Joseph Biden, the president-elect of the United States, has not even entered the White House, and in the Serbian pro-regime media he has already been declared as "Serb hater" and an "enemy of Serbs on both sides of the Drina river."
Biden's sin is that in the 1990s, at a time when the war was raging in the former Yugoslavia, he described Slobodan Milosević's regime as aggressive and criminal, and without hesitation he called the crimes against Bosnian Muslims genocidal.
Subsequent judgments of the Hague Tribunal and the International Court of Justice, based on numerous pieces of material evidence, fully confirmed Biden's assessments. Belgrade's nationalist media and political machinery, however, has not been shaken for a moment on the path to creating a parallel and false history that avoids any mirror that could show its true face.
Therefore, it is not surprising that even today, 25 years after Srebrenica, all detachments, from Vučić, Dačić and Dodik, to Borenović, Šarović or Stanivuković, shamelessly deny the genocide against Bosniaks, satanize the Hague Tribunal and glorify convicted war criminals.
Moreover, the school systems of Serbia and Republic of Srpska perfidiously hide the truth about the events on the territory of B&amp;H and the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s, and children and youth learn only about "Serbian victims" and Milosević, Karadžić and Mladić as "national heroes" and "fighters for the freedom of the Serbian people". .
Dobrica Ćosić, a Serbian academic and one of the key authors of the SANU Memorandum on resolving the Serbian national question in the Balkans, wrote and spoke long ago about the phenomenon of Serbian lies as a condition for the survival of Serbian national politics and the state.
It is sad and disappointing that nothing has changed in that respect even in the age of digitalization, Google and smartphones.
The official and evidence- and witness-based truth accepted by the civilized part of the world still goes down the road, and the false and mythological Serbian history through the woods.

Biden is not a Serb hater, he just told the truth about the war in the former Yugoslavia

Serbian lies in the mirror

NATO should seek to heighten engagement with Bosnia and Herzegovina. It should devote particular attention to countering destabilisation, including especially by hybrid means and disinformation, across the Western Balkans, it is stated in the document about the future of the strongest military-political alliance, reveals "Dnevni Avaz".&nbsp;

Namely, a group of international experts, led by distinguished diplomats Thomas de Maizire and Wess Mitchell, handed over the strategic document "NATO 2030" to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
It also mentions Bosnia and Herzegovina in several places.It is emphasized that NATO should seek to heighten engagement with Bosnia and Herzegovina. It should devote particular attention to countering destabilisation, including especially by hybrid means and disinformation, across the Western Balkans.
One of the recommendations made by the experts is that NATO’s Open Door Policy should be upheld and reinvigorated as a key factor for partners to modernise, integrate, and prepare themselves for eventual future membership.
- NATO should expand its assistance to partners who declared their aspirations to join the Alliance, to help develop the tools and reforms needed to fulfil criteria for membership, working alongside the political, military, civilian, and administrative structures of partners. NATO should remain committed to 2008 Bucharest decisions and elevate the importance of membership negotiations to a higher level.- it is stated in a document presented in Brussels yesterday.
On that occasion, a NATO official told for "Dnevni Avaz" that the Alliance has "a long-standing mutually beneficial partnership with Bosnia and Herzegovina."

- We are committed to supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina with implementing reforms, as we have for many years, because Allies are committed to a stable and secure Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Western Balkans more broadly. We welcome our continued cooperation on the reform of the BiH security forces and structures. We also welcome the contributions of Bosnia and Herzegovina to our Euro-Atlantic security, including to our mission in Afghanistan - they stated in a comment for our paper.
Apart from EU membership, one of the most important foreign policy goals of our country is joining NATO. The second step in accession is to participate in the Membership Action Plan (MAP), in which B&amp;H is currently located.

-The NATO 2030 project continues and the NATO Secretary General will continue to consult with Allies and to reach out to parliamentarians, civil society, the private sector and young leaders. Therafter the NATO Secretary General will prepare his proposals for Allied Leaders. His recommendations will inform the direction NATO Leaders set out when they meet next year- stated our interlocutor from NATO.

