Poland on Monday announced plans for a barbed-wire fence along its border with Belarus following an influx of migrants which countries in the region called a "hybrid attack" on the EU.

Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said the fence would be 2.5 metres (8.2 feet) high and would resemble the one built by Hungary along its border with Serbia.
-The work will begin next week- Blaszczak said, adding that it would be built along 130 kilometres of the border -- or around a third of the total distance.
Hungary built a fence along the Serbian border in 2015 and 2016 as Europe grappled with a large increase in migration from Syria.
Blaszczak also said the contingent of Polish soldiers currently deployed to help border guards would be doubled to 2,000.
-We will oppose the opening of a new route for the trafficking of migrants through Polish territory- the minister said.
Thousands of migrants -- mostly from the Middle East -- have crossed the EU border from Belarus in recent months and Brussels believes the influx is being deliberately engineered by the regime in Minsk in retaliation against EU sanctions.
Poland and the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania earlier on Monday urged the United Nations to take action against Belarus.
The four prime ministers said in a joint statement that the influx had been "planned and systematically organised by the regime of (Belarusian President) Alexander Lukashenko". 
-It is high time to bring the issue of abusing migrants on the Belarusian territory to the attention of the UN, including the United Nations Security Council- the statement said.
-We urge the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to take active steps to facilitate the solution of this situation- it said.
The three EU countries that share a land border with Belarus -- Latvia, Lithuania and Poland -- are all trying to block or push back migrants who attempt illegal crossings.
In many cases, Belarusian authorities reportedly push the migrants back towards the EU border -- which Lukashenko has denied -- leading to several stand-offs. 
One such stand-off forced a group of Afghan migrants onto a section of the Poland-Belarus border, where they have been stranded for two weeks at a makeshift encampment.
Polish human rights organisations and the liberal opposition have accused the populist right-wing government of refusing to help people in need and violating international rules.

Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said the fence would be 2.5 metres (8.2 feet) high and would resemble the one built by Hungary along its border with Serbia

Belarusian authorities are reportedly pushing migrants back towards the EU border with Poland

Poland to build Belarus border fence against migrants

Dozens of anti-vaccine protesters tried to “unlawfully” enter a media hub in London on Monday, police said.

In a Twitter post, London Metropolitan police said they are engaging with the building security personnel and removing those who entered the building illegally.
Around 100 demonstrators are continuing their protest outside the building on Grays Inn Road. The building hosts some media organizations including ITN and TRT World.​​​​​​​

Police say they are engaging with building security personnel, removing those who entered building illegally

In a Twitter post, London Metropolitan police said they are engaging with the building security personnel and removing those who entered the building illegally

Anti-vaccine protesters ‘unlawfully’ enter media hub in London

Kenya on Monday got a boost in its fight against COVID-19 after it received more than 800,000 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine amid a surge in infections.

Kenya Health Principal Secretary Susan Mochache received 880,460 Moderna COVID-19 vaccines at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the capital Nairobi.
The Kenyan government says it plans to vaccinate 10 million people by the end of this year with 26 million people expected to be vaccinated by the end of next year. Kenya has so far administered 2.9% of the country’s adult population.
-On behalf of the Ministry of Health and all Kenyans, I sincerely thank the government of the United States for the kind donation. Further, I extend my thanks to the governments of the United Kingdom, Denmark, Greece and France who have so far donated a cumulative total of 1.13 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine- Mochache said at the handover ceremony.
-The shipment is the first of the 3.5 million doses of vaccines to Kenya by the US government which includes today’s donation, a similar number of Moderna doses and a further 1.6 million doses of Pfizer vaccines scheduled to be delivered mid next month- she added.
US Charge d’Affaires Eric William Kneedler, who was also present at the ceremony, said the US government remains committed to support Kenya achieve its objective of vaccinating its entire adult population.
More than 1.61 million people in Kenya have received at least one vaccine dose, while more than 780,300 have been fully vaccinated as of Aug. 22.
The Kenyan government aims to start vaccinating 150,000 people daily before the end of September. The focus is to protect those at the greatest risk of infection.
The country has so far registered a total of 229,009 COVID-19 cases with 646 tested positive over the past 24 hours. Some 30 people died of the virus over the past day, bringing the nationwide death toll to 4,497.

