Selmo Cikotić, the Minister of Security of B&amp;H, asked the Council of Ministers of B&amp;H for five million marks for, as stated, the management of the migrant crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The draft decision, which is in the possession of "Avaz", requests the allocation of 5,000,000 KM from the reserve of the budget of B&amp;H institutions and international obligations for the current year.
In the decision, Cikotić refers to the conclusions from the regular session of the Presidency of B&amp;H, and states that the funds will be used for the establishment of a container settlement for 3,000 users (migrants, author's comment).

More precisely, as it is stated, it is about the procurement of containers for accommodation, preparatory works, diesel generators, the procurement of tents with a heating machine, bunk beds, in the total amount of 4,700,000 KM.

300,000 KM is required for bedding, blankets and other necessary materials.

It is interesting that the Collegium of the Ministry of Security of BH, which was held on December 14th, clearly said that the containers for accommodating migrants were donations from the Government of Austria, which is why this request to the Council of Ministers is now unclear.

According to the information of "Avaz", these containers should be placed in Krajina, in the area of the already existing migrant settlement "Lipa"
.

We are talking about the purchase of containers for accommodation, preparatory work, diesel generators, the purchase of tents with a heating machine, beds ...

Cikotić is asking the Council of Ministers for five million KM to establish a settlement for migrants

Brazil's star footballer Neymar is at the center of a new controversy storm after several Brazilian media reported that he's organizing a huge New Year's Eve party despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Acelmo Goes, a columnist for the O Globo newspaper, claimed that the Paris Saint-Germain forward is hosting 500 people for a week-long party at his luxury beachside mansion near Rio de Janeiro that started on Saturday and will last until New Year's Day.
Brazil has suffered the second largest number of Covid-19 related deaths in the world with more than 191,000, while 7.4 million people have contracted the virus.
Neymar, who is no stranger to controversies over his parties, allegedly even installed soundproofing equipment to try to avoid bothering his neighbors.
Leo Dias, a columnist for the Metropoles website who is renowned for his scoops on celebrities, even named the artists due to perform at Neymar's party, such as Ludmilla and Wesley Safadao.
Guests' mobile phones are allegedly due to be confiscated on the door to prevent any evidence finding its way onto social media.
Representatives for Neymar denied the rumors, releasing a statement saying there would be "no party" in Neymar's villa.
A specialist events agency, Agencia Fabrica, released a statement confirming it had been contracted for a New Year's event in the Costa Verde region where Neymar's villa is located "that will host around 150 people ... while respecting all the health rules determined by the public bodies."
Neymar's villa is in Mangaratiba, a small town in an area of luxury seaside resorts in Rio de Janeiro state.
The local town hall has pleaded with its 41,000 inhabitants not to hold end of year parties and has erected barriers to prevent people congregating.
-We don't have any information about this party- the town hall said in a statement sent to AFP.
Neymar, who hasn't played since December 13 when he injured his ankle against Lyon, hasn't commented on the party and in recent days has posted pictures of his family on social media without commentaries.
His Mangaratiba mansion is located on a 10,000m2 plot of land that includes a heliport, sports pitches, spa, sauna, massage parlor, gymnasium and dining areas.
It's where he previously spent his time recovering from injuries and also where he headed from March to June when the coronavirus was raging in France leading to the suspension of professional football.

Brazil has suffered the second largest number of Covid-19 related deaths in the world with more than 191,000

Neymar has attracted criticism over reports of a party he is claimed to be organizing in Brazil

