India’s technology ministry has asked WhatsApp to withdraw changes to its privacy policy the messenger announced this month, saying the new terms take away choice from Indian users.
The demand creates a new headache for WhatsApp and its U.S. parent Facebook, which have placed big bets on the South Asian nation to expand their payments and other businesses.
-The proposed changes raise grave concerns regarding the implications for the choice and autonomy of Indian citizens- the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology wrote in an email to WhatsApp boss Will Cathcart dated Jan. 18.
-Therefore, you are called upon to withdraw the proposed changes- the ministry wrote in the letter seen by Reuters.
California-based Facebook invested $5.7 billion last year in the digital unit of Indian conglomerate Reliance with a huge part of that aimed at drawing in tens of millions of traditional shop owners to use digital payments via WhatsApp.
With 400 million users in India, WhatsApp has big plans for India’s growing digital payments space, including selling health insurance via partners.
Those aspirations could take a hit if Indians switch to rival messengers such as Signal and Telegram, downloads of which have surged after WhatsApp said on Jan. 4 it could share limited user data with Facebook and its group firms.
It is of “great concern” that Indian users have not been given the choice to opt out of this data sharing with Facebook companies and are being given less choice compared to the app’s European users, the tech ministry letter said.
“This differential and discriminatory treatment of Indian and European users is attracting serious criticism and betrays a lack of respect for the rights and interest of Indian citizens who form a substantial portion of WhatsApp’s user base,” it said.
The ministry asked WhatsApp to respond to 14 questions including on the categories of user data it collected, whether it profiled customers based on usage and cross-border data flows.
WhatsApp did not respond to a request for comment but has previously said the update to its privacy policy did not affect the privacy of users’ messages with friends, family and in groups.
The company said last week it would delay the new policy launch to May from February, after facing criticism from users in India and elsewhere to the new terms.
WhatsApp has launched a media advertising campaign in India to calm worried users. The update to the privacy policy has also resulted in two legal petitions in Indian courts.

With 400 million users in India, WhatsApp has big plans for India’s growing digital payments space, including selling health insurance via partners

WhatsApp has launched a media advertising campaign in India to calm worried users

India asks Facebook's WhatsApp to withdraw privacy policy update

Britain's Oxford University has received a donation of £100 million (112 million euros, $136 million) to research growing resistance to antibiotics, the university announced on Tuesday.
The sum, from British chemicals multinational Ineos, is one of the largest donations given to Oxford University in its long history. 
The funding will be used to launch a new institute to combat the growing phenomenon of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), caused by the increasing exposure of animals and humans to the medicines which treat diseases caused by bacteria.
Increasing antibiotic resistance already causes 1.5 million excess deaths each year, the University of Oxford has said.
By 2050, up to 10 million deaths each year could be caused because antibiotics and other antimicrobial drugs are no longer effective against common diseases.
Oxford's vice-chancellor Professor Louise Richardson said the coronavirus pandemic had shown the urgent need to deal with the "cataclysmic" threat posed to public health by antibiotic resistance.
-We certainly knew that there was a high potential for another pandemic, we were reminded of that many times, and yet we were caught unprepared- she said.
-We know that human antibiotics are, with every passing year, becoming fewer and fewer because of the growth of resistance so it's absolutely imperative that we act, and the impact of being unprepared for the pandemic I think reinforces the importance of acting before it's too late.-
Ineos chief executive Jim Ratcliffe said collaboration between industry and academia was "now crucial to fight against AMR".
-We are excited to partner with one of the world's leading research universities to accelerate progress in tackling this urgent global challenge- he added.
The discovery of penicillin -- the world's first antibiotic -- was made at Oxford and has subsequently saved millions of lives around the world.
In partnership with the British drugs company AstraZeneca, a team at Oxford University also developed one of the first vaccines to protect from Covid-19.
-The vaccines which have been created in record time and which offer light at the end of the tunnel were developed using research conducted long before Covid-19 struck- said David Sweetnam, an adviser to the Ineos Oxford Institute.
"It's clear that we must be looking right now for new antibiotics with the same urgency as we have been for vaccines," he added.

The sum, from British chemicals multinational Ineos, is one of the largest donations given to Oxford University in its long history

Ineos chief executive Jim Ratcliffe said collaboration between industry and academia was "now crucial to fight against AMR"

Oxford given £100m for antibiotic resistance research

The support of the United States to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and international subjectivity of B&amp;H has always been clear and unambiguous, and I am sure that with President Biden taking over his duty at the helm of the United States, friendly relations will continue and cooperation will be more frequent and more substantial, said in a statement for FENA ahead of tomorrow's inauguration of the new US President Joe Biden, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the B&amp;H Parliamentary Assembly and a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, Denis Zvizdić.
According to him, the United States has always had an understanding for relations in B&amp;H and has been on the side of a just, united and sovereign B&amp;H.
-President Biden and part of his administration are well acquainted with the situation in B&amp;H. They know what happened in our country and what the situation is now and that is why I believe that he will be actively involved in finding solutions to overcome the problems we have in B&amp;H.-
The United States, led by Biden, will be a strong and committed friend of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the reform processes and Euro-Atlantic integration, and the US support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and Euro-Atlantic integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina has always been and will remain unequivocal," concluded Zvizdić.

According to him, the United States has always had an understanding for relations in B&H and has been on the side of a just, united and sovereign B&H

Zvizdić: President Biden and part of his administration are well acquainted with the situation in B&H

Zvizdić: The US, led by Biden, will be a strong and dedicated friend of B&H

Regarding the "open letter" of the unknown sender, in which the judges of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the prosecutors of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina are listed as signatories, a statement from these two judicial institutions followed, first from the Court and then from the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H.
The Court of B&amp;H stated that it is again exposed to the pressure of anonymous senders of „extremely malicious and edited texts“, which abound in untrue, insulting and disgusting constructions about the personality and actions of a number of judges and the President of the Court.

