Company "Autoceste Federacije", led by Adnan Terzić, has completed the construction of the Zenica detour, one of the most demanding sections on Corridor 5C.&nbsp;

In such way, yesterday B&amp;H, symbolically - on November 25th - on the Statehood Day of BiH, got 11 new kilometers of highway. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, no solemn ceremony was held.
The representative of "Autoceste FB&amp;H" Reuf Kadrić yesterday pointed out that this is a very demanding project, primarily due to the configuration of the terrain.
He pointed out that this section of the highway will be opened to traffic when the decree on the amount of the fee for usage is issued, and that should be published in the next issue of the "Official Gazette of FB&amp;H". He added that another one is being built in the extension of this section, so that B&amp;H should get almost 20 kilometers of highway in the next 42 months.
Director of the company "Autocesta FB&amp;H" Adnan Terzić, said yesterday for "Avaz" that this is a great success of the company but an even bigger success of contractor and supervising engineers.
- Everyone worked as one to solve the problems and to successfully build this section. Now we continue to build the highway - Terzic told us.
This part of the motorway on Corridor 5C, called Zenica detour, consists of three subsections Drivuša - Klopče, Klopče - Donja Gračanica and part of the subsection Donja Gračanica - tunnel Zenica. With the construction of the Zenica detour, Zenica north and Zenica south are connected on the highway.
The total investment value of the works amounted to EUR 225 million, and the funds were provided through international financial institutions (KFAED, EBRD, OPEC), as well as European Union grants provided under the Connecting Agenda through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF).

13 facilities were built on sub-sections, which means that 48 percent of the newly opened section is under the facilities. The complexity of the construction of these subsections is best illustrated by the data that more than 340,000 cubic meters of concrete and 37 million tons of reinforcement were installed.&nbsp;

The most demanding facilities for contractors on the Drivuša - Klopče subsection were the Drivuša bridge and the Perin Han viaduct, and the demanding work along with the construction of the subsection itself was relocation of Sarajevo - Zenica regional gas pipeline on the highway.&nbsp;

"Autoceste" built  Zenica's detour

Zenica's detour: It costed 225 million euros

Terzić: We will continue further construction of the highway

The appearance of B&amp;H Presidency Chairman and SNSD's leader Milorad Dodik in front of the United Nations Security Council (UN), in which he attacked High Representative for B&amp;H Valentin Inzko and the OHR, is a disgrace to the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is the opinion of political analysts who have made a series of criticism about the apperance of HDZ's President Dragan Čović for "Avaz" as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;

- While Čović made serious remarks about Inzko and the OHR's behavior in a somewhat decent way, Dodik's performance was something really horrifying. It is not just about his rhetorics, which is literally at the level of a village cafe, in addition with personal insults - said analyst Žarko Papić.&nbsp;

He added that it was all bad for B&amp;H, especially if Dodik was a representative of the people to whom, as he says belongs, then he really disgraced his own nation in an incredible way.

Croatian political analyst Žarko Puhovski pointed out that the biggest problem in B&amp;H is not interference from the outside, but the fact that there is no interference from the inside, and that this was shown, in a humiliating way, at the UN Security Council meeting. He pointed out that what Dodik said about Inzko, that he does not know what he is doing, was not polite, but on the other hand Inzko was not particularly polite either.

- I think that the biggest positive trait of Dodik is that he says things in such an ugly way. Because, maybe it's some kind of needle that "sticks" someone to wake up a little. If it had been said in a nicer way, no one would have heard it. They haven't heard much in this way either. He was on the verge of a scandal, so maybe something was heard. I guess that this is not recklessness, but rather his strategy. He has been doing that for many decades. He chooses the most difficult words, but always one less than the most difficult one - Puhovski pointed out.

Friar Ivo Markovć, Bosnian Franciscan, an engaged academic and professor at Franciscan theology Sarajevo, believes that it was not B&amp;H that was embarrassed at the discussion at the Aria Forum, but its participants. 


- Dodik attacked Inzko because he is an obstacle to Russian and Greater Serbia interests and because the media-intriguing international target is suitable for sensation. Čović is a funny puppet of Dodik, self-satisfied that he destroyed every political alternative to his Croatian people in B&amp;H and thus made that people the biggest handful of misery in country, so now he is afraid that they will wake up and kick him in the upcoming elections in Mostar - said Friar Marković.

