16 February 2022 Skopje – North Macedonia registered 1,091 new COVID-19 infections after 3,702 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours, as well as 23 deaths and 2,322 recoveries, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday. Skopje – North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said talks with Bulgaria on the outstanding political issues are held at expert level, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) presents all results of the talks after the meetings. He added that as soon as there’s a solution acceptable to both parties, it will be shared with the public. Skopje – Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said Wednesday that the first meeting to discuss changes to the methodology for pensions will take place Friday, allowing sustainable increase in pensions. He has also announced that financial assistance will be awarded to pensioners. Skopje — The dialogue between Skopje and Sofia will provide mutually acceptable solutions to open issues, accelerating the decision to hold North Macedonia’s first intergovernmental conference with the EU, which is expected to have a positive impact on the entire Western Balkans, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski and his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte agreed in a phone conversation on Wednesday. Skopje – The dialogue and the positive energy established between the governments of North Macedonia and Bulgaria is an important contribution to the development of good neighborly relations between the two countries, concurred on Wednesday Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski and Slovenian Ambassador Milan Predan. Skopje – The Constitutional Court at Wednesday’s session didn’t open a procedure after an initiative was filed to assess the constitutionality of the decision of health authorities banning the unvaccinated from entering indoor venues. Skopje – Health Minister Bekim Sali held on Wednesday an online meeting with WHO Regional Director for Europe, Hans Kluge, extending gratitude for the WHO’s continued support in promoting health care in the country, as well as the joint preparation of the Roadmap for Health and Well-being in the Western Balkans. Skopje – Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj met Wednesday with the Japanese Ambassador Hironori Sawada and reaffirmed Japanese support to North Macedonia through donations in some of the most important sectors for the country’s EU path as well as the support to Macedonian government to improve citizens’ lives. Skopje – North Macedonia’s Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani met on Wednesday with the UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to the Western Balkans Martin Vickers. Osmani welcomed the continued support from the UK, which is the second largest economic partner to our country and a major foreign investor as well as is one of the first countries to invest for decades in strengthening security and political stability in Western Balkans. Skopje – Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Fatmir Bytyqi met Wednesday with UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to the Western Balkans Martin Vickers, discussing various topics of mutual economic interest. Skopje – North Macedonia has recorded progress in the implementation of complex reforms in strengthening democratic processes and transparency of institutions, agreed Deputy PM for good governance policies Slavica Grkovska and a delegation of the National Democratic Institute (NDI), led by country director Robert Scott Heaslet, on Wednesday. Skopje — Minister of Education and Science Jeton Shaqiri met Wednesday with the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to North Macedonia, Anke Holstein, and the two agreed to deepen the already successful cooperation between the two countries in the field of education, according to the Ministry of Education and Science. Skopje– Minister of Labor and Social Policy Jovanka Trenchevska met Wednesday with Swiss Ambassador Veronique Hulmann, discussing current and future projects supported by Swiss funds, and the ministry’s priorities in the field of labor and social policy in the future period. Skopje – Minister of Interior Oliver Spasovski and Albanian Ambassador Fatos Reka expressed Wednesday their satisfaction from the excellent bilateral cooperation and goodneighborly relations. Skopje – The National Bank conducts an appropriate relaxed monetary policy because inflation is primarily a global phenomenon. In accordance with the global trends, the higher inflation will probably be maintained longer in relation to the previous expectations, dropping in the second half of 2022. In the coming period, the National Bank should carefully monitor the developments and potential risks, emphasizing the readiness to respond if necessary. This is concluded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the Report of the regular mission in the country. Brussels – North Macedonia shares the position that Russia should demonstrate real commitment to de-escalation, Defence Minister Slavjanka Petrovska said Wednesday in Brussels ahead of the NATO defence ministers’ meeting. Brussels – Today’s meeting of the NATO defence ministers in Brussels aims to reaffirm NATO’s unity, give dialogue a chance in the Russia-Ukraine crisis and underline the support for the full integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, North Macedonia’s Defence Minister Slavjanka Petrovska said Wednesday in Brussels. Berlin – German state and federal leaders have agreed on a plan to lift most Covid-19 restrictions, with the final steps to be taken from March 20, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday. Berlin — Berlin’s Berlinale film festival has honored French actress Isabelle Huppert, presenting the 68-year-old with an Honorary Golden Bear for lifetime achievement. London — AstraZeneca said on Wednesday that the European Commission has approved its prescription medicine Saphnelo as an add-on therapy for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Geneva – Switzerland will celebrate its own “freedom day” on Thursday, when a raft of Covid-19 restrictions on public life are set to be lifted. Kyiv — Ukraine began its “day of unity” on Wednesday with the national hymn playing over loudspeakers and flags raised in the capital Kiev.