This, as pointed out, leads to the creation of pressure with the aim of undermining the institutional capacity and credibility of the Court of B&amp;H. The judges called on prosecutors to state whether they were signatories to the letter.
Following the announcement of the Court, the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H also responded.
- Regarding several media inquiries, in connection with the published reaction of judges of the Court of B&amp;H, the Chief Prosecutor and Prosecutors of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who themselves were often victims of unfounded anonymous reports and complaints, condemn any kind of inappropriate attack on judicial officials.
However, the anonymous letter, which reached the addresses of numerous media on January 14th, 2021., on more than eight pages, states at the very beginning:
We, the Judges of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Prosecutors of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, call on you to immediately and unconditionally resign as President of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and return the mandate of a Judge of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, for all known reasons with which the rest of the judicial community is partially acquainted, as well as the wider domestic public and international institutions in B&amp;H.
As pointed out, we knew from the first day of your term as a judge and then the President of the Court of B&amp;H that you will not be able or willing to successfully perform complex tasks and duties of a judge, nor the demanding, honorable and responsible duty of the President of the Court of B&amp;H.
-But at that time we did not know or assume that you would so quickly commit so many bad and dishonorable, criminal acts in those positions, which make you not only unworthy of performing that high position of President of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also unworthy of performing the honorary duty of a judge of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, equally your first year of office, as well as this fourth year, in this 2021.- it was pointed out.
The letter points out that the President of the Court was ready to "sell his soul to the devil" for a title, position, money.
-And you sold it, to all those who paid well, to all those whom you served faithfully and until recently loyally and unconditionally fulfilled all orders due to the return of "debts", ie due to your illegal and incorrect election as a judge and president of the Court of B&amp;H - it is stated, among other things, in the letter.

<h2>All indictments of the Prosecutor's Office of B&H are in your hands</h2>

The letter then states that the President of the Court,in all cases where there is a lot of money in question (litigation, execution), or important decisions that have political consequences (management), you intervene or mediate, so you finish cases with mentors and business people, of course for gifts and favors.
It was especially pointed out that, as it is stated, all indictments of the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H and all investigations of the Prosecutor's Office are in the hands of the President of the Court, and "all important cases of the Court of B&amp;H are loyal to you through loyal criminal judges, litigants and administrative judges!
- The well-known fact of your "good" relations as the President of the Court of B&amp;H, Judge R.D., with the Director of the Intelligence and Security Agency of B&amp;H, O.M., and thus his mentors, especially during the criminal prosecution of the Director of O.M., investigation, indictment and trials. We all know that as the President of the Court of B&amp;H, by abusing your position, you fulfill all wishes and orders, especially the abuse of authority of the director of ISA, O.M., especially when it comes to legalizing or concealing privatized and criminal activities of ISA and its shadow mentors- it was pointed out in the letter.
The letter then reveals shocking details:
- Director of ISA O.M. blackmails You, President of the Court of B&amp;H, Judge R.D.,with compromising recordings of your numerous cases of so-called "horseshoeing", with compromising recordings of contacts with proven associates of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad at the beginning of your term as President of the Court, and with compromising explicit recordings of you with minors, especially teenage girls, which Your tendency has been a well-known fact to us in the Court and the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H for many years - the letter says.

As for the current trial in the Court of Director of ISA, it is alleged that the indictment was confirmed with the "permission" of the President of the Court R. D. by the aforementioned E. H. , a judge for the preliminary hearing of the Court, with the "permission" of the President of the Court, which was forced by public pressure and international institutions and embassies.
- However, the outcome of this trial is not left to chance or the professionalism of an honorable criminal judge of the Court who is not under your control, and there are still many of them in the Court, more precisely the majority. The director of the B&amp;H Intelligence and Security Agency, O.M., although a semi-educated man with two fake diplomas, is a person of exceptional cunning and intelligence, above-average intelligence talent and skills, so he is with the "associate" R.D. (we know the meaning and role of "associate", "agent" in the intelligence-security system) planned and implemented a top operational "combination": the CMS system "automatically", ie "independently and accidentally", appointed Judge B.P. for the acting judge in that important case - it is stated.

<h2>Non-sympathizer of the SDA party</h2>

Anonymous judges and prosecutors state that the director of ISA O.M. rightly concluded that his acquittal, the "Osmica" verdict, would be the least suspicious, and thus an acceptable verdict to be handed down by non – Bosniak Judge and SDA non-sympathizer, a convinced opponent and critic of the President D., a public favorite critic of T. and his lobby in the HJPC B&amp;H, a proven fighter for the rule of law and an independent judiciary, an intellectual and a gentleman, a darling of international institutions in B&amp;H: Honorable Judge B.P.
- Due to such blackmail of the director O.M. and instructions of the president of R.D., the judge will be forced to acquit the accused director O.M expressly, as soon as possible by acquittal, so that judge B.P. is forced to try this case twice a week, which is not recorded in The practice of the Court of B&amp;H, especially not now, when there is an order personally from President R. D. that due to a pandemic, criminal cases are tried and trials are held every other week - the letter states.
The prosecutors in the letter also referred to the "Respirators" affair and accused Prime Minister F. N., the key role of President R. D. and ISA Director O. M. in the case, and their creative "combinatorics."