It is a pity, as he says, that "Izetbegović and his SDA did not attend the meeting where the masks of Dodik and Čović, who keep B&amp;H in the dark, were falling."&nbsp;&nbsp; 


- Because they cannot survive without him, he is the main wind in their worn-out sails, he elected for the Croats "legally" but immorally Komšić to the Presidency of B&amp;H and with that move he strengthened Čović's position, and with his unitarian policy, based on Ottoman imperialism, he feeds Dodik's passionate political idiocy. It would be good if they at least woke up the inert Inzko, who can certainly do more with his position and introduce more EU influence in B&amp;H and cut the wings of this Dodik - Čović - Izetbegović trio, push BiH more strongly into EU integration and enable more dynamic democratic life in B&amp;H - concluded Friar Marković. 



Kazaz: Komsić's Bosniakism is disgusting in the same way 



- Thanks to Dodik's rudeness, arrogance and primitivism, B&amp;H triumphed in front of UN Security Council. Thanks to Čović trying to resolve the Croatian issue in B&amp;H through Dodik, B&amp;H triumphed in front of Security Council. But Zeljko Komsić's Bosniakism is in the same way disgusting as the primitivism of Milorad Dodik – said professor Enver Kazaz.

- It is wront to analyse what they said, we should rather focus why they said it, what are their motives. First of all, it is an initiative of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the UN, so we should remember Russia's goals in Bi&amp;, help to Vučić-Dodik's "Greater Serbia", creating riots in B&amp;H in order to avoid B&amp;H's rapprochement to the EU and NATO and thus to preserve Russia's destructive presence in country. Dodik and Cović need a populist show in front of the world forum to show strength to their shaky electorate because political trends are obviously going in an irreversible direction: SDA, SNDS and HDZ are losing positions, new people are coming to move B&amp;H from the deadlock of fear and hatred in which they found peace- Friar Marković pointed out.

Analysts and academics after the Aria Forum meeting

Strong condemnation of Dodik's outburst at the UN

Bosnian health officials reported 924 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, along with 48 virus-related fatalities.
The country's Federation (FBiH) entity reported 443 new cases after testing 1,665 samples for the new coronavirus. The entity's Public Health Institute said they recorded 27 deaths caused by the virus.
The Republika Srpska (RS) region said they registered 423 new cases of the disease after testing 1,024 suspected samples. This entity also reported having 21 fatalities over the last 24 hours.
Brcko District health officials said they recorded 58 new coronavirus case along with three fatalities.
According to the state Civil Affairs Ministry, the country reported 84,252 cases since the beginning of the pandemic, of which 48,780 recovered and 2,480 had died from the disease.
The Ministry added that there are currently 32,992 active cases in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Since the beginning of pandemic the country reported 84,252 cases

Bosnia reports 924 new coronavirus cases and 51 deaths

London will be placed into the second highest COVID-19 risk category when a national lockdown ends on Dec. 2, while much of England remains under the toughest level of restrictions to control the spread of the virus.Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that blanket restrictions in England will end after a month-long lockdown, to be replaced by a system of regional restrictions to try to insulate the worst-hit areas.

-Hope is on the horizon but we still have further to go so we must all dig deep, the end is in sight, we mustn’t give up now-Health Secretary Matt Hancock told parliament.
-We must follow these new rules and make sure that our actions today will save lives in future and help get our country through this-Hancock said.
The decision has been keenly anticipated by businesses all across the country whose ability to trade in the pre-Christmas period will be affected. Hospitality is one of the large sectors which will suffer the most in higher tiers.&nbsp;London will be in tier 2, described as ‘high alert’. London was previously in tier 2 before the national lockdown was imposed, although a tighter set of rules for each tier was announced earlier this week.
For London, this means no mixing of households indoors and a maximum of six can meet people outdoors, hospitality venues can only offer alcohol alongside a substantial meal, and attendance will be tightly limited at sporting events.
Large swathes of the country including the northern city of Manchester and the prosperous south-east county of Kent, were placed into the tier 3, the highest tier, which is for areas with a very high or very rapidly rising level of infections.
In tier 3 hospitality venues must remain closed, except for takeaway services.The decisions have been made according to five criteria, including the pressure on health services in each region and the rate of change in positive cases.
Only three regions in England were placed in the lowest category: the Isle of Wight, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Tiers will be reviewed on Dec. 16, making it possible for areas that slow the spread of the virus to be moved down a tier before Christmas.

No mixing of households indoors and a maximum of six can meet people outdoors

People walk along a train platform at Waterloo station, amid the COVID-19 outbreak

London to be placed in second highest COVID risk category

At least 40 informal miners in Zimbabwe have been trapped underground after a shaft in a disused gold mine collapsed, the country's miners' federation said Thursday.
The incident occurred late Wednesday in the town of Bindura, around 70 kilometres (43 miles) north of the capital Harare, said Wellington Takavarasha, head of the Zimbabwe Miners Federation.
Takavarasha told AFP the miners were working inside the disused Ran Gold Mine when a shaft caved in.
Six miners have since been pulled from the rubble and taken to hospital. 

