26 January 2022 Skopje – The Holocaust is not only a lesson from the past but also a lesson for the future. The World War II horror must never be forgotten. The Government’s commitment to work tirelessly and continually on the remembrance, education and research of the Holocaust is firm and permanent, as is the fight against anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial, hate speech, fake news and other negative phenomena, heard an event dedicated on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Skopje-based Holocaust Memorial Centre on Wednesday. Skopje – Our expectations are focused on holding the first intergovernmental conference (IGC), which marks the official start of accession negotiation between North Macedonia and the EU, President Stevo Pendarovski said Wednesday at a ceremony while being handed over the credentials of Anatol Chebuk, the new Moldovan Ambassador to North Macedonia, based in Sofia. Skopje — North Macedonia can count on the Czech Republic to continue strongly supporting its ambitions to join the European Union, according to the newly appointed Czech Ambassador to the country, Jaroslav Ludva, at Wednesday’s presenting-of-credentials ceremony with President Stevo Pendarovski. Skopje – President Stevo Pendarovski addressed Wednesday the Forum on International Refugee Protection, organized by the Refugee Law and Migration Center at the Iustinianus Primus Law Faculty of the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje in cooperation with the UNHCR Representation in North Macedonia and the International Institute of Humanitarian Law in Sanremo. Skopje – Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski, Minister of Transport and Communications Blagoj Bochvarski and State Roads public enterprise director Ejup Rustemi inspected Wednesday construction works on the 24.5km-long Rankovce-Kriva Palanka express road, worth EUR 62,5 million, as part of the commitment expressed at the meetings with Bulgarian counterpart Kiril Petkov over intensive activities in the infrastructure field. Skopje – The Parliament verified the mandates of new SDSM MPs Sanela Shkrielj and Marija Kochovska on Wednesday. Skopje – North Macedonia registered 2,019 new COVID-19 infections after 6,119 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours, as well as 19 deaths and 973 recoveries, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday. Skopje – Due to a continued surge in COVID-19 infections and in order to expand hospital capacity, the Commission for Infectious Diseases has recommended at a session on Wednesday that Skopje-based dermatology and neurology clinics continue working as covid centers, and an additional covid department be opened within the ‘8 September’ hospital. Skopje – Great Britain remains a strong supporter of the key reform processes in North Macedonia, British Ambassador Rachel Galloway said during a meeting Wednesday with Slavica Grkovska, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of good governance policies. Skopje – Minister of Interior Oliver Spasovski, alongside State Secretary Magdalena Nestorovska and Public Security Bureau director Sasho Tasevski, held Wednesday a working visit with Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Skopje, Eric Meyer, and ICITAP Attaché, Carl Risheim. Skopje — Air pollution in the Western Balkans is a major cause of premature death, according to United Balkans Clean Air regional campaign organizers citing the European Environment Agency. Skopje – The Crisis Management Center (CMC) warns citizens to stay away from a rock slope on the right bank of the riverbed (lake) in the Matka Canyon, as it will be marked as a risk zone where movement will be restricted. Strumica — The “centuries-old Strumica Carnival tradition cannot be postponed for too long because carnival-goers will lose motivation to participate,” according to Strumica Mayor Kostadin Kostadinov announcing this year’s festivities that will run from March 2 through 9 under protocols for public events in a Covid-19 pandemic. Belgrade – Ljupcho Nikolovski, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, is scheduled to pay a visit to Belgrade on Thursday, MIA’s Belgrade correspondent reports. Sofia – Major activities related to road infrastructure to connect with Bulgaria are underway and by mid-2023 we will have a partially expanded and completely renewed road connection. The construction of first two sections for railway connection, investment worth EUR 200 million, will kick off in the spring. An additional meeting will be agreed next week to consider the possibility of launching air link between Skopje and Sofia, Minister of Transport and Communications Blagoj Bochvarski said in an interview with BNT. Vienna – Austria will end one of the toughest coronavirus policies in Europe when it lifts a two-month lockdown on unvaccinated residents next Monday. Rome – Italy continues to wait for a successful presidential election after no candidate managed to secure a two-third majority in the third round of voting on Wednesday. London – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson rejected calls on Wednesday that he resign, while the rest of London eagerly awaited the results of a civil servant’s report into the Partygate affair. London — Watford are set appoint Roy Hodgson as their new manager until the end of the season, the PA news agency understands. New York — The World Health Organization warned this week that a sub-variant of omicron was on the rise. New York — Elton John has cancelled two upcoming shows in Dallas after testing positive for Covid-19. Washington — A Russian incursion into Ukraine could become the “largest invasion” since World War II given the massive troop presence near the border, according to US President Joe Biden. Washington — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Tuesday said she intends to run for a seat in the US House of Representatives again in November.