seafood market at the centre of the early outbreak as well as the Wuhan Institute of Virology. One hypothesis, rejected by China, is that the outbreak was caused by a leak at the government lab.
Later on Saturday, the WHO team went to an exhibition centre that features an exhibit commemorating early efforts to battle the outbreak in Wuhan, which included a 76-day lockdown of the city of 11 million.
The investigating team had been set to arrive in Wuhan earlier in January, and China’s delay of their visit drew rare public criticism from the head of the WHO, which former U.S. President Donald Trump accused of being “China-centric”.
China has pushed the idea that the virus existed abroad before it was discovered in Wuhan, with state media citing the presence of the virus on imported frozen food packaging and scientific papers saying it had been circulating in Europe in 2019.
China’s foreign ministry has also hinted that the sudden closure of a U.S. army laboratory at Fort Detrick in Maryland in July 2019 was linked to the pandemic.

On its second day after two weeks in quarantine, the team went to Jinyintan Hospital

Members of the World Health Organisation (WHO) team tasked with investigating the origins of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, talk outside their hotel after returning from their second field trip in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, January 30, 2021.

WHO team, on tightly controlled China mission, visits hospital

The Norwegian government will gradually loosen the capital region’s coronavirus lockdown, allowing some shops and recreational activities to reopen from Feb. 3 onwards, Health Minister Bent Hoeie said on Saturday.
The outbreak of a more contagious variant of COVID-19, first identified in Britain, had prompted the introduction of stricter measures on Jan. 23, including the closure of all non-essential stores in and around Oslo for the first time in the pandemic.
-Infections are going down continuously in Norway and we now have a better overview over the outbreak and spread- Hoeie told a news conference.
The situation in the capital region remains uncertain, however, and the easing will therefore be gradual, he added.
Stores that are not in shopping centres will be allowed to reopen on Wednesday, as will restaurants although alcohol cannot be served, the government said.
Schools will also see fewer restrictions, allowing for more classroom teaching and bigger groups of students, although local conditions will apply.
A closure of the Norwegian border for all but essential visits that took effect on Friday remains in place at least until Feb. 11.
The nation of 5.4 million people has recorded 62,276 COVID-19 cases and 563 deaths so far in the pandemic, according to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, making it one of Europe’s least affected countries.
The country’s reproduction rate, which indicates how many people on average an infected person transmits the virus to, last stood at 0.6, according to official statistics.

The situation in the capital region remains uncertain

View of a near-empty city after the discovery of the British novel coronavirus variant in a retirement home near Oslo, Norway January 23, 2021.