Country plans to vaccinate 10M people by end of this year

More than 1.61 million people in Kenya have received at least one vaccine dose, while more than 780,300 have been fully vaccinated as of Aug. 22.

Kenya receives 880,460 doses of Moderna vaccine from US

In the past 24 hours, 1,102 samples were registered with the Public Health Institute of the Federation of B&amp;H, of which 97 were positive for SARS-CoV-2.

A total of 784,644 samples have been tested so far, and SARS-CoV-2 has been confirmed in 137,653 individuals.
In the past 24 hours, four people died in the Federation of B&amp;H, in Tuzla, Herzegovina-Neretva, Posavina and Sarajevo Canton, while six deaths were reported retroactively.
The total number of deaths in the Federation of B&amp;H is 5,570.
In the last 24 hours, 184 laboratory samples were tested in the Republic of Srpska, and coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was confirmed in 25 people.
In the last 24 hours, five deaths have been reported to the Republic of Srpska Institute of Public Health.
So far, 65,435 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Republic of Srpska, and a total of 3,832 people who have been tested for coronavirus have died.
Five new cases of coronavirus infection were registered in the Brčko District of B&amp;H today, out of 111 processed tests.

Five new cases of coronavirus infection were registered in the Brčko District out of 111 processed tests

In the last 24 hours, 184 laboratory samples were tested in the Republic of Srpska, and coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was confirmed in 25 people

B&H registers 127 new cases of COVID -19 and nine deaths

About 17,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine and 20,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine are currently available in the Sarajevo Canton.

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Health of the SC, Mirna Pecikoza, reminds that in addition to Zetra Hall, vaccination points in the health centers Ilijaš, Vogošća, Hadžići are also open. As of tomorrow, Trnovo health center will be one of them, and at the end of the week, health centers in Ilidža will join the list of vaccination points. 
-These are locations where citizens will be able to get vaccinated and choose between Sinopharm and AstraZeneca vaccines- Pecikoza told FENA. 
Pfizer vaccines are currently unavailable, and Pecikoza says there are no announcements from the FB&amp;H Ministry of Health that there will be any in the coming period.
-According to the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Body for Immunization and according to the announcement of the Institute of Public Health of the FB&amp;H, the period for revaccination with AstraZeneca is shortened from 10 to six weeks- Pecikoza emphasized.
They are relatively satisfied with the response of citizens to immunization, because, she said, at the vaccination point at Zetra these days there was a greater response from citizens who were vaccinated with the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine.
-As far as health centers are concerned, this morning they asked for a larger number of doses to be delivered to them. Therefore, we expect that there will be a good response at health centers- said Pecikoza.

About 17,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine and 20,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine are currently available

The vaccination in Sarajevo Canton continues

Vaccination continues at Zetra and health centers in Ilijaš, Vogošća, Hadžići

New Zealand on Monday again extended its nationwide COVID-19 lockdown till Aug. 27, state-run media said.

Speaking to reporters, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that the Cabinet has decided all of New Zealand will remain on Level 4 lockdown for another four days.
Auckland, the country’s major city, will remain under lockdown till Aug. 31
-Delta has changed the rules of the game, but we have changed our approach too, we have hardened our alert levels, widened our contact tracing, required more mask-wearing and we are testing more people- Radio New Zealand quoted Ardern as saying.
-It is absolutely possible to get on top of this, we just need to keep it up and ensure that we're not in restrictions any longer than we need to be- she added.
New Zealand confirmed the first case of the Delta variant in a traveler who arrived in the country from the Australian state of New South Wales last week.
Last Tuesday, New Zealand authorities put the entire country on Level 4 lockdown after the first locally transmitted COVID-19 case was reported in the community since February.
Meanwhile, on the recommendation of the health authorities, the country's parliament also suspended its sessions for a week.
Under Level 4 restrictions, everyone must stay home and businesses will be closed except for essential services such as supermarkets and pharmacies.
Last September, New Zealand lifted all restrictions across the nation, and there were no new cases for seven months.
But during the past 24 hours, the country reported 38 cases in Auckland and Wellington.
Since the outbreak began locally in 2020, New Zealand has reported 3,054 COVID-19 cases and 26 deaths in a population of about 5 million.
To protect people from the deadly virus, so far over 1.7 million people have gotten their first vaccine dose, while over one million have been fully vaccinated, according to the Health Ministry data.