NATO will intensify its engagement in B&H

NATO Headquarters in Brussels: Help B&H to gain membership

-The Norwegian Civil Security Clearance Authority informs me that the reason that I will not receive a renewed security clearance is that my wife is a Chinese citizen and resides in China, where I support her financially- Nicolaisen said.
-At the same time, they have determined that there are no circumstances regarding me personally that give rise to doubt about my suitability for obtaining a security clearance, but that this does not carry sufficient weight.-
-I have now had to take the consequences of this- he said.
Nicolaisen’s resignation takes effect immediately, according to a statement released by the central bank. It was not immediately clear who would replace him.
Nicolaisen was not immediately available for further comment.
NATO-member Norway has become stricter in recent years with regards to security clearances, making it difficult in many cases to get approval for anyone married to a person from a country with which Norway does not have security cooperation.
In addition to taking part in setting monetary policy, Nicolaisen had been in charge of overseeing Norway’s $1.2 trillion sovereign wealth fund, the world’s largest.
Nicolaisen was first appointed deputy governor in 2014 and was re-appointed to a second term in April of this year. The central bank said he and his wife had married in 2010.
The Chinese Embassy in Oslo was not aware of the resignation and its reasons, a spokeswoman told Reuters.
-I will miss Jon Nicolaisen in his post as deputy governor, where he performed his duties superbly as a close colleague and competent professional- Central Bank Governor Oeystein Olsen said in a statement.
Norway’s PST intelligence service said on Thursday that Russia, China and other countries were using espionage to glean secrets of Norway’s petroleum industry and plans by its government to cut or increase oil and gas production.
Norway is western Europe’s largest petroleum producer with daily oil and gas output of around 4 million barrels of oil equivalent.

Jon Nicolaisen, Deputy Governor of Norges Bank, waits for the start of the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming August 22, 2014.

Norway central bank deputy chief quits after security snub over Chinese wife

European Union governments and the European Parliament agreed on Friday on the annual EU budget for 2021, but for it to become law, Poland and Hungary will need to lift their veto of the overall 2021-2027 EU budget framework.
The 2021 budget for all 27 EU countries is already built on revenue and spending limits set in the EU’s new seven-year budget, which Warsaw and Budapest do not want to accept because it links access to EU money with respecting the rule of law.
Both countries are under EU probes for undermining the independence of courts, media and non-governmental organisations, so they risk losing tens of billions in funds.
If the 2021-2027 framework is vetoed, the annual financial plan for next year, built on it, will have no legal basis.
-The budget for 2021 can only enter into force once the blockage on the overall EU budget and recovery package is lifted- German ambassador to the EU Michael Clauss said.
-Without this, we are looking at a drastic cut in EU funding from the beginning of next year- he said, referring to the EU moving to a system of provisional financing, last used in 1989.
If Poland and Hungary do not withdraw their veto of the overall long-term budget framework by the next EU leaders’ summit on Dec. 10, the EU will move next year to the provisional financing arrangement, called the provisional 12ths, because each month the EU would be allowed to spend only 1/12th of what it spent in a certain area in 2020.
Under the provisional 12ths, no new projects would get financing, only those already started under the 2014-2020 budget. Farmers would still receive EU subsidies until 2022, although most likely with a delay and paid out monthly.

If the 2021-2027 framework is vetoed, the annual financial plan for next year, built on it, will have no legal basis

The 2021 budget for all 27 EU countries is already built on revenue and spending limits set in the EU’s new seven-year budget

EU agrees on 2021 budget, waits for lifting of Polish, Hungarian veto

Italian carrier Alitalia will offer COVID-tested flights between Rome and New York starting from Dec. 8th, the airline and the company running Rome’s Fiumicino airport said in a joint statement on Friday.
The announcement follows a health ministry order issued late last month and in force until Feb. 15 under which passengers flying between Rome and some U.S. destinations either produce a valid negative COVID test - conducted within the last 48 hours - when arriving at the airport or are tested before boarding.
On arrival in Italy, passengers undergo another coronavirus test which, if negative, exempts them from the 14-day quarantine Italy imposes on incoming travellers.
The quarantine exemption only applies to Italy, while restrictions on entry into the United States provided for by the U.S. government remain in place.
In September, in an effort to resume domestic travel after the first wave of the epidemic, Alitalia experimented with COVID testing on some flights between Rome’s Fiumicino and Milan’s city airport Linate, Italy’s biggest hubs.
However, the government progressively restricted movement between regions to tackle a second wave of infections.
Fiumicino saw its passenger traffic plummet this year due to the coronavirus crisis and early in March it was forced to announce a partial closure.
-This experimental phase will aim to evaluate the effectiveness and functionality of the new travel mode, with the aim of making it more widely available in view of the upcoming Summer 2021 season- the companies said in Friday’s statement.

The quarantine exemption only applies to Italy, while restrictions on entry into the United States provided for by the U.S. government remain in place

An Alitalia Airbus A319 comes in to land at Rome Fiumicino Airport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Rome, Italy, April 24, 2020.

