21 July 2021 Skopje – North Macedonia recorded 15 new cases out of 2,550 COVID-19 tests over the past 24 hours. Skopje – The new two-year strategy to strengthen the capacities for financial investigations and asset confiscation will send a message that organized crime doesn’t pay, whereas criminal investigations on drug trafficking, migrant smuggling, terrorism and abuse of office will be accompanied by financial scrutiny into the illicit gains, resulting in timely measures and seizure of assets, heard an event promoting the strategy on Wednesday. Skopje – In June 2021, broad money saw a monthly growth of 1.1%, mostly due to increased demand deposits, and to a lesser extent to long-term deposits up to two years and short-term deposits, amid decline in currency in circulation. Annual growth stands at 8.3% and is mainly a result of higher demand deposits, amid a smaller positive contribution of short-term deposits and currency in circulation, in times of a decline in long-term deposits up to two years, the National Bank of North Macedonia said in a press release. Skopje – VMRO-DPMNE expects parties to observe the legal and constitutional deadline so that the first round of the local elections takes place on October 17, said MP Antonijo Miloshoski regarding the proposal of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev for the polls to be held on October 31. Skopje – The Skopje-based Appellate Court said Wednesday it has rejected the appeals of “Racket” defendants Bojan Jovanovski and Katica Janeva and affirmed the first-instance ruling. Skopje — I call on teachers and staff to apply for vaccination and increase the percentage of vaccinated public school personnel, Minister of Education and Science Mila Carovska said on Wednesday after Health Minister Venko Filipche on Tuesday said his ministry would intensify communication with the ministries of Education and Science and Labor and Social Policy to instruct institutions under them to encourage more of their employees to get vaccinated against Covid-19. Skopje — As of today, 467,822 citizens have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose in the country and 293,139 citizens have received two, according to the Ministry of Health on Wednesday. Skopje – Any date agreed by the political parties for the local elections is acceptable for DUI, Foreign Minister and DUI member Bujar Osmani said. Skopje – Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani said Wednesday there are serious windows of opportunity to reach a solution with Bulgaria by the end of the year, whereas the political context in Sofia would also play a significant role. Skopje – DUI will support the resolution on the red lines in the talks with Bulgaria if it incorporates the country’s constitutional name. A resolution that doesn’t use the constitutional name has no legal capacity, said Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani on Wednesday regarding the resolution that VMRO-DPMNE has filed in Parliament. Skopje – VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski met Wednesday with EU Ambassador David Geer, discussing a range of political topics. Skopje – North Macedonia’s Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi participated in a debate on a foreign policy strategy of North Macedonia – Reflection 2030, highlighting the importance and significance of the parliamentary dimension and the Parliament’s key role in preparing the strategy. Tel Aviv – New restrictions came into force in Israel on Wednesday in view of the rising number of coronavirus infections.