Yesterday, the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H filed an indictment against Vahidin Šahinpašić, Chief Inspector of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA). He is charged with the criminal offenses of unlawful deprivation of liberty and obstruction of justice.He is charged that on August 30th, 2017., then Deputy Chief of the SIPA Criminal Investigation Department, without respecting internal procedures and without the knowledge or order of the competent prosecutor and the court, issued an order to SIPA members to locate and detain a person with the initials J. Š. Đ. They did so and held the detainee illegally.
Šahinpašić is also charged with using threats, intimidation, promising and offering illicit benefits in the night between 5th and 6th of September 2017-, and forcing J. Š. Đ. to drink alcohol with the aim of giving a false statement against the then Deputy Chief Prosecutor Gordana Tadić and the then Vice President of the HJPC Ružica Jukić.
He is charged with, as an official in B&amp;H institutions, unlawfully depriving another of his freedom of movement and using threats, intimidation, promising and offering illicit benefits in order to induce another to give false testimony in criminal proceedings under B&amp;H law.

He is charged with unlawful deprivation of liberty and obstruction of justice

Šahinpašić: He threatened the arrested

Šahinpašić forced the arrested person to give a false statement

The global scheme to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to poorer countries faces a “very high” risk of failure, potentially leaving nations home to billions of people with no access to vaccines until as late as 2024, internal documents say.The World Health Organization’s COVAX programme is the main global scheme to vaccinate people in poor and middle income countries around the world against the coronavirus. It aims to deliver at least 2 billion vaccine doses by the end of 2021 to cover 20% of the most vulnerable people in 91 poor and middle-income countries, mostly in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
But in internal documents reviewed by Reuters, the scheme’s promoters say the programme is struggling from a lack of funds, supply risks and complex contractual arrangements which could make it impossible to achieve its goals.
-The risk of a failure to establish a successful COVAX Facility is very high- says an internal report to the board of Gavi, an alliance of governments, drug companies, charities and international organisations that arranges global vaccination campaigns. Gavi co-leads COVAX alongside the WHO.
The report and other documents prepared by Gavi are being discussed at Gavi’s board meetings on Dec. 15-17.
The failure of the facility could leave people in poor nations without any access to COVID-19 vaccines until 2024, one of the documents says.
The risk of failure is higher because the scheme was set up so quickly, operating in “uncharted territory”, the report says.
-Current risk exposure is deemed outside of risk appetite until there is full clarity on the size of risks and possibilities to mitigate them,” it says. -It therefore requires intensive mitigation efforts to bring the risk within risk appetite.-
-Gavi hired Citigroup last month to provide advice on how to mitigate financial risks.&nbsp;

In one Nov. 25 memo included in the documents submitted to the Gavi board, Citi advisors said the biggest risk to the programme was from clauses in supply contracts that allow countries not to buy vaccines booked through COVAX.

A potential mismatch between vaccine supply and demand “is not a commercial risk efficiently mitigated by the market or the MDBs,” the Citi advisors wrote, referring to multilateral development banks such as the World Bank.

-Therefore it must either be mitigated through contract negotiation or through a Gavi risk absorption layer that is carefully managed by a management and governance structure.-
Asked about the documents, a Gavi spokesman said the body remains confident it can achieve its goals.

-It would be irresponsible not to assess the risks inherent to such a massive and complex undertaking, and to build policies and instruments to mitigate those risks- he added.

The WHO did not respond to a request for comment. In the past it has let Gavi take the lead in public comments about the COVAX programme.


Citibank said in a statement: -As a financial advisor, we are responsible for helping Gavi plan for a range of scenarios related to the COVAX facility and supporting their efforts to mitigate potential risks.-

COVAX’s plans rely on cheaper vaccines that have so far yet to receive approval, rather than vaccines from frontrunners Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna that use more expensive new mRNA technology. The Pfizer vaccine has already been approved for emergency use in several countries and deployed in Britain and the United States, and the Moderna vaccine is expected to be similarly approved soon.
COVAX has so far reached non-binding supply agreements with AstraZeneca, Novavax and Sanofi for a total of 400 million doses, with options to order several hundred million additional shots, one of the Gavi documents says.
But the three companies have all faced delays in their trials that could push back some possible regulatory approvals to the second half of 2021 or later.
This could also increase COVAX’s financial needs. Its financial assumptions are based on an average cost of $5.20 per dose, one of the documents says.
Pfizer’s vaccines costs about $18.40-$19.50 per dose, while Moderna’s costs $25-$37. COVAX has no supply deals with either of those firms. Nor is it prioritising investment in ultra-cold distribution chains in poor countries, necessary for the Pfizer vaccine, as it still expects to use mostly shots which require more conventional cold storage, one of the Gavi documents says.
On Tuesday a WHO senior official said the agency was in talks with Pfizer and Moderna to include their COVID-19 vaccines as part of an early global rollout at a cost for poor countries possibly lower than current market prices.
Other shots are being developed worldwide and COVAX wants to expand its portfolio to include vaccines from other companies.
Rich countries, which have booked most of the currently available stocks of COVID-19 vaccines, are also planning to donate some excess doses to poor countries, although is not clear whether that would be through COVAX.

