Transparency International: Corruption in Macedonia increased significantly under SDSM and Zaev
The new report from Transparency International shows the obvious: Corruption in Macedonia has risen significantly since Zaev and the SDSM took over power in the country. On International Anti-Corruption Day, Transparency International published its Corruption Perceptions Index for Macedonia, which now ranks the country at a very low 106th place in the world list. If you look at the numbers from the index for the last few years (see graphic below), you can see that the extent of corruption in Macedonia visibly decreases when the conservative V…
Macedonia: package against economic crisis with legalization of cannabis!
The macedonian government is about to legalize marijuana in Macedonia. In a new interviewprimeminister Zaev reiterated older statements regarding this issue. Soon it should be possible to consume cannabis in Macedonian cafes. The background is of course the current economic situation in Macedonia after the pandemic hitted the country. In an interview with the macedonian service of the german state-media Deutsche Welle, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev announced a new economic package, which includes decriminalization and legalization of marijuana in …
History! Macedonia will play Euro after beating Georgia
History is made! Macedonia qualified for the football Euro 2021, the first-ever major tournament in the team’s 27-year history, when a second-half goal from 37-year-old forward Goran Pandev gave them a 1-0 win away to Georgia in the playoff final game on Thursday. Macedonia’s forward Goran Pandev from italian Genoa scored on a counter-attack in the 56th minute at Tbilisi's Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena. It was a perfect play of the "Italian connection" in Macedonia's team. The score was intitalized by youngster Elif Elmas (SSC…
German Media: Identity issues once again block Macedonia’s EU path
The German media "Süddeutsche Zeitung" wrote that Macedonia will be able to start negotiations with the European Union only if Macedonia recognizes that its language is a dialect of Bulgarian, and its national heroes are ethnic Bulgarians. The country, which not so long ago changed its name to increase its chances of EU membership, now faces another major hurdle. The beginning of Macedonia’s accession negotiations with the EU will be blocked, said its neighboring Bulgaria, if the Government in Skopje does not change parts of its hist…
Windrose flights between Macedonia and Ukraine from December
Ukraine’s Windrose Airline launches flights from December 6 from Kiev to Skopje, and one day later to Belgrade in Serbia. In a post on its Facebook page, the company wrote that: “ the flights will be operated between December 6, 2020 and March 3, 2021. Departure from the Boryspil Airport at 10:50, arrival in Skopje at 12:00. Departure from Skopje at 12:50, arrival in Boryspil at 16:10 ”. Services to Skopje will launch on December 6 and operate each Thursday and Sunday, while flights to Belgrade will run on Mondays and Fridays, starting Decembe…
Foreign investors avoid Macedonia
According to the British newspaper Financial Times (FT), Macedonia in 2016 was on the high 3rd place according to the foreign investment performance index, in 2018 it fell to the 18th place and in 2019 Macedonia is not even among the top 50 countries in the ranking list of FT. If we go back four years, in the pre-election campaign of SDSM, Zaev’s promise was that great companies of the rank of Google and Facebook will invest in Macedonia. Not only did this not happen, but those we had planned to reduce capacity and some to close factories. If…
Stamkos wins NHL Stanley Cup
The Tampa Bay Lightning won the NHL Stanley Cup. For the second time. For the first time, the current and long-time captain of the team lift the prestigious trophy: The Canadian Steven Stamkos - Macedonian on his father's side, Scot on his mother's side. The Tampa Bay Lightning have won the championship in the "best ice hockey league in the world" NHL for the second time in their franchise history. In the sixth game of the best-of-seven series for the Stanley Cup, the Florida based team defeated the Dallas Stars 2-0 and deci…
Macedonia agrees for 5G technology
Macedonia will adopt 5G technology and for that purpose it will sign a memorandum of understanding with NATO, the country's president Stevo Pendarovski said. The foreign ministry will start the preparation of the MoU which will resemble those already signed by the NATO member states in the region and Europe, Pendarovski said during a news conference streamed on the YouTube channel of the president's office after a session of the country's security council on Wednesday. The MoU will state Macedonia's obligations regarding the ow…
Lonely Planet: Four reasons to visit Bitola, the city of consuls
With visitors to Macedonia making a beeline for Lake Ohrid and the capital Skopje, Bitola is still waiting for its moment in the spotlight. But this charming city rewards curious travellers with some heavyweight historic sights and effortless cafe culture. Add to that a renowned international film festival, burgeoning local wine production and excellent hiking nearby, and Bitola makes a worthy stop on any Macedonia itinerary. Bitola - A stroll through history Bitola’s architectural elegance won’t come as a surprise once you learn that the town…