Neymar in new controversy over New Year party rumors

Russia will begin trials of an antibody treatment for COVID-19 patients next year, the head of the Moscow institute that developed the country’s first vaccine against the new disease, Sputnik V, said on Monday.Alexander Gintsburg, director of the Gamaleya Institute, was cited by the RIA news agency as saying that he hoped trials for the new antibody-based drug would begin in the autumn of 2021.
-I hope clinical trials will begin in autumn- he said. -We need to develop this drug using several technologies at the same time, which is something that is being done right now.-
Russia has been asking COVID-19 patients to donate blood plasma, which is rich in antibodies, for research.
Earlier this year, U.S. President Donald Trump was treated with an experimental antibody cocktail for COVID-19 produced by drugmaker Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Antibodies are proteins made by the body’s immune system that latch on to and neutralize an invading virus. Regeneron’s cocktail contains an antibody made by the company and a second isolated from humans who recovered from COVID-19.
Gamaleya’s Gintsburg said on Sunday that the new Russian drug would be made up of “monoclonal antibodies”, genetically engineered versions of the antibodies that are found in the blood plasma of those who have been sick with COVID-19, the TASS news agency reported.
Russia last week stopped taking in new volunteers for its main human trial of Sputnik V, with developers saying it was unethical to administer a placebo to participants now that the shot was increasingly available to the public.
Russia began inoculating small numbers of people in high-risk groups soon after it granted regulatory approval to the vaccine in August. It launched its large-scale, final-stage trial in Moscow the following month.
The rollout ramped up this month and more than 200,000 Russians have now received the shot.
Since the start of the pandemic, Russia has recorded more than 3 million infections and 55,000 deaths.

Alexander Gintsburg: I hope clinical trials will begin in autumn

Alexander Gintsburg, director of the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, attends an interview with Reuters in Moscow, Russia September 24, 2020.

Russia to test new COVID-19 antibody drug in new year

Sri Lanka welcomed its first foreign tourists in nine months Monday even as a new deadlier strain of the coronavirus gripped the island.
A charter flight carrying 185 passengers from Ukraine landed at a little-used airport south of the capital, which has been stricken by a surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths.
In less than three months, the official number of coronavirus fatalities has risen from 13 to 191, while the number of infections has gone from 3,300 to more than 41,000.
Still, authorities hope the Ukrainian arrivals will be the first of thousands of foreigners to visit -- easing pressure on the tourism-reliant economy that was shut down in March.
The visitors, who had to produce coronavirus-free certificates before departure, were tested again on arrival at Rajapaksa International airport.
They will be confined to their hotels for the duration of their holiday.
-This is a pilot project to test our systems- government spokesman Ramesh Pathirana said, adding that there would be a review after one month. 
Sri Lanka's international borders remain closed, with the exception of repatriation flights and charters approved by local health authorities.
But Sri Lanka is also scheduled to host a two-Test cricket tour by England next month.
The moves come despite authorities announcing a deadlier coronavirus strain.
Minister for COVID Disease Control, Sudharshini Fernandopulle, said the strain was more infectious than one which spread in Sri Lanka between January and October.

A charter flight carrying 185 passengers from Ukraine landed at a little-used airport south of the capital

Ukraine passengers arrive at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in Mattala

Sri Lanka welcomes first tourists despite new coronavirus strain

Almost two million people in the US have been vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the most recent figures from the national public health institute.
While 1,944,585 people have taken the COVID-19 vaccine, there were 9,547,925 doses distributed as of Saturday 9.00 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data showed.
The large difference between the figures is a result of management of available vaccine stocks by jurisdiction and delays in reporting of administered doses, the CDC said, adding health care providers report doses to state, territorial and local public health agencies up to 72 hours after administration.
US pharmaceutical firm Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech announced Wednesday they made a second agreement with the US government to supply an additional 100 million doses by July 31 latest, for which they will receive another $1.95 billion.
The agreement doubles the total number of doses the companies have to deliver for the US market as part of President Donald Trump administration's Operation Warp Speed.
After Vice President Mike Pence became the first top US official to get vaccinated on Dec. 18 broadcast on live television, he was followed by US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and some other lawmakers.
President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden also received their first doses of the vaccine last Monday.
Trump, on the other hand, has so far largely remained out of sight with days into the largest vaccination campaign in the US history.
The president recovered from COVID-19 in October after he received an experimental monoclonal antibody therapy. Trump should wait at least 90 days upon his treatment to get vaccinated to avoid any potential interference, according to the CDC.
A recent survey in the US, however, showed that only half of the population wants to receive COVID-19 vaccine shots, while a quarter of adults were not sure whether they want to get vaccinated against coronavirus, according to a survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research released on Dec. 9.
Many of the undecided voice concerns over safety, indicating they want to see how the initial vaccinations turn out, according to the survey conducted among 1,117 American adults between Dec. 3-7.
At least 70% of US population needs to take the vaccine to achieve herd immunity, according to health experts.
The US still leads the world with over 19.1 million cases and more than 333,000 deaths, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University.