Country reports 38 more cases in past 24 hours after Delta variant hits island nation

Auckland, the country’s major city, will remain under lockdown till Aug. 31

New Zealand extends nationwide lockdown for 4 more days

Israel said Monday it would offer Covid-19 vaccinations to students on school grounds as it announced the school year would open on time next week, despite surging coronavirus cases.

-Pupils... will be vaccinated on school grounds during school hours, subject to parental approval- a government statement said, confirming classes would begin on September 1.
Israeli leaders say they are trying to avoid repeating disruptive school closures amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The country has seen a steep rise in coronavirus infections after months when its world-beating vaccine campaign drove down cases.
The health ministry said Monday that 6,467 new Covid cases were recorded in Israel a day prior, with 1,142 people hospitalised.
About 30 percent of children aged 12-15 have received two vaccine doses in Israel, far less than any other age group.
The school reopening plan would also require pupils younger than 12 to bring parental approval to perform a coronavirus test on the first day of school.
Further, high school classes in cities with high rates of transmission would require 70 percent of students to be vaccinated or move to online learning.
Some in government had opposed vaccines in schools, with Education Minister Yifat Shasha-Biton saying in July that students could feel peer pressure to get vaccines.
On Monday she praised the plan on Twitter, writing, "Opening the school year -- vital to students' stability and mental resilience."
Ran Balicer, chairman of Israel's national expert panel on Covid-19, warned on public radio, "of course it will not be possible to completely prevent infections."
Already, the new wave has pushed the government to issue new restrictions on gatherings and to launch a third booster vaccine to people aged 40 and up.
Monday's plan comes a day after Israel launched a national serological survey focused on children aged three to 12, who are not yet eligible for the Covid vaccine but might have developed antibodies after having had an unrecorded case.

The country has seen a steep rise in coronavirus infections after months when its world-beating vaccine campaign drove down cases

An Israeli medic holds up a vial of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre at the Atid al-Najah High School for the Sciences at the city of Taibeh in northern Israel in this file picture taken on August 19, 2021.

Israel to offer Covid jabs in schools to avoid closures

A strike on German passenger rail began early Monday, creating headaches for thousands of travellers and commuters, after the train drivers' union rejected a new offer to keep services going.

In a statement on Sunday, rail operator Deutsche Bahn offered to negotiate a coronavirus-related bonus for drivers this year.
The suggestion was "a strong sign of willingness to reach an agreement" on behalf of Deutsche Bahn, the company's personnel director Martin Seiler said in a statement.
-With a coronavirus bonus we have met one of the union's key demands. There is no longer any reason to refuse to return to the negotiating table- Seiler said.
The GDL drivers' union rejected the offer later on Sunday, describing it as a "smokescreen".
-With an offer not worth the paper it's written on, the trickster managers want to deceive passengers and in a targeted way spark anger and frustration against GDL- the head of the union Claus Weselsky said in a statement. 
The strike action, announced last week, is the second in a wage dispute between GDL and German rail. 
Earlier this month, the union led a walk-out after its members voted 95 percent in favour of the move, following the collapse of talks with Deutsche Bahn.
The union is demanding a 1.4-percent pay hike plus a bonus this year, and a further wage rise of 1.8 percent in 2022.
Deutsche Bahn has proposed to phase in a 3.2-percent wage increase in two steps in 2022 and 2023.
The company's most recent offer made no mention of the value of the bonus to be negotiated, while the GDL has demanded a premium of 600 euros ($703).
As the strike began, only one in four long-distance passenger services were operating.
A walk-out affecting Deutsche Bahn's freight services started Saturday at 2:00 am (0000 GMT). The strikes on both passenger and cargo services are due to end on August 25 at 2:00 am (0000 GMT).

