Four new multi-mission helicopters Bell Huey 2 whose purchase was jointly financed by Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United States arrived on Saturday at the Sarajevo International Airport.

The helicopters were shipped from the US on the Antonov An-124 aircraft.
According to the US Embassy, the whole package includes tools, ground support equipment, two year warranty as well as training of the B&amp;H Armed Forces pilots and maintainers operating and performing maintenance on this type of aircraft.
- This will increases the readiness of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina to support civilian authorities to respond to emergencies and natural disasters, to include medical evacuation, firefighting, search and rescue, as well as other missions defined by legal framework - said the US Embassy.
A total package cost amounts to $38.5 million, of which the US financed USD 34.2 million and B&amp;H Ministry of Defence USD 4.3 million.
The official handover of the helicopters is planned after the test flights, in the presence of the media and high guests.
On that occasion, the Ministry of Defense informs the citizens that in the coming days, and as of today, they can expect increased helicopter activity in the zone of the capital of B&amp;H.

The helicopters were shipped from the US on the Antonov An-124 aircraft

A total package cost amounts to $38.5 million

Four Huey II helicopters for AF B&H arrive at Sarajevo Airport

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday started an official two-day Gulf tour that includes Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar.

The French state-run news channel France 24 said that Macron arrived in Dubai before heading to Qatar late on Friday, adding that he is scheduled to fly to Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
It also said Macron will meet with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
France 24 quoted two unnamed sources as saying Paris will sign a number of agreements with Abu Dhabi, including a possible multi-billion dollar deal for purchasing 80 French Rafale warplanes.
The Dassault company -- the Rafale warplanes manufacturer -- confirmed in a statement that the UAE will acquire 80 Rafale F4 jet fighters.
Dassault said the UAE will be "the first user outside France" of the Rafale F4.
Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said there will be a signing of deals during Macron's visit to the UAE. He did not give details.
According to a report presented to the French parliament, the UAE was the fifth biggest customer of the French defense industry with €4.7 billion ($5.3 billion) between 2011-2020.
In 2019, Qatar received 36 Rafale fighter jets after signing a deal with Dassault in May 2015.
On Saudi Arabia's visit, France 24 cited the French Presidency as saying the Kingdom is a key player in the region and there was need to hold a deep dialogue.

UAE to purchase 80 French Rafale F4 warplanes

French president starts 2-day Gulf tour

Germany is likely to see a sharp rise in the number of seriously ill COVID-19 patients in the next three weeks, acting Health Minister Jens Spahn warned on Friday.

Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, Spahn said the recently agreed measures will show their impact only after a couple of weeks, while an upward trend in hospitalizations and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions still continues.
- The situation in intensive care units is likely to reach a tragic peak around Christmas - he said, adding that many hospitals in coronavirus hotspots are already overwhelmed and have run out of ICU beds.
He urged citizens to follow hygiene and social distancing rules and avoid unnecessary contact with others to stem the spread of the virus.
Many hospitals are currently operating in crisis mode and postponed non-critical operations, while several hospitals were also considering delaying surgeries for cancer and heart patients.
There were 4,797 seriously ill coronavirus patients in ICUs across the country on Friday, with 2,564 of them on ventilators, according to the DIVI association for emergency medicine.
The Robert Koch Institute, the country's disease control agency, confirmed 74,352 new infections and 390 coronavirus-related fatalities in the past 24 hours.
According to the institute, nearly 925,800 individuals are currently sick due to COVID-19, an alarming figure not seen in the previous three waves of the pandemic.
Dr. Lothar Wieler, the head of the institute, said the actual number of active cases might be two to three times higher than this figure, due to undetected or unreported cases.
Germany has seen a rapid increase in coronavirus infections in recent weeks, as people spend more time indoors during the colder months and a considerable segment of the population remains unvaccinated.
The German government’s goal has been to vaccinate at least 75% of the population to prevent an exponential rise in new cases during winter.
But as of Thursday, 57.2 million people, or 68.8% of the population, have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Germany's overall vaccination rate lags behind many other EU members, including Portugal, Spain, Denmark, and Malta.

Nearly 925,000 individuals currently sick due to disease, but real number might be 2-3 times higher, top health expert says

Many hospitals are currently operating in crisis mode and postponed non-critical operations

Germany’s hospitals brace for COVID-19 peak at Christmas

After several days on the run, Petar Dukić (1980), suspected of international organized crime and illicit drug trafficking, surrendered to the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H in Sarajevo, after which the acting prosecutor ordered the suspect to be taken into custody. 