Alitalia to run COVID-tested Rome-New York flights from Dec. 8th

Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday he hoped France would soon get rid of President Emmanuel Macron, describing him as a burden on France which was going through dangerous times.
Ties between Turkey and France, both NATO members, have been particularly tense in recent months over policy differences on Syria and the publishing of caricatures about Prophet Mohammad in France.
-Macron is a burden on France. Macron and France are going through a very dangerous period actually- Erdogan told reporters, referring to protests in French cities. -My hope is that France gets rid of the Macron trouble as soon as possible.-
Ankara and Paris have also traded accusations over their roles in the Nagorno-Karabkah conflict. France says Turkey fueled fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but populated by ethnic Armenians.
Ankara, which backed its ethnic Turkic kin in Azerbaijan during weeks of fighting which drove Armenian forces from territories around Nagorno-Karabakh, denies this.
Turkey has said France, a co-chair of the Minsk group formed to mediate the issue, was not objective. Erdogan said on Friday that Paris’ status as a mediator was “no more” due to its support for Armenia and slammed a French Senate resolution this week urging that Nagorno-Karabakh be recognised as a republic.
-(Azeri President) Ilham Aliyev had some advice for the French. What did he say? ‘If they love Armenians so much, then they should give Marseilles to the Armenians’. I am making the same recommendation. If they love them so much, they should give Marseilles to the Armenians- he said.

Ties between Turkey and France, both NATO members, have been particularly tense in recent months

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech during a rally against terrorism in Strasbourg, France

Erdogan says he hopes France will get rid of Macron "burden" soon

Ex-Soviet Kazakhstan said Friday it will begin producing Russia's coronavirus vaccine later this month, becoming the latest country to do so as a global inoculation race heats up.
Russia last month said its Sputnik V drug was 95 percent effective and would be cheaper and easier to store than some alternatives. 
President Vladimir Putin has called on Moscow's allies to mass produce the country's vaccines. 
In a statement on Friday, Kazakhstan's presidency said the country would begin producing Sputnik V from December 22, with plans to begin inoculating vulnerable groups in early 2021.
The developers of Sputnik V - named after the Soviet-era satellite - have said the jab will be available on international markets for less than $10 (8.40 euros) per dose. 
They have also said it can be stored at between two and eight degrees Celsius (between 35.6 and 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit) instead of the temperatures far below freezing required for some other vaccines.
Russia was one of the first to announce the development of a vaccine in August but before beginning final clinical trials.
The jab is currently in its third and final stage of clinical trials slated to involve some 40,000 volunteers.
Western experts have in the past expressed concern over Sputnik V, fearing that its development could be rushed.
Several welcomed the most recent efficacy figures, though they said more data was needed.
Russia's trade and industry ministry on Thursday said it had delivered samples of the vaccine to Uzbekistan.
The ministry added that the country has agreed to production deals with countries including India, Brazil, China and South Korea.
On Friday Serbia announced it had received a 20-dose trial batch of Sputnik V.
Last month Russia sent samples of the vaccine to EU member Hungary, in the face of concerns from Brussels.&nbsp;

Kazakhstan's presidency said the country would begin producing Sputnik V from December 22nd

Kazakhstan to launch production of Russian vaccine

Mass coronavirus testing will begin in Slovenia this month as restrictions imposed to tackle the pandemic have not succeeded in stemming infections, the government said Thursday.
The nationwide programme should start after December 11 or 12, when the first 100,000 test kits are expected to be delivered, Health Minister Tomaz Gantar told a news conference, adding that the government planned to acquire a total of 1.5 million antigen tests.
While health and care home workers are already being tested for coronavirus, the government plans to broaden the scheme to include other key members of the workforce such as teachers, soldiers and police officers.
By the end of the year the tests, which provide a result within minutes, will be offered to all citizens that apply for it, Gantar said.
-Due to the high number of daily cases, we can't track all of their contacts which is why massive testing makes sense- he said.
Gantar also announced that lockdown measures in force since mid-November would be extended for at least another week.
-I had hoped (restrictions would lead to) better results- Gantar admitted.
Slovenia, a country of two million people, has been severely hit by the second wave of coronavirus. Almost 1,600 people have died from over 80,000 confirmed cases.
In November, public transport in Slovenia was suspended and almost all gatherings were banned. Schools and non-essential stores and services have remained closed.

The nationwide programme should start after December 11th or 12th

Tomaz Gantar: Due to the high number of daily cases, we can't track all of their contacts which is why massive testing makes sense

Slovenia plans mass testing, extends virus shutdown

The problem of exodus of young people from B&amp;H requires the convening of an emergency, extraordinary session of the Presidency of the state, according to the long-standing B&amp;H. diplomat, former ambassador of our country to India Sabit Subašić.
Young people are leaving Tomislavgrad, Zenica, Prijedor and Banja Luka in the same way and for the same reasons. One of the biggest problems in B&amp;H is a rare example of consensus among members of the Presidency, so Subašić considers the thematic session a normal move.

