Representatives of the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs of B&amp;H are working daily with their associates to improve the living conditions for 620 migrants who are currently staying in the Lipa camp near Bihać.

-According to the latest daily report, 620 people are currently staying here. Most are citizens of Pakistan, 450 of them, followed by about 80 migrants from Afghanistan, and a smaller number from other countries. There is evident progress from day to day when it comes to living conditions for these people. They are provided with adequate accommodation, distribution of food and other necessities, as well as daily medical care- said Deputy Director of the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs of B&amp;H, Mirsad Buzar.
As a novelty, he mentions a complex of medical and sanitary containers, in which it is possible to maintain personal hygiene and treat scabies. He pointed out that an open kitchen for migrants is being built, where they will be able to prepare their traditional dishes and socialize.
Apart from the distribution of daily meals, the restaurant space is also used for the organization of certain social activities. President of Caritas Europa Michael Landau visited the camp today and saw the significant improvement of conditions in the "Lipa" camp and the dignified treatment of migrants and refugees during his visit.
-Enormous progress is evident in the process of taking care of these people. I am pleased with the excellent cooperation between the competent state institutions and international organizations, which is now at an enviable level. This can now in a way serve as an organizational example for all other camps in B&amp;H, but also some other countries. Truly an example of efficient joint work and humane care of people in need- concluded the President of Caritas Europa Michael Landau.
Members of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina are working on the rehabilitation of all access roads, while the process of cleaning and preparing sites for the construction of a container migrant settlement with a capacity of 1,500 people has already been completed. It was also confirmed that a project for the construction of a new camp has been made and that more favorable weather conditions and approval, i.e. support from the European Union, are awaited.

Most are citizens of Pakistan, 450 of them, followed by about 80 migrants from Afghanistan, and a smaller number from other countries

As a novelty, there is a complex of medical and sanitary containers, in which it is possible to maintain personal hygiene and treat scabies

Conditions for 620 migrants staying in 'Lipa' camp are improving every day

Japan will extend a virus state of emergency in the Tokyo area by a fortnight, officials said Friday, less than five months before the pandemic-postponed Tokyo Olympics.

The decision came as Moderna filed for approval of its Covid-19 vaccine in Japan, becoming the third major drug firm to do so, its distribution partner Takeda said.
The Pfizer/BioNTech is so far the only jab approved for use in Japan, which is taking a cautious approach to its inoculation campaign that launched in a limited fashion last month.
Despite a winter spike in infections, Japan has seen a comparatively small outbreak overall with just over 8,000 deaths, and has avoided imposing the blanket lockdowns seen in other countries.
The state of emergency, which primarily calls for bars and restaurants to close from 8pm, was due to end on Sunday and has been lifted early in other regions.
It has brought infections down in the capital but the rate of decline is slowing and experts warn of a potential resurgence when restrictions are removed.
Top government spokesman Katsunobu Kato said the virus emergency would continue in Tokyo and three surrounding regions until March 21 -- four days before the nationwide Olympic torch relay kicks off in northeastern Fukushima prefecture.
The two-week extension, expected to be formally announced later on Friday, could cost the economy an extra 700 billion yen ($6.5 billion) in lost consumption, Tokyo-based think-tank NRI predicted.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga apologised for the imminent extension but said the government was "doing its utmost to prevent a rebound" in infections.
Tokyo logged around 270 daily cases on average over the past week.
Japan's response to the virus is in the spotlight as Tokyo prepares to host the postponed Olympics, due to start on July 23.
Tokyo 2020 organisers have outlined measures they say will keep the Games safe -- even without requiring participants to be vaccinated or quarantined on arrival.
Border restrictions currently bar almost all foreign arrivals, which has forced the postponement of the year's first test event, an artistic swimming qualifier.
Japan began its vaccination programme on February 17 and has so far given first doses to around 39,000 healthcare workers.
The AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine was also filed for approval a month ago and domestic clinical trials are underway.

