Fahrudin Radončić, President of SBB, on the occasion of the great Catholic holiday of Easter, sent congratulations to the Archbishop of Vrhbosna, Cardinal Vinko Puljić, and to all Catholics in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- On behalf of SBB and on my behalf, I want you to spend this holiday in peace and prosperity. You are celebrating the holiday in a very difficult and challenging pandemic time. I believe that this will not diminish the holiday joys and moods and that you will celebrate your holiday in the circle of your families, what symbolizes Easter, the victory of life over death and good over evil. With the desire to celebrate the holidays in our country in the future, respecting and appreciating each other, in a friendly and neighborly spirit, I sincerely congratulate you on Easter- said Radončić, it was announced from SBB.

With the desire to celebrate the holidays in our country in the future, respecting and appreciating each other, in a friendly and neighborly spirit, I sincerely congratulate you on Easter, said Radončić

Radončić: I want you to spend this holiday in peace and prosperity

SBB President Fahrudin Radončić congratulated Easter

Pope Francis paid a surprise visit on Friday to homeless and poor people from Rome getting free COVID-19 vaccinations in the Vatican.

Pictures released by the Vatican showed the 84-year-old pontiff greeting doctors, nurses, charity workers and vaccine recipients in a make-shift clinic in the Vatican’s audience hall, largely disused because of the pandemic.
About 800 homeless or needy people have received the free vaccine so far and at least 400 more will get it, the Vatican said.
Francis, who has been vaccinated, as has former Pope Benedict, 93, has said getting a jab is the ethnical choice unless there are serious medical reasons not to.
Under Francis, the Vatican has set up a number of structures&nbsp;to help Rome’s homeless population, including a clinic, bathing&nbsp;facilities, barber and hair cutting services.

Francis, who has been vaccinated, as has former Pope Benedict, 93, has said getting a jab is the ethnical choice unless there are serious medical reasons not to

Pope Francis poses for a photograph on Good Friday at a vaccination centre in the Paul VI Hall where the poor and homeless are being inoculated, at the Vatican, April 2, 2021.

Pope makes surprise visit to homeless getting COVID-19 vaccine

Four Slovenian opposition parties filed an impeachment motion on Friday against embattled conservative Prime Minister Janez Jansa, partially prompted by his alleged failings in handling the coronavirus crisis.

Previous opposition attempts to bring a no-confidence motion against Jansa's government failed earlier this year, but his administration has continued to be dogged by various controversies and international criticism.
In addition, the country has been hit with a vicious third wave of the pandemic which has sent infections and death rates spiralling. 
In the impeachment motion targeting Jansa personally, the four opposition parties accuse him of failing in his legal duties for not taking up an opportunity to acquire extra vaccine doses and thereby denying citizens their rightful health services.
The allegation relates to a period in December when Jansa temporarily took on the post of health minister after the previous incumbent resigned.
The impeachment motion also says Jansa has violated the constitution by attacking press freedom -- including preventing funding to the national news agency STA -- and by putting pressure on the country's prosecutors.
Jansa's centre-right coalition currently controls 45 seats in the 90-seat parliament, with several MPs having left the government camp in recent months.
Jansa called the impeachment attempt a "pathetic move by the privileged aimed at destabilising the country."
The latest crisis for the government comes hot on the heels of criticism from Brussels and ahead of Slovenia taking up the EU's rotating presidency later this year.
On Thursday, Slovenia joined Austria and the Czech Republic in refusing to help five struggling fellow EU members in the allocation of an extra 10 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
Last week, Jansa abruptly cut short a grilling on media freedom by lawmakers, accusing them of "censorship" for refusing to play a video he had prepared.
The opposition accuses Jansa -- an admirer of former US president Donald Trump -- of wanting to emulate his political ally and counterpart, Hungary's Viktor Orban.
The impeachment motion has to be discussed by parliament within 60 days and needs the support of 46 deputies to pass.