Norway to gradually ease capital's COVID-19 lockdown from February 3

Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik held a press conference in East Sarajevo today and spoke on a number of current topics, including the vaccination process in B&amp;H, the migration crisis, B&amp;H's NATO path, the current convocation and the decisions of the Central Election Commission of B&amp;H (CEC B&amp;H), as well as the economic situation in the RS, repeating his already known positions.
Referring to the problem related to the vaccination process, Dodik pointed to the disorder in the market in that regard, stating that developed countries also face problems in that area, and that the European Union did not cope well with this process, and that it was a similar case at the beginning of the pandemic.
-This can be a serious problem of trust in the basic values ​​of the EU itself, and that is, above all, a problem of lack of solidarity- said Dodik.
He pointed out that he has received guarantees that the RS would receive about 100,000 vaccines, which should arrive from the Russian Federation in February from various producers.
He said the vaccines in the RS would be free of charge and that all citizens should be given a choice.
-As far as the FB&amp;H is concerned, I don't know what the situation is, but obviously it is necessary to try to provide vaccines through direct contacts without Covax- said Dodik, and when asked if he could help to get the vaccines for the FB&amp;H as well, he answered in the affirmative, calling the other two members of the Presidency to declare themselves in this regard.
He stated that the situation in B&amp;H regarding the accommodation of migrants is calming down, but that certain issues remain open, and that the Government of the RS has provided 50 containers that will be delivered to certain locations if necessary.
He opposed "cosmetic changes in the judiciary and the legislation, as well as a possible breach into the entity competencies," and underlined the EU's responsibility as a partner in these processes.
He reiterated already known positions regarding the NATO integration process, stating that "the Annual National Program does not prejudge membership; the RS remains outside the NATO integration process," and that cooperation with NATO is not disputable. 
Referring to the economic situation in the RS, he announced new investments and projects in the field of new employment, stating that the entity went well through the pandemic period and currently has more employees than before the pandemic.
As for his attitude towards the CEC B&amp;H, Dodik announced that the SNSD would file individual lawsuits against all CEC members next week regarding the decision to repeat the elections in Doboj and Srebrenica, stating that "these are politically motivated decisions and people who are incompetent in the CEC B&amp;H," adding that there were far more complaints in Mostar and that "then, someone ordered that these elections should be verified."
When asked if his announcement of lawsuits might be a response to the complaint the CEC filed against him, Dodik said that it was not and that he had announced it before they did.
-When I spoke about people in the CEC, I never spoke about them as individuals, but as political representatives … If something I said hurt the lady in question, I publicly apologize …," he said, alluding to the CEC member Vanja Bjelica-Prutina, and then he wondered "who did I hurt there in the CEC so that charges should be filed against me.-
At the same time, he accused the opposition in the RS - the political parties the PDP and the SDS - of foul play, illustrating this claim with their support for the joint candidate in Srebrenica but also with the behavior of the CEC members who are "an extension of the two political parties".
When asked about the possibility of a boycott of the 2022 elections, Dodik answered in the affirmative, stating that the issue is being considered by the SNSD, and that they have their legal experts from the executive and legislative branches working on that issue.
He expressed the readiness of the SNSD to participate in the drafting of the new B&amp;H Election Law.

He expressed the readiness of the SNSD to participate in the drafting of the new B&H Election Law

Dodik announces the filing of individual lawsuits against CEC B&H members

American pharmaceutical firm Johnson &amp; Johnson announced Friday its vaccine candidate has a 66% overall effectiveness in preventing moderate to severe COVID-19, 28 days after vaccination.
Its Phase 3 clinical trials were based on 43,783 participants accruing 468 symptomatic cases of COVID-19, but the vaccine's effectiveness varied widely in different regions.
The level of the vaccine's protection was 72% in the US, 66% in Latin America and 57% in South Africa, according to the company.
The vaccine has 85% effectiveness in preventing severe disease caused by COVID-19, and it demonstrated complete protection against COVID-19 related hospitalization and death as of Day-28.
Johnson &amp; Johnson said it plans to apply for emergency use authorization in the US early February and expects to have product available to ship immediately following authorization.
On Thursday, another US pharmaceutical firm Novavax announced its vaccine has over 89% effectiveness in preventing people from contracting COVID-19.
A separate trial by the firm, however, found out that it has an efficacy of only 49.4% when about 92% of participants with COVID-19 had the variant seen in South Africa.

Vaccine's effectiveness varies widely in different regions, at 57% in South Africa

The vaccine has 85% effectiveness in preventing severe disease caused by COVID-19

Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine 66% effective overall

Europe’s medicines regulator on Friday approved AstraZeneca and Oxford University’s COVID-19 vaccine for people over the age of 18, the third vaccine to be cleared for use in the European Union.The AstraZeneca vaccine demonstrated an efficacy of around 60% in the trials on which the decision was based, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said in a statement.-With this third positive opinion, we have further expanded the arsenal of vaccines available to EU and EEA member states to combat the pandemic and protect their citizens- said Emer Cooke, Executive Director of EMA.
Europe urgently needs more shots to speed up its inoculation programme with suppliers such as AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna facing difficulties in delivering the quantities promised for the early months of the year.
There were not yet enough results for people over the age of 55 to determine how well the vaccine would work for this group, EMA said. However, it said protection was expected and that the vaccine can be given to older people.
AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot welcomed the decision.
-Today’s recommendation underscores the value of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine which is not only effective and well-tolerated, but also easy to administer and, importantly, protects fully against severe disease and hospitalisations- he said in a statement.
The AstraZeneca vaccine is administered via two injections into the arm, the second between 4 and 12 weeks after the first.
The European Union last year agreed to buy up to 400 million doses of the vaccine.
Concerns over its value for the elderly were raised on Thursday when Germany’s vaccine committee said it should be given only to people aged between 18 and 64, due to a lack of data about how effective it is in older people.