-Those who were rescued said there were about 40 people in the mine shaft at the time of the incident- said Takavarasha, adding that rescue efforts were ongoing. 
Mining is a major source of foreign currency for Zimbabwe, where gold alone accounts for 60 percent of exports.
The landlocked southern African country is home to vast gold and mineral reserves, including diamonds and platinum.
The gold sector provides jobs to nearly 10 percent of the country's population, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG).
Small-scale miners often operate illegally to avoid selling their bullion to the state-owned buyer, Fidelity Printers and Refiners, as they are paid only 55 percent in foreign currency.
The remaining 45 percent is paid in Zimbabwean dollars, which is notorious for its weakness. 
Accidents are relatively common in decommissioned mines, particularly when the ground is loosened by rain.

The incident occurred late Wednesday in the town of Bindura

Mining is often carried out by ill-equipped artisanal miners who sometimes invade abandoned mines

Zimbabwe mine shaft collapse leaves dozens trapped

Germany will probably have to stick with measures to dampen the coronavirus pandemic into January, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday, while her chief of staff suggested that restrictions might be needed until March.&nbsp;-Given the high number of infections, we assume that the restrictions which are in place before Christmas will continue to be valid until the start of January, certainly for most parts of Germany- Merkel told parliament.
Merkel agreed with leaders of Germany’s 16 federal states late on Wednesday to extend and tighten the coronavirus lockdown until Dec. 20, but ease rules over the Christmas holidays to let families and friends celebrate together.
Merkel said the increase in coronavirus cases was still much too high and the number of deaths a reason for concern.&nbsp;The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 22,268 to 983,588, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Thursday, while the death toll rose by 389 to 15,160.
Merkel’s chief of staff said rules limiting social contact might be needed for longer.&nbsp; - We have difficult winter months ahead of us. This will continue until March-Helge Braun told RTL television.

The number of deaths is still reason for concern

People wear protective face masks as they walk beside Christmas decoration at a shopping mall

German COVID-19 restrictions set to last into 2021

A Turkish court handed down dozens of life sentences on Thursday for some of the nearly 500 defendants, including army commanders and pilots, accused of leading a 2016 coup attempt from an air base near the capital Ankara.More than 250 people were killed on July 15, 2016, when rogue soldiers commandeered warplanes, helicopters and tanks and sought to take control of state institutions and overthrow the government of President Tayyip Erdogan.
The trial was the highest profile of dozens of court cases targeting thousands of people accused of involvement in the coup attempt, which Ankara blamed on supporters of the U.S.-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen.
Former air force commander Akin Ozturk and others at the Akinci air base near Ankara were accused of directing the coup and bombing government buildings, including parliament, and attempting to kill Erdogan.
Four ringleaders, dubbed “civilian imams” over ties to Gulen’s network, were given 79 aggravated life sentences for charges of attempting to assassinate the president, murder, and seeking to overthrow the constitutional order, state-owned Anadolu news agency said.F-16 warplane pilots were also among those given aggravated life sentences - the severest punishment in Turkish courts - meaning there is no possibility of parole.
Turkey’s then-military chief and now defence minister Hulusi Akar and other commanders were held captive for several hours at the base on the night of the coup. A total of 475 people were on trial, 365 of them in custody.

SUSTAINED CRACKDOWN
The 79-year-old cleric Gulen, who was once an ally of Erdogan and has denied any role in the coup, was one of six defendants being tried in absentia. Their dossiers were separated from the main trial, media reports said.
The government declared a state of emergency in Turkey - a NATO member and candidate for European Union membership - after the failed coup and carried out a large-scale crackdown which alarmed Ankara’s Western allies.&nbsp;Some 292,000 people have been detained over alleged links to Gulen, nearly 100,000 of them jailed pending trial, Anadolu cited Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu as saying.
Some 150,000 civil servants were sacked or suspended after the coup, with some 20,000 expelled from the military. Courts have handed down more than 2,500 life sentences.
Four years on, police operations targeting suspects accused of links to Gulen continue on a regular basis.
The government has said the crackdown was needed given the security challenges which Turkey has faced to root out a network of Gulen supporters deeply embedded in the state apparatus.

More than 250 people were killed

Four years on, police operations targeting suspects accused of links to Gulen continue on a regular basis

Turkish court issues life sentences in trial of 2016 coup leaders

The European Commission has given a recommendation on approving the opening of negotiations on agreements between the EU and B&amp;H on cooperation between European Union Agency for Cooperation in Criminal Justice (Eurojust) and the competent bodies in our country, "Dnevni avaz" found out.&nbsp;Key partners&nbsp;The recommendation states that B&amp;H is one of the key partners of the EU. It is added that B&amp;H established contact points with Eurojust for the first time in 2014. in order to start negotiations on concluding a cooperation agreement.