The four opposition parties accuse him of failing in his legal duties for not taking up an opportunity to acquire extra vaccine doses and thereby denying citizens their rightful health services

Embattled Slovenia PM Jansa faces impeachment attempt

A Russian court on Friday fined Twitter nearly $117,000 for failing to remove calls to opposition protests, as Moscow ramps up pressure against the US tech giant.

Authorities in January accused foreign social media platforms of interfering in Russia's domestic affairs by not deleting calls to rallies in support of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny late that month and early February.
Last month, Russia's media watchdog Roskomnadzor said it would draw up protocols demanding foreign social media platforms such as Twitter be fined for failing to delete the calls after it had warned them to do so.
In a statement, Roskomnadzor described the calls to protests as "inciting teenagers" to take part in "illegal activities", or "unauthorised mass events". 
On Friday, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency cited a Moscow court as saying it had hit Twitter with three fines totalling 8.9 million rubles ($116,700 or 99,000 euros) for failing to remove information that violates Russian law.
Twitter declined to comment when reached by AFP.
The fines come after Roskomnadzor last month began slowing Twitter's service speeds, saying that the company had failed to comply with its requests to delete content related to child pornography, drug use and calls for minors to commit suicide.
Twitter at the time said it was "deeply concerned by increased attempts to block and throttle online public conversation."
President Vladimir Putin in January complained about the growing influence of large technology companies that he said are competing with states. 
Russia regularly fines foreign internet companies like Twitter, Facebook and Google for failing to comply with its legislation, though the penalties are meagre when compared to their profits.
From Thursday, a law came into effect in Russia making it obligatory for smartphones, tablets and computers to be pre-installed with Russian software and apps in a move seen by critics as another attempt to curb online freedom.

Authorities in January accused foreign social media platforms of interfering in Russia's domestic affairs by not deleting calls to rallies in support of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny late that month and early February

In a statement, Roskomnadzor described the calls to protests as "inciting teenagers" to take part in "illegal activities", or "unauthorised mass events"

Russia fines Twitter for not removing calls to protests

The UK government said Friday it would add four countries to its so-called red list banning incoming travel to England from next week, citing coronavirus "variants of concern".

The Department for Transport said the ban on visitors from Kenya, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Pakistan would enter force at 0300 GMT on April 9.
This will include anyone who left the countries or transited though them in the previous 10 days.
UK and Irish nationals and those with UK residence rights travelling from those countries will have to quarantine in hotels for 10 days.
The department said the ban was over new data showing increased risks of importing coronavirus "variants of concern".
The new rules take the total number of red-listed countries to 39.
The government said the list expansion came at a "critical time for the vaccine programme".
The UK has given more than 31 million people, or more than 45 percent of the population, a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine.
The additional restrictions will "help to reduce the risk of new variants -– such as those first identified in South Africa and Brazil -– entering England", the Department for Transport said.
The UK has set a potential May 17 date for resuming international travel, which is banned except for a few legally permitted reasons.
A taskforce set up by Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to propose a traffic-light system to rank countries red, green or amber for travel according to the risks posed by their virus rates.

The Department for Transport said the ban on visitors from Kenya, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Pakistan would enter force at 0300 GMT on April 9

A taskforce set up by Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to propose a traffic-light system to rank countries red, green or amber for travel according to the risks posed by their virus rates

England to ban travel from four new countries

The trial of Federal Prime Minister Fadil Novalić and others in the "Respirators" affair continued today at the Court of B&amp;H.
Criminal proceedings are being conducted in connection with the procurement of 100 respirators worth 10,530,000 KM, which were imported from China by the company "Srebrena malina" owned by Fikret Hodžić for the needs of the Federal Administration of Civil Protection.
At the previous hearing, which was held on March 24th, the director of the Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo, Sebija Izetbegović, testified.
In addition to Izetbegović's Prime Minister Fadil Novalić, FB&amp;H Minister of Finance Jelka Milićević, suspended director of the Federal Administration of Civil Protection Fahrudin Solak and owner of the company "Srebrena malina" Fikret Hodžić are also accused of the disputed purchase of respirators.
Bahra Džaka, an employee of Prime Minister Novalić's office, testified at today's hearing. She requested that the media not publish her name and photo, which the court panel refused. She asked for it because her parents were old and she did not explain to them that she would testify, but the court was of the opinion that there was no legal basis to testify anonymously.
Prior to the interrogation of the witness, a controversy broke out between the prosecutors and the defense over the evidence that was not announced for this hearing, which is why the defendants objected, believing that the entire set of evidence, including Džaka's testimony, could be "poisonous fruit".