The Prosecutor from the Special Department for Organized Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption, after questioning the suspect in the presence of his lawyer, will submit a motion to the Court of B&amp;H to order custody measures.
During the recent operation codenamed "Transporter", a large quantity of more than 300 kilograms of the narcotic drug skunk was found and seized in the premises used by the suspect.

The Prosecutor from the Special Department for Organized Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption, after questioning the suspect in the presence of his lawyer, will submit a motion to the Court of B&H to order custody measures

Petar Dukić surrenders to B&H Prosecution

Minister of Foreign Affairs of B&amp;H Bisera Turković met with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Peter Szijjártó, on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Stockholm.

The two officials talked about the strengthening of relations between the two countries, current developments in the region and B&amp;H, and upcoming visits by state officials.
Also, the Euro-Atlantic reform processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina were discussed, stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of B&amp;H.
&nbsp;

The two officials talked about the strengthening of relations between the two countries

Turković speaks with Szijjártó on the sidelines of OSCE meeting

- Overcoming the political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina is necessary to refocus the country on the serious socioeconomic challenges its citizens are facing, which cause hardships for all and drive the emigration of talented young people - High Representative Christian Schmidt said during talks in London with the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Elizabeth Truss.

The High Representative told Foreign Secretary Truss that Britain’s longstanding support for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Dayton Peace Agreement has been an indispensable element in maintaining peace and that UK engagement continues to play a significant role in the country’s economic recovery.
The High Representative proposed focusing on economic cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina and the need to help strengthen the participation in particular of the younger generation to overcome the old segregating narratives.
The High Representative expressed confidence that a reenergized and focused approach by the International Community will result in Bosnia and Herzegovina quickly becoming a "peaceful, viable state irreversibly on course for European integration."During his visit to London, the High Representative also held talks with Minister for Europe and Americas Wendy Morton, Prime Minister’s International Affairs Adviser and Deputy National Security Adviser David Quarrey, and Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey.
In addition, High Representative Schmidt met with members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina All-Party Parliamentary Group, whose objective is to strengthen relations and cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the UK, stated the OHR.&nbsp;

The High Representative told Foreign Secretary Truss that Britain’s longstanding support for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Dayton Peace Agreement has been an indispensable element in maintaining peace

Schmidt and Truss: The rights of citizens are paramount

The B&amp;H Court upheld the verdict convicting former reservist policeman Simo Stupar for involvement in illegally detaining, beating and killing Bosniaks in the Vlasenica area in 1992.

The appeals chamber of the B&amp;H state court on Thursday confirmed the verdict sentencing Simo Stupar, a former reservist policeman at the Public Safety Station in Vlasenica, to 12 years in prison for crimes against humanity, BIRN reports. 
The state court said it had "rejected as unfounded an appeal filed by the defendant’s defense lawyer".
The verdict was handed down in Stupar’s absence as he left Bosnia and Herzegovina in October this year and is currently a fugitive.
He was initially found guilty in May this year of participating in a widespread and systematic attack on the Bosniak population in the Vlasenica area from April 1992 to the end of September that year, as a member of the reservist police force of the Public Safety Station in Vlasenica.
The verdict said that Stupar took part in an assault on the village of Džamdžici in the Vlasenica area on May 18, 1992, when five people were killed and several houses were set on fire.&nbsp;He and three others also participated in the murder of a disabled civilian.The verdict found that Stupar further participated in the beating of a Bosniak civilian at the police station in Vlasenica in the first half of June 1992 and in the inhumane treatment of another man.
The second man was hit on his back with chains and ordered to get down on all fours, and Stupar and others carved a cross and a Serb symbol onto his back. They then poured salt on his wounds.
Stupar was also found guilty of having participated in the arrest of two men on July 10, 1992. After their arrest, the two men disappeared and their bodies were only found in 2007.
The defendant was originally tried alongside Zoran Tešić, who was acquitted of all charges.

The defendant was originally tried alongside Zoran Tešić, who was acquitted of all charges

B&H Court upholds crimes against humanity sentence for ex-policeman Simo Stupar

Police officers of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) today arrested seven people in the area of Bijeljina and Sokolac due to suspicion that they committed war crime against civilians, in connection with criminal offenses "individual and command responsibility" and "complicity" from the Criminal Code of B&amp;H.

Persons deprived of their liberty will be handed over to the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina for further criminal proceedings at the SIPA premises, the SIPA B&amp;H said.