The vaccine is administered via two injections into the arm, the second between 4 and 12 weeks after the first

A health worker fills a syringe with a dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the Appleton Village Pharmacy, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Widnes, Britain, January 14, 2021.

European regulator gives green light for Astra-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe for Migration and Refugees, Drahoslav Štefánek, stated today in an interview with FENA that the Bira reception camp was no longer an option as a possible solution for accommodating migrants.
At the end of his visit to B&amp;H, which began on January 24, Štefánek reminded that the international community on several occasions offered support in money and staff, but it has happened that no agreement could be reached between B&amp;H and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX), which was ready to send its support personnel. 
-It seems to me that Bosnia and Herzegovina is the weakest link- said Štefánek.
He added that it is paradox that migrants come to B&amp;H from the European Union, either from Greece or Bulgaria, and then try to enter the EU again.
Štefánek believes that some of them are victims of human trafficking and do not have information that, for example, Croatia is not a member of the Schengen area, and that it would be difficult for them to travel further into the EU.
-B&amp;H should strengthen the security of its border- Štefánek emphasized.
He underlined that the situation regarding the migrant crisis in B&amp;H was better than he expected, especially in the Una-Sana Canton and the Lipa camp, where he was afraid that he would encounter a humanitarian disaster.
-What I saw was not pleasant but it was not a humanitarian crisis. It is possible that the announcement of my visit also contributed to them doing some things faster and I hope that this visit had some result. The situation is much better now than from what I could have concluded from the reports I saw before my arrival- underlined Štefánek.
He said that he would like to see more engagement of local authorities in the future, but that he understands and knows the situation in B&amp;H well from the time when he was the Head of the Council of Europe Office in B&amp;H.
-I am grateful to the IOM, the Red Cross, UNHCR and other international organizations that do a great job here, although it is not easy. We need more contacts with the local community because their requests and complaints should be respected- said Štefánek.
He explained that without the EU funds, it would not be possible to establish camps for migrants, but that we need better coordination and cooperation on the ground between different levels of government in B&amp;H.

He added that it is paradox that migrants come to B&H from the European Union, either from Greece or Bulgaria, and then try to enter the EU again

Štefánek: Bira is no longer an option, B&H must strengthen its border security

Prisoners of the new state prison in East Sarajevo, where inveterate criminals, convicted of aggravated murder, terrorism, rape and war crimes have been serving long prison sentences since the end of 2020, sent a letter to B&amp;H Justice Minister Josip Grubeša a few days ago.
They complain about the conditions in this state institution, more precisely about the prices of food in the canteen and telephone services.

As we recently announced, Zijad Turković, Djorđe Ždrale, Veselin Vlahovic Batko, Husein Bosnić, Haris Čaušević Oks, Mevlid Jašarević, Milenko Lakić were transferred to the state prison ... These are convicts convicted by the Court of B&amp;H.
In the letter to Grubeša, the prisoners complain that the price of food in the canteen is high, as well as the tariff for using the payphone, that there is not enough meat in the meals, that they need more varied food ... The complaint pointed out that everyone could hardly wait to be transferred from the entity institutes to "bh. Alcatraz ", which they thought was" hotel accommodation ", but that they were disappointed at the beginning, because they hoped for TVs in the rooms and internet access.

- After a few days in prison, when we saw the prices of food and drinks in the canteen, most of us prayed to God to go back to where we came from. We are still keeping the bills from the canteen of the prison in Zenica and it is unbelievable how big the difference is in the prices - it is stated in the letter.
The complaint claims that the prices of food and other necessities are 100 percent higher than "in shops and malls".
- A kilogram of oranges costs five marks, "Dorina" chocolate costs 5.85 KM, a kilogram of lemon costs three marks, and a kilogram of sirloin costs 55 KM. Two liters of "Coca-Cola" cost 2.65 KM, a kilogram of sausage 36, and cigarette paper 2.85 KM. Tea, hygiene products, shampoos are also expensive - it was pointed out in the complaint.
They state that they sent a "cry for help" instructed to help them because "that little bit of their poverty that families separate from their mouths " they have to spend in the canteen.