<h2>"Good morning, offer „Canada“ was sent at 8 yesterday and is on Professor Izetbegović's desk"</h2>

Also, the defense objected that the prosecutors did not announce what evidence they would use at the hearing. The court replied that it would comment on the objections on the fly.
When asked by prosecutor Mirza Hukeljić, Džaka explained with whom she communicated by phone, viber and e-mail on Novalić's orders. She added that she has been employed in the Prime Minister's Office since 2007 and that she performs administrative and technical tasks, ie directs mail and documentation that comes to the Office from ministries and other bodies.
- There is an office where the post office is opened and papers are recorded and given to the office for signature. My colleague and I have access to the official e-mail address. We receive a lot of e-mails and mail, it is recorded and printed for inspection by the director of the Office of the Prime Minister - stated Džaka.
Fikret Hodžić sent offers for respirators to the official e-mail of the Prime Minister's Office, and Džaka talked to him privately, because, as she stated, she wanted to be informed if Novalić asked her for information. Džaka confirmed that she communicated with Hodžić unofficially because she was personally, and not professionally, interested in the specifications of the respirators in order to get to know the matter better and prepare the Prime Minister. She said that on her own initiative she sent certain offers for the same reason to a friend who is a doctor in Travnik as well as a certain Vildana, who is the secretary of Sebija Izetbegović.
- I do not know Fikret Hodžić personally, but we have communicated several times by phone, viber and e-mail. In April, I saw him in person once when he was leaving the FB&amp;H Government building. That was after our telephone conversations - stated Džaka. 
The prosecutor asked her where Hodzić's number came from, and Džaka replied that she was "qualified“ for finding numbers and that she has more than 5,000 contacts in the phone book. Hukelić then asked when the first mail arrived from Hodžić, and Džaka said that it happened on the evening of March 31st, and it contained an offer for medical equipment and the specifications of that equipment, which Džaka sent for protocol.
- I received the mail from Novalić's e-mail and it was forwarded to the Institute of Public Health because it concerned medical equipment. I think it was recorded and submitted for signature to the director of the Office of the Prime Minister. I talked to Hodžić, because those were some alternative ways to get respirators. Also, I conveyed to the Prime Minister what it is about - stated Džaka.
Prosecutor Hukeljić presented the witness with an e-mail she received from Hodžić, which contained an offer for complete medical equipment. The report showed that Hodžić offered invasive and non-invasive respirators.
She also did not know whether Hodžić and Novalić had communicated with each other.
Among other things, the prosecutor presented the witness with a Viber message between her and Novalić, and before that he asked her if she was aware of any other offer for respirators other than Hodžić's.
"Good morning, offer „Canada“ was sent at 8 yesterday and is on Professor Izetbegović's desk"
Novalić answers with "OK", and in the continuation he writes "Gone to Fikret, everything is ok".
The witness said that she did not know what the offer "Canada" was and that the paper was mistakenly sent to KCUS from Novalić's desk by courier.
In response to numerous questions, Džaka said that she spoke with Hodžić on her own initiative, although that is not the practice in the Prime Minister's Office. She justified that with the emergency situation in the country.

<h2>Fikret notifies that he can keep 400 non-invasive respirators for up to 12 hours</h2>

Hukelić also presented Džaka with Viber correspondence between her and Novalić, and the contents of one of the messages was:
"The condition has changed, Fikret notifies that he can keep 400 non-invasive respirators for up to 12 hours". Below this message, Džaka sent Novalić a photo of this type of respirators.
Novalić, Solak and Hodžić are charged with conspiracy to commit criminal offenses related to acts of abuse of position or authority, receiving a reward or other form of benefit for trading in influence.