- The indictment was finally confirmed after the delay, but under pressure from the public, especially international institutions and embassies, so President R. D. was reluctant to instruct the pre-trial judge E. H. to confirm it. As the mentor(s) of the accused Federal Prime Minister F.N. and the director O.M. decided that the accused F.N. was not guilty in the "Respirators" affair, for which a verdict of acquittal is to be issued, the director O.M. was given the task to release the accused F.N., so President R.D. was given the same task - it was pointed out.
Precisely because of this, the president R.D. and the director O.M. were discreetly and "accidentally" in other people's apartments and shops, which was revealed to the public, so they now communicate exclusively through intermediaries or using so-called "crypto" phones, which cannot be controlled or monitored by the current technology, which has made it a favorite means of communication, a tool for criminals, spies and the like, the letter says, among other things.
(Text equipment is editorial)

<h2>Judges already appointed in the "Respirators" case</h2>

The letter states that, when it comes to the "Respirators" case, the director O.M., on the instructions of the Prime Minister of F.N., chose as a judge I.T. from Tuzla, whom they both know for a long time, who is in favor of the SDA party and I.'s family, so it was decided "at the top" that Judge I. T. to be the presiding judge of the panel, and thus his panel of judges, which also includes Judge B. Ć.
- Therefore, the majority decision of the three-member trial chamber has already been secured, because Judge I. T. agreed to it and his member of the panel, the mentioned judge B. Ć. So soon, after the guilty plea of all the accused in this case is completed, the CMS computer system will soon "select" Judge I. T. and his panel to try this case - the letter says.

-You produce judges of the first instance loyal to you into judges of the second instance, or because of that you keep them in the hope that they will "do" the cases, if they do not already do so due to the distribution of gifts and services, or because of that you blackmail them. In similar ways, you have "completed" orders at other offices in the Court, at first and second instance litigation and administrative offices - it was pointed out.

<h2>What Osmica brags about at conspiratorial "sittings"</h2>

- The director O.M. already brags about at conspiratorial "siels", which he holds with his closest associates and his mentors and protectors, that Judge B.P. has already written an acquittal for him, and that "his" judge has two versions of the verdict, one according to which it has not been proven criminal offense and another that the accused of what he committed is not a criminal offense, which will all depend on the degree of persistence and success of proving of prosecutor O. Č. in this already lost prosecutor's case - it is stated in the letter.

B&amp;H criminal judges, fellow judges of B. P. are already betting that Judge B. P. will acquit the accused O. M. with an elegant and creative basis for the non-existence of a criminal offense.

Judges and prosecutors are demanding the resignation of Ranko Debevec, revealing shocking details

Mehmedagić and Debevec: Recently filmed together in front of an apartment, on the day of the new indictment against Mehmedagić

'We all know that you fulfill the wishes of the director of ISA'

U.S. law enforcement is investigating whether a woman took a laptop computer or hard drive from U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office during the Jan. 6 siege of the Capitol and tried to sell the device to Russian intelligence, according to a court filing.An FBI agent disclosed the detail in an affidavit released on Sunday night that outlined a criminal case against Riley June Williams, a Pennsylvania woman accused of unlawfully breaching the Capitol building and directing people to Pelosi’s office.
The theft of electronic devices from congressional offices has been a persistent worry following the siege by supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin said after the attack that some of the thefts might have potentially jeopardized what he described as “national security equities.”
According to the affidavit filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the FBI received a tip from someone who stated they were a former romantic partner of Williams.
The tipster said Williams “intended to send the computer device to a friend in Russia, who then planned to sell the device to SVR, Russia’s foreign intelligence service,” the affidavit stated.
According to the tipster, “the transfer of the computer device to Russia fell through for unknown reasons and Williams still has the computer device or destroyed it,” the affidavit stated. The investigation remains open.
Williams could not be reached for comment.
According to the FBI, it appears Williams has fled an address near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, that she shared with her mother, deactivated her phone number, and took down social media accounts.
A Pelosi spokesman, Drew Hammill, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Two days after the Capitol siege, Hammill said a laptop used for presentations was stolen from a conference room in Pelosi’s office. It was unclear whether that device was the one Williams was accused of taking.

The theft of electronic devices from congressional offices has been a persistent worry following the siege by supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office placard is replaced above her office after rioters vandalized it while storming the Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 17, 2021.

Woman may have tried to sell Pelosi computer device to Russians, FBI says

Officials in the upscale Swiss mountain resort of St Moritz quarantined employees and guests of two luxury hotels, closed ski schools and kept schoolchildren home on Monday after a dozen positive tests for a highly infectious coronavirus variant.About 300 employees and 95 guests at the Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski St Moritz and Badrutt’s Palace Hotel were quarantined. The eastern canton of Grisons ordered everyone to wear masks in the town of 5,200 that prides itself as a birthplace of modern winter sports.
The two hotels confirmed the quarantine, and the Kempinski confirmed that some of its employees had tested positive for the mutated virus.
Authorities had identified mutations common to highly infections coronavirus variants found in South Africa and Britain, though they could not say whether samples matched either variant because the samples had yet to be genetically sequenced.
Those under quarantine will be tested and those receiving positive tests isolated. Those who test negative may be able to depart but must follow quarantine rules once they arrive home.
The nationalities of those affected were not given, but Grisons said hotel guests probably include foreigners.
Switzerland has left ski lifts open despite the coronavirus, leading to occasional headlines involving some of the world’s swankiest resorts, which have continued to attract jet-set visitors at a time when much leisure travel has been halted.
In December, British tourists in places including Verbier were ordered into quarantine. This month, the famed Lauberhorn World Cup downhill in Wengen was cancelled after an infection spike blamed on a British tourist.
Local St Moritz officials defended the decision to keep skiing open, saying mask-wearing and social distancing makes it safe, and letting people ski makes other places less crowded.
-If there are 100 people on the ski pistes, then there will be 100 fewer in the villages- said Christian Gartmann, an official with a COVID-19 task force in the St Moritz area.

Those under quarantine will be tested and those receiving positive tests isolated

A general view shows a snow-covered landscape as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, at the Alpine resort of St. Moritz, Switzerland December 11, 2020.