The decision came as Moderna filed for approval of its Covid-19 vaccine in Japan, becoming the third major drug firm to do so

Terumi Kamisawa, left, president of Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Center Komagome Hospital receives a dose of a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the hospital in Tokyo Friday, March 5, 2021. Japan's government will extend a state of emergency in the Tokyo region for another two weeks because its medical systems are still strained by COVID-19 patients, the minister in charge of virus response said Friday

Japan to extend virus state of emergency in Tokyo area

Prime Minister of the Federation of B&amp;H, Fadil Novalić, stated today that the Federation of B&amp;H is hit by an emergency situation due to the sudden increase in the number of people infected with coronavirus.

After the meeting on the current epidemiological situation and procurement of vaccines, Novalić said at the press conference that FB&amp;H is facing a new wave of the epidemic that has affected other countries as well.
-At the meeting, we discussed epidemiological measures and vaccination that will be carried out in the Federation of B&amp;H, after the state level said that it could not meet our needs,” Novalić pointed out.
He added that any increase in the number of infected people that the health system cannot service must be stopped by radical closure measures.
Novalić stated that these measures significantly affect the economy and that they are the last option in the fight against the epidemic.
-We have formed a commission that will propose to the Government of FB&amp;H the procurement of vaccines, and it will directly negotiate with suppliers on behalf of the Government- Novalić explained.
He stressed that the price of vaccines will not be the same as in the COVAX mechanism that failed and that the issue of the price should not be problematic if we want to get vaccines quickly.
-We did everything to make the whole process very transparent- Novalić underlined.
In addition to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers of the FB&amp;H, the meeting was attended by representatives of the FB&amp;H Ministry of Health, the FB&amp;H Public Health Institute and the Health Committee of the House of Representatives of the FB&amp;H Parliament, as well as cantonal prime ministers and health ministers.

He added that any increase in the number of infected people that the health system cannot service must be stopped by radical closure measures

Prime Minister of the Federation of B&H Fadil Novalić

Novalić: FB&H in the new wave of coronavirus epidemic, lockdown the last option

President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor is on a working visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina today. 

The program of the visit includes a meeting with the Chairman of the Presidency of B&amp;H Milorad Dodik and members of the Presidency of B&amp;H Željko Komšić and Šefik Džaferović. 
The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, will also visit the contingent of the Slovenian Army at the Butmir Military Base, which operates within Operation EUFOR Althea at the NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo.&nbsp;

The program of the visit includes a meeting with the Chairman of the Presidency of B&H Milorad Dodik and members of the Presidency of B&H Željko Komšić and Šefik Džaferović

President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor

President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor on a working visit to B&H

Israel, Austria and Denmark said on Thursday they would set up a joint research and development fund and possibly production facilities for COVID-19 vaccines to ensure they had long-term supplies for booster shots or to contend with virus mutations.European Union members Austria and Denmark have been chafing at delays in ordering, approving and distributing vaccines within here 27-member bloc that have left it trailing far behind Israel's world-beating vaccination campaign.
After hosting his Austrian and Danish counterparts for talks and a tour of an Israeli gym open to those documented as having been vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 with presumed immunity, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the pact.
-Once we get over this cycle of the disease we have no guarantee that it won’t come back. We don’t know how long - nobody knows - how long these vaccines will hold up- he said at a joint news conference. -And therefore we have to protect our people against the reemergence of this pandemic or mutations.-Austria’s Sebastian Kurz said he was “very happy” about an EU vaccine initiative “but we also need to cooperate worldwide”.
The European Commission has said member states were free to strike separate deals should they wish to.
The trilateral pact, Kurz said, would include investment in production plants in Europe and Israel, and each country contributing where it best can to the manufacturing cycle.
-In Austria, for example, lipid production necessary for many vaccines is already taking place- the chancellor said.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said her country was looking to expand its production capacity. “We would like in common also to explore possible cooperation on clinical trials” with Israel and Austria, she said.
Netanyahu, who said 90% of eligible Israelis have either received at least one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine or recovered from the virus, has made the programme a showcase of his campaign for a March 23 election.
-We will be, together, ‘Vaccination Nations’- he said of the deal with Austria and Denmark. -And we agreed that if other nations want to join us, we will discuss this among ourselves and welcome others to come in as well.-

The European Commission has said member states were free to strike separate deals should they wish to

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu adjusts his protective face mask after receiving a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel December 19, 2020.