To meet its target of vaccinating at least 20% of people in poor countries next year, COVAX says it needs $4.9 billion in addition to $2.1 billion it has already raised.
If vaccine prices are higher than forecast, supply is delayed or the additional funds are not fully collected, the facility faces the prospect of failure, the documents say.
So far Britain and European Union countries are the main donors to COVAX, while the United States and China have made no financial commitments. The World Bank and other multilateral financial institutions are offering cheap loans to poor countries to help them buy and deploy vaccines through COVAX.
The facility is issuing vaccine bonds which could raise as much as $1.5 billion next year if donors agreed to cover the costs, one of the Gavi documents says. COVAX is also receiving funds from private donors, mainly the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
But even under the best financial conditions, COVAX could still face failure, because of disproportionate financial risks caused by its complex deal-making process.
COVAX signs advance purchase contracts with companies on vaccine supplies that need to be paid for by donors or receiving countries that have the means to afford them.
But under clauses included in COVAX contracts, countries could still refuse to buy pre-ordered volumes if they prefer other vaccines, or if they manage to acquire them through other schemes, either faster or at better prices.
The facility could also face losses if countries were not able to pay for their orders, or even if herd immunity were developed too quickly, making vaccines no longer necessary, the Citigroup report said. It proposed a strategy to mitigate these risks including through changes in supply contracts.

COVAX has so far reached non-binding supply agreements with AstraZeneca, Novavax and Sanofi for a total of 400 million doses

A logo is pictured outside a building of the World Health Organization (WHO) during an executive board meeting on update on the coronavirus outbreak, in Geneva, Switzerland

WHO vaccine scheme risks failure, leaving poor countries no COVID shots until 2024

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday called US sanctions against Ankara over its purchase of a Russian missile defence system an "open attack" on the NATO member state's sovereignty.
The United States made good on months of threats to punish Turkey for buying the S-400 system under a 2017 law known as CAATSA, which aims to limit Russia's military influence and punish it for its behaviour abroad.
The sanctions were lighter than feared, but Erdogan noted that they had never before been used against a fellow member of NATO.
-Sanctions are imposed on our country, a NATO member. What kind of an alliance is this?- Erdogan asked during a televised speech in Ankara.
-This decision is an open attack on our sovereignty- he added.
Washington had already punished Ankara in July by barring it from developing parts for and acquiring America's next-generation F-35 fighter jets.
This week's punitive measures included a ban on all US export licences and loan credits for Turkey's military procurement agency.
Its president Ismail Demir and three other executives were also barred from travel or holding assets in the US.
The State Department said the sanctions "are not intended to undermine the military capabilities or combat readiness of Turkey... but rather to impose costs on Russia in response to its wide range of malign activities".

But in his first public comments about the sanctions, Erdogan called them unjust.
He repeated Turkey's claim that Washington would not sell the US equivalent to the S-400, the Patriot, to Ankara.
US officials say Turkey was offered the system, but that negotiations broke down after Ankara demanded to also obtain proprietary production and operations data about the Patriots.
-The more Turkey grows, the more Turkey inches closer to its goals, the more it stands up for its sovereign rights, the more it is subjected to attacks- Erdogan said.
-Because we met our needs somewhere else, they pulled the sanctions trigger.-
Washington says the S-400 system would put the security of US military technology and personnel at risk, as well as providing funds to the Russian defence industry.
Erdogan said Turkey offered to resolve the issue through diplomacy and would now redouble its efforts to developing its own arsenal.
-To make our defence industry independent, we will work twice as hard, we will accelerate our defence industry agency's projects, we will give more support to our defence-related companies- he said.
The sanctions are the latest thorn in US-Turkey relations, with the NATO allies at loggerheads over Syria, Libya and the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
But with a month before the swearing in of President-elect Joe Biden, who once described Erdogan as an "autocrat", Ankara's language has generally softened towards Washington.