Swiss ski resort St Moritz quarantines hotels to contain COVID variant

The first reactions of the leaders of SDP, SBB and Naša stranka to the latest news about the changes in the election results in Mostar after the recount in the counting center of the Central Election Commission were fierce. All the detachments demanded that the CEC order the recount of all ballots without exception, because the manipulations recorded on a smaller sample revealed the huge scale of the obvious election robbery.

Official complaints soon followed, first from the SDP, which, following the recommendation of the CEC decision, sent a submission to the Appellate Chamber of the Court of B&amp;H requesting a recount of votes from all regular polling stations and all parties that participated in the elections for the City Council of Mostar.
However, it was at the highest state court instance that they encountered an unexpected blockade and ramp from the President of the Court, Ranko Debevec, who rejected the SDP's appeal as premature and inadmissible.
- The only appellate jurisdiction of the Court of B&amp;H is resolving the election appeal. The SDP cannot ask the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina to recount all the votes in Mostar before the CEC decides on that - Debevec told the media.

SDP MP in the B&amp;H Parliament Aner Žuljević reacted to this explanation by the President of the Court of B&amp;H.
- Serious people in serious positions are expected to read documents. Dear President of the Court, SDP B&amp;H acted in accordance with the instruction on legal remedy written in the decision of the CEC. It is nicely written there that an appeal against the last decision of the CEC is filed with the Court of Appeals within two days of the announcement of the decision ... - Žuljević wrote on his Facebook profile, thus holding a short course on the basics of law and court practice for "uninformed" Ranko Debevec.
Željko Bakalar, the president of the CEC, confirmed yesterday that three complaints were registered in this institution. As he says, the complaints came from Naša stranka, Platform for Progress and SDP.
- Our services are preparing a statement for the Appellate Division of the Court of B&amp;H and what will be the decision of the Court of B&amp;H on these appeals will be in some way a guideline for the CEC regarding the confirmation of results or possibly some other actions - Bakalar explained.
He thus confirmed that the CEC also expects the decision of the Court of B&amp;H even after the previously filed appeal of the SDP, which additionally makes Ranko Debevec's assessments and comments meaningless.

Apparently, the court guards the back of the SDA, a party who is probably most deeply involved in election theft and fraud in Mostar, many associate with the publicly announced close relations of President Debevec with the director of the B&amp;H Intelligence and Security Agency Osman Mehmedagić Osmica.
In informed circles, Debevec's behavior is described as repaying the debt to the SDA and its president, Bakir Izetbegović, who recently said publicly that he has confidence in the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is headed by Debevec.
On the other hand, public distrust of Debevec is growing rapidly, especially after the Court refused to confirm several high-level corruption charges related to Bakir Izetbegović's staff, and among them are the main "stars" director Mehmedagić and until recently "first to Bakir", SDA delegate in the House of Peoples of B&amp;H Asim Sarajlić.
Doubt is also raised by the very indicative acceleration of the trial of Judge Branko Perić to those (Mehmedagić and Pekić) whose indictment was confirmed, which has not been recorded in the history and "efficiency" of the Court of B&amp;H.
The public, therefore, has reason to suspect the decision of the Court of B&amp;H regarding appeals against established election results and election fraud in Mostar.
The new counting of votes in Mostar is in the interest of all, the CEC, the Court of B&amp;H and the parties. The parties, among other things, in order to exclude from their membership those who stole votes from their party colleagues from their lists, or from other political entities and their candidates.

Finally, a new and comprehensive count would provide new evidence for the police and the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H. And this is of fundamental importance, because it is obvious that only urgent prosecution and high penalties for established election robbery can restore the confidence of B&amp;H citizens in a deeply compromised election process.

<h2>The CEC itself is under question</h2>

In addition, regardless of the decisions of the Court of B&amp;H regarding the elections in Mostar, the CEC itself has problems with legitimacy, given that its members were elected in the House of Representatives of B&amp;H, and not by an ongoing competition that was abruptly terminated. 
It should be reminded that the Court of B&amp;H, headed by Debevec, did not respond to the appeal against the irregular election of three CEC members (two close associates of Mirko Šarović, SDS president, and one former advisor to B&amp;H Presidency member and DF president Željko Komšić).

Apparently, many associate the court's keeping of the SDA's back with Ranko Debevec's publicly announced close relations with ISA Director Osman Mehmedagić

Debevec: What will he do and who will he protect

After the official complaint of the three parties: Will Debevec confirm the election theft in Mostar?

A plea hearing should be scheduled in the Court of B&amp;H by the end of the month for the accused in the "Respirators" case, who are charged with purchasing 100 devices from China to B&amp;H at a price of 10.5 million KM, Avaz has found out.

<h2> Deadline by the end of the week</h2>

It remains for the Court to decide on the objections to the confirmed indictment of the Prosecution, and the deadline is until the end of this week. At the end of last year, the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H indicted Fadil Novalić, the Prime Minister of FB&amp;H, Fahrudin Solak, the suspended director of FCPA, Fikret Hodžić, the owner of "Srebrena malina", because of this procurement of respirators, which have never been determined to be correct. raspberries ", but also Jelka Milićević, Deputy Prime Minister of the Federation and Minister of Finance.
They are charged with abuse of office, money laundering, but also unscrupulous work in the service.
While awaiting a statement, unknown details come to light. According to the indictment, the first offer for the purchase of respirators was sent by a company from Rijeka. It was only after this offer that the defendants started forming price for respirators.