In Grubeša's answer, he states that the prices of groceries in the canteen are guaranteed according to the market prices and that some items are cheaper than those in shopping malls. Furthermore, Grubeša states that he will try to solve their problems, but that little can be done regarding the prices of impulses when using payphones.
- You are guaranteed market prices, which is certainly the obligation of the Bureau, and it is up to you, in accordance with your capabilities, to procure items at those prices if you have the funds to do so - says Grubeša's answer.

<h2>How to buy a TV and how much it costs</h2>

The inmates complained that not everyone had TVs in their rooms. Grubeša replied that the procedure was clear.
- Each of the prisoners who receives a benefit from the Administration for owning a TV set in the room and has enough money or the same earnings by working in the Institution can buy a device, which for that money (200 KM) will hardly find in free sale on the market - reads the answer .
Prisoners claim that they can buy TVs with a guarantee on weekends for 140 KM.

They complain about the conditions in this state institution, more precisely about the prices of food in the canteen and telephone services

They are complaining about the conditions in the new prison

Inveterate criminals and war criminals are complaining about the conditions in the new state prison: There is no meat in the meals, oranges cost five KM!

At today's press conference in East Sarajevo, Milorad Dodik apologized to Vanja Prutina-Bjelica, a member of the B&amp;H Central Election Commission.
Dodik said that he apologizes to the "person in question" (Vanja Bjelica-Prutina, the author's remark) at the CEC for his statements, but that she should not be hurt in order to file a lawsuit.
- I treated her that way because the truth about her has political connotations. If she understood that it was individual, that it was an insult to her dignity, I apologize because I didn’t want to hurt her dignity. When I spoke about persons in the CEC, I never did it to them individually, but as political people. Being a member of the CEC is certainly a political thing - said Dodik.
He also announced that the SNSD would file lawsuits against all CEC members over the decision on Doboj and Srebrenica. He stated that those charges will be finalized next week. He said that in this case it is a matter of "thick abuse of position".

Dodik said that he apologized to the "person in question" (Vanja Bjelica-Prutina, author's remark) at the CEC for his statements, but that she should not be hurt in order to file a lawsuit

Dodik apologized to Prutina-Bjelica: I did not want to violate her dignity

The Office of the Chief Disciplinary Prosecutor of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of B&amp;H has initiated a disciplinary investigation against the President of the Court of B&amp;H Ranko Debevec, it was confirmed today for "Avaz".

<h2>Three cases against the head of the Court</h2>

When asked by "Dnevni Avaz" whether a disciplinary investigation was initiated against the President of the Court of B&amp;H Ranko Debevec, we were answered:
- The Office of the Disciplinary Prosecutor can confirm that it is investigating allegations of violation of the duties of the holder of judicial office that you state in your inquiry - we were answered by the HJPC.
We would like to remind you that after the new evidence published in the media, ie "Dnevni avaz", the Office of the Disciplinary Prosecutor of the HJPC last week formed a new case against the head of the Court of B&amp;H.
Thus, three cases have already been filed against the President of the Court in a few months. The last case was formed after new published evidence of abuses by the head of the Court of B&amp;H, concerning illegal employment, more precisely the fact that he sent questions and answers for the professional exam through the closest associate to the trainee, but also hiding identities and property in Spain.

Earlier, the cases were formed due to inappropriate contact with the accused ISA director Osman Mehmedagić, but also reports from an anonymous letter published in the media ten days ago, regarding the request for Debevec to resign due to, as stated, "numerous abuses of office and fulfilling the wishes of the ISA Director ".
The office will also investigate Debevec's travels to Spain and whether he misused state resources as the head of this judicial institution, at a time when he was on holiday in Malaga with Court of B&amp;H employee Alma Ć., with whom he was in an emotional relationship at the time. In addition, as we wrote, Debevec hid the dual identity and citizenship of the Kingdom of Spain. Also, Debevec did not report in his property card the valuable real estate he owns in Spain and Croatia.
It should be emphasized here that, for example, the mayor of a small municipality in Trnovo, Ibro Berilo, was reported by the Anti-Corruption Office to the Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor's Office because he did not report a much lower value in his property card than Debevec's real estate in Spain, Makarska or Mercedes vehicle which he reported on a relative's name. Therefore, one should probably expect reactions from the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H and the conduct of the Disciplinary Prosecutor's Office according to the standard of criminal charges applied, for example, in the Sarajevo Canton by US Prosecutor Eric Larson, an advisor in the Anti-Corruption Office. Because, the president of the Court of B&amp;H must be a much bigger example of the legality of work than a mayor of small Trnovo.

