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A national treasure of nature and beauty threatened by powerful private interests in North Macedonia

A national treasure of nature and beauty threatened by powerful private interests in North Macedonia

13.10.2022

IRL reveals for the first time how powerful private interests have endangered one of North Macedonia’s most valuable natural treasures — National Park Mavrovo, home to 1400 different plants and animals, including the rare Balkan lynx. More than a decade ago, the national government gave permission to private companies to build three small hydropower plants in the park, a move that effectively blocked pending legislation that, if approved, would have…

National cultural treasure may be transferred to private hands

National cultural treasure may be transferred to private hands

13.10.2022

The Galicnik Wedding Festival is a key part of the Macedonian cultural heritage, and the old village houses are protected by law and are listed as such by the Ministry of Culture. Yet, there have been attempts to privatize and commercialize these cultural gems. Famously known as the “Groom’s House” — the state-owned “Villa Dosta” — is in danger. In 2016, the agricultural cooperative linked with the house declared bankruptcy…

Macedonian elites illegally build vacation homes on public land

Macedonian elites illegally build vacation homes on public land

13.10.2022

There are few empty lots along the coast of Lake Mavrovo, part of one of North Macedonia’s oldest national parks. Over the past two decades, weekend villas, highrises, and luxury hotels have sprung up across the park,  threatening the natural treasures within. In an attempt to find new land on which to build, the country’s political and business elites stumbled across a small village hidden in the mountainous terrain —…

Questionable Paperwork Lets Fake and Faulty Masks Flood Europe

Questionable Paperwork Lets Fake and Faulty Masks Flood Europe

02.07.2020

by Aubrey Belford, Sarunas Cerniauskas, Matteo Civillini and Ola Westerberg As COVID-19 swept through Europe in March, the director of Lithuania’s Central Prison Hospital was relieved to receive 3,000 FFP2 respirator masks, the gold standard for filtering out tiny airborne particles, like the coronavirus that causes the disease. The masks arrived in boxes plastered with the CE mark, the immediately recognizable symbol showing that products have been verified as meeting European standards.…