Persons deprived of their liberty will be handed over to the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina for further criminal proceedings

SIPA today arrested seven people in the area of Bijeljina and Sokolac

Seven persons arrested under suspicion of war crimes

The EU has allocated an additional €2.5 million in humanitarian aid to support vulnerable refugees and migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It is estimated that over 1 000 people are outside the temporary accommodation facilities, with limited access to basic services. They are exposed to increasingly cold temperatures as winter is approaching and numerous protection risks, with the situation of unaccompanied minors requiring particular attention.- Around 4 000 refugees and migrants stranded in Bosnia and Herzegovina, many of whom sleep outside, are in need of shelter, food, water, sanitation, healthcare, protection and clothes. To address these needs, the EU stands ready to continue providing humanitarian assistance. The dignity and safety of all persons, especially the most vulnerable, need to be ensured and protected at all times. Humanitarian partners need full access to people in need, wherever they are - said Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner for Crisis Management.&nbsp;The newly allocated €2.5 million will further support the provision of outreach and protection assistance, including child protection, and support unaccompanied minors, both inside and outside centers. The funding will also be used to address the critical need of healthcare, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, including psychosocial support and mental health assistance.

It is estimated that over 1 000 people are outside the temporary accommodation facilities, with limited access to basic services

Around 4 000 refugees and migrants stranded in Bosnia and Herzegovina, many of whom sleep outside, are in need of shelter, food, water, sanitation, healthcare, protection and clothes

EU mobilizes additional €2.5 million to support vulnerable refugees and migrants

After Fahrudin Radončić and other leaders of opposition parties yesterday at a meeting with Matthew Palmer and Angelina Eichhorst clearly said that if the ruling parties want the support of the opposition, they must first give the opposition a guarantee that they will have fair and honest elections, today leaders of ruling parties in FB&amp;H, agreed with this request.
This means raising election standards, which include the integrity of elections, automatic counting, scanning, video surveillance at polling stations, and disabling changes to polling stations.
Today, the leader of SBB confirmed that SDA and HDZ, ie Bakir Izetbegović and Dragan Čović, during the negotiations in the building of the EU Delegation, agreed to introduce it.
- What is a good result of these talks, I think that both Mr. Čović and Mr. Izetbegović agreed that their parties vote to raise election standards and that there will be no more election theft if the SNSD agrees. If SNSD and Mr. Dodik do not agree to that, then it means that they declare themselves as thieves in the elections. I think it is already an agreed matter - Radončić revealed.

If SNSD and Mr. Dodik do not agree to that, then it means that they declare themselves as thieves in the elections, but I think that is a done deal, says Radončić

Radončić: SDA and HDZ agreed to introduce electronic records in the elections

An Azerbaijani border patrol helicopter crashed on Tuesday during a training mission, killing 14 soldiers and injuring two others on board, said an official statement.

The helicopter crashed in the Garaeybat training range in the northeastern Khyzy region, said the State Border Service.
An investigation into the incident has been launched.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev released a statement, expressing his sympathy for the families and relatives of the soldiers who lost their lives.
Turkey also extended its condolences to Azerbaijan over the incident, with the Foreign Ministry statement wishing Allah’s mercy upon soldiers killed, and swift recovery for the wounded.
Separately, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke to his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov over the phone about the incident, diplomatic sources said.
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay also offered his condolences over the deadly crash.
- I wish God's mercy on our Azerbaijani brothers who were martyred in the military helicopter crash today, and a speedy recovery to the injured people - he wrote on Twitter.

2 soldiers injured as helicopter crashes in northeastern Khyzy region, say Azerbaijani authorities

An investigation into the incident has been launched

14 soldiers killed in Azerbaijani helicopter crash

Four members of a family, including two children, were killed in a fire in an abandoned building occupied by squatters in downtown Barcelona, Spain, on Tuesday morning, while four others were hospitalized for smoke inhalation.

A one-year-old and a three-year-old child were among those killed in the fire, City Mayor Ada Colau confirmed, adding that the deceased belonged to the same family.
The fire broke out in the Tetuan Plaza, which is situated between the Sagrada Familia Basilica and the Arc de Triomf.
Colau said the accident took place in a former bank branch that was occupied by eight people.
The four survivors were treated for smoke inhalation, she added.
The fire started at 6 a.m. (0500GMT).
During a similar cold spell over a year ago, a fire in an occupied building in Catalonia killed four people and injured 17.
That fire took place in a former paint factory in the nearby city of Badalona that was housing around 150 people, most of whom were foreign nationals.