Israel, Austria and Denmark establish vaccine-supply alliance

Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina Josip Grubeša received today Ambassador of the Republic of France to B&amp;H Christine Toudic in an inaugural visit.

During the meeting, Ambassador Toudic informed the Minister about the activities of France in B&amp;H and pointed out that the current bilateral cooperation between the two countries is successful, with a strong desire to continue this practice in the future.
Among other things, the Ambassador emphasized France's commitment to continue supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina on the path to European integration, especially when it comes to judicial reform, the rule of law, and public administration reform. Both sides expressed interest in future cooperation between the two countries, especially in terms of education, training and additional training of the necessary staff.
Minister Grubeša underlined Bosnia and Herzegovina's commitment to the necessary judicial reform, reminded of the demands on its European path, and that with his full engagement he expects access from other competent institutions, the B&amp;H Ministry of Justice said.

Both sides expressed interest in future cooperation between the two countries, especially in terms of education, training and additional training of the necessary staff

Ambassador of the Republic of France to B&H Christine Toudic and Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina Josip Grubeša

Toudic: France committed to continue supporting B&H

B&amp;H Minister for Human Rights and Refugees Miloš Lučić talked today with Head of the European Union Delegation and EU Special Representative in B&amp;H Johann Sattler about the European Commission's Opinion on B&amp;H's application for EU membership, as well as activities that the Ministry needs to undertake to fulfill the priorities from the Opinion.

Lučić informed Sattler that the Ministry will undertake activities this month to initiate the procedure for the adoption of amendments to the Law on the Human Rights Ombudsman. The Minister pointed out that the formation of an inter-ministerial working group is in progress, and that the Ministry is preparing a draft text of the law that will be offered to the working group for harmonization and final elaboration.
Lučić emphasized the importance of further EU support in the implementation of the Regional Housing Program in B&amp;H, with the obligation of B&amp;H to provide a non-monetary contribution to the project in the coming period. It was also agreed that in the coming period, stronger work will be done on the promotion of this significant project in B&amp;H when it comes to the care of internally displaced persons and refugees from B&amp;H.
Minister informed Sattler that activities are underway to map the needs of internally displaced persons and socially vulnerable categories of the population, which should be completed by the end of this year.
The Minister and the Ambassador agreed that it is necessary for B&amp;H to adopt strategic documents in the field of human rights and anti-discrimination, the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of B&amp;H announced.

The Minister pointed out that the formation of an inter-ministerial working group is in progress

Lučić-Sattler: Adopt strategic documents in the field of human rights

The Czech Republic will receive the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Chinese firm Sinopharm, a top official said on Wednesday night.

On Prime Minister Andrej Babis’ request, President Milos Zeman had approached China for supply of the vaccine, according to Jiri Ovcacek, a spokesperson for the president.
-According to a report by the Czech Embassy in Beijing, the Chinese side decided to comply with this request immediately- he said on Twitter.
The Czech Republic will be the second member of the European Union after Hungary to use the Chinese vaccine.
The country is also set to get an additional 100,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine from the EU, according to Prime Minister Babis.
-Thanks to EU solidarity and the Commission's SOS mechanism, the Czech Republic will receive an extra 100,000 doses of @pfizer next week. This will speed up vaccination and help beat the virus- he said.
-My deepest thanks to the Commission, @vonderleyen [Ursula von der Leyen] and all Member States. It means a lot to us!-The Czech Republic had the highest per-capita infection rate in the world in mid-February, according to data from the European Center for Disease Control (ECDC).
The country of some 11 million registered 1,124 cases per 100,000 people between Feb. 8 and Feb. 22, ECDC figures show.
Authorities reported 15,088 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, raising the overall count to over 1.28 million.
There were 93 more fatalities in the country, taking the death toll to 21,128, while recoveries increased by 288 to cross 1.1 million.
Some 8,231 COVID-19 patients are currently under treatment in the Czech Republic, according to latest figures.