- In April 2020., the competent authorities of B&amp;H have sent a letter to Eurojust in which they expressed their intention to initiate a procedure for the formalization of cooperation in the form of a working agreement - it was explained.&nbsp;It was added that, given the political strategy, the operational needs of judicial bodies across the EU and the potential benefits of enhanced co-operation in this area, the Commission considers that negotiations need to be launched in short period of time in order to regulate how Eurojust can co-operate with B&amp;H.
- The position of the Commission regarding B&amp;H and Turkey is described in the regular reports of the Commission for 2020. For both countries, closure of an international agreement that allows the exchange of personal data with Eurojust is subject to the necessary changes in their data protection laws - it was explained.
&nbsp;Competent authorities
It was clarified that the aim of this agreement is to provide a legal basis for cooperation between Eurojust and competent authorities of third world countries, including the exchange of operational personal data, in order to support and strengthen the action of the competent authorities of those countries and Member States, and their cooperation in preventing and combating crime which is the responsibility of Eurojust. 
- Cooperation should be especially focused on the fight against terrorism, the fight against organized crime, especially the illegal trade in firearms, drug trafficking and smuggling of migrants, and the fight against cybercrime - it was pointed out.
Eurojust is the EU's agency for criminal justice co-operation agency based in The Hague.
&nbsp;Priority countries
-The Commission has made an assessment of the priority countries taking into account the operational needs of Eurojust. It was determined that there is a special operational need for cooperation with Algeria, Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey - it was stated.

European Commission has recommended the opening of negotiations

B&H is becoming part of EU in the struggle against terrorism and crime

SNSD President Milorad Dodik and HDZ B&amp;H President Dragan Čović sharply criticized High Representative to B&amp;H Valentin Inzko last night in front of United Nations Security Council, where the achievements of the Dayton Peace Agreement were discussed.&nbsp;Namely, Inzko stated in his report that Dayton Peace Agreement and the B&amp;H Constitution were discriminated for various political goals.
- There is only one peace agreement that applies to everyone and the Constitution must be respected in all agreements, it includes a clause that gives B&amp;H the right to defend its sovereignty and integrity. The foundations of B&amp;H are being shaken by wrong actions - Inzko emphasized.
He emphasized that the messages of denial of B&amp;H mostly come from RS, and warned of the latest statements of Milorad Dodik "that no one can prevent the integration of Serbia and RS". He also condemned the glorification of war criminals. 
Dodik said that Serbia, Croatia and Republika of Srpska want the High Representative to leave B&amp;H, as well as 50 percent of the Federation of B&amp;H, and he added that the High Representative "hates Serbs and speaks on behalf of the Bosniak people."
-B&amp;H has no property, Inzko must implement decisions, without violating Constitution. This is the man who prevents the development of the state. Serbian people accepted the Dayton Agreement, believing in the correctness of the international community, however, my Serbian people are small community and they have never fought conquest wars but imposed ones - said Dodik.
In the end, he invited the High Representative to join him in removing the plaque with the name of war criminal Radovan Karadžić, which was placed at the student dormitory in Pale City. 
Violated agreements&nbsp;He pointed out that B&amp;H is "a complex community that relied through Dayton on what was practiced in the United States as well."
- Changing the spirit of Dayton, High Representatives changed the Dayton Agreement. Paddy Ashdown violated all possible agreements, and he admitted that in his book. And everyone promoted such policy, all the way to Inzko - said Dodik.
Dragan Čović said that the UN Security Council was mainly informed about the situation in B&amp;H through quarterly reports made by the High Representative.
-All relevant political representatives believe that Inzko's reports were significantly deficient and superficial, but the most worrying thing is that they did not present the overall picture in B&amp;H. The report did not comment on the calls of Bosniak parties to impose Croatian political representatives - said Čović, adding that the most problems for Croatian people were caused by the Election Law.
&nbsp;&nbsp;Ambassadors supported Inzko
High majority of the ambassadors of the UN Security Council countries, especially Germany, United States, Great Britain and France, gave their full support to Valentin Inzko and condemned Dodik's attacks.
-The High Representative in B&amp;H, Valentin Inzko, is needed by that country in terms of maintaining peace and making important decisions. We strongly support the existence of that institution and I think that the decision which Dodik mentions that there are five to two votes for Inzko to leave B&amp;H, should be reconsidered - said US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Richard Mills.

