18:00/September 29/2021 Skopje – The National Convention on the European Union in North Macedonia hosted Wednesday Working Group 1: Agriculture and Rural Development (Chapter 11) in its ninth session on challenges in the programming and implementation of the IPARD III program (2021–2027). Skopje – Improvements have been identified as regards renovations of prison capacities, but there is still lack of medical staff. Coordination as well as constant health services are necessary, shows the latest monitoring. Skopje – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen yesterday was very clear when she said the future of North Macedonia is in the European Union, said Dushko Arsovski on Wednesday. Skopje – The government didn’t discuss extending the census at its Tuesday session. The State Statistical Office (SSO) has the last word regarding this issue, government spokesperson Dushko Arsovski told a press conference on Wednesday. Skopje – Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and a delegation of the international consortium Bechtel-Enka, led by head of the company’s global infrastructure unit, Shaun Kenny, at a meeting on Wednesday in Skopje discussed the current stage of the memorandum for construction of Corridor 8, the Tetovo-Gostivar-Bukojchani section, a project on the Trebenishta-Struga-Kjafasan highway, as well as Corridor 10 D (the section on Prilep-Bitola highway). Skopje – Integrity in the election process is extremely important in reducing corruption. Most clientelistic relationships are created during the election process. The financing of political parties and their activities must be monitored and promoted as it is crucial that this process be transparent in order to reduce possible abuses, said Head of the State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, Biljana Ivanovska. Skopje – I encourage you to take risks and activities to realize your ideas and potential for new businesses and governments will support you, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev told the conference “Western Balkans: One Region One Market – A Step towards Common Market of the EU” via video link on Wednesday. Skopje – Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Fatmir Bytyqi met Wednesday with Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Philippe Donckel, discussing bilateral political and economic cooperation and North Macedonia’s investment opportunities. Skopje – Over the past 24 hours, North Macedonia registered 454 new COVID-19 cases from 3,425 tests done in the country, 308 patients recovered and nine people died from coronavirus-related complications, the Ministry of Health said in a press release on Wednesday. Gevgelija — An exhibition of photos of traditional Macedonian wedding dresses dating from the late 19th and early 20th century, taken from the private collection of Struga collector Ljupcho Milosheski, opened at the Gevgelija Cultural Center, MIA’s Gevgelija correspondent reports. Brussels – EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson reacted to a document published in EUObserver earlier today claiming EU’s visa-free regime with the Eastern countries is at risk, MIA reports from Brussels. Berlin – The co-leader of Germany’s Green party, Annalena Baerbock, says that her party will start coalition talks with Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD), who won Sunday’s election, on the weekend. Tunis – Tunisian President Kais Saied appointed a new prime minister on Wednesday, two months after controversially unseating the previous premier and suspending parliament.