18 December 2021 (MIA) Skopje – French Ambassador Cyrille Baumgartner in an interview with TV Alsat’s “360 Degree” show said that it can be expected French President Emmanuel Macron to take steps to facilitate the Sofia-Skopje dialogue, to take the initiative to move things forward. Belgrade – Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Prime Ministers of North Macedonia and Albania Zoran Zaev and Edi Rama sent open letter calling countries of the Western Balkans to join Open Balkan initiative, which was published by Podgorica-based daily Dan. Skopje – The year 2021 was generally stable in terms of security across the whole country without any serious security incidents being reported and fewer crimes were also reported in 2021 compared to last year, Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski has said. Sofia – The Sofia-Skopje dispute is not a process of concessions but a process of upgrade, Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov has said in an interview with a TV political show of the Bulgarian National Television. Skopje – Every year, December 18, is celebrated as International Migrants Day. On 18 December 1990, the General Assembly adopted a resolution on the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. Skopje – The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM) said Saturday that after the mass workers’ protest it has submitted a motion to the Labor Ministry and the coordinators of parliamentary groups regarding the adoption of the bill on minimum wage, proposing that the minimum wage should amount to 18,000 denars (close to 300 euros) as of January 2022. Skopje – An international exhibition entitled “All that we have in common” opens Saturday at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) in Skopje. Hanover – German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said he vaccinated two children against the coronavirus during a visit to the northern city of Hanover. Manila – Twenty-four people were killed and about 5 million were left without electricity in the Philippines after Typhoon Rai tore through central and southern provinces, officials said Friday. Berlin – Rafael Nadal said it felt “special” to be back on court as the 20-time grand slam champion began his latest comeback with defeat to old foe Andy Murray in Abu Dhabi.