- Each of them persistently points out in individual appearances the great problem of young people leaving and loss of educated people. All three are alarming, justifiably, but isn't it normal then to have an urgent reaction !? Isn't it normal for the Presidency of B&amp;H, in a concrete way, in accordance with its competencies, to face this problem - Subašić wonders.

He points out that, in the preparation of the session, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and other institutions should be asked for appropriate analyzes and proposals, and consultations with other countries should be held.
- The result of the extended, extraordinary session should be a strategic document with measures and tasks. I think that even any possible borrowing with the aim of stopping the departure of young people has a much greater justification than any other - explains Subašić.

Adnan Fehratbegović, Master of Electrical Engineering, has been warning about one of the key problems of the state, which always remains in the shadow of daily political events. He is the father of four children. His son Abdullah, a three-time FB&amp;H champion in mathematics, although still in elementary school, is considering leaving the country.

- For raising and education, on average, at least 100,000 KM is needed. These are the costs of schooling, food, clothing, transportation. With the number of children, the need for the size of housing is growing, the overhead costs of the family are higher… Having in mind this, as well as EUROSTAT data on more than 200,000 issued first residence permits for B&amp;H citizens in the last seven years, we can say that B&amp;H has spent more of 20 billion KM in education and raising the generation that left the country in that period - says Fehratbegović.
He reminds that lower tax collection, lower market demand and the loss of huge potential in the future are the consequences of such a demographic catastrophe.

Fehratbegović explains that the state has a number of possibilities that are applied in EU countries that also face the problem of birth rates.
- Through natality policies, states make it easier for future parents through child allowances. Germany, for example, allocates 250-300 euros for one child. There are also progressive rates of personal income taxation through which, with a larger number of children, there are lower contributions to the salary, and children's sports are co-financed ... - Fehratbegović points out.

The result of the extraordinary session of the Presidency of B&H should be a strategic document with measures and tasks, Subašić believes

An increasing number of young people are choosing to leave the country in search for a better life

State leadership must deal with the problem of exodus of young people from the country

At yesterday's session, the House of Representatives of the Federation Parliament supported several proposals and draft laws. Among other things, the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Contributions was adopted, which extends the deadline until December 31, 2022 for the payment of contributions on a privileged basis.
Although it was on the agenda, MPs did not consider the Bill on Police Officers, as it was withdrawn by FB&amp;H Prime Minister Fadil Novalić before the debate began.
The Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Principles of Local Self-Government in FB&amp;H was adopted, as well as the SDP Law on Amendments to the Law on Mitigation of Negative Economic Consequences Caused by the Coronavirus Pandemic, and the Draft Law on Entrepreneurial Infrastructure in FB&amp;H. The deputies also discussed the Draft Law on the Gas Pipeline "Southern Interconnection of B&amp;H and Croatia".
A discussion on the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic was held at the session, and on that occasion, Prime Minister Novalić also addressed the deputies.
- The tape with the pandemic started on March 16th. We closed the state and that had a bad effect on the economy, but a very good one on health care. As of March 16th, more precisely on May 5th, there were 27,500 fired workers. Since May 5th, the number of our employees has been growing, and today we are at minus 12,700 workers - Novalić emphasized.
Goran Čerkez, a member of the Crisis Staff of the Federal Ministry of Health, also addressed the deputies, emphasizing that health care is not in a "lockdown", and that all those who need to be examined will be examined.
- Stop calling us heroes in white, but improve working conditions, hire new doctors. The condition is difficult, however, it has been improving in the last four weeks. This decline is because of the measures we have introduced. We have not introduced a "lockdown", but we have a continuity of measures - Čerkez pointed out.
He added that B&amp;H did not have the death rate from coronavirus like Italy, where trucks transported death people.
- We will see how well we answered when all this is over. The cantons do not procure enough tests and we do not test enough - Čerkez emphasized.

Čerkez appealed to politicians: Stop calling us heroes in white, improve conditions

MPs accept SDP's draft of the new corona law

Novalić: 12,700 workers lost their jobs

The Peace Implementation Council Steering Board (PIC SB) Political Directors met via video conference on 1-2 December 2020 to review the process of implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), which remains the basis for a stable, secure and prosperous Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The PIC SB reminded all parties of their obligation to comply fully with the GFAP, all its annexes, and decisions of the High Representative. It reaffirmed its unequivocal commitment to the territorial integrity and fundamental structure of BiH as a single, sovereign state comprising two entities. The PIC SB restated that the entities have no right to secede from BiH and only exist legally by virtue of the BiH Constitution. The PIC SB reminded authorities in BiH that the BiH Constitution is an integral part of the GFAP and that the decisions of the BiH Constitutional Court are final and binding and must be implemented. The PIC SB reiterated its full support for the High Representative in ensuring complete respect for the GFAP and carrying out his mandate under Annex 10 and relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, which remains unchanged. It underlined that the International Community retains the necessary instruments to uphold the GFAP. The PIC SB emphasized the need to fully implement the 5+2 agenda, which remains necessary for the closure of the Office of the High Representative.