Dodik and Čović fiercely criticized Inzko

Dodik: Serbia, Croatia, RS and half of FB&H want Inzko to leave

Heated debate about B&H regarding 25th anniversary of Dayton

Long live Bosnia and Herzegovina, our homeland! Death to fascism - freedom to people!
With these words, Nijaz Skenderagić, Vice President of the Alliance of Antifascists and Veterans of the People’s Liberation War in B&amp;H (SABNOR), started conversation for "Dnevni avaz" regarding November 25th, the Statehood Day of B&amp;H.
Historical context
On this day 77 years ago, on the night between 25th and 26th of November, 1943., the First Session of the National Anti-Fascist Council of the People's Liberation of BiH (ZAVNOBiH) was held in Mrkonjić-Grad.
- ZAVNOBiH reminds me of generations that lived in peace and freedom in B&amp;H, when every new day was better than the previous one. Railways, factories, roads, hospitals, schools and universities were built. Whole world knew about Tito, with Yugoslavian passport we crossed all borders, we were proud of our sports results ... And, most importantly, young people back in the day had an irreplaceable advantage over their peers. They had hope, which is not present today - says Skenderagić.
He adds that young generations today do not even know what ZAVNOBiH is, and its decisions and historical context in which they were made sound incomprehensible to them, because their lives have nothing to do with it.
- To believe is that ZAVNOB&amp;H and Charter of Ban Kulin are a sufficient and lasting guarantee of the survival of B&amp;H, while doing nothing to solve the problems that are destroying the country from within, including the accumulated hatred that has poisoned entire nations, is a delusion whose price may be too high - said Skenderagić.
He reminds of the first principle of ZAVNOB&amp;H Declaration, and that is the equality of Serbs, Muslims and Croats in B&amp;H, which is their common and indivisible homeland.
- Today, B&amp;H is in general mess and consciously created chaos, so that individuals and groups around them can more easily manage our lives. We must return to the ideals of B&amp;H deliberated by ZAVNOB&amp;H. Regardless of the resistance and destruction from some parts of the country, and our neighboring countries where this most significant event in the B&amp;H recent history is underestimated.
Politicians who do not recognize this date deny all the values it carries, ranging from anti-fascism to equality and equity. They want to change the history. To make heroes out of criminals. In schools, children learn that Chetniks and Ustashas are war heroes, and partisans are shown to them as war criminals. It is no wonder that children, when they grow up, have distorted opinions - Skenderagić thinks. 
&nbsp;Familiarly suitable
According to him, we in B&amp;H are especially sensitive to the policies and attempts to relativize the Chetniks and Ustashas, as well as their allies.
- We must oppose such attempts much more decisively and courageously. We need to show them that there will always be far more people who love and will always love this country. Because &amp;iH is our only homeland. With the results of the local elections came hope for the better tomorrow. I am personally glad to learn that people are fed up with nationalistic groups and everlasting politicians, that they want change. I want to believe that people who love their country are coming to the political scene.
People who prefer their profession rather than political and familiarly suitability. Holders of political functions who will know how to oppose the acts of neighbors. We can no longer stand that whenever they cough in Belgrade and Zagreb, we in B&amp;H get pneumonia. It is perfect time for adequate therapy.We need government that loves its country and protects its citizens, who wants us to survive, that believes in the future, we could do anything - concludes Skenderagić.
Ideology of blood and dagger
Skenderagić pointed out that certain interest groups are no longer the only ones trying to revitalize fascist crimes in this area, but, as he says, unfortunately, the governments of our neighboring countries are doing the same.&nbsp;
-Well, it turns out that Chetniks and Ustashas were anti-fascists. Unfortunately, in B&amp;H as well, on many streets, squares, schools, colleges, homes, the names of the degenerates of their own nations are showing off, it's the ideology of blood and dagger. Many horiffic personalities emerged from the darkness - said Skenderagić.

We can no longer stand that whenever they cough in Belgrade and Zagreb, we in B&H get pneumonia. It is perfect time for adequate therapy.

Nijaz Skenderagić, Vice President of SABNOR: People are fed up with nationalistic groups

Regarding the Statehood Day of B&amp;H, congratulations to the citizens of B&amp;H were sent by the President of SBB Fahrudin Radončić.
- To all the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on my behalf and on behalf of SBB, I congratulate November 25th – Bosnian's Statehood Day. November 25th is a very important date for all Bosnians and Herzegovinians. On that day in 1943., on the First Session of ZAVNOBiH, the historical borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina were confirmed, and the commitment of all its nations and citizens to live in a country of equality, unity and solidarity was strengthened. With deep confidence that today's Bosnia and Herzegovina is on the same path, its millennial state constacy is undisputable, and with joint efforts we can do everything to make it a country of prosperity, economic development, justice and equal opportunities - stands in Radončić's congratulatory message
.