ADAC eSports Hockenheimring - Macedonian Jajovski victorious
ADAC eSports: Macedonian Erhan Jajovski wins the sim racing at Hockenheimring There were high-class sim racing duels on the virtual Hockenheimring. The next virtual run of the ADAC eSports championship will take place at the Sachsenring. From pole position to sovereign victory: Macedonian Erhan Jajovski, who competes in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 for Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean's eSports team, wins round three of the ADAC GT Masters eSports Championship powered by EnBW Mobility + on the virtual Hockenheimring. Euronics Gaming driver Tim Ja…
Zaev: Greece can rely on Macedonia
Macedonia’s visiting Prime Minister Zoran Zaev assured Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou on Wednesday that Greece can rely on Macedonia, grekk newspaper Ekathimerini reports. As Ekathimerini writes: "The visit to Athens, the first for the Macedonia primeminister, was to symbolize the end of a “cold war” between the two Balkan neighbors over their decades-long name dispute." Zaev, who combined his visit with his attendance of the Economist Conference, is reportedly in line with the European stance toward Ankara regarding the r…
Greece extends entry ban for Macedonians until September 30
Greece until September 30 has extended the ban for entry of internationals outside the European Union, including Macedonia, Albania and Turkey, MIA reports from Athens. Limitations at land borders due to ‘preventative reasons to protect public health from the spread of COVID-19 in Greece’, involve the period from Sept. 16 to Sept. 30 and includes Greece’s road and railroad connections with Macedonia, Albania and Turkey. Tourists and foreign nationals who are allowed to travel there can enter Greece by crossing the Promachonas border with Bulga…
Macedonia wants to support Ukraine with NATO and EU integration
During a telephone conversation, the newly appointed Macedonian Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani assured the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, that he would support Ukraine's integration into NATO and the EU - reported the German-speaking Ukrainian medium "Ukrinform", citing the press service of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine. The Foreign Minister of Ukraine is said to have congratulated the Foreign Minister on his election as head of the Ministry. “ Dmytro Kuleba expressed the hope that North Macedonia would support the …
Foreign tourist arrivals down to 95 pct in Macedonia
Foreign tourist arrivals to Macedonia plunged by an annual 94.9% in July to 4,991, the country's statistical office said on Monday in Skopje. The number of overnights spent by foreign tourists in Macedonia fell to 15,333 in July, a decrease of 93.4% year-on-year, Makstat said in a statement. Out of the total number of foreign tourists who visited Macedonia in July, 15% came from Turkey, 12.3% from Serbia and 9.8% from Greece. Domestic tourists numbered 70,600 in July, down 4.8%, as they spent 420,847 overnights, down 6.3%.
Macedonia took home one point from Georgia - UEFA Nations League
Yesterday, Tuesday, exactly on Macedonias Independence Day, Macedonia visited Georgia for the second matchday of the UEFA Nations League. Macedonia took home one point from Georgia, numerically outnumbered in thirty minutes of the game. Macedonia fell behind early on. In the twelfth minute, Tornike Okriashvili converted a foul penalty for the hosts. Ezgjan Alioski had illegally brought down a Georgian in the penalty area. Stefan Ristovski compensated for Macedonia. He was served by the captain Goran Pandev in the 32nd minute, and Ristovski sco…
Kokino Observatory - The Old Megalithic Observatory in Macedonia
If you want to know how people made calendars thousands of years ago, peaking through little holes in big rocks, or the temples where they performed their religious rituals, and want to spend a beautiful day, go to Kokino. It is not as far as Stonehenge, it is just 35 km away from Kumanovo, at an altitude of 1013 meters. According to experts, it is a megalithic (megalith – big rock) observatory that is one of the oldest in the world. In 2005, NASA ranked Kokino fourth, according to age, behind Abu Simbel in Egypt, Stonehenge in Great Britain a…
Lake Prespa water level continues dramatic drop
The water level in Lake Prespa and Lake Ohrid continues to drop. The situation in Prespa is particularly dramatic, the current water level is 85 centimeters below the September average. In contrast, the water level in Lake Ohrid is 5 centimeters below. Both lakes, connected by passages under Mount Galicica, went back - Ohrid by two centimeters and Prespa by one. A major factor is the runoff of water through the Crn Drim River, which flows from Lake Ohrid and is used to generate energy in Macedonia, and Albania in particular. However, the crisi…
Macedonia wins over Armenia