Czech Republic will become 2nd EU country after Hungary to use Chinese vaccine

The Czech Republic had the highest per-capita infection rate in the world in mid-February

Czech Republic to get China’s Sinopharm virus vaccine

Chancellor Angela Merkel and German state leaders have agreed a phased easing of coronavirus curbs along with an “emergency brake” to let authorities reimpose restrictions if case numbers spike again.With elections looming, Merkel and the regional leaders have faced growing pressure to set out plans to restore normal activities after four months of lockdown.
However, daily cases are creeping up again and only around 5% of the population have received a first vaccine shot.
-We are at the threshold of a new phase of the pandemic that we can go into not carelessly but still with justified hope- Merkel told reporters on Wednesday after what she described as “tough negotiations” with the regional chiefs.
The leaders agreed to use the full length of the approved interval between first and second vaccinations and to minimise stockpiling of booster shots to get more people started on the two-shot course.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommends giving Pfizer and BioNTech’s injections three weeks apart and AstraZeneca’s up to 12 weeks apart.
They also said they expected a decision soon from Germany’s standing committee on vaccination on administering the AstraZeneca shot to over-65s, “in order to be able to adjust the vaccination schedule accordingly”.Germany currently only allows the AstraZeneca vaccine to be given to people aged 18 to 64, which has led to a low take-up of available doses, slowing vaccination efforts.

Under Wednesday’s five-stage plan, up to five people from two households will be allowed to meet from March 8, with children under 14 exempt.

Retailers can reopen provided case numbers are below 50 cases per 100,000 people over seven days in the relevant region. If the incidence rises above 50, ‘click and meet’ restrictions kick in, whereby customers book a slot to go to the store.
If the metric rises above 100 on three consecutive days, the emergency brake will take effect and restrictions revert to those in force before March 8.
Later stages will see restaurant terraces open, and museums, theatres and cinemas reopening for people who can present a recent negative test result. Finally, open-air events with up to 50 people will be allowed, and contact sports inside.

From March 8 the government will pay for all asymptomatic citizens to have a quick coronavirus test at least once a week. Merkel and state leaders will discuss further steps on March 22.

Widely praised last year for relative success in containing the first wave of the pandemic, Merkel has seen support for her Christian Democrats fall to 34%, its lowest in a year, a Forsa opinion poll conducted for RTL/ntv television showed.
Two regional elections are due this month and a national election in September, when Merkel is due to step down.Health Minister Jens Spahn said the vaccine campaign should be accelerated within days, assuming approval is granted for over-65s to get the AstraZeneca/Oxford shot. Evidence of its efficacy is mounting from Britain, where more than 30% have already received their first shot.

The government currently only allows the AstraZeneca vaccine to be given to people aged 18 to 64, which has led to a low take-up of available doses, slowing vaccination efforts

A medical worker takes a swab sample from a person at a COVID-19 quick test center of German drugstore chain dm-drogerie markt amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Karlsruhe, Germany, March 4, 2021.

Germany agrees easing of COVID-19 curbs, more testing and vaccinations

On the eve of his historic trip to Iraq, Pope Francis paid tribute Thursday to those who have suffered from years of violence, saying he came as a "pilgrim of peace".