The indictment also charges them with money laundering, falsification or destruction of business or trade books or documents, falsification of official documents and violation of the obligation to keep trade or business books and compile financial reports and their falsification or destruction.
Milićević is accused of negligent work in the service.

Bahra Džaka, an employee of Prime Minister Novalić's office, testified at today's hearing

Solak and Novalić  leaving the Court of B&H

„Respirators“ affair: Witness Džaka claims that the mysterious offer "Canada" was mistakenly put on Sebija Izetbegović's desk

The Banja Luka District Prosecutor's Office has filed an indictment against Dragan Lukač, the Minister of the Interior of the entity of Republic of Srpska, for endangering the safety of Draško Stanivuković, who was then an MP of the PDP in the RS National Assembly and now the mayor of Banja Luka. 

-On March 26, 2021, the District Prosecutor's Office of Banja Luka filed an indictment against Dragan Lukač for the criminal offense of Endangering Safety under Article 150, Paragraph 1 of the RS Criminal Code in conjunction with the criminal offense of Physical Injury under Article 131, Paragraph 1 of the Republic of Srpska Criminal Code.-The indictment was forwarded to the Banja Luka Basic Court for confirmation, the Prosecutor's Office stated.
The incident happened at the end of 2019, during a session in the National Assembly of the entity of Republic of Srpska.
The then MP, Stanivuković testifed that Lukač hit him while he was speaking at the rostrum, which is why he immediately asked for Minister Lukač's resignation.&nbsp;

The incident happened at the end of 2019, during a session in the National Assembly of the entity of Republic of Srpska

Dragan Lukač, the Minister of the Interior of the entity of Republic of Srpska

Indictment filed against RS MoI Dragan Lukač for attacking Stanivuković

The Archbishop of Vrhbosna, Cardinal Vinko Puljić, stated in his Easter message that, in this time of pandemic and uncertainty, one should deal with all sources of fear with hope and the power of faith.

-We live in a time when various fears hang over people and permeate personal and our common existence. At this time of the pandemic, the fear of infection and disease has crept inside us, which the mass media spreads even more. There is a fear of death, which is normal for a person to fear death, especially when they give us so many statistics about people dying- said the cardinal in a message entitled "Let us not let the spirit of secularism drive Jesus out of our hearts."
However, although people are dying, as they have been dying from many other diseases, the fear is increasing today, as Puljić added, due to the economic crisis that was obviously intentionally caused, and the issue of survival itself because many people lost their jobs.
-In addition, in a poor and corrupt country it is very difficult to find a job, especially if the individual is not a member of the ruling party. In addition, there were natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, fires, etc. And in the face of these horrors, a man is powerless no matter how much he pretends or feels strong- the Cardinal added.
In family life, as he stated, there are fears of endangered harmony and togetherness, difficulties of upbringing of children before the onslaught of ubiquitous individualism, relativism and materialism, which is manifested through all kinds of crime, drug abuse, slavery and debauchery. In all this, however, the fear of illness and death somehow prevails.
-We celebrate Christ's resurrection in this atmosphere of numerous fears. This celebration, in addition to commemorating the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, is also the experience of Jesus Christ in our midst, Jesus who will remove our fear and bring the strength of faith to deal with all sources of fear and live the hope- said Cardinal Puljić.
Man, he added, is so afraid of death, and Christ overcame death and brought the meaning of life through resurrection.
-Asking God for forgiveness and peace, let us forgive each other and not allow hatred to enter the hearts, nor the family, nor this country- concluded the Cardinal in his Easter message.
&nbsp;

In this time of pandemic and uncertainty, one should deal with all sources of fear with hope and the power of faith, he stated

The Archbishop of Vrhbosna, Cardinal Vinko Puljić

Puljić: Let us not let the spirit of secularism drive Jesus out of our hearts

&nbsp;In the past 24 hours, 4,412 samples were registered with the Public Health Institute of the Federation of B&amp;H, of which 1,549 were positive for SARS-CoV-2.