The union is demanding a 1.4-percent pay hike plus a bonus this year, and a further wage rise of 1.8 percent in 2022.

In a statement on Sunday, rail operator Deutsche Bahn offered to negotiate a coronavirus-related bonus for drivers this year

German train drivers strike despite last-minute offer

Georgia on Sunday asked Russia to withdraw troops from its territories, calling on Moscow to comply with the 2008 post-conflict agreement with Tbilisi.

-Russia failed to comply with the post-conflict truce agreement- Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said, urging Russia to withdraw its soldiers from Georgian territory.
Garibashvili made these remarks on the 13th anniversary of the victims of the 2008 South Ossetia Conflict between the Russian Federation and Georgia, in the capital Tbilisi, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry.
He said his country's territorial integrity was attacked by Russia in the South Ossetia Conflict, in which "20% of the country was occupied by Russia."
Garibashvili further stated that Georgia chooses the peaceful way to solve the conflicts and puts in an effort to end the occupation, while it seeks to protect the country from the aggressive policies of Russia at the same time.
Georgia's fight for independence is still ongoing, said President Salome Zourabichvili during the commemoration ceremony.
She acknowledged that the path to territorial integrity and sovereignty is a hard one, but added, "We, all of us, will witness the reunion of Georgia."

<h2>South Ossetia and Abkhazia conflict</h2>

A 13-month conflict erupted between the Georgian army and Abkhazian separatists supported by Russia between 1992 and1993.

In 2008, a five-day conflict referred to as the South Ossetia conflict broke out between Georgia and Russia over the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Tbilisi ultimately lost control of both areas, and Russia later recognized them as independent states.
In response, Georgia cut off diplomatic relations with Russia, after which Switzerland took up the role of the mediator country.
Both regions remain internationally recognized Georgian territories.

13th anniversary of 2008 South Ossetia Conflict victims commemorated in Tbilisi

Georgia's fight for independence is still ongoing, said President Salome Zourabichvili during the commemoration ceremony

Georgia calls on Russia to withdraw troops from its territories

A firefighting plane crashed on the Greek island of Zakynthos on Sunday while it was responding to a fire there, authorities said.

The Fire Service said the pilot of the airplane, picked up by another firefighting aircraft on the island of Ionian, survived.The aircraft was responding to a small-scale fire in the Lagopodo-Macherado area.
Greece has been fighting wildfires for six days with thousands of people have been evacuated so far.

Aircraft crashes while responding to small-scale fire, pilot survives

The fires surround the village of Peyki, on the island of Evia on the fifth day of a wildfire in the area north of the island of Evia, Greece on August 8, 2021.

Firefighting plane crashes on Greek island of Zakynthos

A police car siren calls for the last residents of the village of Gouves on the Greek island of Evia to evacuate as fire rages down a mountainside and engulfs the first houses. 

-I don't want to, I don't want to- repeats in sobs a woman on her porch who cannot find the strength to flee even as the approaching inferno turns the sky orange. 
The fires remained out of control over large swathes of Evia island on Sunday, as evacuations were continuing, pushing hundreds of people towards the beach.
Many villagers joined the battle, and around 10 men were busy digging, cutting and pulling out branches in an effort to slow the raging fire despite the repeated urging of police to leave. 
Forming a human chain, they unrolled water hoses fed by agricultural pick-ups, desperate to save their livelihood. 
-If people leave, the villages will burn for sure- says Yannis Selimis, a young man from Gouves. -We are in the hands of God.-Tempers flared over a lack of government response.
-Which authorities? Which firefighters? Do you see anybody here?- exclaims one local.
-They burnt our paradise- says Triantafyllos Konstantinos, 46. "We are done," he sighs.
-It's tragic. We are all going to the sea- says Nikos Papaioannou as the fire steadily encroaches on residential areas near the island's northern coasts.

At Gouves, cars pass through a vast cloud of smoke as they try to go towards the beach. 