In a video message, the 84-year-old offered his hand to "brothers and sisters of other religions", but also highlighted the heavy toll paid by Iraq's Christian communities, saying there had been "too many martyrs".
-I long to meet you, to see your faces, to visit your land, ancient and extraordinary cradle of civilisation- the pope said.
-I come as a pilgrim, a penitent pilgrim to implore forgiveness and reconciliation from the Lord after years of war and terrorism.--I come as a pilgrim of peace in search of fraternity, animated by the desire to pray together and to walk together, also with the brothers and sisters of other religions- he added.
The pope, making his first foreign trip since the coronavirus pandemic swept Europe a year ago, will arrive in Iraq on Friday before embarking on a packed schedule of events through to Sunday.
From central Baghdad to the Shiite shrine city of Najaf, welcome banners featuring his image and Arabic title "Baba al-Vatican" already dot the streets.
From Ur, the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham in the southern desert, to ravaged Christian towns in the north, roads are being paved and churches rehabilitated.
Among the most extraordinary moments of the trip will be his one-on-one meeting with Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the highly reclusive cleric, who is a top religious authority for many of the world's Shiite Muslims.&nbsp;

Francis is fulfilling the dream of a predecessor, John Paul II, by visiting Iraq -- despite a rampaging coronavirus epidemic and an upsurge in violence. 

The security challenges were highlighted Wednesday when a rocket attack hit a base hosting US-led coalition troops, which came after several weeks of escalating US-Iran tensions on Iraqi soil.
The pope said on Wednesday he was determined not to "disappoint" the Iraqi people.
But concerns over security and tight restrictions imposed to stop the spread of Covid-19 mean that most Iraqis will have to follow the trip on television.
Though the pope enjoys being among his faithful, crowds at his events have been strictly limited, while he will mostly travel in an armoured, covered car.

Iraq's Christian community is one of the oldest and most diverse in the world, with Chaldeans and other Catholics making up around half, along with Armenian Orthodox, Protestants and others.

By 2003, when the US-led invasion toppled then-dictator Saddam Hussein, Christians made up around six percent of Iraq's 25 million people. 
But after years of bloodshed, its numbers have fallen to just 400,000 today. 
The Argentine pope said he was "honoured to meet a martyred Church" and thanked them for their faith.
There had been "too many martyrs", he said, while survivors "have in your eyes the images of destroyed houses and desecrated churches, and in your hearts the wounds of loved ones left behind and homes abandoned".
He said the Catholic Church that he leads "encourages you to go on".
Francis also paid tribute to the minority Yazidi community, "who have suffered so much". 
Thousands of Yazidis were killed and women taken into sexual slavery when the Islamic State swept through Iraq in 2014.

The pope, making his first foreign trip since the coronavirus pandemic swept Europe a year ago, will arrive in Iraq on Friday before embarking on a packed schedule of events through to Sunday

Francis is fulfilling the dream of a predecessor, John Paul II, by visiting Iraq

Pope says he will visit Iraq as 'pilgrim of peace'

The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the request of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of B&amp;H, adopted today decisions that unlocked the process of procuring vaccines for the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

An amendment to the Commitment Agreement-committed purchase arrangement between the B&amp;H Council of Ministers and the Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) was approved as a necessary condition for the continuation of the vaccine procurement process in the COVAX mechanism, which should be confirmed by the B&amp;H Presidency.
The Agreement between the Council of Ministers of B&amp;H and AstraZeneca on compensation of AstraZeneca was approved, which enables the AstraZeneca vaccine to arrive in B&amp;H this month through COVAX, as well as the Compensation Agreement from COVAX which refers to additional conditions of Pfizer/BioNtech.
The Council of Ministers also adopted a Decision on amendments to the decision on exemption from calculation and payment of indirect taxes and refund of already paid indirect taxes on equipment and funds donated by domestic and international entities for the prevention, control and elimination of the coronavirus epidemic (COVID-19). allows direct procurement, in addition to international agreements, to be exempt from indirect taxes.
This fulfills all the additional conditions required to start deliveries of vaccines purchased under the COVAX mechanism. Bosnia and Herzegovina signed a contract with COVAX on September 18, 2020, and then 1,232,000 doses of vaccine were ordered, for which $ 12,997,600 was paid from the entity budget.
The decisions of the Council of Ministers were made after the competent health authorities gave a positive opinion on the acts sent to them by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the ministry said.