Prior to that, the FCPA claimed that more than ten bids had been received for the purchase of respirators, but no one had ever seen any, except for the one related to the "Srebrna malina". However, the indictment states everything precisely.
- In order to reach an agreement on the subject of the contract - respirator model HC VE 003 in the amount of 100 pieces and the purchase price of 10,530,000 KM, which was formed on the basis of the offer of the legal entity EXOTRADE Rijeka Croatia in the amount of 3,900,000 euros, Novalić gives an instruction to Solak, a member of the association, to use the authorization of the director to prepare a decision approving the procurement of equipment and materials from the funds, special fees for protection against natural disasters in the total amount of 7,000,000 KM - the indictment states.

It was then emphasized that Solak acted on Novalić's instructions, and under the extended powers of the director, requested a telephone session of the FCPA in order to prepare a decision on the procurement of this equipment.
- Then Novalić, using the powers of the Prime Minister, signed the so-called letter of intent for the purchase of 100 HC VE 003 respirators and on the same day, April 2nd, 2020., convened an emergency session of the Government at which a decision was made allocating 4.9 million KM to FCPA for the purchase of equipment in conditions of worsening epidemiological situations - the indictment alleges.

Prosecutors claim that Novalić, using the powers of the Prime Minister, together with the Deputy Prime Minister, signed previously prepared payment orders on April 3rd, 2020., which was the basis for the transfer of money from the budget to the account of "Srebrna malina" in the amount of 10.5 million KM. 4,950,000 KM was transferred from the current reserve account, and 5,580,000 KM from the special account of protection and rescue funds.

Based on the data of the company from Rijeka, the accused formed the price for respirators and started the procurement, which resulted in the selection of "Srebrna malina"

Details of the indictment of the Prosecutor's Office of B&H: The first offer for respirators was made by a company from Croatia?!

Only in our country, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, can such nonsense be declared. Nermin Nikšić, SDP leader and chairman of the ISA's Oversight Commission, told „Avaz“ in response to a statement by Trifko Buha, deputy director of the Intelligence and Security Agency (ISA), that the report against the director of this institution was a blow to foundations of the state. The same as Buha, believes the director of ISA Osman Mehmedagić Osmica.

Mehmedagić is on trial in the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina for abuse of office and authority, along with ISA employee Muhamed Pekić. They are charged with unauthorized obtaining of information about the sender of the anonymous report against Mehmedagić.
According to the indictment, they learned in an unspecified manner that an anonymous report had been filed. The accused asked the director of "BH Post" for surveillance camera footage from August 27th last year, stating that it was a state secret. In addition to this process, Mehmedagić is being investigated by the Prosecution in several other cases.

Mehmedagić has a problem with proving the validity of his diploma and education, but also problems with the origin of money, ie possible money laundering in case of buying a house from the owner of "Vatra", ie buying an Audi Q5 for his wife from a member of the ISA SDA delegate in the House of Peoples of B&amp;H Asim Sarajlić.
Therefore, the question is justified whether the listed cases are a blow to the foundations of the state of B&amp;H, or it is a question of preserving the foundations on which the rule of law is built in which there are no untouchables. Is the fight of the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H against high corruption a blow to the foundations of the state or saving the state from corrupt individuals in power?

Nikšić says this is not the first time such things have been said and that criminal charges against prominent politicians have been treated as a blow to Bosniaks, Serbs or Croats, depending on which nation the politician belongs to. He claims that, to their regret, the foundations of B&amp;H are much stronger and firmer to be shaken by any criminal charges against individuals, whatever function they hold.
- But to call a criminal complaint against anyone, even if he is a member of the Presidency, Prime Minister, MP, Speaker of Parliament or a party, or even the director of ISA, a blow to the foundations of the state, in fact, best shows how much importance these people attach to themselves. I don't care if Buha wants to flatter his boss or if he wants to say that any eventual action against him would also be a blow to the foundations of the state, his statement is an insult to all B&amp;H citizens - says Nikšić.

On the occasion of Buha's statement, we also contacted Zoran Tegeltija, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of B&amp;H and Head of the Reporting and Intelligence Body, which also supervises the work of the ISA. But he answered us:
-No comment. Let everyone do their job.

Aljoša Čampara, the Minister of the Interior of the FB&amp;H, could not comment on anything because, as he told us, he is a witness in the trial against Mehmedagić.

<h2>Problems with employment and nepotism</h2>

Mehmedagić also has a problem with employment. That is, clientelism and nepotism in the case of the employment of the son of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Bisera Turković and the employment of the sister of Muhamed Pekić in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about which we wrote earlier.

- It is true that, as the president of the Parliamentary Commission for Supervision of the Legality of the Work of ISA, I insisted on clarifying some things and phenomena, but, unfortunately, the work of the Commission was blocked by the refusal of HDZ deputies to participate in its work. There are many things beyond the appointment of the director, his deputy and chief inspector that the Commission should comment on, and proposals for appointment from the Council of Ministers are certainly a problem due to non-functioning within the parliamentary majority (SNSD, HDZ, SDA, DF) - says Nikšić.

Is the fight against corruption a blow to the foundations of the state or saving the state from corrupt individuals in power

Osman Mehmedagić, Nermin Nikšić and Aljoša Čampara

The report against the director of ISA is not a blow to the state!

Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina Staša Košarac said that the census of B&amp;H agriculture will most likely be carried out in September 2023 on the basis of a unified methodology, with full respect for entity competencies and engagement of ministries of agriculture and institutions dealing with the census.
He said this today at a meeting with FB&amp;H Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry Nijaz Brković and RS Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Boris Pašalić, with whom he discussed the protection of domestic production and many other topics.
Košarac said that final information had been made regarding the agricultural census, which would be proposed to the B&amp;H Council of Ministers for adoption.
-The census would be a serious 'input' for designing certain policies at the entity level to encourage the work of processing capacities- said Košarac.
He emphasized that they also discussed the requests of the farmers' association today, and pointed out that the conditions were never optimal.
-However, it is all a political game of certain structures from the RS, and it is manifested in Bijeljina, and at the same time, those who advocate it did not solve the issues while they were in those positions- said Košarac.
He emphasized that there were no surpluses in primary production, but that there was a disturbance in prices and that there are statistics for that.
-The import of beef in B&amp;H has been reduced by five thousand tons, pork by 3.5 thousand tons, and the export of beef from B&amp;H has increased significantly. Also, the export of fruits and vegetables has increased by 8.5 percent,” Košarac emphasized, adding that they are fully committed to the protection of domestic producers in B&amp;H.
Košarac said that they also talked about making a decision on monitoring the situation on the market of agricultural and food products and measures for the improvement of agricultural producers.
After the adoption of that decision, he said, they could legally, in accordance with the signed international agreements, initiate procedures for possible protection of domestic production and measures restricting the import of certain agricultural food items.
FB&amp;H Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry Nijaz Brković said that they also discussed the establishment of an IPARD agency at the state level.
-A working group has already been formed and has been working for a month. The IPARD agency is important for withdrawing funds from the EU- he said.
Brković also stressed that they also discussed the agricultural census, which was last conducted in 1961

He held a meeting with FB&H Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry Nijaz Brković and RS Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Boris Pašalić

Košarac said that final information had been made regarding the agricultural census, which would be proposed to the B&H Council of Ministers for adoption

Košarac: Agricultural census in B&H to be carried out at the end of 2023

As of January 26th, all travelers wishing to enter the U.S. must have a negative coronavirus test or documentation confirming recovery from COVID-19. This was announced by the U.S. Embassy in B&amp;H.
They explain that all documentation must not be older than three days from the date of departure of the flight to the United States.
More information is available on the website of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

<div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/travelgov/photos/a.260627648148/10158938147588149/" data-width="500" data-show-text="true"><blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/travelgov/photos/a.260627648148/10158938147588149/?type=3" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore">ALERT: Beginning Jan 26, all travelers attempting to enter the U.S. must have a negative COVID-19 viral test or...Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/travelgov/">U.S. Department of State: Consular Affairs</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/travelgov/photos/a.260627648148/10158938147588149/?type=3">Sunday, January 17, 2021</a></blockquote></div>

It is enough to submit documentation confirming recovery from coronavirus

U.S. Embassy: All documentation must not be older than three days from the date of departure of the flight

U.S. Embassy: A negative coronavirus test is required to enter the United States from January 26th

Scenes that testify to the difficult life of migrants can be seen every day in Ilidža, a suburb of Sarajevo, where migrants gather at the sulfur water spring to take care of their personal hygiene.
It was the same scene today, despite the sub-zero temperatures, and a group of migrants bathed and did their laundry.
A resident of Ilidža, who regularly walks on the banks of the Željeznica River, says that he witnesses these sad scenes almost every day.

A group of migrants bathed and did their laundry

Migrants bathing at the spring in Ilidža, despite sub-zero temperature

Today, the President of the Croatian National Assembly Dragan Čović sent a new letter to the addresses of the ambassadors to B&amp;H, EU officials and EPP officials in order to inform them, according to the HDZ, about the events related to the local elections in the City of Mostar.
As he stated, he is worried about the events related to the local elections in the City of Mostar.
- The local elections in the City of Mostar were held on December 20th and were welcomed as a long-desired and much-needed move. I believe we share mutual concerns over the fact that even a month after the polls closed, the election results are still unknown! Instead of the results, which we should have had immediately after the election, they are still being manipulated and speculated in various ways, which is unacceptable! The chain of irregularities that I pointed out in previous correspondence, and of which you are aware, has brought great uncertainty to the fate of the entire election process. That is why I warned international partners of the need for strict supervision of the election process, all in order to protect the integrity of local elections and restore the democratic splendor that belongs to this city - said Čović.

<h2>He demanded the irrevocable resignation of CEC members</h2>

As he stated, he demanded the irrevocable resignation of the members of the CEC and the City Election Commission of the City of Mostar.
- Of course, having in mind the seriousness of the situation, resignations cannot be enough. The competent prosecutors are involved in the whole story, with plenty of evidence, with the aim of prosecuting and precisely determining the responsibility within that institution, but also the participants outside it. Today, it is completely clear that the way in which the Central Election Commission was elected, outside the law and prescribed procedures, was already a kind of overture to the devastation of the election process, which we are unfortunately witnessing today. Let's be clear, these are acts of aggravated theft, alienation of the democratic rights of our citizens. Therefore, I firmly believe that the forthcoming trials in this area should be exposed to the public court in order to raise public awareness of the harmfulness and inadmissibility of such actions and the abuse of state institutions such as the Central Election Commission for illegal actions. The Central Election Commission is an institution that has a legal obligation and responsibility over the organization and implementation of elections, and if we all go over it lightly, and I do not see how it is possible, the question is what chance and perspective do the next general elections in 2022 have?! – Čović stated.
He stated that the Croatian National Assembly of B&amp;H has filed criminal charges with the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H and the Prosecutor's Office of the Herzegovina-Neretva County, now supplemented by "findings that fictitious voters began to return to their real addresses due to the end of the elections".

- That is why the Croatian representatives requested the annulment or repetition of the election process in urban areas where fictitious applications appeared. It is estimated that the party I lead and its candidate for mayor were undoubtedly alienated by the election fraud, ie. stolen close to 2000 votes. This is confirmed by analysts as well as our pre-election research, which precisely predicted 14 or 15 mandates in the City Council for the Croatian Democratic Union of B&amp;H - says Čović.
The letter was addressed to Johann Sattler, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina / Office of the EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Eric Nelson, Ambassador of the United States Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Valentin Inzko, High Representative of the Office of the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina , Kathleen Kavalec, Ambassadors of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the B&amp;H Central Election Commission, Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Olivér Várhely, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Paul Rangel, European Parliament Rapporteur for Bosnia and Herzegovina, David McAllister, Chairman of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee (EPFAC), Romeo Franz, Chairman of the Delegation for relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, Donald Tusk, President of the European People's Party (EPP), Manfred Weber, chairman EPP group in the European Parliament.