Over 9,54M doses distributed so far, survey shows only half of population wants to get vaccinated against coronavirus

US Health and Human Services (HSS) Secretary Alex Azar (not seen) and top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci receive a coronavirus vaccine from Moderna in Washington, DC, United States on December 22, 2020.

Less than 2M Americans vaccinated against virus so far

Email accounts belonging to some Finnish lawmakers were compromised during a cyberattack on parliament, the authorities said on Monday.
Neither the speaker of parliament nor the National Bureau of Investigation gave any details of what information was lost, if any, or when the attack was, other than saying it was in the autumn.
-The act is not accidental. At this stage, there is a possibility that unknown actors have been able to obtain information through the hacking, either for the benefit of a foreign state or to harm Finland- Tero Muurman, chief inspector at NBI said a statement.
While Finland has seen a number of wide denial of service attacks on state IT infrastructure over the past years, closing down websites for several hours, Muurman said this was of greater concern.
-This case is exceptional in Finland, serious due to the quality of the target and unfortunate for the victims- he said.
Parliament said it was co-operating with the NBI in the investigation into the attack.
-The cyber strike on parliament is a serious attack on our democracy and on Finnish society- Speaker Anu Vehvilainen said in a statement.

Neither the speaker of parliament nor the National Bureau of Investigation gave any details of what information was lost

A woman rides a bike past Finland's Parliament house in Helsinki, Finland July 16, 2018. Picture taken July 16, 2018.

Finnish parliament says some lawmakers' emails hacked

A Saudi court on Monday sentenced prominent activist Loujain al-Hathloul to five years and eight months in prison for terrorism-related crimes, according to local media allowed to attend her trial.
The women's rights activist was convicted of "various activities prohibited by the anti-terrorism law", the pro-government online outlet Sabq and other media cited the court as saying.
They added that the court suspended two years and 10 months of the sentence "if she does not commit any crime" within the next three years.
The reports did not explain whether the sentence included time served or say when she may be released from custody. A motion to appeal can be filed within 30 days.
Hathloul, 31, was arrested in May 2018 with about a dozen other women activists just weeks before the historic lifting of a decades-long ban on female drivers, a reform they had long campaigned for.
After being tried in Riyadh's criminal court, her trial was transferred last month to the Specialised Criminal Court (SCC), or the anti-terrorism court, which campaigners say is notorious for issuing long jail terms and is used to silence critical voices under the cover of fighting terrorism.
Earlier this month, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan told AFP that Hathloul was accused of contacting "unfriendly" states and providing classified information, but her family said no evidence to support the allegations had been put forward.
While some detained women activists have been provisionally released, Hathloul and others remain imprisoned on what rights groups describe as opaque charges.
The pro-government Saudi media has branded them as "traitors" and Hathloul's family alleges she experienced sexual harassment and torture in detention. Saudi authorities deny the charges.

Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy, has faced growing international criticism for its human rights record.
But the kingdom appears to be doubling down on dissent, even as US President-elect Joe Biden's incoming administration could intensify scrutiny of its human rights failings.
Aside from a host of international campaigners and celebrities, United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations have demanded the "immediate and unconditional release" of Hathloul.
The detention of women activists has cast a spotlight on the human rights record of the kingdom, which has also faced intense criticism over the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in its Istanbul consulate.
Hathloul began a hunger strike in prison on October 26 to demand regular contact with her family, but felt compelled to end it two weeks later, her siblings said.
-She was being woken up by the guards every two hours, day and night, as a brutal tactic to break her- Amnesty said last month, citing the activist's family.
-Yet, she is far from broken.-
The Specialised Criminal Court was established in 2008 to handle terrorism-related cases, but has been widely used to try political dissidents and human rights activists.
In a report earlier this year, Amnesty International said the secretive court was being used to silence critical voices under the cover of fighting terrorism.

The women's rights activist was convicted of "various activities prohibited by the anti-terrorism law"

Saudi women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul, who was arrested in May 2018, has been sentenced to five years and eight months for terrorism-related crimes, according to Saudi media reports

Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul jailed for 5 years, 8 months

I cannot comment on rumors in certain media, German politician Christian Schmidt, a former minister in the German government and a member of the Bundestag, who was announced by some media as the German candidate for the new High Representative in B&amp;H, told Dnevni Avaz exclusively.
- My interest in Bosnia and Herzegovina is limited to help, when it is necessary in the operation of the refugee camp in Una-Sana Canton, where I was lucky enough to help last year - said Schmidt.
Asked about the possibility of him being nominated for the position held by Austrian diplomat Valentin Inzko for years, Schmidt said that the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be asked.
The portals published information that the German embassy in Sarajevo informed some politicians that Schmidt would be proposed for the position, and that this was a plan by which Germany together with Russia wanted to overthrow Inzko and oppose the plans of newly elected US President Joe Biden. German politician and former member of the Bundestag Stefan Schwartz sharply denied this information.
Our paper previously published information from diplomatic sources in the United States, according to which one of Biden's key measures for the Balkans will be a request to appoint a strong political figure from a powerful state to the position of High Representative.
For now, unofficial talks are underway between diplomats from the Peace Implementation Council, and more concrete activities are expected in the spring.

My interest in Bosnia and Herzegovina is limited to assistance, when needed in the operation of the refugee camp in Una-Sana Canton, said Schmidt

Christian Schmidt: My interest in Bosnia and Herzegovina is limited to help

Christian Schmidt for "Avaz" about the alleged candidacy for the OHR: I can't comment on the rumors from the media!

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 23 people died in the last 24 hours, while 218 are newly infected.
In the past 24 hours, 1,293 samples were reported to the Public Health Institute of the Federation of B&amp;H, of which 150 are positive for SARS-CoV-2.
New cases have been registered in all cantons in the Federation of B&amp;H, except in Bosnia-Podrinje Canton.
So far, a total of 335,593 samples have been tested, and SARS-CoV-2 has been confirmed in 70,829 cases.
As of today, 51,860 patients have been cured in the Federation of B&amp;H, and in the past 24 hours, 338 patients recovered. There are currently 16,845 SARS-CoV-2 positive cases active.
In the past 24 hours, nine new deaths were reported to the Public Health Institute of the Federation of B&amp;H.
As of today, the total number of deaths in the Federation of B&amp;H is 2,124.
In the last 24 hours, 68 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Republic of Srpska, and 14 people have died, the RS Institute of Public Health announced.
From newly infected, there are 10 men and four women, middle-aged and older, of which two are from Bijeljina, Teslić and Doboj and one each from Oštra Luka, Prijedor, Višegrad, East Ilidža, Čelinac, Han Pijesak, Bosanska Gradiška and Nevesinje.
33 males and 35 females are newly infected, of which six were younger, 38 middle-aged and 24 elderly, and 423 laboratory samples were tested.
According to the place of residence, 34 people are from Banja Luka, seven from Bijeljina, four each from Bratunac and Bosanska Dubica, three each from Kneževo and Ribnik, two each from Zvornik, Laktaši, Srbac and Čelinac and one each from Derventa, Kotor-Varoš, Novi Grad, Prnjavor and Han Pijesak.