The Office of the Disciplinary Counsel can confirm that it is investigating allegations of breach of duty by the judicial office holder you allege in your inquiry, the HJPC replied

A disciplinary investigation has been launched against the President of the Court of B&H, Ranko Debevec

US Ambassador to B&amp;H Eric Nelson pointed out at today's meeting with Milorad Dodik, Chairman of the Presidency of B&amp;H, that Washington remains committed to supporting the Dayton Agreement and B&amp;H with two entities and three constituent peoples.
At the meeting held at the US Embassy in Sarajevo, Nelson emphasized that the US supports BiH's European path.
The American ambassador announced that USAID will invest 20 million dollars in the next five years for the development of tourism in B&amp;H, it was announced from the cabinet of Milorad Dodik, the chairman of the Presidency of B&amp;H.
The interlocutors also exchanged opinions on the fight against the corona virus pandemic, as well as the immunization of the population in B&amp;H.

At the meeting held at the US Embassy in Sarajevo, Nelson emphasized that the US supports B&H's European path

Dodik and Nelson meeting: US supports B&H's European path

The migrant crisis in B&amp;H is becoming an increasing problem every day. Pictures of overturned police cars from Blažuj last week are in a way an indicator of the state's inability to come up with this huge problem.

While promises have come from all sides that migrants will be deported, that new groups of illegal migrants will be prevented from entering the camps, the residents of Blažuj have different information.
- Who are they lying to - the reader of "Avaz" asks.

The editorial office of "Avaz" was sent photos from three migrants who arrived in Blažuj directly from Montenegro by taxi.

<h2>There are no police in front of the camp</h2>

- Migrants were brought to the gas station in Blažuj, a hundred meters from the camp. At the moment, there are no police in front of the camp - said a worried resident of Blažuj.

While promises have come from all sides that migrants will be deported, that new groups of illegal migrants will be prevented from entering the camps, the residents of Blažuj have different information

New groups of migrants arrive at the camp in Blažuj, this morning three people arrived by taxi

Bilateral relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Greece are very good, without open issues, but there is room for enhancement of cooperation in area of economy and foreign trade, said today Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bisera Turković after meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias.
Minister Turković added that good relations between the two countries are confirmed by the signed bilateral agreements in area of economy, investment protection, defense, traffic, culture, education and science.
-These agreements are the foundation that corresponds to our future effort to improve cooperation, and I believe that cooperation will continue, especially in area of energy- said Turković.
She reminded of the business forums of B&amp;H and Greece that were held in recent years in Sarajevo and Athens, and expressed interest and expectation that they will continue to be held after the end of the pandemic. Turković said that it is in B&amp;H's interest to improve foreign trade with Greece in the future, which currently does not meet our expectations. In the first nine months of 2020, imports from Greece amounted to KM 85 million, and exports from B&amp;H were KM 9.8 million. She stated that an additional problem was the Covid-19 pandemic, due to which the total foreign trade in this period was reduced by as much as 56.7 percent.
-We deeply appreciate the views of Greece that the European perspective of the countries of the Western Balkans should be a priority not only for those countries but also for the EU, and in that context, regional cooperation is extremely important for us, which was recently strengthened by signing a statement on the common regional market within the Berlin Process- said Turković.
In today's conversation, the officials paid special attention to the crisis, which is increasingly burdening B&amp;H, and Minister Turković informed her colleague Dendias in detail about the current situation regarding migrants.
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said that during the talks, the need to strengthen bilateral relations in various areas was emphasized. In addition to political dialogue, according to him, they discussed strengthening economic cooperation in other areas, especially culture and education.
Dendias added that Greece provided support for three hospitals in B&amp;H - 50 thousand euros for General Hospital "Prim. Dr. Abdulah Nakaš” Sarajevo and the University Clinical Center of Republic of Srpska in Banja Luka each, and 30 thousand euros for the Clinical Hospital in Mostar.
-Greece constantly supports and is committed to all the countries of the Western Balkans joining the EU family. Greece did that some 40 years ago and we hope that the entire Western Balkans will do it. We hope that we will succeed in supporting B&amp;H and the region of the Western Balkans not only as Greece, but as the entire EU- stated Dendias.
Also, as he added, they discussed regional development and the need for good neighborly relations based on the principle of law.