Some kilometres away, at the beach of Pefki, a ferry boat docked on the beach and a warship off the coast are waiting to rescue these people who have become refugees in their own country. 
They wait without knowing whether they will reach the mainland Sunday evening. 
-Evia is finished- says Cleopatra Plapouta. "People are fighting all by themselves. Not a single firefighter inside the villages," she complains, wearing a scarf and a mask against the thick smoke and ash. 
-We are burning for a week now!- her husband exclaims. -The fire started 60 kilometres away! 60 kilometres!-Shirtless, the greying man gesticulates with despair. "It's unbelievable! It was a heaven, they burnt it down!"
Maria Moushogianni, who owns a beach hotel where she is shelterin two families who have abandoned their homes, says that Sunday was the first day that airplanes appeared. 
-They abandoned us, they lied to us! I'm going to close the hotel and leave- adds the 66-year-old woman, holding her white cat. -This evening if possible.-

The fires remained out of control over large swathes of Evia island on Sunday, as evacuations were continuing, pushing hundreds of people towards the beach

The fires were out of control over large swathes of Evia

Abandoned' Greek villagers reluctantly flee raging fires

Israel set up rapid coronavirus testing stations across the country on Sunday, the Magen David Adom emergency service said, as the government tries to stave off another pandemic lockdown.

-Following a request from the Ministry of Health, Magen David Adom on Sunday opened 120 rapid detection stations- an MDA statement said.
The testing centres are aimed at the non-vaccinated and those who have recovered from the virus and need a health pass. Results are received in 15 minutes.
Since Sunday morning, unvaccinated people must present a negative Covid test less than 24 hours old, and health passes will be extended to children under 12 from August 20.
Over the past week, Israel has been recording an average of more than 3,000 new coronavirus cases a day -- the highest since April.
The rise in infections is a step back after its world-leading vaccine campaign drove down new Covid-19 cases from 10,000 a day to fewer than 100.
Tests at the new stations will cost 52 shekels ($16) and will enable those tested to receive a health ministry pass valid for 24 hours.
-Lockdown will be imposed as a last resort and we will do everything to avoid it- Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said in a statement welcoming the launch of the rapid test service.
Last December, the country of nine million people was one of the first to launch a major vaccination campaign, thanks to an agreement with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer giving it rapid access to millions of doses in exchange for biomedical data on the effects of the vaccine.
Despite the campaign reducing the number of reported infections, contamination has risen again with the spread of the Delta variant in unvaccinated adults and in those vaccinated more than six months ago.
Israel has now launched a campaign to provide a third booster dose of vaccine to the elderly and has also reinstated the health pass.
Most Covid restrictions were lifted in early June, but some were reimposed last month following the resurgence of cases.
Only people who have been fully vaccinated, cured of Covid-19 or with a negative PCR test taken less than 72 hours previously are allowed to enter places holding more than 100 people, indoors or outdoors.
Over the past 24 hours, Israel has recorded 2,886 new cases of Covid-19. Of the 602 people in hospital because of the virus, 348 are seriously ill.
More than 6,500 people have died in Israel from coronavirus out of nearly 900,000 cases.

Since Sunday morning, unvaccinated people must present a negative Covid test less than 24 hours old, and health passes will be extended to children under 12 from August 20

A medic performs a Covid-19 coronavirus swab test on a child in Jerusalem

Israel sets up Covid rapid test stations nationwide

Iran reported over 500 daily Covid deaths for the first time on Sunday, its health ministry announced, as new infections also hit a record high.