New cases have been registered in all the cantons in the Federation of B&amp;H.
There are currently 20,220 SARS-CoV-2 active cases.
In the past 24 hours, 58 new deaths were reported to the Public Health Institute of the Federation of B&amp;H.
As of today, the number of deaths in the Federation of B&amp;H is 3,818.
In the Brčko District of B&amp;H, 176 people were tested, while 126 of them were positive. One person died, while 16 recovered.
In the entity of Republic of Srpska, 1,102 samples were tested in the last 24 hours at the Institute of Public Health of the RS, and coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was confirmed in 479 people.
In the last 24 hours, 29 deaths were reported to the RS Institute of Public Health.
So far, a total of 2,727 people have died in the RS.
The total number of hospitalized in the RS is 1,320, the RS Institute of Public Health said.

There are currently 20,220 SARS-CoV-2 active cases in FB&H

In the Brčko District of B&H, 176 people were tested, while 126 of them were positive

COVID-19 confirmed in 2,154 people in B&H, with 88 deaths

The Office of the Disciplinary Prosecutor 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.
The lawsuit against the Chief Prosecutor of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH Gordana Tadić was filed for disciplinary violations under Article 57 of the Law on the HJPC of B&amp;H, as follows:
- count 8: "negligence or disregard in the performance of official duties"
- count 17: "failure, for unjustified reasons, to comply with decisions, orders or requests of the Council"
- count 22: "conduct in or outside the court or prosecutor's office which is detrimental to the reputation of the prosecutor's office."

<h2>Tadić: Ignoring the obligation and orders of the Council</h2>

The first point of the disciplinary lawsuit against the defendant Chief Prosecutor of the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H Gordana Tadić refers to the deliberate disregard of the obligation and order of the Council to assign prosecution cases to prosecutors through the automatic distribution system (ADS) during her term as Chief Prosecutor.
The second point concerns the failure to, as the head of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, by applying the provisions of the Law on Protection of Classified Information, ensure the initiation of the procedure of personal security checks of the staff of the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H handling classified information, as well as the Council's order that all judicial institutions in BiH implement all 
With regard to the third point, the allegations refer to the damage to the reputation of the judiciary by an unfounded request for payment of claims related to the rent of her apartment.

<h2>Debevec: Inappropriate contact with the person against whom the proceedings are being conducted before the court he manages</h2>

The lawsuit against the President of the Court of B&amp;H Ranko Debevec was filed due to disciplinary violations under Article 56 of the Law on the HJPC of B&amp;H, as follows:
- count 19: "intentionally providing false, misleading or insufficient information in connection with job applications, disciplinary matters, promotion or advancement matters or any other matters falling within the competence of the Council"
- count 22: "conduct in and outside of court which is detrimental to the reputation of the judicial office".
The first point of the disciplinary lawsuit against the defendant President of the Court of B&amp;H Ranko Debevec refers to inappropriate contact with the person against whom the proceedings are being conducted before the court he manages.
The second point of the disciplinary lawsuit refers to the sending of comments of inappropriate content through communication with the prosecutor who is acting in the case in which the defendant is a participant in the proceedings.
With regard to the third point, it is a matter of intentionally providing insufficient information to the HJPC on the defendant's property abroad, through personal financial reports submitted to the Council.
The Office of the Disciplinary Counsel cannot comment on the ongoing proceedings and asks the media for understanding in this regard.
Please note that no one can be held disciplinary liable until his or her responsibility has been determined by final decisions of the disciplinary commissions.
The Office of the Disciplinary Counsel is committed to strengthening the accountability of the judiciary through the disciplinary responsibility of holders of all judicial functions, in order to ensure a responsible and efficient judicial system for the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Regarding the third point of the defendant Ranko Debevec,  it is a matter of intentionally providing insufficient information to the HJPC on the property of the defendant abroad, through personal financial reports submitted to the Council

Disciplinary lawsuits filed against Ranko Debevec and Gordana Tadić

Osman Mehmedagić Osmica, director of the B&amp;H Intelligence and Security Agency (ISA), is facing a new indictment by the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H.