Bosnia and Herzegovina signed a contract with COVAX on September 18th 2020.

The decisions of the Council of Ministers were made after the competent health authorities gave a positive opinion on the acts sent to them by the Ministry of Civil Affairs

Council of Ministers adopted decisions necessary for procurement of vaccines

Europe's drug regulator launched a review of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine on Thursday, putting it on course to be the first non-Western jab used across the 27-nation EU.

Russia quickly said it was ready to provide jabs for 50 million Europeans as soon as the shot gets the green light from the Amsterdam-based European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Moscow has pushed Europe to follow the lead of dozens of countries around the world that have approved Sputnik, but Brussels has been wary the Kremlin will use the jab as a soft-power tool.
"EMA has started a rolling review of Sputnik V, a Covid-19 vaccine developed by Russia's Gamaleya National Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology," the EMA said in a statement.
-The rolling review will continue until enough evidence is available for formal marketing authorisation application.-The review follows clinical studies and lab tests which "indicate that Sputnik V triggers the production of antibodies and immune cells" that can protect against Covid-19, the EMA said.
The regulator added that it would "assess Sputnik V's compliance with the usual EU standards for effectiveness, safety and quality."
Russia and the EMA have sparred in recent weeks over Sputnik, with the vaccine's developers calling for the rolling review to start more quickly.
European leaders have meanwhile been warming to the idea of deploying Sputnik as the continent struggles with shortfalls of the three currently-authorised Western jabs.
They are the US-German Pfizer/BioNTech jab, US firm Moderna's shot, and the British-Swedish AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine.
Sputnik's developers said the start of the rolling review was a "major step for (the) vaccine's approval for use in the EU."
-Following EMA approval, we would be able to provide vaccines for 50 million Europeans starting from June 2021- Kirill Dmitriyev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which developed Sputnik, said in a statement.

Several EU member states including Germany and Spain have said recently they would be interested in Sputnik V if it was approved, while Hungary registered it on its own.

Concerns were initially raised about Sputnik after a fast-track procedure that saw it approved for use in Russia last August and deployed in December ahead of large-scale clinical trials. 
The EU has also been cautious of using vaccines that could give Moscow or Beijing geopolitical influence. 
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said in February that she wondered why Moscow was so keen to offer millions of doses to the EU "while not sufficiently progressing in vaccinating their own people".
But pressure has grown since the Lancet medical journal published results in February showing Sputnik V to be 91.6 percent effective, based on third-phase trials with more than 20,000 volunteers.
The RDIF, which helped finance the development of Sputnik V, said Thursday that 42 countries have registered the vaccine.
The EMA said a decision on possible approval for Sputnik should "take less time than normal" due to work already done during the rolling review.
It has taken between two and four months for other Covid jabs to move from rolling review to EU authorisation.
One further hurdle could be the insistence of EU officials that Sputnik production sites outside the bloc would need to be inspected.
-They are not producing in Europe, so of course there should be an inspection process on the production sites- von der Leyen said last month.
Sputnik's developers said on Twitter that "we look forward to welcoming EMA inspectors at the Sputnik V facilities".
The EMA is set to give its decision on Johnson &amp; Johnson's single-shot vaccine on March 11. Jabs by Novavax and CureVac are also under rolling review.

Several EU member states including Germany and Spain have said recently they would be interested in Sputnik V if it was approved, while Hungary registered it on its own

Russia quickly said it was ready to provide jabs for 50 million Europeans as soon as the shot gets the green light from the Amsterdam-based European Medicines Agency

Russia's Sputnik vaccine takes key step to EU approval

In the past 24 hours, 3,248 samples were registered with the Public Health Institute of the Federation of B&amp;H, of which 577 were positive for SARS-CoV-2.