Millennial  state constancy of B&H is undisputable

Radončić: A country of equality, togetherness and solidarity

President of SBB congratulated Statehood Day

Germany reported a record 410 COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours, before the 16 federal state leaders and Chancellor Angela Merkel were due to meet on Wednesday to discuss restrictions for the Christmas and New Year holidays.The number of confirmed coronavirus cases increased by 18,633 to 961,320, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed, 5,015 less than the record increase reported on Friday.
 However, the death toll jumped 410 to 14,771, up from 305 a week ago, and just 49 on Nov. 2, the day Germany introduced a partial lockdown.&nbsp;Saxony’s premier Michael Kretschmer warned of a collapse of medical care in the coming weeks. -The situation in the hospitals is worrying... We cannot guarantee medical care at this high level (of infections)- he told MDR radio.&nbsp;The federal states are expected to decide on Wednesday to extend the “lockdown light” until Dec. 20. This will keep bars, restaurants and entertainment venues shut while schools and shops stay open.
 They also plan to reduce the number of people allowed to meet to five from Dec. 1, but allow gatherings of up to 10 people over Christmas and New Year to let families and friends celebrate together, a draft proposal showed on Tuesday.&nbsp;The state chiefs will also discuss whether to split school classes into smaller units and teach them at varying times, as well as a possible earlier start of Christmas school holidays.
 The government plans to extend financial aid for firms hit by the restrictions, which, according to sources, could add up to 20 billion euros ($23.81 billion) in December to an estimated 10-15 billion euros bill in November.&nbsp;Conservative parliamentary group leader Ralph Brinkhaus urged the federal states to take over part of the costs for the coronavirus measures. -It is now time for the states to take on financial responsibility- he told the RTL/ntv broadcaster.&nbsp;($1 = 0.8399 euros)

The situation in the hospitals is worrying

Members of the medical staff in protective suits transport a patient suffering from the coronavirus disease

Germany plans Christmas curbs as COVID-19 deaths hit record

US President-elect Joe Biden is to formally introduce his nominees for top national security and foreign policy posts on Tuesday as the White House transition finally gets underway with Donald Trump effectively - if not explicitly - admitting defeat.
The green-lighting of the transition came after Michigan certified a Biden victory on Monday and more members of Trump's Republican Party came out demanding the impasse end.
Trump's long-shot efforts to overturn the November 3 election results received a further blow on Tuesday when Pennsylvania certified that Biden had won the Keystone State. 
Biden, 78, revealed his picks on Monday for secretary of state, national security advisor, secretary of homeland security, and other top administration posts.&nbsp;The president-elect and Senator Kamala Harris, the vice president-elect, are to publicly present the nominees to the press at a 1:00 pm (1800 GMT) event in Biden's hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.
&nbsp;Trump, who has made few public appearances since his election defeat, was scheduled to attend a traditional Thanksgiving turkey-pardoning event at the White House.&nbsp;Biden's public unveiling of his nominees comes after Trump signed off on the start of the White House transition while still refusing to concede the November 3 election.
&nbsp;The outgoing president acknowledged on Monday it was time for the General Services Administration (GSA) to unblock funding for the Biden transition team.&nbsp;Trump 74, continued to insist, however, that he would ultimately be declared the winner of the election despite having failed to present any credible evidence of fraud and suffering a string of humiliating defeats in court.&nbsp;
-Our case STRONGLY continues, we will keep up the good fight, and I believe we will prevail!- he tweeted late Monday.
Trump continued in the same defiant vein on Tuesday.
-The GSA does not determine who the next President of the United States will be.- he tweeted.
He also retweeted a picture of himself in the Oval Office with the caption: -I concede NOTHING!!!!!-
Crisis-tested
The GSA determination that Biden is the apparent winner gives the president-elect access to classified briefings on national security threats and will allow his top aides to coordinate with federal health officials on addressing the worsening Covid-19 pandemic.
Unveiling the cabinet selections, the Biden team said they were "experienced, crisis-tested leaders who are ready to hit the ground running on day one."

They will begin "working immediately" to address the defining challenges of our time -- from infectious disease to terrorism, nuclear proliferation, cyber threats and climate change," it said.
&nbsp;The slate unveiled by Biden includes veterans of the Barack Obama administration and signals a return to traditional US diplomacy.&nbsp;
Former State Department number two Antony Blinken was tapped to be secretary of state while Jake Sullivan, who advised Biden when he was vice president under Obama, was nominated to be national security advisor.
&nbsp;Biden named the first woman, Avril Haines, as director of national intelligence, and Cuban-born Alejandro Mayorkas to head the Department of Homeland Security, whose policing of tough immigration restrictions under Trump was a frequent source of controversy.&nbsp;
Following through on his campaign promise to raise the profile of global warming threats, Biden named former secretary of state John Kerry as a new special envoy on climate issues.
Blinken is expected to spearhead a dismantling of Trump's "America First" policies, including rejoining the Paris climate agreement and the World Health Organization and resurrecting the Obama-crafted Iran nuclear deal.&nbsp;
Career diplomat Linda Thomas-Greenfield was nominated to be UN ambassador while former Federal Reserve chairwoman Janet Yellen is expected to be named Treasury Secretary, the first woman to hold the job.
&nbsp;With Biden having won a comfortable victory, Trump's last card is to try to disrupt the normally routine process of state-by-state certification of results.&nbsp;
Like it has elsewhere, that effort failed in Michigan on Monday and in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, and there appears to be little Trump can do to prevent the Electoral College from meeting on December 14 to certify Biden's victory.