In the past 24 hours, 1,293 samples were reported to the Public Health Institute of the Federation of B&H, of which 150 were positive for SARS-CoV-2

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 23 people died while 218 are newly infected

Croatia was shaken by a new earthquake this morning. People are upset, and some have taken to the streets in downtown Zagreb. Former Prime Minister of Croatia Jadranka Kosor told "Avaz" exclusively how everything looked like.
- It is not good. We are very upset. I have an old mom, who is mentally bad, very bad because of everything. That's unbelievable, Kosor said. -
She says that she did not go out on the street, because at that moment it is not even recommended and, as she says, it is cold outside.
- It's hard to decide at all. We're home. Some people in the center of Zagreb took to the streets. I'm a little further from the center. There is some damage where there was an earthquake in the spring. The feeling of this earthquake for me is almost the same as that terrible earthquake in the spring. The same feeling, the same rocking of the bed, the closet, the whole room woke me up. It's hard to describe. This was followed by several more earthquakes. It is very anxious in all this horror - Kosor tells us.

We are very upset. I have an old mom, who is mentally bad, very bad because of everything. That's unbelievable, Kosor said

Kosor:  It’s hard to describe, it’s anxious

Jadranka Kosor, former Prime Minister of Croatia, for "Avaz": Horror, I was awakened by rocking of the room!

The Cantonal Administration of Civil Protection warned population in the Sarajevo Canton to immediately, in accordance with their competencies and obligations, take the necessary measures for protection and rescue from strong winds, which the Federal Hydrometeorological Institute has warned about today.
Special appeals are made to legal entities that perform works on construction facilities, not to leave objects that could (due to strong winds) fall from the roofs of buildings, scaffolding and thus endanger the safety of passers-by.
The population was appealed not to leave objects on the balconies of their residential buildings and other open spaces that could (due to the wind) endanger the safety of passers-by and not to park vehicles near large trees.
- Municipal civil protection services should put their protection and rescue forces on standby, in order to be ready to respond to the announced strong wind gusts in the area of these municipalities, in accordance with the competencies and obligations under protection and rescue plans - said the Protocol and Press Service of the Sarajevo Canton.
The Federal Hydrometeorological Institute issued an orange warning for a stormy wind (south) whose gusts will be between 60 and 80 km/h, locally around/above 90 km/h.

The population was appealed not to leave objects on the balconies of their residential buildings and other open spaces that could endanger the safety of passers-by

Warning due to strong wind: Be careful where you park and what you leave on the balcony

Pfizer has postponed the delivery of new batches of its coronavirus vaccine to eight European nations including Spain, the Spanish health ministry said Monday, a day after the EU began its immunisation campaign.
The Spanish branch of Pfizer informed Madrid on Sunday night of the delay in shipments to the eight nations due to a "problem in the loading and shipment process" at its plant in Belgium, the health ministry said in a statement.
It did not specify which European nations aside from Spain were affected.
Pfizer has informed the ministry that the problem "was already resolved" but the next delivery of vaccines "will be a few hours late" and arrive in Spain on Tuesday, a day later than expected, the statement said.
Asked about the delay during an interview with radio Ser, Health Minister Salvador Illa said it was due to a problem "linked to the control of the temperature" of the shipments which was "apparently fixed".
The vaccine must be stored at ultra-low temperatures of about -70 degrees Celsius (-112 Fahrenheit) before being shipped to distribution centres in specially designed cool boxes filled with dry ice.
Once out of ultra-low temperature storage, the vaccine must be kept at 2 Celsius to 8 Celsius to remain effective for up to five days.
Spain is scheduled to received 350,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine per week over the next three months.
Most European Union nations began their immunisation campaigns against the virus this weekend with the Pfizer-BioNTech jab, beginning with the elderly, health care workers and politicians.