The sanctions are the latest thorn in US-Turkey relations

Erdogan: This decision is an open attack on our sovereignty

Erdogan calls US sanctions 'attack on sovereignty'

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said Wednesday he would be the first person in the country to be vaccinated for Covid-19 as he unveiled a campaign promising free inoculations for everyone in world's fourth most-populous nation.
Widodo's announcement comes as Indonesia battles misinformation over the virus in order to stave off a fresh wave of infections, with some 630,000 recorded by Wednesday and more than 19,000 deaths.
-The Covid-19 vaccine for all citizens will be FREE- Widodo said in a video on his Twitter account.
The government originally said only health workers, the elderly and other key personnel would be given the vaccine for free.
Widodo did not say when he would take the vaccine, or when the national inoculation program would start.
But said he was happy to be the first to be inoculated in order to prove it was safe.
-There's no reason people shouldn't get the vaccine or doubt its safety- he added.
Indonesia has signed deals for more than 350 million vaccine doses from various international pharmaceutical companies -- including British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca and Chinese suppliers Sinovac.
The current vaccine deals do not, however, provide enough doses for the required two per person that would cover Indonesia's entire 270-million population.
The country received its first delivery of 1.2 million Sinovac doses this month, with another 1.8 million to arrive in January.

Joko Widodo: The Covid-19 vaccine for all citizens will be FREE

Widodo: There's no reason people shouldn't get the vaccine or doubt its safety

Indonesia's president to receive country's first Covid-19 vaccine shot

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 51 people died in the last 24 hours, while 902 are newly infected.
In the past hours, 2,407 samples were reported to the Public Health Institute of the Federation of BiH, of which 577 were positive for SARS-CoV-2
New cases have been registered in all cantons in the Federation of B&amp;H.
A total of 312,472 samples have been tested so far, and SARS-CoV-2 has been confirmed in 66,555 cases. 
As of today, 47,001 patients have been cured in the Federation of B&amp;H, and in the past 24 hours, 396 patients have recovered. Currently, 17,644 cases positive for SARS-CoV-2 are active.
In the past 24 hours, 28 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 1,910.
Since the last report about the epidemiological situation in Republic of Srpska, 1,071 laboratory samples have been tested in the last 24 hours, and the coronavirus has been confirmed in 282 cases, and 22 deaths have been reported, the RS Institute of Public Health said.
From newly infected, there are 141 males and 141 females, of which 42 are younger, 178 middle-aged and 62 older.
According to the place of residence, 77 people are from Banja Luka, 49 from Bijeljina, 22 from Trebinje, 17 from Bosanska Dubica, 15 from Doboj, 12 from Zvornik, seven from Derventa, six each from Prijedor and Bosanski Šamac, five each from Nevesinje and Prnjavor, four each from Lopar, Modriča and Sokolac, three each from Visegrad, Kotor Varoš, Ribnik, Ugljevik and Čajnic, two each from Bratunac, Gacko, Laktaši, Ljubinje, Mrkonjić-Grad, Rogatica, Teslić, Foča, Čelinac and Šeković and one each one from Berković, Bileća, Bosanski Brod, Bosanska Gradiška, East Stari Grad, East New Sarajevo, Kostajnica, Milić, Novi Grad, Novi Goražde, Osmak, Petrovac, Petrov and Srbac.
In the last 24 hours, 22 deaths were reported to the RS Institute of Public Health, in which the presence of coronavirus has been confirmed. From these, there are 18 men and four women, middle-aged and older, one of whom one is a younger person (a 34-year-old woman). Three people are from Banja Luka, two each from Modriča, Doboj, Bosanski Brod and Bijeljina and one person each from Lopar, Ugljevik, Novi Goražde, Rogatica, Foča, Trebinje, Zvornik, Prnjavor, Mrkonjić Grad, Petrov and Teslić.
So far, 34,310 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in RS, and a total of 1,487 people have died which tested positive for COVID - 19. 
In the Brčko District of B&amp;H, 43 new cases of coronavirus infection were registered, and 102 people were tested. One woman died, while 22 recovered.

In the past hours, 2,407 samples were reported to the Public Health Institute of the Federation of BiH, of which 577 were positive for SARS-CoV-2

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 51 people died while 902 are newly infected

The visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to Bosnia and Herzegovina has been marked by scandals, and comes at a turbulent time of strengthening US and EU influence in B&amp;H, Johns Hopkins University professor in Washington Daniel Serwer told „Avaz“.

He pointed out that it is still difficult to know the real or behind-the-scenes reasons for the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
He added that it is still evident that Lavrov's visit was realized during the ever-expanding discussion on the necessary changes to the Dayton Peace Agreement.
- I can't know what some B&amp;H politicians talked about with Lavrov. But certainly what many in the West are currently saying about the need for crucial reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not what Moscow wants to hear and wants to talk about - Serwer emphasized.
When asked about the official intentions of Moscow in the coming period, Serwer points out that the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia clearly sent a message that the Russian Federation will not give up its influence so easily.
- At the moment, I cannot imagine a situation in which Russia would relinquish its influence in B&amp;H, but also in the Western Balkans. It should be noted that Russia's influence is primarily manifested in moves that seek only to create additional problems for the West - said Server.