New cases of coronavirus have been registered in all cantons in the Federation of B&amp;H, except in Bosnia-Podrinje.
A total of 460,256 samples have been tested so far, and SARS-CoV-2 has been confirmed in 87,346 individuals.
In the past 24 hours, 19 deaths were reported to the Public Health Institute of the Federation of B&amp;H.
As of today, the number of deaths from the consequences of coronavirus in the Federation of B&amp;H is 2,752, according to the FB&amp;H Public Health Institute.
In the last 24 hours in the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Srpska, the University Clinical Center of the Republic of Srpska, the University Hospital in Foča and in the hospitals of St. Vračevi in ​​Bijeljina and Sv. apostle Luke in Doboj tested 962 laboratory samples, and coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was confirmed in 323 people.
In the last 24 hours, six deaths were reported to the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Srpska, in which the presence of coronavirus was confirmed.
So far, 44,110 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Republic of Srpska, and a total of 2,270 people have died in whom a positive virus test has been confirmed.
In the last 24 hours, a total of 22 people were tested in Brčko, of which 10 were positive for coronavirus. One person died and one recovered.

As of today, the number of deaths from the consequences of coronavirus in the Federation of B&H is 2,752

In the last 24 hours, six deaths were reported to the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Srpska

B&H registers 910 new cases of coronavirus in last 24 hours, 26 persons died

Engineers in central Greece on Thursday were assessing the damage from a strong 6.3 magnitude quake that injured at least 11 people, damaged scores of buildings and spread panic.

The recovery work began as scores of people from the villages of Damasi and Mesochori, some 240 kilometres (149 miles) north of Athens, spent the night away from their homes after Wednesday's quake.
Civil protection officials said tents had been set up at a local stadium for temporary accommodation, in addition to five hotels in the nearby town of Trikala and the main city of Larissa. 
Repeated aftershocks have struck the area, including a strong 5.2 magnitude tremor on Wednesday evening.
Crews inspected schools, hospitals and other vital public buildings in the area, in addition to homes, state news agency ANA said, adding that schools were closed on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the local governor said at least a hundred homes and other buildings in the broader area, including churches, had been damaged.
Emergency services told AFP 11 people had been injured. 
An elderly disabled man in Mesochori had a narrow escape when an entire side of his house collapsed, and over 60 children at the Damasi school, built over 80 years ago, were able to leave the building unharmed.
The state ambulance service said it had given assistance to 10 slightly injured people. 
In the main city of Larissa, a 55-year-old man was hospitalised with head injuries after being hit by falling masonry, a local hospital supervisor told AFP.
The culture ministry said four churches, including one dating back to the 17th century, had been damaged. 
The US Geological Survey said Wednesday's 12:16 pm (1016 GMT) quake, which was felt across mainland Greece, was of 6.3 magnitude. 
According to the Athens observatory, the epicentre was 16 kilometres (10 miles) south of the town of Elassona and eight kilometres deep.
Experts have stressed that fault lines in the area rarely produce tremors larger than the one registered on Wednesday.
Greece is located on a number of fault lines, and is sporadically hit by earthquakes. But they mostly occur at sea and do not cause casualties. 
In October, a 7.0 magnitude quake struck in the Aegean Sea between the Greek island of Samos and the city of Izmir in western Turkey. Two teenagers died on the island of Samos in a building collapse.&nbsp;

The recovery work began as scores of people from the villages of Damasi and Mesochori, some 240 kilometres north of Athens, spent the night away from their homes after Wednesday's quake

Four churches, including one dating back to the 17th century, had been damaged

Greece assesses damage from 6.3 magnitude quake

Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić spoke by phone with German politician Christian Schmidt.

During a telephone conversation Komšić pointed out that the support of Washington, London and Brussels is crucial for the successful functioning of the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The member of the Presidency of B&amp;H stated that fulfilling the priorities from the Opinion of the European Commission on the candidate status for the membership of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European Union should be the agenda of the OHR in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Speaking about the changes to the B&amp;H Election Law, B&amp;H Presidency member Željko Komšić expressed his position on the full acceptability of such civic election principles for Bosnia and Herzegovina as valid in German and Croatian election legislation, Komšić's office said.