The PIC SB marked the 25th anniversary of the GFAP, initialed on 21 November 1995 in Dayton, and signed on 14 December 1995 in Paris, and applauded the 25 years of enduring peace in BiH and called on all parties to continue to work together to create a sustainable and prosperous future. The PIC SB underlined that the values of rule of law and respect for human rights enshrined in the GFAP remain central to BiH’s future and to lasting regional stability.

The PIC SB heard briefings by the President of the BiH Central Election Commission (CEC) and a representative of the “Pod Lupom” Coalition for Free and Fair Elections, and welcomed their assessments of the conduct and outcome of the 15 November Local Elections in BiH, which took place in a largely peaceful atmosphere. The PIC SB congratulated the BiH CEC for organizing the elections and “Pod Lupom” for its extensive observation activities, both under the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. The PIC SB also extended congratulations to the elected candidates and urged for implementation of the election results as soon as possible following the verification of the results. Finally, the PIC SB congratulated the citizens of BiH for exercising their right to vote.

The PIC SB commended the adoption of legislative amendments in July enabling the holding of elections for the City of Mostar on 20 December, and encouraged political parties and independent candidates to approach those elections with forward-looking agendas aimed at uniting citizens and bringing significant improvements to the functionality of the City Administration in providing services. The PIC SB encourages all citizens of Mostar to participate in the elections, following COVID-19 guidelines, and calls on the eventual certified elected city councilors to lose no time in convening the new City Council and electing the new City Mayor as soon as possible.

Concerning elections in general, the PIC SB recalled the longstanding need to implement the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) recommendations aiming to improve the electoral process. Weaknesses that allow for the manipulation of out of country voter registration in particular must be urgently addressed and resolved, and allegations of fraud must be investigated.

The PIC SB also heard presentations by TRIAL International BiH and the former UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-recurrence on the issue of reconciliation, the lack of any meaningful such process in that regard in BiH is holding the country back from its true potential. The PIC SB echoed the messages from speakers at the 25th commemoration of the Srebrenica Genocide in July, and called on political leaders to engage in dialogue and take concrete steps towards profound reconciliation amongst all peoples. In this regard, the PIC SB welcomed the recent adoption of the revised National War Crimes Strategy and the positive thrust of the joint statement of the BiH Presidency on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the GFAP emphasizing the importance of strengthening reconciliation, peace and mutual respect. The PIC SB called on political leaders to live up to their commitment to publicly honor all victims of the war and to once and for all cease rhetoric that would thwart reconciliation efforts, including the glorification of war criminals, genocide denial and historical revisionism.

The PIC SB urged the BiH authorities to advance decisively on reforms related to the rule of law and the fight against corruption, which are a key part of the EU accession process. The PIC SB underscored that judicial reforms are a key priority and expressed commitment to assist the BiH authorities in this regard. In particular, the PIC SB highlighted the need to amend the Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) to establish a robust asset verification process to better address conflicts of interest and other integrity-related issues, strengthen the independence, integrity and accountability of judges and prosecutors and members of HJPC, and enable judicial remedy against HJPC decisions. The PIC SB acknowledges the HJPC members’ decision to address recent developments and encourages appropriate action that will restore trust in the institution.

The PIC SB urged the BiH authorities/political and institutional leaders to address the following priorities without further delay:
- Adopt and implement the action plan on the 14 key priorities of the European Commission’s Opinion.
- Improve coordination and cooperation amongst all levels of authority in BiH on combating the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigating its socioeconomic consequences, and increase capacities in testing and contact tracing to slow the spread of the virus and flatten the curve in terms of its impact on healthcare systems.
- Reach agreement on electoral reform that takes into account decisions of the BiH Constitutional Court, and the Sejdic/Finci decision and related decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), which remain unimplemented, some for more than a decade. In the process of electoral reforms, refrain from taking legislative or political steps that would make the implementation of the ECtHR rulings more challenging.
- Take concrete steps starting at the highest political levels towards reconciliation in BiH, including through joint commemorations.
- Appoint the new Federation Government, as well as the governments of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and Canton 10, all of which remain unappointed with governments from the previous mandates still in place more than two years since the October 2018 General Elections, and appoint pending positions at all levels, including members of the Federation Constitutional Court and of crucial state-level agencies.
- Ensure effective cooperation among all levels of authority in BiH and provide sufficient resources to manage migration and border security as the exclusive competences of the state, and ensure the fair distribution across the whole country of the responsibility for the humanitarian accommodation of migrants and asylum seekers. In line with international law, the restrictive measures arbitrarily limiting the movement of migrants must be lifted.
The PIC SB will hold its next meeting on 1-2 June 2021.