Serwer also commented the fact that B&amp;H Presidency members Željko Komšić and Šefik Džaferović refused to meet with Lavrov.
- The message that should have been sent is that Lavrov and official Moscow are obliged to respect the central state institutions located in Sarajevo. Thus, a message of support for secessionists was sent - Serwer believes.

Serwer also commented the fact that Lavrov began his two-day visit not with a meeting with representatives of B&amp;H institutions, but with SNSD leader Milorad Dodik, and he pointed out that such a scenario was expected.
- Unfortunately, we could have expected that from Lavrov and official Moscow. It should be especially taken into account that Lavrov is committed to supporting Milorad Dodik, and not to the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which he clearly demonstrated with this visit - Serwer believes.

What many in the West are currently saying about the need for crucial reforms in B&H is not what Moscow wants to hear and want to talk about, says Serwer

Serwer: What are the real reasons for his visit

Lavrov supported the secessionists

Celebrated CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour and former US President Bill Clinton were among the speakers at yesterday's conference organized by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement.

Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States, said he was sorry it took a long time for NATO action to end the war and killings in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that there is still too much tension in B&amp;H, as well as those who do not want it to be recognized as a legitimate state.
- The late Holbrooke said that success requires "flexibility of tactics and a constant vision for the ultimate goal". That was essential for achieving peace 25 years ago, but also for making progress - Clinton pointed out.
Clinton stated that both are missing today in relation to B&amp;H.
- There are no flexible tactics or vision to achieve the goal. The United States, everyone who cares about B&amp;H, needs to be actors again to untie this Gordian knot. Progress is possible within the framework of Dayton, especially if the United States is active - Clinton said.
He also quoted Alija Izetbegović, the first president of the B&amp;H presidency, who said: "Even the worst peace is better than the continuation of the war" and added that it can be used as a new beginning for everyone.
According to him, cooperation of NATO and the EU are priorities for the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serious efforts must be made to fix the economy in the country for the betterment of all citizens.

- My country will have a new president in a month, who is a friend of B&amp;H. He said he was committed to your future. President Biden will enable partnership and our shared values of democracy. We must move on, the long-term successes of B&amp;H and the Balkans are key to the EU and the US. We must be partners and continue to work together - said Kilnton.

<h2>Crimes could have been prevented earlier</h2>

Christiane Amanpour who reported from B&amp;H during the war and is one of the most deserving people that the world learned about the scale of horrific crimes in our country, pointed out that the intervention of American forces in B&amp;H showed that mass crimes and genocide could have been prevented much earlier. 
- After the massacre in Srebrenica, after the second massacre in Markale, NATO carried out air strikes and cleared some military strongholds of Bosnian Serbs, and that stopped the war in a very short period of time - said Amanpour.

The former US president called for a far greater engagement of the USA and Europe in B&H

Clinton spoke at the assembly: Progress is possible

Clinton: Biden is a great friend of B&H

Spain registered another unsettling increase in coronavirus cases and deaths on Tuesday, with 10,328 new infections and 388 fatalities.
This is the second-highest daily spike in new infections so far this month. After weeks of steady decline, the past three consecutive days of Health Ministry reports have pointed to a newly accelerating trend in infections.
Tuesday’s surge comes exactly one week after most of Spain celebrated a four-day long holiday weekend. Nearly all of Spain’s regional governments have also moved to relax measures within the past weeks as the case numbers have dwindled.
-If we aren’t more restrictive, we’re on our way to a third wave after Christmas- Daniel Lopez Acuna, a former WHO director who now resides in Spain, told the broadcaster Onda Cero on Tuesday.
-The increases we’ve seen are a clear reflection of what happened two or three weeks ago – the frenzy around Black Friday and the crowds that formed around Christmas shopping.-
Spain is set to further loosen restrictions for the Christmas holidays, although the plans are not set in stone.
Measures could be tightened if the situation continues to get worse, Spain's chief epidemiologist warned on Monday.
The total number of hospitalizations also remained stable, making this Tuesday the first in a month and a half in which the number of active COVID-19 patients did not decline.
As a pattern, a large number of hospitalized patients tend to be discharged on Mondays in Spain.
Daily reported deaths also reached the highest level since Dec. 1, bringing Spain’s official COVID-19 death toll to 48,401.