Biden received 306 votes to Trump's 232 in the Electoral College that determines the White House winner.

The green-lighting of the transition came after Michigan certified a Biden victory on Monday

Biden to introduce nominees as White House transition begins

Sweden’s health watchdog said on Tuesday it had uncovered “serious shortcomings” in COVID-19 care for residents of nursing homes where thousands have died, increasing pressure on the country’s unorthodox pandemic strategy.
Nursing homes were ravaged by the initial wave of the coronavirus, prompting Prime Minister Stefan Lofven’s sombre admission in May that the country failed to protect its elderly.
Known for its rejection of lockdowns and masks, Sweden has suffered many times more COVID-19 deaths per capita than its neighbours - though fewer than countries such as Spain - a failure authorities have in part blamed on inadequate controls and care at nursing homes.
The Health and Social Care Inspectorate (IVO), a government agency supervising healthcare and social services, has spent months investigating care at nursing homes after a flood of complaints from relatives and staff.
-In its investigation, IVO has identified serious short-comings at regional level when it comes to the care provided to people living in nursing homes- Sofia Wallstrom, the watchdog’s director general, told a news conference presenting its findings.
The watchdog said none of Sweden’s 21 regions had taken sufficient responsibility for the treatment of infected nursing home residents, with a fifth of patients having received no individual assessment by doctors.
The probe did not single out individual facilities or staff.After a lull during the summer, cases have shot up again at elderly care facilities during a second wave of the pandemic, raising fears of a repeat of the deadly spring. Nursing home residents account for nearly half of Sweden’s more than 6,400 deaths among COVID-19 patients.
The watchdog urged regional authorities to carry out measures to improve care and present them no later than Jan. 15 next year and said it would be carrying out a further review of patient records.
-The lowest level (of care) is quite simply too low- Wallstrom said. -Even during a pandemic.-

Sofia Wallstrom: The lowest level (of care) is quite simply too low

Swedish watchdog finds serious failures in COVID care at nursing homes

European regulators on Tuesday began the timetable for a return of the Boeing 737 MAX to Europe’s skies early next year after an almost two-year flight ban caused by fatal crashes.&nbsp;The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) set out conditions for putting the grounded jets back into service, including new training and updating MCAS software implicated in the crashes that killed a total of 346 people in 2018 and 2019.
Tuesday’s publication marks the start of a 28-day comment period, which EASA said would lead to a formal ungrounding from mid-January, once public and industry feedback had been studied.
How long it takes for flights to resume in Europe depends on pilot training and the amount of time airlines need to upgrade MCAS software and carry out other actions mandated by EASA.
U.S. flights are due to resume on Dec. 29, some six weeks after Boeing’s main regulator, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, lifted its own ban on Nov. 18.&nbsp;The crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia triggered a slew of investigations faulting Boeing for poor design and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration with lax oversight.
Investigators have said the newly upgraded version of the world’s most-sold jet lurched downwards repeatedly because MCAS wrongly believed the nose was pointing too high, threatening loss of lift, due to a single faulty “Angle of Attack” sensor.
Although the plane has two such sensors, only one was designed to be used at a time, depriving the other of a backup. The new rules enforce changes designed to keep both active.
-A fundamental problem of the original MCAS is that many pilots did not even know it was there-&nbsp; EASA said in a statement laying out why it had insisted on a more sweeping review, which investigation sources say put it at odds at times with the FAA.
-In the accident version of the aircraft, there was no caution light to make a pilot aware that the AoA sensor was faulty, making it almost impossible to determine the root cause of the problem- EASA said.DIFFERENT COCKPIT RULE
Allaying concerns by airlines that the crashes would spark a race between regulators to show who is toughest and make it harder to operate internationally, EASA said all its technical and software fixes were identical to those required by the FAA.
But it differed from the FAA in saying pilots could stop a “stick shaker” alarm from vibrating if it went off accidentally, halting a distraction thought to have added to the problems of Ethiopian Airlines and Lion Air crew in taming the bucking jets.
It also issued one temporary restriction on autopilot use.
Some regulators have been waiting for EASA’s decision before lifting their own measures as the 20-month Boeing safety crisis tested confidence in U.S. aviation leadership.&nbsp;EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky said in remarks aired on Saturday that investigations into the crashes had shown “dysfunctions” in FAA actions and relations with Boeing, and promised greater scrutiny of future U.S. designs..
The FAA has downplayed differences among regulators.
Canada and Brazil are expected to lift bans within days, but uncertainty remains over plans by China - the largest market for the jet and the first to ban it in March 2019 in what was seen as an unusual snub to the authority of the FAA over U.S. models.
EASA represents the 27 European Union countries plus four other nations including Norway, which has 92 of the aircraft on order. Until Dec. 31, EASA also represents Britain, which left the EU bloc in January.
Airlines in those countries have more than 300 of the planes on order, worth $38 billion at list prices.