Children aged 1 and 3 among victims of fire in abandoned building used by squatters, while 4 others hospitalized for smoke inhalation

The fire broke out in the Tetuan Plaza, which is situated between the Sagrada Familia Basilica and the Arc de Triomf

Fire in Barcelona building kills 4 members of family

I must say that the international mediators are really making great efforts to reach a common solution. At this moment, I do not want to be pessimistic, but I do not have any good news that the views of, conditionally speaking, the Croat and Bosniak blocs are any closer. Fahrudin Radončić, President of the Alliance for a Better Future of B&amp;H, said this today in Sarajevo, after a meeting in the building of the EU Delegation with Matthew Palmer and Angelina Eichhorst.
Negotiations on changes to the Election Law, which are attended by Dragan Čović, the president of the HDZ, and Bakir Izetbegović, the president of the SDA, have been going on in the EU building since this morning.

- We have a too complicated situation in FB&amp;H. You don't have to be very enthusiastic that such difficult topics, which last for ten years, can end with a few meetings. What is very important, it seems to me that both Mr. Izetbegović and Mr. Čović show maximum interest in reaching a compromise. At this point, that compromise is still a long way off. When it comes to the election of members of the Presidency of B&amp;H, I continue to advocate an indirect way in the Parliament, that would be very relaxing for the whole story. There would be no floating, no district or canton, we would avoid allusions of the third entity, but I think that the negotiations are ongoing and we should cheer for them to succeed - said Radončić.
He added that B&amp;H was created in Dayton, two entities, three peoples and others.
- Me, Fahrudin Radončić, did not invent that constitutivity, it is the Dayton category. In the end, the late President Alija Izetbegović got that in 2000, based on his appeal before the Constitutional Court, that constitutionality must be respected. I believe it relaxes relationships. B&amp;H is a state of three peoples, we should do everything to make everyone feel comfortable. I really want to believe that politicians who seek compromise wish good to all nations. That they will gain an advantage over those who win elections with cheap, populist quarrels and war-mongering rhetoric. This is my belief and I am not ashamed of it. I think that is the only future of B&amp;H - said the leader of SBB.
When asked if an asymmetric solution is possible, Radončić answered:
- We cannot agree to an asymmetric solution for at least two reasons. We can hypothetically observe the situation. You will get a member of the Presidency from the Republic of Srpska within 24 hours, but until the houses of the peoples of the Federation and Bosnia and Herzegovina are constituted, it may take months. Furthermore, members of the same body cannot have different electoral legitimacy and be elected in different ways, so an asymmetric solution, as far as SBB and other political parties, including the SDA, is concerned, is not acceptable.

<h2>Three sets of difficult questions</h2>

The journalists were interested in the details of the conversation behind closed doors, and Radončić said that he could not reveal more details.
- Well, the problem is, to be honest, the whole package. First, what is a good result of these talks, I think that both Mr. Čović and Mr. Izetbegović agreed that their parties vote to raise election standards and that there will be no more election theft if the SNSD agrees. If SNSD and Mr. Dodik do not agree to that, then it means that they declare themselves as thieves in the elections. I think it's an already agreed thing. You have three sets of difficult questions, these are the election of a member of the Presidency, the houses of the people, etc., the technical standard of election. I believe that the result will still be shown, if not during this visit, certainly the next one - said Radončić.
When asked by journalists to comment on yesterday's session of the House of Peoples of the B&amp;H Parliament, ie the vote of HDZ delegates to annul Inzko's law on genocide denial, the SBB leader said:
- It’s not okay to reveal what I heard in private, that Croatian votes were given to SNSD in the best intention to preserve SNSD in the negotiation process, and not because HDZ wants to be a partner to SNSD and Dodik. The HDZ knew that this could practically not pass yesterday, they raised their hands more because they wanted to keep the SNSD as part of the agreement, and not as part of the problem.

Constitutivity was not invented by me, Fahrudin Radončić, it is a Dayton category, the late president Alija Izetbegović got it in 2000 on the basis of his appeal before the Constitutional Court that constituency must be respected, said Radončić

Fahrudin Radončić: I do not want to be pessimistic, but the views of the Bosniak and Croat blocs are not any closer

FB&amp;H Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry Nermin Džindić will present information regarding the strike of miners in the Federation of B&amp;H and their demands from the current protest to the deputies of the House of Representatives of the Federation of B&amp;H.