Country reports 10,328 new infections, 2nd highest daily spike this month

Spain is set to further loosen restrictions for the Christmas holidays

Coronavirus continues upward creep in Spain

BioNTech on Wednesday announced it will supply 100 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to China as part of an agreement with Chinese pharmaceutical company Shanghai Fosun.
BioNTech will deliver initial supply of the mRNA-based vaccine from its production facilities in Germany, the company said in a statement.
BioNTech and Fosun Pharma in March 2020 announced a collaboration to develop and commercialize a potential COVID-19 vaccine based on BioNTech’s mRNA technology platform.
On Nov. 24, the companies announced the start of Phase 2 trial of the vaccine in China.
-We would like to thank the Chinese government and National Medical Products Administration for their commitment and trust in our vaccine development efforts to help address this global pandemic threat- said Ugur Sahin, CEO and co-founder of BioNTech, in the statement.
-This joint development effort with Fosun Pharma is a testament to the importance of global cooperation and reflects our strategy to supply our vaccine globally. This agreement is an important step toward our shared goal of bringing a safe and efficacious vaccine to people worldwide.-
Developed in Germany, BioNTech and Pfizer’s vaccine had already received emergency use authorization in the US and the UK, and the two countries have started vaccinating priority population groups.

BioNTech to deliver initial supply of mRNA-based vaccine from production facilities in Germany, says company

On Nov. 24, the companies announced the start of Phase 2 trial of the vaccine in China

BioNTech to provide 100M COVID-19 vaccines to China

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government thinks people should make their own decision about meeting up for Christmas during the coronavirus pandemic, but given the risk some may want to wait for Easter to gather with their family, a British minister said on Wednesday.After imposing the most onerous restrictions in British peacetime history, Johnson is keen to avoid becoming the prime minister who cancelled Christmas, even though the United Kingdom has the sixth worst official COVID-19 death toll in the world.
The government came under pressure on Tuesday to revise its plan to relax COVID-19 restrictions for five days around Christmas, with two influential medical journals making a rare joint appeal for the policy to be scrapped.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said it was for people to make up their own minds but suggested that for some Easter (in April 2021) could be the new Christmas - especially those who were in high risk groups.
-How much do they want to bring members of their broader family together at Christmas or whether they think on this occasion lets just keep it small and we can meet up in the Spring - Easter can be the new Christmas for some people- he told Sky.
-It’s not for government to tell people exactly how to handle this situation- he told the BBC.
Some families have said they will meet up no matter what the government decrees.
COVID-19 has battered the United Kingdom: The government’s most conservative death toll measure is 64,908, second only to Italy in Europe, while government borrowing is set to hit a peacetime high of 394 billion pounds ($531 billion) in 2020/21.
Medical views are divided with concern growing among cancer specialists, for example, that many cancers are going undiagnosed due to the public health focus on COVID-19.
Cases are ticking up again in the United Kingdom, and particularly in London which went into the highest tier of lockdown from midnight.
The highest tier means that pubs and restaurants are closed, but shops are not. Still, revellers partied into the night in London’s Soho ahead of the restrictions, Reuters photographers said. One woman sported large purple burlesque feather fans.
Johnson, who before he became prime minister in 2019 repeatedly railed against “the creep of the nanny state”, has kept England under COVID-19 lockdown of varying severity for much of 2020, often to the dismay of some members of his Conservative Party.
But Johnson is keen to avoid cancelling Christmas for the first time since frivolous behaviour was outlawed in the festival under Puritan leader Oliver Cromwell during the 16th Century. Pro-Christmas riots broke out in response to the Puritan crackdown.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own policies.

Johnson is keen to avoid becoming the prime minister who cancelled Christmas

FILE PHOTO: Women walk outside a restaurant following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in London, Britain, December 15, 2020.

'Easter can be the new Christmas,' British minister suggests

St Petersburg is running out of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients, city authorities said, as one of around half a dozen firms licenced to produce Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine began deliveries across the country.Biotech group Biocad said on Wednesday it was supplying the shot as part of a national inoculation programme. More than 200,000 people in Russia have already been vaccinated against the disease.
Russia is battling a second wave of the virus and, while authorities have so far relied on targeted curbs rather than imposing a second national lockdown to contain it, the Kremlin warned last week that St Petersburg was close to crossing a “red line”.
Oleg Ergashev, deputy governor in the city - Russia’s second largest and President Vladimir Putin’s birthplace - said just 4% of the beds allocated to COVID patients were vacant.
-We understand that additional capacities need to be deployed- he told local television late on Tuesday.
The city of around 5 million people has recorded more than 185,000 infections and 6,529 deaths since the start of the pandemic - compared with, respectively, more than 2,730,000 and 48,500 nationwide.
Authorities said 596 people had died from COVID-19 across the country in the past 24 hours.
Data from the state statistics service showed that Russia recorded nearly 140,000 deaths in excess of the five-year average between April and October, including more than 50,000 in October.
Epidemiologists say excess mortality is the best way of gauging the number to have died from a disease outbreak because it is internationally comparable.
Data published this week found Sputnik V, which was approved by Russian regulators in August after less than two months of human testing, to be 91.4% effective.
Trials of the vaccine are ongoing in Belarus, the United Arab Emirates, Venezuela and India.