Adopt and implement without further delay an action plan for the 14 key priorities set out in the European Commission Opinion

The PIC supported the High Representative in B&H

Communiqué of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council*

Italy on Thursday announced national travel restrictions for the Christmas holidays designed to limit the spread of Covid-19 in the European country first hit by the pandemic.
The new rules, together with an existing curfew and other regulations already in place, seek to curb circulation throughout the country during the festive period by limiting the number of gatherings.
Earlier this year, a punishing lockdown of all Italy's 60 million residents helped bring the outbreak under control, but the government is trying to avoid missteps made over the summer after the lockdown lifted, when the return of vacationers fuelled a new rise in cases.
-If we let down our guard now, the third wave is just around the corner- Health Minister Roberto Speranza told parliament on Wednesday. 
Travel between Italy's regions will be prohibited from December 21 through January 6, with people barred from travelling outside their own towns on December 25, 26 and January 1.
The decree includes the "strong recommendation" to avoid hosting those who do not live together. 
Other regulations set to be signed later on Thursday are expected to mandate a 10-day quarantine for those arriving in Italy from foreign countries, beginning on December 20.
The move is in part designed to prevent Italians from travelling to ski slopes that are still open in neighbouring EU countries.
The government is expected to retain a colour-coded risk-based system that imposes varying levels of anti-coronavirus restrictions on different regions.
Bars and restaurants are expected to remain closed in regions in red or orange zones. A current 6 pm closure in yellow zones may remain, as may a nationwide 10 pm curfew. 
In yellow zones, where eateries are open but required to shut at 6 pm, the government is debating whether to allow restaurants to serve lunch on Christmas Day and December 26. 
Ski slopes are expected to be off-limits, as well as cruises. 
The health ministry reported 20,709 new cases on Wednesday and 684 deaths, bringing the cumulative toll to more than 1.6 million infections.&nbsp;

Travel between Italy's regions will be prohibited from December 21 through January 6

Roberto Speranza: If we let down our guard now, the third wave is just around the corner

Italy curbs Christmas travel to avoid virus 'third wave'

French authorities will swoop Thursday on dozens of mosques and prayer halls suspected of radical teachings as part of a crackdown on Islamist extremists following a spate of attacks, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.
Darmanin told RTL radio that if any prayer hall was found to promote extremism it would be closed down.
The inspections to be carried out on Thursday afternoon are part of a response to two gruesome attacks that particularly shocked France -- the beheading of a teacher who showed his pupils cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed and the stabbing to death of three people in a church in Nice.
Darmanin did not reveal which places of worship would be inspected. In a note he sent to regional security chiefs, seen by AFP, he listed 16 addresses in the Paris region and 60 others around the country.
The right-wing minister told RTL said the fact that only a fraction of the around 2,600 Muslim places of worship in France were suspected of peddling radical theories showed "we are far from a situation of widespread radicalisation".
-Nearly all Muslims in France respect the laws of the Republic and are hurt by that (radicalisation)- he said.
The killing of teacher Samuel Paty, who had shown his pupils cartoons of Mohammed in a class on free speech, sent shockwaves through France, where it was seen as an attack on the republic itself.
In the aftermath of his murder the authorities raided dozens of Islamic sports groups, charities and associations suspected of promoting extremism. 
They also ordered the temporary closure of a mosque near Paris that shared a vitriolic video inciting hatred of Paty. 
The latest inspections come as Darmanin attempts to fend off fierce criticism over cases of police brutality caught on camera that have forced the ruling party to revise a controversial bill restricting filming of the police.

Darmanin told RTL radio that if any prayer hall was found to promote extremism it would be closed down

French raids to target mosques accused of radicalisation

Britain has become the first Western country to approve a Covid-19 vaccine for general use, giving the green light to the Pfizer/BioNTech drug.
As authorities in the US and Europe probe other candidates, here is how countries have sped up their approval procedures to face up to the pandemic.

Britain was able to approve the Pfizer vaccine after the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) gave its all-clear.
The MHRA used a "rolling review" process from June to assess the vaccine in record time.
Teams of scientists had worked "around the clock" on different aspects of the safety assessment, often tackling several topics in parallel, MHRA chief June Raine said.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock and others claimed that Britain's departure from the EU had allowed it to approve the vaccine faster than its continental neighbours.
-Unlike the EMA (European Medicines Agency), they can ask questions as they go and obtain responses faster as a single agency- said Penny Ward, professor in pharmaceutical medicine at King's College London.
Raine insisted that "no corners whatsoever have been cut" in the vaccine approval process.
Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, told the BBC on Thursday that -I actually don't expect other regulators... to be very far behind with this vaccine- saying approvals elsewhere were likely "a matter of days".