EASA: A fundamental problem of the original MCAS is that many pilots did not even know it was there

Grounded Boeing 737 MAX aircraft are seen parked at Boeing facilities at Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, Washington, U.S. November 17, 2020.

Europe sets in motion January end to Boeing 737 MAX safety ban

The Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, headed by Selmo Cikotić, instead of the announced deportations, is in a hurry to open migrant settlements in order to accommodate 3,000 migrants, "Dnevni Avaz" finds out.&nbsp;Use of the barracksNamely, the distribution and installation of 150 donated containers from Austria, which were approved by the Austrian government to the Ministry of Security of B&amp;H, is being prepared. Now they are just waiting for them to be delivered to B&amp;H in order to start the division of them alongside IOM.According to the information which "Avaz" has at its disposal, up to 20 migrants would fit in one container, and the plan is to place half of the containers in the area of Sarajevo Canton, more precisely in Blažuj.
The second part would go to the area of Tuzla and the former Ljubača barracks, which was previosly opposed by the locals. This was also discussed by the FB&amp;H Government, which is involved in this process and must approve the use of this barracks.
They bypass him&nbsp;Slobodan Ujić, director of the Service for Foreigners' Affairs, told us that he was not informed about that, considering the fact that he was in isolation in the last couple of days and that no one had contacted him regarding this.
However, our sources claim that Ujić is being deliberately circumvented, and that his deputy Mirsad Buzar, who is in constant contact with Cikotić, is aware of this plan.
When the agreement will be valid&nbsp;Svevlad Hoffman, Advisor of the Director of B&amp;H Border Police, commenting on the signed agreement between B&amp;H and Pakistan on the readmission of citizens, said yesterday that ratification could be completed in a month, but also in 12 years!
- It depends on the good will on the Pakistani side, which is the key in realization of that agreement. As far as B&amp;H is concerned, the Presidency is responsible for ratification, and when it comes to Pakistan, it is the president of that country - adds Hoffman.

Terzić: We will continue further construction of the highway

Strong condemnation of Dodik's outburst at the UN

Bosnia reports 924 new coronavirus cases and 51 deaths

London to be placed in second highest COVID risk category

Zimbabwe mine shaft collapse leaves dozens trapped

German COVID-19 restrictions set to last into 2021

Turkish court issues life sentences in trial of 2016 coup leaders

B&H is becoming part of EU in the struggle against terrorism and crime

Heated debate about B&H regarding 25th anniversary of Dayton

Nijaz Skenderagić, Vice President of SABNOR: People are fed up with nationalistic groups

President of SBB congratulated Statehood Day

Germany plans Christmas curbs as COVID-19 deaths hit record

Biden to introduce nominees as White House transition begins

Swedish watchdog finds serious failures in COVID care at nursing homes

Europe sets in motion January end to Boeing 737 MAX safety ban

Ministry of security of B&H is waiting a delivery from Austria

News

Terzić: We will continue further construction of the highway

Strong condemnation of Dodik's outburst at the UN

Bosnia reports 924 new coronavirus cases and 51 deaths

London to be placed in second highest COVID risk category

Zimbabwe mine shaft collapse leaves dozens trapped

German COVID-19 restrictions set to last into 2021

Turkish court issues life sentences in trial of 2016 coup leaders

B&H is becoming part of EU in the struggle against terrorism and crime

Heated debate about B&H regarding 25th anniversary of Dayton

Nijaz Skenderagić, Vice President of SABNOR: People are fed up with nationalistic groups

President of SBB congratulated Statehood Day

Germany plans Christmas curbs as COVID-19 deaths hit record

Biden to introduce nominees as White House transition begins

Swedish watchdog finds serious failures in COVID care at nursing homes

Europe sets in motion January end to Boeing 737 MAX safety ban

Ministry of security of B&H is waiting a delivery from Austria