Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

Former Foreign Minister: North Macedonia's Government Squandered Its Strongest Bargaining Asset by Reopening Language Issue
By reopening the language issue through the European Union's progress report on North Macedonia, the country’s government has wasted "its greatest negotiating capital," according to former Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani. He believes that the...

International passenger traffic growth keeps market resilient
Passenger traffic remains resilient in May, but airport performance continues to be hampered by aircraft shortages and maintenance issues affecting airlines, ATM disruptions and aviation taxes. ACI Europe has released its air traffic report for...

16th Bosilegrad Singing and Dancing International Folklore Festival to Be Held from July 27 to August 2
Тhe 16th Bosilegrad Singing and Dancing International Folklore Festival will be held from July 27 to August 2. Organized by Bosilegrad Municipality of and the Bosilegrad Cultural Centre, the festival will bring together dance ensembles from across...

World Bank Appoints New Country Manager for Kosovo and North Macedonia
WASHINGTON, USA – July, 07th 2025 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/- The World Bank has appointed Carole Megevand as its the new Country Manager for Kosovo and North Macedonia, effective July 1, 2025. In her new role, Megevand will lead the World...

North Macedonia PM retreats on singles tax proposal
Skopje, July 7 – Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski walked back remarks suggesting a tax on unmarried citizens, saying Sunday he was misunderstood and had no plans to introduce such a measure. “There will be no such tax. I apologize if anyone...

North Macedonia outlines defence priorities
North Macedonia's first live firing of its JLTVs armed with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace's M153 Protector Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station took place at the Krivolak training range on 4 October 2024. (North Macedonian MoD) North Macedonian...

MEP Fuglsang: Bulgaria's Eurozone Entry Marks Success; North Macedonia Must Respect Sofia's Concerns
Danish MEP Niels Fuglsang, representing the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, described Bulgaria’s anticipated entry into the eurozone as a clear signal of progress and economic strength. Speaking to BNR, Fuglsang noted that the...

Türkiye extradites 15 most-wanted suspects from 5 countries: Interior minister
Thirteen suspects wanted on Interpol red notices and two on Türkiye's national wanted list have been extradited from five countries, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Monday. In a post on X, Yerlikaya said the 15 individuals were captured...

Skopje Considers Taxing Unmarried to Tackle Demographic Crisis in North Macedonia
The Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, reported that his government is considering introducing additional taxes for citizens who have not entered a civil marriage. The statement was made during a debate on...

North Macedonia's President Calls for EU Reforms Amid Controversy Over Macedonian Identity
North Macedonia’s President Gordana Siljanovska responded to the upcoming European Parliament (EP) vote on the country’s EU progress report, due on July 8, stating that “nothing has been decided, everything is possible,” as reported by BTA. The...

Major EU Groups Aim to Remove “Macedonian Identity” From North Macedonia Draft
European Parliament will discuss and vote on the EU report for North Macedonia. Credit: Europarl/ CC-BY-SA 2.0 The European Parliament is set to vote next week on the annual progress report on North Macedonia. Although the draft approved by the...

Stay single, pay more: North Macedonia’s new population plan
SKOPJE, July 4 - North Macedonia plans to introduce a tax on unmarried adults as part of new efforts to reverse its shrinking population, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski announced this week. The country recorded more deaths than births in 2024,...

Wider Europe Briefing: Why EU Sanctions On Russia Are Delayed -- And What Denmark's EU Presidency Has In Store
Welcome to Wider Europe, RFE/RL's newsletter focusing on the key issues concerning the European Union, NATO, and other institutions and their relationships with the Western Balkans and Europe's Eastern neighborhoods. I'm RFE/RL Europe Editor...

‘Dracula’ by Radu Jude, David Lynch-Exec Produced ‘Happy Worker’ Set for Locarno Lineup
Get ready for Dracula, a movie made with the participation of the late filmmaking legend David Lynch, Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, this year’s Cannes winner It Was Just an Accident, and much more, as the Locarno International Film Festival on...

BRICS gives Serbia real alternative to EU without blackmail or humiliation — lawmaker
BELGRADE, July 8. /TASS/. Shifting focus to BRICS is becoming the most significant alternative to Euro-integration for Serbian society and political movements, Chairman of Serbia’s Parliamentary Committee on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region...

North Macedonia’s Foreign Minister: I Will Request a Macedonian Consulate in Korçë
North Macedonia’s Foreign Minister, Timcho Mucunski, paid a visit on Wednesday to Pustec, where he held meetings with the local Macedonian community. Speaking to the media, Mucunski stated that the government of North Macedonia needs to do more...

New Law in North Macedonia: More Albanians in Public Administration
The government of North Macedonia will work to increase the representation of Albanians in state institutions following the preparation of a new Law on Fair and Adequate Representation. The law stipulates that the composition of public...

Serbia, North Macedonia working on gas interconnector project
The memorandum, signed by Srbijagas General Manager Dušan Bajatović and Nomagas Executive Director Muhamet Elmazi, confirms the pipeline’s border crossing point, an important step in preparing technical documentation and project implementation,...

Mitre by mitre: N. Macedonian nuns craft priceless holy headwear
In total silence, Sister Elisaveta stitched the sacred headwear for which her monastery in North Macedonia is renowned throughout the Orthodox world. In her careful hands, the mitre glimmered as if spun from gold. The bulbous silk crown, now...

Turkmen schoolchildren won 6 medals at the Mathematical Olympiad in North Macedonia
6 medals of various denominations were won by schoolchildren from Turkmenistan at the 29th Balkan Junior Mathematical Olympiad (JBMO-2025), held in Struga. Northern Macedonia from 24 to 29 June. Having performed with great success in the...