First win in the first game for Macedonia over Armenia, in the season opnener of the second ever season of the UEFA Nations League. Two goals from Ezgjan Alioski and Ilija Nestorovski in the first half sealed the 2:1 win. Both were scored from penalties after Elif Elmas was fouled while in action in front of the Armenian goal. Armenia also scored from a penalty in the delay minutes (90+4) of the game that was played at the Philip II stadium in Skopje. Coach Igor Angelovski said that he is satisfied with the outcome, especially as it comes afte…
Dojran in Macedonia – A Treasury of Cultural, Historical and Art Values
Every time I visit Dojran I have a feeling that the entire town is wholeheartedly welcoming just me. It feels as if the natural beauties, the Mediterranean climate, the warm and healing water, the attractive fishing using cormorants, the kind hosts, the many tourist objects and camps, the town’s specialties, etc. are at my disposal only. Deep inside, I believe that the same feeling is shared and experienced by visitors and tourists that come here throughout the year. When I’m here, I always enjoy the long and pleasant walks along the lake whic…
Three Islamists arrested in Macedonia
Macedonian police informed that it has arrested a group of Islamist terrorists who were apparently planning attacks. The arrests were conducted in Skopje and Kumanovo. From the footage made available by the Interior Ministry, it’s visible that the group had the black ISIS flag and was preparing explosive belts with metal balls for causing greater casualties. So far three members of the group have been arrested, the Ministry said. The raids led to the seizure of three five automatic assault rifles, one heavy caliber machine gun, two dozen clips…
German GEO lists Matka Canyon among 'Wild Natural Wonders in Eastern Europe'
Renowned german GEO magazine recently published an article entitled "Five wild natural wonders in Eastern Europe". This list also includes the wonderful Matka Canyon not far from the Macedonian capital Skopje. In addition to the Matka Canyon, the list includes the Endla Moor in Estonia, the Łącka Dune in Poland, the Telašćica Nature Park in Croatia and the Uvac River in Serbia. " Sure, you can travel to the other end of the world to experience something. But why? Right around the corner, with our neighbors towards sunrise, real …
Macedonian and Albanian suspects in double murder in Malta
Maltese police arrested Macedonian citizen as macedonian reports. As they quote Maltese sources, Viktor Dragomanski, who worked on security in a hotel, alongside with Albanian Daniel Muka under the suspicion of involvement in the murder of a gay couple a week ago. The police believes it was an attempted robbery that went badly, but outright planned murder is not out of the question. Two masked men killed the male couple using handguns and cameras caught them fleeing the house. As Macedonian media 360stepeni writes, Dragomanski and Muka were i…
Secrets of the Peshna Cave in Macedonia
Poreche is said to be one of the most beautiful areas in western Macedonia. Dense forests, many rivers, clear air, but this place hides many secrets, too. Just because there are people who hear about this place for the first time, Poreche is located in northwestern Macedonia, ie it stretches along the Treska river. As we wrote earlier, Poreche hides many secrets. One of them is the Peshna cave, which is known even beyond borders of our country. It is located eight kilometers from Makedonski Brod, and according to speleologists, Peshna is a cav…
Macedonian diplomat stabbed by his wife
A family drama, which ended in violence and an attack with a knife, took place in the home of Igor P. candidate for ambassador of Macedonia in Brussels, on the evening of August 20th, macedonian daily Vecer.mk wrote. A diplomat from the Macedonian Foreign Affairs Ministry, who was about to be named Ambassador to Belgium, was stabbed by his wife five days ago. According to the paper, Igor P. informed his wife that he is having an affair. The news shocked the wife, and once she came to, she grabbed a knife and stabbed the diplomat in his back an…
EU: Building border fence between Macedonia and Serbia was not part of agreement
Serbia is constructing a barbed-wire fence at its southern border with Macedonia. Authorities in Belgrade have not yet commented on the issue, but the EU did. Serbia has started erecting a barbed-wire fence at its southern border with Macedonia, with the goal of blocking illegal migrants from entering the country without a visa, according to reports from news agency AFP, local media outlets in Belgrade and Radio Free Europe, as well as Macedonian media reported. Now the EU commented the issue: The European Union has rejected the claims that th…
Handball: Suisse against Macedonia scheduled in Zug
According to the requirements of the European Handball Federation (EHF), the SHV has scheduled the first home game of the men's European Championship qualification against Macedonia. In accordance with the requirements of the European Handball Federation (EHF), the Swiss Handball Federation (SHV) has scheduled the first home game of the men's European Championship qualification against Macedonia: It should take place on Saturday, November 7th, 2020 at 6.30 p.m. in the Bossard Arena in Zug - normally a ice hockey venue. With regard to …
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