The Amsterdam-based EMA, which regulates medicines across the 27 EU countries, has also turned to a "rolling review" process for safety and effectiveness data from Covid-19 vaccine developers.
All three of the most advanced candidates - Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and Oxford/Astrazeneca - have been subject to the scheme for several weeks already.
According to the EMA, the accelerated procedures are granted for medicines "that fulfil an unmet medical need on the basis of less complete data than normally required."
The normal pipeline for vaccines would see all the data collected and submitted at the very start of the authorisation process.
An EMA decision on Pfizer/BioNTech's vaccine is expected "by December 29 at the latest", while a ruling on Moderna's version should follow by January 12.
It is up to the European Commission in Brussels to issue the final green light.

Both Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna have requested emergency use authorisation (EUA) for their Covid-19 vaccines from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
But the American process is slower than the British one and involves a public consultation.
The FDA carries out its own analysis of the vaccine and calls on an independent advisory committee.
-The FDA process is a completely transparent process with independent experts commenting and asking questions and recommending or advising the agency- Moncef Slaoui, scientific advisor to Washington's Operation Warp Speed (OWS) program, said Wednesday.
The advisory committee is scheduled for a December 10 meeting on the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and for Moderna on December 17.
FDA decisions on the two drugs should follow those meetings. If the agency approves them, the vaccines could be available in the US -- the world's hardest-hit country with more than 270,000 deaths -- in December.

Testing on medical products under development is carried out by the Russian health ministry's "scientific centre for evaluation of medicines".
According to its official vaccine website, -unlike many countries, there is a system of state testing, using comparable medications, a double-blind study and other control tests independent of the developers.-
President Vladimir Putin ordered the government to simplify procedures for state registration of some medicines, so as to speed up approval for a vaccine.
Testing on the country's Sputnik V vaccine began in mid-February, and on August 1 the first and second phases of clinical trials were complete.
Authorities approved the inoculation on August 11 before Phase 3 trials had even begun. The large-scale study on 40,000 volunteers is now complete, but results have not been made public.
Putin has told authorities to begin "large-scale" vaccinations among at-risk populations from next week.
The drugs should be made generally available to the Russian public in early 2021.
Russia has also started a mass vaccination campaign in the army, expecting to vaccinate 80,000 soldiers by the end of this year and more than 400,000 servicemen in the future.

<h2>China: Last-stage trials and emergency use </h2>

As elsewhere around the world, China's vaccine approval process sees candidates go through three stages of clinical trials before approval from the China Food and Drug Administration state regulator, including large-scale phase 3 trials.
Developers must -verify the effectiveness of the vaccine through Phase III- trials and -meet our approved vaccine protection efficacy standards- the agency's chief reviewer Wang Tao said at a press conference in October.
Companies must also show their production process can turn out a drug of acceptable quality.
Once the regulator has approved their “vaccine marketing application”, it can enter the market.
With four vaccines in phase 3 trials, the country has approved some advanced candidates for emergency use, giving jabs to people ranging from state employees to international students since July.
Nearly a million people have already taken an experimental vaccine by Sinopharm, the company said in November. Another firm, Sinovac Biotech, earlier said almost all its employees and their families had voluntarily taken its vaccine.

How the world has sped up vaccine approval

The purpose-built industry in the Federation so far this year has higher revenue than planned. Federal Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry Nermin Džindić said that in a conversation conducted for "Avaz".

- As far as FB&amp;H is concerned, the purpose-built industry has a slight growth and by the end of the year we will have 100% execution of the plan, and we will exceed it. Coronavirus has affected the purpose-built industry. Already in March, with the appearance of the first cluster in "Igman", we made appropriate corrections and changes, and coordination is performed on a daily basis. There were failures of some components, but there were also increases in some other products. This year will be one of the most successful ones - Džindić explained. 
Speaking about the investments in the energy sector of FB&amp;H, Džindić points out that the preparatory works for the construction of Block 7 of TPP Tuzla have been completed.
- The Chinese partner is here and we are designing and preparing for further phases of construction. We have two problems in this project. The first is the process that is going on in the Energy Community, and that is the application that refers to illegal state aid. I think that December 7th is the new term of arbitration and we hope that we will be able to prove that this is not illegal state aid. Another problem is that the Chinese partner has reported a problem with its subcontractors, and currently an attempt is being made to find an alternative solution through the other two companies that are at the top of the world's production of electric power equipment - Džindić emphasized.