It did not specify which European nations aside from Spain were affected

The Spanish branch of Pfizer informed Madrid on Sunday night of the delay in shipments to the eight nations due to a "problem in the loading and shipment process" at its plant in Belgium

Pfizer delays vaccine deliveries to 8 EU nations

On the occasion of Avdo Avdić's writing on the Istraga.ba portal that German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin are working together to overthrow the High Representative in B&amp;H Valentin Inzko and that they want to replace him with Christian Schmidt, a former CDU MP and in the Bundestag, and against the will of US President-elect Joe Biden, Stefan Shwarz, who was himself a member of the Bundestag, reacted on his Facebook profile.
Schwartz wrote two comments, one shorter (and sharper) in German, and the other, longer, in English.

<h2>Angry at Avdo - Avdić produces bullshit, not facts</h2>

Angry at Avdo - Avdić produces bullshit, not facts.
I read that crazy article. I am angry and sorry that I have to be blunt: that article is full of bullshit. There are so many fake news and just crazy conspiracy theories in this piece that I wonder how Avdic could even write it or why some news outlets would publish such crap.
First,Angela Merkel is not at all a friend of Putin, and she is a fan of America (while not of crazy and dangerous Trump, but of Obama, President-elect Biden and normal American politicians). So Avdic should know - and surely he knows it - that it will never going to happen that Germany and Merkel (!) play games with Putin (!) against America. Never read such bullshit in the last many years, never.
Second, 
Thirs, there will be simply be no new OHR without an agreement of the UN Security Council. As Avdic knows exactly there is decision required by the UNSC, and there is a veto power by 5 of its members at the same time, among them: the United States. 
So, even if that absolutely crazy story would be true - which it is not - it's a totally illogical phantasy that the U.S. (with then Joe Biden!) would just do nothing on BIH and OHR, and would only sit and watch, and finally vote for some result of Merkel and Putin (what a crap, this idea) conspiracy against America?! 
That is so crazy that the only logical question is: Who commanded Avo to write such a crap?

<h2>And now, some facts against Avdo's crap</h2>

And now, some facts against Avdo's crap.
Third,
Christian Schmidt, whom I know from our common work in the German Bundestag, is definitely NOT a guy who would take part in any conspiracy with Putin - which first of all Angela Merkel, whom I know since 1990, would never ever even think of, as Christian would not. 
Christian Schmidt was States Secretary of Defense (!), is a strong advocate of NATO (!) and German-US partnership (!), and he had always been and is still absolutely critical of Russia’s Putin.

When Christian was Minister of Agriculture and Putin put sanctions on European agricultural imports (trying to answer the hard sanctions after he invaded Ukraine and Crimea), Christian Schmidt became somewhat famous for his campaign for more consumption of our agricultural goods, especially apples - in saying the very smart sentence: „An apple a day keeps Putin away!“ So he advocated with a smile that eating European, German apples and fruits would not only help the agricultural branch but would also be a nice contribution for defense against an ever more aggressive Russian Putin. 
So, if anybody would even think about a game in the back of our long term friends in America, especially with Putin, he might have lost his mind. Or would have been payed by someone to publish such a bullshit in trying to damage the Germans to their activities in BIH. Maybe Avdić knows - and tells openly - on which payroll or under which command he does such things.&nbsp;&nbsp;Finally,&nbsp;If Christian Schmidt would be replacing the political Eunuch Valentin Inzko that should not be a bad choice for BIH.&nbsp;&nbsp;At least a more powerful and well connected German would take over instead of that grey anxious and weak guy who did nearly nothing in the last years to help Bosnia get back on its feet.

Inzko as OHR has all the power to stop Dodik and other corrupt leaders, but he is afraid of using them. Meanhwile he earns a ton of money, but he does not deliver in his job.
If Christian Schmidt or anybody else with just courage to really help the country, alongside with the new US President who is a real (!) friend of Bosnia, that would be the progress the normal people of Bosnia and Hercegovina are waiting for years now.
That’s how Bosnians might see it.
They should not pay attention to any crap published by people like Avdic of whom you never know on which payroll and command he is just trying to play dirty games.
Avdo might be good or bad in investigating corruption. But he should not let himself being corrupted then, even not politically by powers with hidden interests. Just play open, straightforward. That is a much better service to the country which has suffered enough.
Pozdrav,
Merry Christmas! Frohe Weihnachten! Sretan Božić!
Stefan Schwarz.