Džindić stated that ten out of 13 requests of the Miners' Union were accepted.
- We managed to reach an agreement last night. The last point was finally harmonized and put into agreement. The management of Elektroprivreda, miners and the trade unions need to find a way to solve the problem of payment of per diems during workers' protests. Such was the general conclusion. As for the resignation of the director of the Kreka mine and the director of Elektroprivreda, we did not agree. Last night, we focused on the requirements regarding workers’ and miners' rights - said Džindić.
The agreement made contains ten points.
- As for the Government of the Federation and the relevant ministry as a mediator in this conversation, this is essentially an agreement between Elektroprivreda and the FB&amp;H Mine Workers' Union, the matter is over. We negotiated everything regarding the demands of the miners or the miners' union. Today, the union has a session of the Board of Directors, after which they should announce the continuation of negotiations in order to sign the said agreement. As for the negotiations, I think that they are over and this agreement should be signed and its implementation should continue - said Džindić.
He stated that it was difficult to reach an agreement, the details of which will be presented in the continuation of today's session of the House of Representatives of the FB&amp;H Parliament.

The agreement made contains ten points

Džindić: We agreed on everything regarding the miners' request

The Association of the Families of Victims Murdered at Uborak and Sutina 1992 - Mostar informed the public that Redžep Karišik, a sole witness to the mass murder of Bosniaks and Croats at the Uborak and Sutina sites where 114 civilians were murdered, died on Monday.

According to the association, he left the handcuffs with which he was tied in 1992 in the hands of the Museum of Victims of Crimes against Humanity and Genocide 1992-1995 in Sarajevo.
He testified in The Hague about the siege, the occupation and crime against civilians in Mostar and Herzegovina, the first major mass crime committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Despite his pain, Redžep Karišik was one of those who spoke publicly about crime and war criminals.
- He was always available to us, the families of the victims, he left us and that is a great loss for us. However, our fight for justice will never end - stated the association.
&nbsp;

Despite his pain, Redžep Karišik was one of those who spoke publicly about crime and war criminals

A sole witness of mass murder of Bosniaks and Croats in Uborak and Sutina dies

The Alliance for a Better Future (SBB) has recently been joined by more and more successful people who have not been involved in politics, as well as some municipal councilors from other political entities and successful ministers, the SBB said.
- After the conversation with the president of SBB Fahrudin Radončić dr. Adnan Jupić, Minister of Health in the Government of Zenica-Doboj Canton, joined this political project.

In the first months of the Covid-19 pandemic, hospitals and the entire health system at ZDC were one of the leaders when it came to treating these patients. For example, while in Sarajevo patients died because some doctors avoided operating on them because they were infected with Covid-19, in Zenica these operations were performed quite normally.
In all this, Dr. Jupić has excellent operational merits, and SBB expresses satisfaction that he is in the Alliance again. With dr. Jupić, well-known lawyers Emina Ihtijarević and Džemanina Memagić also joined Jupić SBB - the SBB Press Service announced.

Four Huey II helicopters for AF B&H arrive at Sarajevo Airport

French president starts 2-day Gulf tour

Germany’s hospitals brace for COVID-19 peak at Christmas

Petar Dukić surrenders to B&H Prosecution

Turković speaks with Szijjártó on the sidelines of OSCE meeting

Schmidt and Truss: The rights of citizens are paramount

B&H Court upholds crimes against humanity sentence for ex-policeman Simo Stupar

Seven persons arrested under suspicion of war crimes

EU mobilizes additional €2.5 million to support vulnerable refugees and migrants

Radončić: SDA and HDZ agreed to introduce electronic records in the elections

14 soldiers killed in Azerbaijani helicopter crash

Fire in Barcelona building kills 4 members of family

Fahrudin Radončić: I do not want to be pessimistic, but the views of the Bosniak and Croat blocs are not any closer

Džindić: We agreed on everything regarding the miners' request

A sole witness of mass murder of Bosniaks and Croats in Uborak and Sutina dies

Minister of Health of ZDC dr. Adnan Jupić joined SBB

News

Four Huey II helicopters for AF B&H arrive at Sarajevo Airport

French president starts 2-day Gulf tour

Germany’s hospitals brace for COVID-19 peak at Christmas

Petar Dukić surrenders to B&H Prosecution

Turković speaks with Szijjártó on the sidelines of OSCE meeting

Schmidt and Truss: The rights of citizens are paramount

B&H Court upholds crimes against humanity sentence for ex-policeman Simo Stupar

Seven persons arrested under suspicion of war crimes

EU mobilizes additional €2.5 million to support vulnerable refugees and migrants

Radončić: SDA and HDZ agreed to introduce electronic records in the elections

14 soldiers killed in Azerbaijani helicopter crash

Fire in Barcelona building kills 4 members of family

Fahrudin Radončić: I do not want to be pessimistic, but the views of the Bosniak and Croat blocs are not any closer

Džindić: We agreed on everything regarding the miners' request

A sole witness of mass murder of Bosniaks and Croats in Uborak and Sutina dies

Minister of Health of ZDC dr. Adnan Jupić joined SBB