26 July 2021 Washington – United States Congressmen Brendan Boyle (D) and Joe Wilson (R), who chair the North Macedonia and Bulgaria congressional caucuses respectively, will co-chair the congressional EU Caucus. Skopje – Parliament is to continue Monday plenary session during which MPs are to discuss draft revised budget for 2021, which includes seven amendments adopted by the Finances and Budget Committee. Skopje — After a trial that lasted a year and a half, Skopje’s Criminal Court has found the defendants in the “Organizers of April 27” case guilty and sentenced them to a total of 25 years in prison. Skopje — The Skopje Criminal Court has ordered Trajko Veljanovski, Spiro Ristoski and Vladimir Atanasov, sentenced today to prison in the “Organizers of April 27” case, to be placed under house arrest. Skopje – On the occasion of the 58th anniversary of the disastrous earthquake in Skopje, delegations, including that from President Stevo Pendarovski’s Office, laid on Monday flowers at the monument of earthquake victims at the Skopje-based Butel cemetery. Skopje – Today we remember 26 July 1963, when 15,800 homes crumbled and 28,000 others damaged, with over 200,000 people left without a roof over their heads. In only 20 seconds, the disastrous earthquake stopped life in Skopje and killed over a thousand citizens, says Prime Minister Zoran Zaev. Skopje – Fifty eight years after the disastrous earthquake in Skopje, we remember over 1,000 fellow citizens who lost their lives but also the world’s solidarity, says President Stevo Pendarovski on Monday. Sofia – Bulgaria has no interest in asking for recognition of the “Bulgarian minority” in North Macedonia, says political scientist Ognyan Minchev, MIA reports from Sofia. Skopje – Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said Monday the Constitution would be opened ahead of the country’s EU accession in order to align it with Union member-states by embedding smaller ethnic communities in the country that are not listed as others. Skopje – Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said Friday an intervention would be made in the draft-resolution on the settlement of the issue with Bulgaria through an amendment incorporating constitutional name Republic of North Macedonia. Skopje – Defence Minister Radmila Shekerinska and British Ambassador Rachel Galloway have signed Monday a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in defence sphere that will establish the UK Western Balkans Land Regional Coordination Cell stationed at the Krivolak army field. Skopje – Hearing that Ohrid has not been placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger is welcomed news that carries three important messages, says Rossana Dudziak, UN Resident Coordinator in North Macedonia. Skopje – The European integration of North Macedonia and the region will strengthen the stability and cohesion of the Union because this will complete the unification process, said Deputy PM for European Affairs Nikola Dimitrov at a meeting with Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Benedetto Della Vedova on Monday. Skopje — According to the updated Law on Publishing of Laws, Other Regulations and Enactments in the “Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia,” provisions related to the journal’s digital edition and print editions come into effect as of tomorrow, July 27, 2021. Skopje – We are on the right path to build a system and policies that will support the entrepreneurs, encourage them to start realizing their ideas. The conditions for starting a new business and creating startups are improving, and the young entrepreneurs are taking center stage in the domestic economy, Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Fatmir Bytyqi said. Ohrid — On the 15th day of the 61st Ohrid Summer festival, the String Quintet of the Zagreb Philharmonic will play at Ohrid’s St. Sophia church at 9 pm. Members of the Zagreb Philharmonic formed the quintet last year during the pandemic, and continued rehearsing in line with health guidelines, “offering the audience, and themselves, a little consolation through the universal language of music,” Ohrid Summer organizers write. Paris — The French parliament approved a tightening of the country’s coronavirus rules early on Monday, after an extended debate.