Knowing the personal relationship between journalist Avdo Avdić and ISA director Osman Mehmedagić Osmica, but also information from certain international circles, Schwartz's text is a serious message and a slap in the face to director Osmica.
Namely, it is an old story that Avdić received the main material for his portal and the texts he publishes with the selfless logistical help of the ISA director.
That is why the question rightly arises as to whether it was Osmica who "sold" Avdić the insidious thesis about the alleged joint action of Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin to overthrow the High Representative in B&amp;H, Valentin Inzko.

<h2>From the biography of Stefan Schwarz</h2>

Stefan Schwarz (born 31st of August 1959 in Bonn) is a German politician (CDU). From 1990 to 1994 he was a member of the 12th convocation of the German Bundestag.
During the war in B&amp;H in the 1990s, Stefan Schwarz became very committed to B&amp;H as a young politician and became famous for alerting the German public about the scale of Serb crimes in our country. He is an honorary citizen of Sarajevo.

Schwartz wrote two comments, one shorter (and sharper) in German, and the other, longer, in English

German politician Schwartz: Avdo Avdić writes trash about Merkel and Germany

Ukraine's coronavirus caseload passed the one million mark on Thursday as the post-Soviet country's underfunded healthcare system struggles to contain a pre-holiday surge in infections. 
The health ministry on recorded 11,490 new virus cases, bringing the total to 1,001,132. 
Health officials in the country of around 40 million people have recorded 17,395 deaths since the start of the outbreak. 
The government earlier announced a two-week lockdown in January following the winter holidays, during which schools and non-essential businesses will be shuttered.
It also said it hopes to vaccinate "at least 50 percent of the population" against the virus over the course of the next two years.
One of the poorest countries in Europe, Ukraine has not yet signed a deal for the purchase of a foreign vaccine.
Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said Thursday the government "strongly hopes" to sign contracts by the end of the year and begin vaccinations in February. 
Ukraine also plans to receive 8 million doses of the vaccine next spring as part of the World Health Organization (WHO) Covax vaccine programme aimed at making coronavirus jabs available to the world's poorest countries. 
The government is negotiating a possible increase to 16 million doses, Stepanov said.
As coronavirus cases continue to surge, Ukraine faces a shortage of hospital beds and medical staff. 
Several NGOs have also reported a lack of oxygen supplies for critically ill patients. 
They also accused the government of failing to prepare the country for the second wave of the pandemic this fall and instead allocating Covid-19 funds towards rebuilding roads.
Earlier this month, anti-lockdown protesters clashed with police in the capital Kiev, leaving around 40 police officers injured.

Health officials in the country of around 40 million people have recorded 17,395 deaths since the start of the outbreak

People wearing protective masks walk through Sophia Square in Kyiv last week

Ukraine virus cases top one million

Monuments of gratitude for Mohamad bin Mahathir, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, and Madeleine Albright, the former US Secretary of State, were ceremoniously unveiled today in Alipašina Street (Kemal Monteno Park).
The monuments were unveiled by former members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1996) Ejup Ganić, Mirko Pejanović and Stjepan Kljuić, in the presence of the outgoing Mayor of Centar, Mr. Nedžad Ajnadžić.
Led by the Mahathir, Malaysia has provided exceptional assistance and support in the most difficult days for Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as in the later period of reconstruction and recovery.
The newly discovered monuments thus joined their predecessors in the Alley of Foreign Statesmen (Paddy Ashdown, Alois Mock, Tadeusz Mazowiecki).
The author of the monuments is the famous academic sculptor Enes Sivac. Peace pigeons were sculpted at the top of the monument as both statesmen are still active on the world stage.