At the moment, he says, several major investments are active in the energy sector.
- Podveležje Wind Farm is in the commissioning phase, we expect trial operation of all units at the beginning of next year and connection to the system in the first quarter. Preliminary designs for the projects of the hydro power plants Janjići and Ustikolina are in progress. These two projects have their own perspective, considering the signed contracts with the Energy Community - said Džindić.

- These days we are doing analyzes of the functioning of mines in FB&amp;H. Certain jobs have been abolished, there are no more supervisory boards in the mines. We have accelerated the decision-making and management process of the mines. Unfortunately, in the last three months we are not satisfied with the results of the new organizational scheme. We have quite bad results in two mines and we have already sent a letter to "Elektroprivreda B&amp;H" in which we ask them to comment on the application of the new organizational scheme - Džindić pointed out.

Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry of FB&H Nermin Džindić

Džindić: Several investments are active in the energy sector

The purpose-built industry will exceed the plan in a pandemic

Members of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) yesterday arrested three people in Srebrenica and Tuzla Canton suspected of election fraud during the local elections in Srebrenica. 
The SIPA operation was carried out according to the orders of the Prosecutor's Office and the Court of B&amp;H.

According to unofficial information, Bego Bektić, the president of SDP Srebrenica, Muamer Sandžić and Enver Hamzić were arrested. The search took place at five locations in Srebrenica, including two family houses, a municipal building and one polling station, and one location in Tuzla. During the search, certain documents, mobile phones, voter lists, planners and one gun were confiscated.&nbsp;- Three persons are suspected due to the existence of reasonable suspicion that they committed the criminal offenses of association for the purpose of committing a criminal offense, preparation of the criminal offense of forgery of documents and unauthorized use of personal data and violation of suffrage - said SIPA.

Unofficially, Bektić, who was the holder of the SDP list in the just-concluded elections, Hamzić and Sandžić are suspected of stealing the identities of several Bosniaks, who then fictitiously registered in Serbia for voting by mail.

They are suspected of illegally using personal data of citizens to vote by mail from Serbia, in order to provide a secure vote for Mladen Grujičić, who was an opponent of Alija Tabaković, a candidate supported by pro-Bosnian parties.
The Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H also confirmed that the illegalities being investigated are in relate to the 2020 election process, that it is about manipulations and illegalities regarding citizens' applications to vote from abroad.

The Election Headquarters of the Coalition "Moja adresa Srebrenica" pointed out a growing number of fictitious Srebrenica citizens in Serbia a month ago, denoting to the obvious malversation and fraud before the local elections. Even then, an urgent reaction of the Central Election Commission (CEC) and the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H was requested in order to examine everything.

Naser Orić, the legendary hero of the defense of Srebrenica, commented for "Avaz" on the current events in this city and the arrests of SDP cadres.

- As soon as SIPA reacted, it means that there is material, they do not work on "said and told". Let everything be done according to the law, there is no need to speculate, there are people in charge of the process. We need to see mathematically how many votes have been "done". Serbs in Srebrenica have stronger machinery. We should not be angry with Serbs, we should make order in our ranks - said Orić and added that in Srebrenica there is a state of general madness.

SIPA arrested three people for election fraud

Srebrenica Municipality was also searched

Serbian lies in the mirror

NATO will intensify its engagement in B&H

Norway central bank deputy chief quits after security snub over Chinese wife

EU agrees on 2021 budget, waits for lifting of Polish, Hungarian veto

Alitalia to run COVID-tested Rome-New York flights from Dec. 8th

Erdogan says he hopes France will get rid of Macron "burden" soon

Kazakhstan to launch production of Russian vaccine

Slovenia plans mass testing, extends virus shutdown

State leadership must deal with the problem of exodus of young people from the country

Novalić: 12,700 workers lost their jobs

Communiqué of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council*

Italy curbs Christmas travel to avoid virus 'third wave'

French raids to target mosques accused of radicalisation

How the world has sped up vaccine approval

The purpose-built industry will exceed the plan in a pandemic

Stealing Bosniak identities to vote for Grujičić!?

News

Serbian lies in the mirror

NATO will intensify its engagement in B&H

Norway central bank deputy chief quits after security snub over Chinese wife

EU agrees on 2021 budget, waits for lifting of Polish, Hungarian veto

Alitalia to run COVID-tested Rome-New York flights from Dec. 8th

Erdogan says he hopes France will get rid of Macron "burden" soon

Kazakhstan to launch production of Russian vaccine

Slovenia plans mass testing, extends virus shutdown

State leadership must deal with the problem of exodus of young people from the country

Novalić: 12,700 workers lost their jobs

Communiqué of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council*

Italy curbs Christmas travel to avoid virus 'third wave'

French raids to target mosques accused of radicalisation

How the world has sped up vaccine approval

The purpose-built industry will exceed the plan in a pandemic

Stealing Bosniak identities to vote for Grujičić!?