18:00/December 24/2021 Skopje – President Stevo Pendarovski was briefed Friday on combat readiness in 2021. Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Vasko Gjurchinovski and General Staff director, Major General Zoran Milevski presented to President Pendarovski, Defence Minister Radmila Shekerinska, Army generals and delegations from the President’s Office and the Ministry of Defense the situation and realization of planned activities on combat readiness. Skopje – North Macedonia has detected the first COVID-19 Omicron variant case in the country, the Health Ministry said Friday. Skopje – In the period Aug. 6 – Dec. 23, a total of 66,857 people tested positive for COVID-19. Of them, 33% were fully vaccinated, i.e. 21,806 people. According to the Ministry of Health, 45,051 people, i.e. 67% who tested positive for COVID-19 were unvaccinated. Skopje – North Macedonia in the past 24 hours registered 333 COVID-19 infections as well as six deaths. According to Public Health Institute data, 311 recoveries were registered in the same period, the Health Ministry said Friday. Skopje – This past year is one of gradual recovery from the first hit of the pandemic. Unlike the previous global crisis that caused long-standing and dull suffering, the corona-crisis has brought swift and sharp pain but with faster recovery. A 3.9-percent GDP growth is projected in 2022, reaching the pre-crisis levels but risks are still here, says National Bank Governor Anita Angelovska-Bezhoska. Skopje – The Interior Ministry’s department in charge of suppressing organized and serious crime has pressed charges at the relevant Public Prosecutor’s Office against two Pakistani nationals, aged 27 and 29, suspected of migrant smuggling. Sofia – Bulgaria, a Covid-19 vaccine laggard in the European Union, is offering cash rewards to elderly people who receive their jab.