Good relations between the two countries are confirmed by the signed bilateral agreements in area of economy, investment protection, defense, traffic, culture, education and science

Turković - Dendias: Enhancement of cooperation between B&H and Greece

Amid controversy over the government’s stance towards Muslims, Islamophobic attacks in France shot up by over half in 2020, the head of a monitoring group said Friday.
There were 235 attacks on Muslims in France in 2020, up from 154 the previous year, a 53% jump, Abdallah Zekri, head of the National Observatory of Islamophobia, said in a statement.
Most of the attacks took place in the Ile-de-France (greater Paris), Rhones-Alpes, and Paca regions of the country, Zekri said.
Attacks on mosques jumped 35% in the same year, Zekri said.
Stating that 70 threatening letters were sent to the headquarters of the French Council of Muslim Worship (CFCM) or its administrators last year, Zekri raised the alarm over the spread of lies about Islam and Muslims as well as e-mails that incite hatred against Muslims.
Muslims in France are worried about negative views some members of the French public have about Islam, he said.
He said there are no links between Islam and terrorism, and Muslims in France should be able to practice their religion freely like members of other faiths.
The French government has been criticized for its moves and rhetoric on Islam and Muslims, including President Emmanuel Macron’s October claim that Islam is “in crisis,” raids on mosques and Islamic foundations, and a proposed “anti-separatism” law that would slap wide-ranging restrictions on the Muslim community.
The bill, which is set for a vote in the French parliament, would interfere with mosques and their administrators as well as control the finances of associations and NGOs belonging to Muslims.
France has the largest Muslim population in Europe at around 6 million, mostly from North Africa.

There were 235 attacks against Muslims in 2020.

Attacks on mosques jumped 35% in the same year

France: Islamophobic attacks up sharply last year

A World Health Organization-led team of experts investigating the origins of COVID-19 on Friday visited a hospital in the Chinese city of Wuhan that was one of the first to treat patients in the early days of the outbreak.The hospital visit was the team’s first in the field after two weeks in quarantine, and a WHO spokeswoman said the group’s contacts in Wuhan will be limited to visits organised by their Chinese hosts due to health restrictions.
“The team will go out but they will be bussed to wherever, so they won’t have any contact with the community. They will only have contact with various individuals that are being organised as part of the study,” WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told a briefing in Geneva on Friday.
After meeting with Chinese scientists earlier in the day, the team went to the Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine.
Zhang Jixian, director of the hospital’s department of respiratory and critical care, has been cited by state media as the first to report the novel coronavirus, after treating an elderly couple in late 2019 whose CT scans showed differences from typical pneumonia.
-Extremely important 1st site visit. We are in the hospital that treated some of the first known cases of COVID-19, meeting with the actual clinicians &amp; staff who did this work, having open discussion about the details of their work- Peter Daszak, a member of the WHO-led team, wrote on Twitter.
The team plans to visit labs, markets and hospitals during its remaining two weeks in Wuhan, where the coronavirus was first identified in late 2019.
While an exact itinerary has not been announced, the WHO has said the team plans to visit the seafood market at the centre of the early outbreak as well as the Wuhan Institute of Virology. One hypothesis, rejected by China, is that the outbreak was caused by a leak at the government lab.
The WHO-led probe in Wuhan has been plagued by delays, concern over access and bickering between China and the United States, which accused China of hiding the extent of the initial outbreak and criticised the terms of the visit, under which Chinese experts conducted the first phase of research.

