Law on Protection from Smoking enters into force as of January 1, encompassing a complete ban of smoking in cafes, restaurants, night clubs, but also in all places that serve food and beverages.

Smoking is not banned only in people's homes, at open spaces and public areas free of sporting competitions, cultural and entertainment events, gatherings and other public events.

Law violations will result in EUR 150-300 fines for smokers, firms will have to pay EUR 2,500-4,500, whereas hospitality facilities would be closed for a 30-day period.

The State Market Inspectorate will carry out controls in cafes, restaurants etc, whereas the Health-Sanitary, Education and Labor Inspectorates will inspect other institutions.

Hundreds of cafes closed in Slovenia due to the law, whereas cafe owners have sued the state in Germany. Ireland, Malta, Italy, Sweden, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Great Britain, France, Netherlands and are the EU member-states that have also introduced complete smoking bans.

Analyses have shown that 35 percent of Macedonia's population consume tobacco.

A four-day party to celebrate 2010 kicked off in Skopje on Monday.

On The New Year's Eve, December 31, the party for the youngest will begin at 11:30 hrs at "Makedonija Square". The program will feature theatre show, performance of children chorus and the arrival of Santa Clause.

The New Year's Eve party for adults is set to begin at 20:00 hrs, starting with Esma Redzepova, Vlado Janevski, Dhiboni, Prljavo Kazaliste (Croatai) and Manjifiko (Slovenia).

Skopje fair hall offers a great New Year’s Party with Macedonian DJ Kiril Dzajkovski, “Gorillaz sound system” and DJ from Great Britain and Israel.

The Skopje City and telecommunications operator ONE organized the New Year's celebration parties.
In the past few days, Skopje-residents were entertained by bands and musicians - Leb i Sol, Area, Dario, Elena Ristevska, Jovan Jovanov, Adrian Gaxha, Vlatko Lozanovski, D.N.K. , Superhiks , Bay the Fish, Zvonko Bogdan Jordan Kostov and Retro Cabaret and many others.

Ministry of Interior Affairs sent an appeal to citizens of Macedonia to avoid alcoholic overdose, fireworks etc.

These recommendations are sent in order to secure citizen’s safety and prevent any material damage, the appeal said.

MoI warns citizens not to use weapons and turn New Year’s Eve into something tragic.

They also warn drivers to be patient and tolerant. They especially warn not to drive under alcoholic influence or any kind of psycho-physic condition.

MoI congratulates New Year to all citizens, wishing them good health and successful year.

Primary and secondary school students in Macedonia will begin a two week winter break on Thursday, December 31.
Schools will reopen on January 20th, 2011.
Around 320,000 students - 225,000 primary school students and 95,000 secondary school students - will be dismissed Thursday, beginning Winter Break through the holidays.

Forecasters predict cloudy skies and foggy weather in the morning, while the weather in the afternoon will be sunny with cloudy skies.
The minimum temperatures will stand at around 3 degrees. The daily temperatures will stand at 18 degrees and in Skopje the daily temperature will stand at 12 degrees.
During New Year’s Eve the weather will be warm with cloudy skies.
A new wet wave is expected on January 1, 2010. Rain showers and snow are expected at mountains. During the weekend low temperatures are expected.

Smooth traffic flow has been reported on all roads and highways across Macedonia. Some roads may be treacherous, particularly around mountain passes. Motorists should look out for signs indicating slippery surfaces in winter.
Traffic has been disrupted on the Kicevo-Makedonski Brod road via Treska River bridge at Plasnica. The traffic has been diverted to alternative bridge at the village of Dvorce.
Motorists have been advised to drive carefully, slow down and increase the distance between vehicles when driving on slippery roads.
Traffic intensity is moderate outside cities.
There are no queues at border crossings on entry or departure.
Motorists should pack their vehicle with winter emergency kit. The emergency kit is mandatory from November 15 till March 15.

Tour operators that will bring tourists in Macedonia in 2010, will receive subventions from the state, if they meet conditions from instruction for subventions of foreign organised tourist turnover in 2010.

Parliament's Inquiry Committee for Defining the Circumstances in the Demise of the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Boris Trajkovski, is holding a session Wednesday to exchange viewpoints with the chairman of Transport Ministry's Joint Committee on Investigation of Accidents and Serious Incidents in Air Traffic, Sotir Kostov.

Prior to the start of the session, which is not open for public, the chairman of the Inquiry Committee Oliver Sambevski said he expected the committee following its third session to complete its findings and to draft a report, which would be submitted to the Parliament.

Committee's members met with MEP Andreas Gross at its previous meeting.

- The meeting was very useful and the committee will be able to reach conclusions involving its recommendations, which need to be submitted in the Parliament. The Inquiry Committee will not present any details of the findings regarding the circumstances of the plane crash that claimed the lives of President Trajkovski and his aides before completing its activities, stated Sambevski.

It is expected the Parliament's Inquiry Committee to draft a report on the circumstances in the demise of President Boris Trajkovski by late January.

Trajkovski died on February 26, 2004 in a plane crash en route to an economic conference in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The aircraft crashed in very poor weather (thick fog and heavy rain) on a mountainside in southeastern Herzegovina, near the villages of Huskovici and Rotimlja some eight miles (15km) southeast of Mostar. Eight other people were also aboard but none survived the impact.

Besides Boris Trajkovski, other persons killed were: Trajkovski's cabinet advisers, Dimka Ilkovska-Boskovic, Risto Blazevski, Anita Lozanovska, as well as Mile Krstevski from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; two security guards, Boris Velinov and Ace Bozinovski; and the plane's two pilots, Marko Markovski and Branko Ivanovski.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is confident that the H1N1 flu pandemic will be under control in a year's time, however, WHO officials warned global government to remain vigilant.
The statement was given with a way eye on the considerably more dangerous H5N1 virus - commonly referred to as bird flu. WHO officials remain concerned over the bird flu's recurring appearances in China and India in domestic and wild avian species.
"It is still premature and too early for us to say we have come to an end of the pandemic influenza worldwide. It would be prudent and appropriate to continue to monitor the evolution of this pandemic for the next six to 12 months," WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said at a news conference.
Last week, the World Health Organization attributed nearly 12.000 deaths worldwide to the H1N1 swine flu pandemic.
Chan sought to retain a positive position on the current H1N1 challenge.
"The fact that the long overdue influenza pandemic is so moderate in its impact is probably the best health news of the decade," Chan said.