A medical specialist wearing protective gear takes care of a patient at the intensive care unit of the Vologda City Hospital Number 1, where patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are treated

COVID beds run short in St Petersburg as Russian vaccine rollout gathers pace

A Paris court was set Wednesday to issue its verdict in the trial of 14 suspected accomplices of the Islamist gunmen who murdered some of France's most famous cartoonists at satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in 2015, killings that horrified the nation.
Seventeen people were killed over three days of attacks in January 2015, beginning with the massacre of 12 people at the magazine, which had published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.
That attack was followed by the murder of a French policewoman and the hostage-taking at the Hyper Cacher market in which four Jewish men were killed.
The massacres, which signalled the start of a wave of Islamist attacks around Europe, triggered a global outpouring of solidarity with France under the "I am Charlie" slogan.
All three assailants were killed in shootouts with the police in the wake of the attacks, leaving only accomplices to face trial.
Those on trial are accused of assisting brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi, who carried out the Charlie Hebdo massacre, and their accomplice, the supermarket hostage-taker Amedy Coulibaly.
Over three months long, the trial was repeatedly held up due to the Covid-19 pandemic but has again highlighted the horror of the attacks, during a period when France has again faced killings blamed on Islamist radicals.

On the cover of its new issue to mark the verdicts, Charlie Hebdo in typically provocative style published a picture of God being led away in a police van with the title "God put in his place".
-The cycle of violence, which had began in the offices of Charlie Hebdo, will finally be closed- its editor-in-chief Laurent "Riss" Sourisseau, who was badly injured in the attacks, wrote in an editorial.
-If only only the criminal level. Because on a human one, the consequences will never be erased, as the testimony of the victims at the trial showed- Riss added.
Anti-terrorism prosecutors are seeking jail terms ranging from five years to life imprisonment for the accused.
Defence lawyers have slammed the prosecution's case as thin on evidence and warned against making examples of the accused to compensate for the fact that the killers themselves cannot be tried.
Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence for Ali Riza Polat, a 35-year-old French-Turkish friend of Coulibaly's, whom they presented as his "right-hand man".
Polat admitted to the court he had dabbled in crime, including drug trafficking, but denied any knowledge of a terrorist plot.
Also facing a life sentence is Coulibaly's girlfriend Hayat Boumeddiene, who fled to Syria shortly after the attacks and was one of three tried in absentia.
Riss acknowledged in his editorial that there had been "great difficulty" in establishing the criminal responsibility of the accused in the hearings, while adding the trial was "first and foremost that of this political terror which one calls Islamism".

The trial revived memories of attacks that established a pattern of radicalised French Muslim youths being inspired or directed by jihadist groups to attack their homeland.
The Kouachi brothers claimed they were acting on behalf of Al-Qaeda while Coulibaly had sworn loyalty to the Islamic State group. 
During the trial, survivors of the attacks recounted scenes of horror. 
Columnist Sigolene Vinson, who survived the Charlie Hebdo massacre, told of the "deathly silence" in the office as her colleagues lay dead all around her.
Former Hyper Cacher cashier Zarie Sibony described stepping over bodies in the aisles of the supermarket during Coulibaly's four-hour standoff with police.
Those killed in the Charlie Hebdo attack included some of France's most celebrated cartoonists such as Jean Cabut, known as Cabu, 76, Georges Wolinski, 80, and Stephane "Charb" Charbonnier, 47.
To mark the start of the trial on September 2, Charlie Hebdo defiantly republished the cartoons of the prophet that had angered Muslims. 
Three weeks later, a Pakistani man wounded two people outside the magazine's former offices, hacking at them with a cleaver.
On October 16, a young Chechen refugee beheaded teacher Samuel Paty who had showed some of the caricatures to his pupils.
And on October 29, three people were killed when a young Tunisian recently arrived in Europe went on a stabbing spree in a church in the Mediterranean city of Nice.
President Emmanuel Macron's government has introduced legislation to tackle radical Islamist activity in France, a bill that has stirred anger in some Muslim countries.

The slogan "Je Suis Charlie" (I am Charlie) has come to symbolise the fight for freedom of expression after jihadist gunmen stormed the Paris offices satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in 2015.