The WHO has sought to manage expectations. “There are no guarantees of answers,” its emergency chief, Mike Ryan, said this month.
The investigating team had been set to arrive in Wuhan earlier in January, and China’s delay of their visit drew rare public criticism from the head of the WHO, which former U.S. President Donald Trump accused of being “China-centric”.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, said on Friday that WHO and Chinese experts were working together to trace the origin of the virus, but stressed that the mission was not a probe.
-It is part of a global research, not an investigation- Zhao told a regular news conference in Beijing.
China has pushed the idea that the virus existed abroad before it was discovered in Wuhan, with state media citing the presence of the virus on imported frozen food packaging and scientific papers saying it had been circulating in Europe in 2019.
China’s foreign ministry has also hinted that the sudden closure of a U.S. army laboratory at Fort Detrick in Maryland in July 2019 was linked to the pandemic.
-At the early stage in China, it was a burden particularly for Wuhan people when everyone was calling it a Wuhan virus, which was humiliating,” said Yang You, a 30-year-old Wuhan resident. “If it could be traced to the source clearly, in my opinion, it could clear either China’s or Wuhan’s name.-

The hospital visit was the team’s first in the field after two weeks in quarantine

Chinese medical workers are seen as members of the World Health Organisation (WHO) team tasked with investigating the origins of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) leave Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine in Wuhan, Hubei province, China January 29, 2021.

WHO team in Wuhan visits hospital that treated early COVID cases

The United Nations and Western governments voiced alarm on Friday over threats by Myanmar’s military that have stirred fears of a coup in the aftermath of an election the army says was fraudulent.United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was following with “great concern” developments in Myanmar, where the army has said it would take action if complaints about the election are not addressed. An army spokesman on Tuesday declined to rule out the possibility of seizing power.
Australia, Britain, Canada, the European Union and United States, and 12 other nations, in a separate statement urged the military to “adhere to democratic norms”.
They said they opposed “any attempt to alter the outcome of the elections or impede Myanmar’s democratic transition”.
A military spokesman did not answer phone calls seeking comment.
Talks between the civilian government and army failed to ease tensions ahead of parliament’s opening on Monday, a ruling party spokesman said as pro-military protesters gathered in two cities.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won a resounding victory in the Nov. 8 poll, only the second election deemed free and fair by international observers since the end of direct military rule in 2011.
But allegations by the army of widespread voter fraud, which the electoral commission denies, have led to the most direct confrontation yet between the civilian government and the military.
The country’s constitution reserves 25% of seats in parliament for the military, which has demanded a resolution to its complaints ahead of Monday, when parliament is set to convene, and has refused to be drawn on whether its lawmakers will show up.
The commander-in-chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, told military personnel on Wednesday that the constitution should be repealed if it was not abided by, citing previous instances when charters had been abolished in Myanmar.
A Western diplomat in Yangon said information about the situation was hard to verify because “not many people speak with one of the sides”, referring to the army, but a coup would be a “tragic eventuality”.“The country is defined by that history, so this would be unforgiveable. The people from Myanmar would consider that unforgiveable,” the diplomat said.

Suu Kyi has not made any public comment on the dispute. A spokesman for her NLD said members had met military leaders on Thursday for talks but said they were “not successful”.
“We do have concerns but they are not too significant,” the spokesman, Myo Nyunt, said by telephone, explaining how they had anticipated some tension due to the NLD’s plan to amend the constitution after the vote to curb the power of the military.
He said police battalions were stationed in the capital, Naypyitaw, where the Supreme Court was set to hold an initial hearing on complaints filed against the president and the head of the election commission.
He said in the event of a coup the NLD would not respond with force.
Several dozen trucks carrying protesters with placards denouncing the government and election commission and praising the military circled the city on Friday morning but turned back from the court, where police were deployed.
NLD lawmaker Zin Mar Aung said police were patrolling the parliament compound and there was need for caution.
“We cannot pretend as if nothing is happening,” Zin Mar Aung said by telephone.
Win Htein, a senior member of the NLD who spent years in prison during military rule, said he was prepared in case he was arrested.“I am packed and ready to follow them if they come to take me today,” he said.
Author and historian Thant Myint-U said on Twitter on Thursday the country was likely “veering towards its most acute constitutional crisis since the abolition of the old junta in 2010”.
A youth leader for the NLD, who asked not to be identified, said many people had a real fear of return to military rule.