The author of the monuments is the famous academic sculptor Enes Sivac

The monuments were unveiled by  Ejup Ganić, Mirko Pejanović, Stjepan Kljuić and Nedžad Ajnadžić.

Madeleine Albright and Mahathir bin Mohamad received monuments in Sarajevo

Pope Francis expressed his desire to visit crisis-hit Lebanon and urged political leaders in South Sudan to continue working for peace in Christmas Eve messages.
Lebanon was plunged into its worst economic crisis in decades by the devastating port blast in Beirut in August.
In a message to cardinal Bechara Rai, the patriarch of the Maronite Church, the 84-year-old pontiff said Thursday he hoped to visit Lebanon "as soon as possible".
-Beloved sons and daughters of Lebanon, I am deeply troubled to see the suffering and anguish that has sapped the native resilience and resourcefulness of the Land of the Cedars- he said. 
He appealed to Lebanon's leaders "to seek the best interest of the public" and for the international community to "help Lebanon to surmount this grave crisis and resume a normal existence". 
In a separate joint statement, the pope and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the spirital leaders more than 1.3 billion Christians, also repeated their desire to visit South Sudan "in due course, as things return to normalcy".
-We have been glad to see the small progress you have made, but know it is not enough for your people to feel the full effect of peace- they said in an address to the political leaders of the conflict-ravaged eastern African nation.
South Sudan is struggling to emerge from a six-year civil war that claimed some 380,000 lives and officially ended with the creation of a government of national unity in February.&nbsp;

Pope Francis expressed his desire to visit crisis-hit Lebanon

In a message to cardinal Bechara Rai, the patriarch of the Maronite Church, the 84-year-old pontiff said Thursday he hoped to visit Lebanon "as soon as possible"

Cikotić is asking the Council of Ministers for five million KM to establish a settlement for migrants

Neymar in new controversy over New Year party rumors

Russia to test new COVID-19 antibody drug in new year

Sri Lanka welcomes first tourists despite new coronavirus strain

Less than 2M Americans vaccinated against virus so far

Finnish parliament says some lawmakers' emails hacked

Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul jailed for 5 years, 8 months

Christian Schmidt for "Avaz" about the alleged candidacy for the OHR: I can't comment on the rumors from the media!

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 23 people died while 218 are newly infected

Jadranka Kosor, former Prime Minister of Croatia, for "Avaz": Horror, I was awakened by rocking of the room!

Warning due to strong wind: Be careful where you park and what you leave on the balcony

Pfizer delays vaccine deliveries to 8 EU nations

German politician Schwartz: Avdo Avdić writes trash about Merkel and Germany

Ukraine virus cases top one million

Madeleine Albright and Mahathir bin Mohamad received monuments in Sarajevo

Pope offers Christmas messages for Lebanon, S. Sudan

News

Cikotić is asking the Council of Ministers for five million KM to establish a settlement for migrants

Neymar in new controversy over New Year party rumors

Russia to test new COVID-19 antibody drug in new year

Sri Lanka welcomes first tourists despite new coronavirus strain

Less than 2M Americans vaccinated against virus so far

Finnish parliament says some lawmakers' emails hacked

Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul jailed for 5 years, 8 months

Christian Schmidt for "Avaz" about the alleged candidacy for the OHR: I can't comment on the rumors from the media!

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 23 people died while 218 are newly infected

Jadranka Kosor, former Prime Minister of Croatia, for "Avaz": Horror, I was awakened by rocking of the room!

Warning due to strong wind: Be careful where you park and what you leave on the balcony

Pfizer delays vaccine deliveries to 8 EU nations

German politician Schwartz: Avdo Avdić writes trash about Merkel and Germany

Ukraine virus cases top one million

Madeleine Albright and Mahathir bin Mohamad received monuments in Sarajevo

Pope offers Christmas messages for Lebanon, S. Sudan