Local elections in the City of Mostar were held on December 20th and were hailed as a long-awaited and much-needed move

Čović sent a letter to the ambassadors, EU officials and the EPP: These are acts of aggravated theft

The National Museum of B&amp;H will become richer in spring for an extremely valuable exhibition - "Bosnia and Herzegovina in the prehistoric era", the pre-war largest exhibition of the Department of Archeology that has not been available to the public for three decades due to the unconditionality of that part of the museum building.
The reason for that was the damage of gallery premises during the war, which was the home of the exhibition about prehistoric era. The roof was leaking, the woodwork was in poor condition, as was the ceiling painting, the richest in the whole museum complex.
Thanks to funds from the U.S. Department of State Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, all the damage has been repaired in recent years, and one of the largest exhibits of the Museum is ready to "move-in".
Deputy Director and archaeologist of the National Museum of B&amp;H Andrijana Pravidur pointed out in an interview for FENA that all the archaeological material for the exhibition has been set aside and that its conservation and restoration is in progress. It is a necessary process before each individual artifact finds a permanent place in the exhibition virtues.
-We are nearing the end of the whole work and we hope that we could meet the conditions for the opening of the exhibition by spring. And we are quite impatient, and I believe many of our visitors who follow our work- she said.
Pravidur emphasizes that the extensive conservation and restoration treatment of each individual artifact requires time, especially with the lack of a sufficient number of experts for the job.
She emphasizes that the last permanent setting of this exhibition was made on the centenary of the Museum in 1988 and that it is the only permanent exhibition that has not been opened since the war.
-This is a big minus not only for the institutions, but also for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the wider region, but also for the museum content, the lack of which has damaged visitors- she said.
The prehistoric collection, she says, is the largest collection in the Department of Archeology and numbers approximately one hundred thousand inventory items.
“About 3,000 most recognizable, the most luxurious and the best exhibits, which culturally actually define us as Bosnia and Herzegovina in Europe and the region, will go into the permanent exhibition of what has been set aside so far,” said Pravidur.
The exhibition will be presented to the public in a refreshed, new concept. In addition to those already known to visitors and experts, lesser-known artifacts that have been kept in the depot so far will also be on display.
-With the installation, we will emphasize exactly what determines us culturally, and that is the famous Butmir culture, then the area of Glasinac, Donja Dolina, most of Herzegovina in different time periods. We want to show that the world does not start from us and that there once lived people who were very capable, which we see especially in all these products in ceramics or metal. They were great masters and exceptional experts, although people today have a perception of them as some tribes. This is exactly what we are trying to break out of the discourse. With this exhibition, we would actually like to explain the life of a man in a prehistoric period through this concept of everyday life- said Pravidur.
The central place in the gallery of the Department of Prehistory will belong to a wooden boat from Donja Dolina, one of the few that have been preserved in the region, and especially valuable because of its length of as much as 12.5 meters. It will dominate the pavilion because it will be set to hang from the ceiling.
The work on this exceptional exhibit was a large conservation-restoration project on which conservation experts from all laboratories worked, together with the technical staff of the National Museum of B&amp;H.
The project of preventive conservation of museum collections is being implemented in two phases, and complete financial resources have been provided from the Special Fund of American Ambassadors for the Protection of Cultural Heritage. The Commission to Preserve National Monuments carries out the implementation together with experts from the National Museum and in consultation with colleagues from the Louvre Museum and the Smithsonian Institution.

Thanks to funds from the U.S. Department of State Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, all the damage has been repaired in recent years