Australia, Britain, Canada, the European Union and United States, and 12 other nations, in a separate statement urged the military to “adhere to democratic norms”

Myanmar's Army Chief Min Aung Hlaing salutes during the Martyrs' Day ceremony in Yangon on July 19, 2020.

U.N. voices alarm about Myanmar after military threats, coup fears

Britain on Friday hailed a new visa offering Hong Kong citizens a route to citizenship after China’s crackdown but Beijing said it would no longer recognise special British passports offered to residents of the former colony.Britain and China have been bickering for months about what London and Washington say is an attempt to silence dissent in Hong Kong, though Beijing says the West’s views are clouded by misinformation and an imperial hangover.
Britain says it is fulfilling a historic and moral commitment to the people of Hong Kong after China imposed a tough new security law on the city that Britain says breaches the terms of agreements to hand the colony back in 1997.
-I am immensely proud that we have brought in this new route for Hong Kong BN(O)s to live, work and make their home in our country- Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, referring to a special British National Overseas (BNO) passport.
-In doing so we have honoured our profound ties of history and friendship with the people of Hong Kong, and we have stood up for freedom and autonomy – values both the UK and Hong Kong hold dear.-
But China hit back by saying it would not recognise the BNO passport as a valid travel document from Jan. 31.
-Britain is trying to turn large numbers of Hong Kong people into second-class British citizens. This has completely changed the original nature of BNO- Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular briefing.
Beijing’s decision not to recognise the travel document is largely symbolic as Hong Kong residents would not normally use their BNO passports to travel to the mainland.
Beijing’s imposition of a national security law in the former British colony in June last year prompted Britain to offer refuge to almost 3 million Hong Kong residents eligible for the BNO passport from Jan. 31.
The scheme, first announced last year, opens on Sunday and allows those with “British National (Overseas)” status to live, study and work in Britain for five years and eventually apply for citizenship.
BN(O) is a special status created under British law in 1987 that specifically relates to Hong Kong.
The new 250 pound ($340) visa could attract more than 300,000 people and their dependents to Britain and generate up to 2.9 billion pounds net benefit to the British economy over the next five years, according to government forecasts.
From around midday on Sunday, eligible applicants can apply online and book an appointment to register their fingerprints at a visa application centre. From Feb. 23 some will be able to make the application via a smartphone app.
It is still highly uncertain how many people will actually take up the offer. Government estimates show that 2.9 million people and a further 2.3 million dependents will be eligible to come to Britain.

Britain says it is fulfilling a historic and moral commitment to the people of Hong Kong

The Lai family, who are emigrating to Scotland, wave goodbye to their friends who are seeing them off before their departure at Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, China, December 17, 2020.

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News

WHO team, on tightly controlled China mission, visits hospital

Norway to gradually ease capital's COVID-19 lockdown from February 3

Dodik announces the filing of individual lawsuits against CEC B&H members

Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine 66% effective overall

European regulator gives green light for Astra-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine

Štefánek: Bira is no longer an option, B&H must strengthen its border security

Inveterate criminals and war criminals are complaining about the conditions in the new state prison: There is no meat in the meals, oranges cost five KM!

Dodik apologized to Prutina-Bjelica: I did not want to violate her dignity

A disciplinary investigation has been launched against the President of the Court of B&H, Ranko Debevec

Dodik and Nelson meeting: US supports B&H's European path

New groups of migrants arrive at the camp in Blažuj, this morning three people arrived by taxi

Turković - Dendias: Enhancement of cooperation between B&H and Greece

France: Islamophobic attacks up sharply last year

WHO team in Wuhan visits hospital that treated early COVID cases

U.N. voices alarm about Myanmar after military threats, coup fears

UK offers Hong Kong residents a route to citizenship, angering China