During a telephone conversation Komšić pointed out that the support of Washington, London and Brussels is crucial for the successful functioning of the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić

Komšić speaks with Schmidt: The priorities from EC Opinion should be OHR agenda

Swiss chocolate makers were perhaps expecting a sweet spot as people turned to comfort food during the pandemic but are instead facing devastating 2020 figures showing consumption in Switzerland melting to a 40-year-low.

Chocosuisse, the national federation of Swiss chocolate makers, painted a bleak picture this week of the impact that the Covid-19 crisis had taken on the industry, with plunging production, exports and even consumption.
And Lindt and Sprungli, one of the wealthy Alpine nation's most famous chocolate makers, published its annual results Tuesday detailing a nearly 11-percent drop in its 2020 revenues, to 4 billion Swiss francs ($4.4 billion, 3.6 billion euros).
Amid lockdowns and a pandemic-fuelled economic crisis last year, it may not be surprising that Swiss chocolate makers overall saw their production fall, shrinking 10 percent compared to 2019, to 180,000 tonnes, according to Chocosuisse.
And exports, which account for nearly 70 percent of Swiss chocolate makers' revenues, fell by more than that, slumping 11.5 percent in 2020, to 126,000 tonnes.
More surprising perhaps is that the country renowned for its love of high-quality cocoa products, where people gobble up more chocolate per capita than anywhere else in the world, also saw consumption drop.

In fact, annual consumption fell to below the symbolic threshold of 10 kilogrammes (22 pounds) per person, dipping to 9.9 kilos -- the lowest level since 1982.

A major contributor to the drop, Chocosuisse chief Urs Furrer told AFP, was the steep decline in foreign tourists, who tend to tip the consumption scales.
The per capita chocolate consumption in a country is calculated by dividing the volumes sold by the number of inhabitants, leading to inflated figures in Switzerland, where chocolate treats are a favourite souvenir.
-It would be impossible to calculate the exact consumption of residents, because in shops, the salespeople do not know if their customer lives in Switzerland or is a tourist- Furrer said.
But the absence of tourists is not the whole explanation for last year's decline.
In Switzerland as elsewhere, the health crisis and accompanying restrictions including forced teleworking, has had a clear impact on consumption habits.
-Consumption also dropped in areas that are usually crowded with passers-by, like train stations and city centres- Furrer said, pointing out that chocolate was often an impulse buy by people on the move. 
Physical distancing requirements have also taken a toll on social occasions where handing over a box of chocolates might be expected.
-The sale of gift boxes of pralines has also declined- Furrer said.
At the same time however, the sale of raw products like chocolate masse usually used by chocolatiers, bakeries and patisseries rose last year as more amateurs delved into making their own sweets at home.

Physical distancing requirements have also taken a toll on social occasions where handing over a box of chocolates might be expected

Chocosuisse, the national federation of Swiss chocolate makers, painted a bleak picture this week of the impact that the Covid-19 crisis had taken on the industry

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Conditions for 620 migrants staying in 'Lipa' camp are improving every day

Japan to extend virus state of emergency in Tokyo area

Novalić: FB&H in the new wave of coronavirus epidemic, lockdown the last option

President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor on a working visit to B&H

Israel, Austria and Denmark establish vaccine-supply alliance

Toudic: France committed to continue supporting B&H

Lučić-Sattler: Adopt strategic documents in the field of human rights

Czech Republic to get China’s Sinopharm virus vaccine

Germany agrees easing of COVID-19 curbs, more testing and vaccinations

Pope says he will visit Iraq as 'pilgrim of peace'

Council of Ministers adopted decisions necessary for procurement of vaccines

Russia's Sputnik vaccine takes key step to EU approval

B&H registers 910 new cases of coronavirus in last 24 hours, 26 persons died

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Komšić speaks with Schmidt: The priorities from EC Opinion should be OHR agenda

Swiss chocolate consumption melts away amid pandemic