The exhibition will be presented to the public in a refreshed, new concept

'B&H in prehistoric era' museum exhibition opens after three decades

2020 is over. Many of us have been counting the days until the end of the strangest of years. Of course the simple change of a calendar does not fix the problems we face, but it does give the chance for a fresh start. And we are feeling cautiously positive about the year in front.
Before looking ahead, we will mention one of the highlights of 2020, and a reason we remain optimistic about this country. Through the U.S. BOLD programme, and UK Youth Advisers, we have come across hundreds of positive, smart, and can-do young people, from across Bosnia and Herzegovina. They are already achieving great things, in business, in education, in civil society, in public service. But they want to do so without the burdens of corruption and dysfunction that drive so many away. Given the right opportunities, the future of BiH can be very bright indeed.
To make that progress friends like the UK and U.S. need willing partners. We have found them in many places, but by no means everywhere. We will target out support to BiH organisations, grassroots groups, and individuals who are really trying to make a difference.
Back then to 2021, what we have to look forward to, and what we need to do.
The good news on COVID is that the vaccines have been achieved, and are hopefully coming soon. It is a relief to see the numbers of cases in BiH continue to drop. The light at the end of the tunnel is visible. But that does not mean any of us can relax. Sticking to the measures in place – washing hands, wearing masks, and maintaining our distance – can help keep our loved ones safe, and to get across that finish line. And all authorities in BiH still need to cooperate to provide healthcare, education, emergency assistance, and an effective rollout of vaccines themselves.
The economic impact of the pandemic continues, in BiH as around the rest of the world. We must not waste this crisis, and should instead use the moment to think how to better support businesses and entrepreneurs, through less red tape, more digitalisation of services, depoliticisation of public companies, and more transparency in government spending. The recovery needs to be more inclusive, especially of women and young people. The IMF is offering a large amount of assistance to BiH, but we think it is completely correct – and understood by most citizens – that this money should be conditioned with exactly these kinds of reforms. Long overdue steps to join the World Trade Organisation could also give businesses a much-needed boost.
2021 sees no elections scheduled. But that is precisely why we want to see a serious attempt to improve the electoral system. Yes, Mostar recently held its first elections in 12 years, but that was a failure fixed rather than positive reform. Let’s remember we are still waiting to see 2018 election results fully implemented! What else needs to change is clearly laid out by the OSCE, and by the European Court of Human Rights. The EU Opinion confirms this must all be done. The Parliamentary body responsible for this work needs to meet and get on with this essential task, so BiH voters do not find themselves in the same position in 2022.
Top of the list of citizens’ (and our) concerns is the rule of law. How many of us would like to see genuine progress in that area in 2021? Again, the required steps are not a mystery – starting with the EU Opinion priorities, such as High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council amendments, improved public procurement, and meaningful steps against conflict of interest. We know there are individuals within the judiciary that want to make a difference, and they need our support. But the ultimate proof will only be when we see proper investigations, prosecutions, convictions and jail time.
These difficult reforms become easier when you invite the 30 Allies of NATO to help. The Reform Program process, started in 2019, is BiH’s opportunity to identify its own reform priorities and how it envisions Alliance assistance to achieve them. These reforms range from defense modernization to better governance and rule of law, and are complementary to BiH’s EU path. NATO Allies will continue to support BiH’s reform priorities guided by the BiH-led Reform Program process.
Finally, a word on the current situation with migration. Numbers this year are significantly lower, but the problem seems to be getting larger. In the short-term, it is in the interests of all BiH citizens that migrants currently in this country are safely and humanely accommodated, off the streets. BiH authorities need to coordinate their response to the migrant crisis, and to share the responsibility fairly across the country.
There is much to do in the year ahead, more than we have mentioned here. We do not see why anyone should settle for anything less. The US and UK, like many other friends of BiH, are here to help. What we need is willing partners, and we hope we will find more and more of them in 2021.

Blog by Matt Field, British Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Eric Nelson, United States Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina

Nelson and Field: This is a year for action!

In the past 24 hours, 1,289 samples were registered with the Public Health Institute of the Federation of B&amp;H, of which 52 were positive for SARS-CoV-2.
As of today, 58,967 patients have recovered in the Federation of B&amp;H. In the past 24 hours, 491 patients have recovered. Currently, 14,882 cases positive for SARS-CoV-2 are active.
In the past 24 hours, a total of 9 new deaths were reported to the Public Health Institute of the Federation of B&amp;H.
As of today, the number of deaths in the Federation of B&amp;H is 2380, the Institute of Public Health of the FB&amp;H announced.
In Republic of Srpska, in the last 24 hours, at the Institute of Public Health of Republic of Srpska, the University Clinical Center of Republic of Srpska and at the Hospital Sv. Vračevi in ​​Bijeljina, 533 laboratory samples were tested, and coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was confirmed in 55 people.
In the last 24 hours, five deaths have been reported to the Republic of Srpska Institute of Public Health, in which the presence of the coronavirus has been confirmed.
So far, 38,892 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Republic of Srpska, and a total of 1,959 people have died who have been tested for coronavirus.
In Republic of Srpska, 25,173 people have recovered from coronavirus so far, and a total of 175,326 people have been tested.

In the past 24 hours, 491 patients have recovered in FB&H

In the past 24 hours, a total of 9 new deaths were reported to the Public Health Institute of the Federation of B&H

India asks Facebook's WhatsApp to withdraw privacy policy update

Oxford given £100m for antibiotic resistance research

Zvizdić: The US, led by Biden, will be a strong and dedicated friend of B&H

'We all know that you fulfill the wishes of the director of ISA'

Woman may have tried to sell Pelosi computer device to Russians, FBI says

Swiss ski resort St Moritz quarantines hotels to contain COVID variant

After the official complaint of the three parties: Will Debevec confirm the election theft in Mostar?

Details of the indictment of the Prosecutor's Office of B&H: The first offer for respirators was made by a company from Croatia?!

The report against the director of ISA is not a blow to the state!

Košarac: Agricultural census in B&H to be carried out at the end of 2023

U.S. Embassy: A negative coronavirus test is required to enter the United States from January 26th

Migrants bathing at the spring in Ilidža, despite sub-zero temperature

Čović sent a letter to the ambassadors, EU officials and the EPP: These are acts of aggravated theft

'B&H in prehistoric era' museum exhibition opens after three decades

Nelson and Field: This is a year for action!

COVID-19 confirmed in 107 people in B&H, with 14 deaths in the last 24 hours

News

India asks Facebook's WhatsApp to withdraw privacy policy update

Oxford given £100m for antibiotic resistance research

Zvizdić: The US, led by Biden, will be a strong and dedicated friend of B&H

'We all know that you fulfill the wishes of the director of ISA'

Woman may have tried to sell Pelosi computer device to Russians, FBI says

Swiss ski resort St Moritz quarantines hotels to contain COVID variant

After the official complaint of the three parties: Will Debevec confirm the election theft in Mostar?

Details of the indictment of the Prosecutor's Office of B&H: The first offer for respirators was made by a company from Croatia?!

The report against the director of ISA is not a blow to the state!

Košarac: Agricultural census in B&H to be carried out at the end of 2023

U.S. Embassy: A negative coronavirus test is required to enter the United States from January 26th

Migrants bathing at the spring in Ilidža, despite sub-zero temperature

Čović sent a letter to the ambassadors, EU officials and the EPP: These are acts of aggravated theft

'B&H in prehistoric era' museum exhibition opens after three decades

Nelson and Field: This is a year for action!

COVID-19 confirmed in 107 people in B&H, with 14 deaths in the last 24 hours