Iran registered 39,619 new infections in the 24 hours to Sunday, taking the total since the pandemic started to 4,158,729, the ministry said.
During that same period it recorded 542 deaths, taking the total number of fatalities to 94,015, it added.
Iranian health officials have acknowledged that the Islamic republic's Covid figures underestimate the real toll.
But Iran remains the Middle East country worst hit by the pandemic.
Covid infections have been surging since late June, in what officials have warned is a "fifth wave" caused by the highly infectious Delta variant.
Daily infections have hit several records over the past few weeks.
The previous recorded high for fatalities was 496, registered on April 26, at the height of the Islamic republic's previous wave.
Iran's state television said hospitals across the country were facing a "crisis" and described the health situation as bleak.
-Although the vaccination pace has been accelerating, the observation of health protocols has dropped significantly- it said.
Iran has pinned its hopes on vaccinations to help with the health crisis.
But the innoculation campaign launced in February has progressed more slowly than authorities had planned.
Choked by US sanctions that have made it difficult to transfer money abroad, Iran says it is struggling to import vaccines for its population of 83 million.
More than 12.5 million people have been given a first vaccine does, but only 3.7 million have received the necessary two jabs, the health ministry said on Sunday.
Raisi said Saturday that a "plan to transform the way to confront the coronavirus" was to be reviewed next week. 
He did not give any details, but said on Sunday that accelerating the pace of vaccinations is one of his government's priorities, according to the president's official website.
Chairing a Covid taskforce meeting, he also vowed on Saturday to "support domestic vaccine production" while "not hesitating" to import jabs from abroad.
The authorities have approved the emergency use of two locally produced vaccines, with the only mass-produced one, COVIran Barekat, still in short supply.
The other vaccines used in Iran include Russia's Sputnik V, China's Sinopharm, India's Bharat and AstraZeneca/Oxford, according to the health ministry.
Raisi and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf received their first Barekat jab on Sunday, state TV said.
Last week, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered the government to take "necessary measures" to contain the spread of the pandemic.
Iran has avoided imposing a full lockdown on the population, and instead resorted to piecemeal measures such as temporary travel bans and business closures.
Outgoing health minister Saeed Namaki has recently suggested a two-week shutdown to help contain the spread of the virus.

Iran registered 39,619 new infections in the 24 hours to Sunday, taking the total since the pandemic started to 4,158,729

A handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency on August 8, 2021, show President Ebrahim Raisi receiving a dose of the domestically-produced coronavirus vaccine "COVIran Barekat" in the capital Tehran

Iran records over 500 Covid deaths, hits new high

Vlado Adamović, the lawyer of the Chief State Prosecutor Gordana Tadić, confirmed today for "Dnevni avaz" that he had filed an appeal against the decision of the First Instance Disciplinary Commission of the HJPC B&amp;H by which Tadić was relieved of her duties.
Adamović told us that he filed the complaint three days ago and that it was in response to the Office of the Disciplinary Prosecutor (UDT B&amp;H).
- After that, the whole procedure goes to the Second Instance Commission of the HJPC. I demanded that the measure of dismissal be revoked. Everything that the First Instance Commission published does not stand. In all reports, Serge Brammertz praised Gordana Tadić and the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H, before the UN - Adamović told us.
TadiĆ was relieved of her duties, as stated in the decision of the First Instance Commission of the HJPC B&amp;H, because she "committed disciplinary violations".
She was given a disciplinary measure "transfer from the position of Chief Prosecutor of the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H to the position of Prosecutor of the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H".
The Office of the Disciplinary Prosecutor (UDT) of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HJPC B&amp;H) filed disciplinary lawsuits against Gordana Tadić, Chief Prosecutor of the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H, and Ranko Debevec, President of the Court of B&amp;H, in early April. While Tadić was disciplined for much more lenient acts, Debevec, who hid his property in Spain for 14 years, "partied" with the suspects, was only publicly warned.

Adamović told us that he filed the complaint three days ago and that it was in response to the Office of the Disciplinary Prosecutor

Adamović for "Avaz": We sent a complaint, we asked that the disciplinary measure against Gordana Tadić be lifted

The President of SBB, Fahrudin Radončić, sent congratulations to Reis-l-ulema Husein ef. Kavazović, all members of the Islamic Community in B&amp;H and Muslims on the occasion of the New Year 1443 AH.
- I pray to Allah for all of you to welcome the Hijri year 1443 and spend it happy and satisfied in health, peace and security. In these difficult and uncertain times of the pandemic, the year ahead is an opportunity for us as Muslims, as a society and a state, to show additional unity, strength and desire to work together and fight against all adversities that stand in the way of prosperity. I believe that the New Hijri Year gives a new opportunity for everyone to show more mutual understanding, respect and appreciation and to, in terms of the essential message of the Hijra, leave everything that is not good and useful - said Radončić.