This time in the "Diploma" affair.
According to the information that "Avaz" has, the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H has irrefutable evidence that Mehmedagić did not legally obtain a university degree at the American University Sarajevo - Tuzla.
This was confirmed by new evidence from the Prosecution, testimonies from witnesses, but also from a criminal expert.

<h2>Mehmedagić submitted his diploma and declared it a secret</h2>

The only one who can protect Mehmedagić is his intimus Ranko Debevec, the president of the Court of B&amp;H. This head of the judicial institution used all his resources in the previous period. First, to acquit Mehmedagić of the charges in the "Mail" affair, and then for the Court to reject the two indictments in the "Security Checks" affair.
But now everything is clear. The diploma that Mehmedagić submitted to the Commission for the Supervision of the Work of the ISA and declared it a secret, and with the aim of obtaining a new mandate, is very suspicious.
Let's start from the beginning.

The Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H, investigating Mehmedagić's diploma, came up with shocking information.
Thus, it was established that Mehmedagić, with the help of Denis Prcić, the owner of the American University, "resurrected" among the students of the Faculty of Law in Tuzla - Department of International Law.
More precisely, as it was determined, Prcić, with the help of his associates, tore out the page with the enrollment of students (index register) and inserted another one, with Mehmedagić's name added to it.
The director of ISA thus appeared under the ordinal number of 7 enrolled students, but it was established that it was a forged manuscript.
Mehmedagić was not on the first list of the register of students in the registry books, which is confirmed by the documents that "Avaz" had access to.

The first list of 22 students was later torn out and a new one was added, with Mehmedagić's name on it. Instead of student Damir Mujaković, Mehmedagić was enrolled, and according to the new list, instead of 22 students, 23 appeared, among them the director of ISA.
However, the forensic expert, analyzing the pages, determined that the first and second lists could not be brought into a graphological connection, more precisely that "the real scriptwriter tried to almost completely imitate the actual handwriting of the person who kept the registry books".
And this person wrote the names of the students in his/her own hand, and later another person tried to imitate his/her handwriting with a graphite pencil.

- Following the order of writing on the torn sheets and the integrated sheet in the book "register index", essential differences were determined: removal of box 17 on the newly formed sheets where the trace of red writing medium remained as two horizontal lines and handwritten "canceled" with abbreviated signature and stamp blue, so the content was moved where in section 7 it was newly written (Mehmedagić Osman 52 8.7.2008.l) and the content was moved (Mujaković Damir 66 17.7.2009. I) to section 8 and so the rest of the content to section 17 - states forensic expert.
The expert report states that in addition to the manuscript with the content International Law and Diplomacy and on the back marked "register with the registry book", the Faculty of Law International Law, where in section 7 (Osman Mehmedagić 8.7.2008) it was created after 18.7.2017, and "which is the youngest date written by the person who kept the registry books".
An original torn page with no name of Osman Mehmedagić was found.

The diploma that Mahmedagić submitted to the Commission for Supervision of the Work of the ISA and declared it a secret, and with the aim of obtaining a new mandate, is very suspicious

"Diploma" affair: How Osman Mehmedagić "resurrected" among students

Members of the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina relocated 83 migrants who were staying in abandoned and devastated facilities, to a temporary tent settlement at the Lipa site near Bihać.

-Our inspectors inspected six abandoned and devastated facilities in the center of Bihać, in which we found 83 migrants. The Service relocated them to the temporary tent settlement 'Lipa', where they had gone through medical examination and were provided with dignified accommodation and necessities of life- confirmed Deputy Director of the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs of B&amp;H, Mirsad Buzar.
He said that they also found three unaccompanied minors in this group of migrants, which is why they immediately engaged the competent Center for Social Work Bihać, to determine guardians and their protection.
After undergoing medical triage, the persons accommodated in the temporary tent settlement at the Lipa site were placed in the area of preventive isolation due to precautionary measures and control of the health and epidemiological situation.