Verdict awaited in French trial over Charlie Hebdo attack

Germany reported a record number of deaths from Covid-19 on Wednesday, the first day of a new partial lockdown to try to halt a surge in infections.
A total of 952 people died in the previous 24 hours, according to the Robert Koch Institute disease control centre.
It said 27,728 new coronavirus cases were registered, a figure close to the daily record of nearly 30,000 infections reported on Friday.
Saxony, a region with some of Germany's highest rates of infection, was not included in Tuesday's figures, potentially boosting the latest numbers.
Some 83 percent of critical care beds in hospitals were occupied on Wednesday, the country's intensive care and emergency medicine association (DIVI) said. 
The new restrictions, including closures of schools and non-essential shops, demonstrate the seriousness of the situation in Europe's largest economy, as measures are ramped up in the run-up to Christmas - as elsewhere in Europe.
In Britain, London's pubs, restaurants and hotels have been forced to close for the third time this year; Denmark has moved to a partial lockdown for the whole country; and in the Netherlands, a five-week lockdown came into effect on Tuesday.
In France, where bars, restaurants and cultural venues have been closed since the end of October, the curfew now runs from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.&nbsp;

Germany coped relatively well with the first wave in the spring but has been unable to stop the spread of a resurgent virus in recent months. 
The latest restrictions will apply until at least January 10, with companies also urged to allow employees to work from home or to offer extended company holidays.
Authorities want to "implement the principle of 'we're staying at home'", according to the policy paper agreed by Chancellor Angela Merkel and 16 state premiers.
Social contacts will have to remain restricted over the Christmas period from December 24 to 26, when meetings will only be possible between close family members. 
New Year's Eve festivities will also be curtailed, with the sale of fireworks and gatherings banned.

Ahead of the closure of most retail stores until next year, Germans rushed to queue up for last-chance Christmas shopping.
-I hope that the shopping on Monday and Tuesday will not penalise us- said Angela Merkel at a meeting with her conservative parliamentary group.
-The curve (of infections) is very bad- she said, participants told AFP.
-The vaccine will help us", but the evolution of the pandemic remains unpredictable- she added.
Her government has pressured the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine ahead of Christmas. 
German Health Minister Jens Spahn said Tuesday that he hoped vaccinations would begin before the end of the year in Germany.
-We will be able to return gradually to normal from the summer onwards- Spahn told broadcaster RTL on Wednesday.
But the chairman of the World Medical Association, German doctor Frank Ulrich Montgomery, expected containment measures to continue "at least until Easter".
-Even if vaccinations start earlier than expected, the effect will only be gradual- he told the Funke media group.

Robert Koch Institute: a total of 952 people died in the previous 24 hours

Angela Merkel: -I hope that the shopping on Monday and Tuesday will not penalise us

Germany sees record death toll on first day of new lockdown

Denmark's government said Tuesday coronavirus restrictions already in force in most municipalities and major cities will be extended nationwide, hoping to brake mounting numbers of new cases.
-The coronavirus has gained too strong a foothold in Denmark. Infections rates are too high and the number of (hospital) admissions is growing. Much too fast- Transport Minister Benny Engelbrecht wrote on Facebook.
-We're now going to extend the partial lockdown to the entire country.-
Since December 7, measures including closures of schools, bars, restaurants, sporting facilities and cultural centres have been in force in the capital Copenhagen and its Aarhus and Odense suburbs, Denmark's largest cities.
A further 31 municipalities followed on December 10, while the remainder of the country will fall under the restrictions from 4:00 pm on Wednesday.
A record daily number of new cases recorded by health authorities Tuesday brought the total above 116,000 in the kingdom of 5.8 million people.
Copenhagen mayor Lars Weiss said in a statement the surge in infections was "terrifying", with 4.3 percent of tests positive at present compared with 2.5 percent in early December.
The partial lockdown is for now scheduled to last until January 3.

Infections rates are too high and the number of hospital admissions is growing

Transport Minister Benny Engelbrecht: We're now going to extend the partial lockdown to the entire country

Denmark extends virus restrictions nationwide

Cyprus expects its first deliveries of Covid-19 vaccines in January as part of the rollout across Europe with Pfizer-BioNTech batches arriving first, officials said Tuesday.
-It is the beginning of the end, rather than the end itself- said Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou.
The government had hoped vaccines would arrive by the end of December, under the European Union approval and distribution system, but the timetable shifted.
-The first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is expected in January- state medical services deputy head Olga Kalakouta told reporters.
Cyprus has ordered around three million doses including from AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Sanofi and GSK, CureVac, Moderna, Novavax and Janssen.
Apart from Janssen, each vaccine requires two injections.
Cyprus has seen a recent surge of cases, with the majority of the 82 deaths from Covid-19 occurring in November and December.
In the coming weeks, Cyprus expects delivery of 168,000 doses, with the first 48,000 in early January from Pfizer-BioNTech, and then regular deliveries of vaccines every three months.
Kalakouta said the target was to vaccinate 350 people a day at 38 vaccination centres.
Those given priority will be frontline workers like hospital staff and care home residents, plus vulnerable groups with serious illnesses.
Covid-19 vaccines will not be obligatory, Ioannou has said.
As an EU member, Cyprus takes part in all agreements signed by the European Commission with the vaccine companies.

Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou: It is the beginning of the end, rather than the end itself

Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou: Covid-19 vaccines will not be obligatory

Cyprus prepares for Covid-19 vaccinations in January

Organized by the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, an international conference "Legacy of Peace - 25 Years of the Dayton-Paris Peace Agreement" was held.During his presentation, Haris Silajdžić once again emphasized that there was no civil war in B&amp;H, but aggression. He added that the aggression was rewarded by the Dayton Peace Agreement and called on the international community not to repeat the same mistake and to reward aggression and genocide again.
- The basic idea after the war in B&amp;H was the idea of a greater Serbia. An idea that is not new - Silajdžić explained.
He added that the international community allowed the war in B&amp;H to happen.
- What happened then, continues today. Genocide continues today in B&amp;H. Because the status quo has prevented victims from returning to their homes. Anks 7 has not been implemented to this date. How do we stop this? That is our membership in the NATO alliance, at that moment the government in Belgrade will be helpless and then the normal political forces in Serbia will take over the government - Silajdžić believes.
He added that there are still people in B&amp;H who are ready to defend Bosnia and Herzegovina.
One of the speakers was Wesley Clark, a retired general of the United States Army and commander of NATO allied forces in Europe from 1997 to 2000.
- It hurts me when I hear what Dr. Silajdžić is talking about, but I have to say that he is right. I was in Sarajevo, walking in the trenches, talking to Bosnian soldiers. I also talked to General Ratko Mladić, at that time he had not yet been convicted of a war crime. During the winter of 1994-1995. The United States observed the situation in B&amp;H. At that time, Bosnian forces tried to break through the ring around Sarajevo, and in response, Serb forces attacked protected zones, and above all Žepa - Clark said.

He added that a meeting with Slobodan Milošević followed.
- We asked with who we should negotiate, Milošević answered only with him. I asked him how it is when he is the president of a neighboring state. He replied that Bosnian Serbs should be seen as relatives from the village. We asked him about the killing of Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica, Milošević said that he advised Ratko Mladić not to do that - Clark recalled.
According to him, Milošević forced Momčilo Krajišnik to comply to the agreement.
- After that, the question was what to do with war criminals. When I became the commander of NATO, that was my first task. After that, things changed. There were also threats to our soldiers, and they were led by the British. We used the army, but we did not use military force - said Clark.
He added that during 1995, negotiations were held with the representatives of the Russian Federation.
- Later that year, Russia withdrew its forces from B&amp;H across the Drina river. So Russia has never supported what we did in B&amp;H - Clark said.

It hurts me to hear what Dr. Silajdžić is talking about, but I have to say he's right, Clark said

Clark: Russia has never supported what we did in B&H

Šahinpašić forced the arrested person to give a false statement

WHO vaccine scheme risks failure, leaving poor countries no COVID shots until 2024

Erdogan calls US sanctions 'attack on sovereignty'

Indonesia's president to receive country's first Covid-19 vaccine shot

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 51 people died while 902 are newly infected

Lavrov supported the secessionists

Clinton: Biden is a great friend of B&H

Coronavirus continues upward creep in Spain

BioNTech to provide 100M COVID-19 vaccines to China

'Easter can be the new Christmas,' British minister suggests

COVID beds run short in St Petersburg as Russian vaccine rollout gathers pace

Verdict awaited in French trial over Charlie Hebdo attack

Germany sees record death toll on first day of new lockdown

Denmark extends virus restrictions nationwide

Cyprus prepares for Covid-19 vaccinations in January

General Wesley Clark: Milosević told me that Bosnian Serbs should be seen as relatives from the countryside

News

Šahinpašić forced the arrested person to give a false statement

WHO vaccine scheme risks failure, leaving poor countries no COVID shots until 2024

Erdogan calls US sanctions 'attack on sovereignty'

Indonesia's president to receive country's first Covid-19 vaccine shot

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 51 people died while 902 are newly infected

Lavrov supported the secessionists

Clinton: Biden is a great friend of B&H

Coronavirus continues upward creep in Spain

BioNTech to provide 100M COVID-19 vaccines to China

'Easter can be the new Christmas,' British minister suggests

COVID beds run short in St Petersburg as Russian vaccine rollout gathers pace

Verdict awaited in French trial over Charlie Hebdo attack

Germany sees record death toll on first day of new lockdown

Denmark extends virus restrictions nationwide

Cyprus prepares for Covid-19 vaccinations in January

General Wesley Clark: Milosević told me that Bosnian Serbs should be seen as relatives from the countryside