I believe that the New Hijri Year gives a new opportunity for everyone to show more mutual understanding, respect and appreciation and to, in terms of the essential message of the Hijra, leave everything that is not good and useful, said Radončić

Radončić: An opportunity to show additional unity

SBB President Fahrudin Radončić congratulated the New Year 1443 AH

More than 250 migrants disembarked in Sicily on Saturday from an NGO rescue ship, while another vessel carrying around 550 people was given permission to land on the Italian island.

Both ships had put out urgent appeals for a safe port following days at sea in the central Mediterranean, warning of the deteriorating health of those on board, who include children.
-The #SeaWatch3 (ship) reached the port of Trapani this morning. We are happy to finally have a port of safety- the German organisation Sea Watch International tweeted, saying 257 people were being disembarked.
On Thursday, they had warned of a "critical" situation, with a lack of many medicines and symptoms of dehydration appearing among many of those on board, some of whom had been at sea for a week.
Meanwhile the crew of another rescue vessel, Ocean Viking, told AFP they had been given permission to disembark their 549 passengers at the Sicilian port of Pozzallo on Sunday.
They had earlier warned they were running out of medication, some on board were suffering from dehydration and others had skin infections.
-What we need is a place of safety to disembark them as soon as possible- crew member and spokeswoman Julia Schaerfermeyer said, adding that 118 minors including 13 children aged under 12 were among those on board.
The vessel, run by French NGO SOS Mediterranee, rescued 555 people last weekend, although two pregnant women and two others have since been evacuated, alongside two of their relatives.
They were waiting off the east coast of Sicily for permission to disembark. They said requests to Malta were rejected while Tunisia and Libya did not respond.
Schaerfermeyer had appealed to the European Union to help coordinate plans to manage rescue ships in international waters, "to step up in support of the coastal states, and for a predictable disembarkation mechanism to be put in place".
Tens of thousands of people seek to cross the central Mediterranean each year, normally setting off from Libya and aiming for the Italian coast, but it is a deadly journey.
Almost 1,000 people have died on the route so far this year, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Both ships had put out urgent appeals for a safe port following days at sea in the central Mediterranean, warning of the deteriorating health of those on board, who include children

Poland to build Belarus border fence against migrants

Anti-vaccine protesters ‘unlawfully’ enter media hub in London

Kenya receives 880,460 doses of Moderna vaccine from US

B&H registers 127 new cases of COVID -19 and nine deaths

Vaccination continues at Zetra and health centers in Ilijaš, Vogošća, Hadžići

New Zealand extends nationwide lockdown for 4 more days

Israel to offer Covid jabs in schools to avoid closures

German train drivers strike despite last-minute offer

Georgia calls on Russia to withdraw troops from its territories

Firefighting plane crashes on Greek island of Zakynthos

Abandoned' Greek villagers reluctantly flee raging fires

Israel sets up Covid rapid test stations nationwide

Iran records over 500 Covid deaths, hits new high

Adamović for "Avaz": We sent a complaint, we asked that the disciplinary measure against Gordana Tadić be lifted

SBB President Fahrudin Radončić congratulated the New Year 1443 AH

Hundreds of migrants find safe port in Italy

News

Poland to build Belarus border fence against migrants

Anti-vaccine protesters ‘unlawfully’ enter media hub in London

Kenya receives 880,460 doses of Moderna vaccine from US

B&H registers 127 new cases of COVID -19 and nine deaths

Vaccination continues at Zetra and health centers in Ilijaš, Vogošća, Hadžići

New Zealand extends nationwide lockdown for 4 more days

Israel to offer Covid jabs in schools to avoid closures

German train drivers strike despite last-minute offer

Georgia calls on Russia to withdraw troops from its territories

Firefighting plane crashes on Greek island of Zakynthos

Abandoned' Greek villagers reluctantly flee raging fires

Israel sets up Covid rapid test stations nationwide

Iran records over 500 Covid deaths, hits new high

Adamović for "Avaz": We sent a complaint, we asked that the disciplinary measure against Gordana Tadić be lifted

SBB President Fahrudin Radončić congratulated the New Year 1443 AH

Hundreds of migrants find safe port in Italy