9 August 2021 Skopje – All the villages where there were fires have been secured with the methods used by any firefighting service in the world, Crisis Management Center Director Stojanche Angelov told a news conference Monday. Sofia – Another team of nine firemen from the Bulgarian town of Smolyan has departed for North Macedonia to help local authorities put out fires, MIA’s Sofia correspondent reports. Berovo – The wildfire over the village of Budinarci in Berovo municipality has been put out after it reignited about noon on Monday. Pehchevo – The EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been active since the outbreak of the wildfires across the country. With the help of Austria, Slovenia and Bulgaria and the firefighting plane from Romania, we are bringing wildfires under control, said director of the Protection and Rescue Directorate Bekim Maksuti, who together with EU Ambassador David Geer visited the camp in Pehchevo where Austrian team of firefighters is deployed. Skopje – First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Political Systems Artan Grubi on Monday handed over the original document of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, signed by the seven signatories, to the State Archive. Skopje – North Macedonia recorded 143 new cases out of 3,101 COVID-19 tests over the past 24 hours. Of these, 79 new cases were registered in Skopje, followed by Gostivar – 16, Kichevo – 12, Debar – 8, Kumanovo – 7, Tetovo – 6, Struga – 6, Radovish – 3, Strumica – 2, Kavadarci – 1, Kriva Palanka – 1, Berovo – 1, and Makedonski Brod – 1. Nicosia – North Macedonia remains in Cyprus’ Green Category of countries, with Macedonian nationals allowed to travel to the island unrestricted, meaning without having to present negative test results or undergo quarantine, MIA reports from Athens. Skopje – The Law on Security of Network and Information Systems, which has been placed at the Single National Electronic Register of Regulations (ENER), will set up a Digital Agency as the major generator of processes leading to a digital society and administration, said Minister of Information Society and Administration Jeton Shaqiri on Monday. Skopje – Out of 4,000 domestic tourism vouchers, 2,500 have been issued so far, and the rest should be handed out to the citizens by the end of this week, Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi said on Monday. Skopje – The Consumer Price Index in July 2021, in comparison with June 2021, increased by 0.5%, while the Retail Price Index increased by 2.3%, State Statistical Office data shows. Bitola – A total of $100,000 in grant will be used to conserve and preserve the mosaics and architecture of the Heraclea Lyncestis archeological site. Sofia – If the anti-establishment parties do not vote in support of the draft cabinet, proposed by the There Is Such a People party (TISP), the result will be new elections, TISP leader Slavi Trifonov wrote in a Facebook post on Monday.

Berlin – German coronavirus vaccine maker BioNTech posted on Monday a sharp jump in sales and profits. Based in the western German city of Mainz, BioNTech said second-quarter net profit rose more-than-forecast to nearly 2.8 billion euros (3.3 billion dollars), compared with a loss of 88.3 million euros in the same period last year.

Moscow – One year after the start of mass protests against President Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus, the political opposition has ruled out fresh demonstrations. Paris – Starting Monday across France, everyday activities such as going to a cafe or taking a train will only be allowed for those who can show they they are vaccinated, have recovered or tested negative for the coronavirus as controversial measures enter effect.