They also found three unaccompanied minors in this group of migrants

After undergoing medical triage, the persons accommodated in the temporary tent settlement at the Lipa site were placed in the area of preventive isolation due to precautionary measures and control of the health and epidemiological situation

More than 80 migrants from abandoned buildings relocated to Lipa camp

Pfizer and BioNTech said Thursday their Covid-19 vaccine was highly effective against the South African variant in the latest phase of ongoing clinical trials.

No cases of the disease were observed in South Africa during the phase-three trial study among participants who had received their second dose, the companies said in a statement. 
Several coronavirus variants with the potential to be more transmissible have caused global concern over whether existing vaccines will still protect the world from a virus that is constantly mutating.
-In South Africa, where the B.1.351 lineage is prevalent and 800 participants were enrolled, nine cases of Covid-19 were observed, all in the placebo group- the companies said.
The nine strains were sequenced and six of them were confirmed to be of B.1.351 lineage, they said.
-The high vaccine efficacy observed through up to six months following a second dose and against the variant prevalent in South Africa provides further confidence in our vaccine's overall effectiveness- said Albert Bourla, chief executive of Pfizer.
Overall, the vaccine was 91.3 percent effective against Covid-19 in the analysis of 46,307 trial participants across several countries.
From the 927 confirmed symptomatic cases of Covid-19 in the trial, 850 cases were in the placebo group and 77 cases were in the vaccinated group.
The vaccine was 100 percent effective in preventing severe disease as defined by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 95.3 percent effective in preventing severe disease as defined by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Pfizer and BioNTech had said in January that "small differences" detected in tests comparing the original virus and the recent versions "are unlikely to lead to a significant reduction in the effectiveness of the vaccine".
The companies said Thursday the new data "support previous results from immunogenicity studies demonstrating that (the vaccine) induced a robust neutralising antibody response to the B1.351 (South African) variant, and although lower than to the wild-type strain, it does not appear to affect the high observed efficacy against this variant".
Global deaths from Covid-19 have topped 2.8 million since the pandemic began a year ago, with vaccines seen as the only real chance of returning to some form of normality.

Several coronavirus variants with the potential to be more transmissible have caused global concern over whether existing vaccines will still protect the world from a virus that is constantly mutating

No cases of the disease were observed in South Africa during the phase-three trial study among participants who had received their second dose, the companies said in a statement

Pfizer/BioNTech say vaccine effective against S.Africa variant

Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Germans on Thursday to celebrate Easter quietly, reduce contacts and not travel unless absolutely necessary to try to stop a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic, which she said was now threatening younger people.

-It should be a quiet Easter, with those closest to you, with very reduced contact. I urge you to refrain from all non-essential travel- Merkel said in a video message, adding this was the only way to help the doctors and nurses fighting the virus.

This is the only way to help the doctors and nurses fighting the virus

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for a news conference after a virtual meeting with federal state governors at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, March 30, 2021.

Merkel urges Germans to celebrate Easter quietly

Ukraine announced on Wednesday that it withdrew from a tourism agreement with Russia.

The Cabinet of Ministers decided to terminate the agreement because it could harm Ukraine's national interests, Vasyl Mokan, the government’s representative in parliament, said on Telegram.
The agreement was signed in Kyiv on July 16, 1999.
Ukraine announced earlier in the day that it banned the import of wheat, rye, sunflower oil and several non-food products from Russia.
The government said the decision will take effect in 10 days.

Cabinet of Ministers terminates agreement, saying 'it could harm Ukraine's national interests'

The agreement was signed in Kyiv on July 16, 1999.

Ukraine withdraws from tourism agreement with Russia

The ambassadors of the member states of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) and the Steering Board (SB) and the Board of Principals* (BoP) issued a statement on the situation regarding COVID-19 in B&amp;H.You can read the full press release below:&nbsp;The current situation with COVID-19 in Bosnia and Herzegovina is deteriorating, causing immense strain on the healthcare system. The number of COVID-19 cases and deaths, unfortunately, keeps growing.

The stress and anxiety of the people are completely understandable. In this regard, it is useful to remind of the 25 March 2020 joint call of the B&amp;H Presidency for all citizens to fully respect the epidemiological guidelines, measures and recommendations so that every citizen can act responsibly in regard to their own safety and for the safety of their community. A coherent and coordinated public health and socio-economic response across the country would maximize the impact of the measures and help control transmission, relieve pressure on the healthcare system and ultimately save lives while sustaining the economy. This is as equally important as the safe roll-out of vaccines.

While responsibility for dealing with the pandemic must rest with the authorities, the International Community in B&amp;H is supporting all efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 and help B&amp;H alleviate the situation.
Especially, the International Community highly appreciates the continuous efforts and dedication of all the medical staff in B&amp;H to control COVID-19.

What we all need now is resilience and unity. We urge political actors to refrain from accusations and politicizing the issue of vaccines. As vaccines have started to arrive in-country, the support and advocacy of political authorities in the roll-out and in the uptake of available vaccines will be essential. This needs to go hand in hand with other public health and social measures and no one should be left behind. The virus is poisoning bodies. Don't let inflammatory rhetoric poison minds.

The International Community is committed to working with Bosnia and Herzegovina to help protect the health, safety and wellbeing of the people and it will continue to support all vital efforts in this regard. Hopefully, together we will overcome this disaster as fast as possible.

Responsibility for dealing with the pandemic must rest with the authorities, it is stated

Warning of PIC and international organizations in B&H

SBB President Fahrudin Radončić congratulated Easter

Pope makes surprise visit to homeless getting COVID-19 vaccine

Embattled Slovenia PM Jansa faces impeachment attempt

Russia fines Twitter for not removing calls to protests

England to ban travel from four new countries

„Respirators“ affair: Witness Džaka claims that the mysterious offer "Canada" was mistakenly put on Sebija Izetbegović's desk

Indictment filed against RS MoI Dragan Lukač for attacking Stanivuković

Puljić: Let us not let the spirit of secularism drive Jesus out of our hearts

COVID-19 confirmed in 2,154 people in B&H, with 88 deaths

Disciplinary lawsuits filed against Ranko Debevec and Gordana Tadić

"Diploma" affair: How Osman Mehmedagić "resurrected" among students

More than 80 migrants from abandoned buildings relocated to Lipa camp

Pfizer/BioNTech say vaccine effective against S.Africa variant

Merkel urges Germans to celebrate Easter quietly

Ukraine withdraws from tourism agreement with Russia

Ambassadors of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Steering Board (SB) and the Board of Principals* (BoP) on the COVID-19 situation in B&H

News

SBB President Fahrudin Radončić congratulated Easter

Pope makes surprise visit to homeless getting COVID-19 vaccine

Embattled Slovenia PM Jansa faces impeachment attempt

Russia fines Twitter for not removing calls to protests

England to ban travel from four new countries

„Respirators“ affair: Witness Džaka claims that the mysterious offer "Canada" was mistakenly put on Sebija Izetbegović's desk

Indictment filed against RS MoI Dragan Lukač for attacking Stanivuković

Puljić: Let us not let the spirit of secularism drive Jesus out of our hearts

COVID-19 confirmed in 2,154 people in B&H, with 88 deaths

Disciplinary lawsuits filed against Ranko Debevec and Gordana Tadić

"Diploma" affair: How Osman Mehmedagić "resurrected" among students

More than 80 migrants from abandoned buildings relocated to Lipa camp

Pfizer/BioNTech say vaccine effective against S.Africa variant

Merkel urges Germans to celebrate Easter quietly

Ukraine withdraws from tourism agreement with Russia

Ambassadors of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Steering Board (SB) and the Board of Principals* (BoP) on the COVID-19 situation in B&H