Costumed revelers perform in a carnival procession on the streets of Strumica in the great evening carnival late on February 25 ,2023. The renowned carnival, which marks the beginning of the Christian Orthodox Lent, attracted hundreds of participants and tens of thousands of visitors in Strumica.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP
Players of Macedonia celebrates scoring the goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifiers soccer match Group C between North Macedonia and Italy on September 9, 2023 in Skopje.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP
A woman looks at the horizon standing on the rocky crest filled with astronomical markers at the megalithic observatory Kokino, on June 21, 2023 - the day of the Summer solstice. The ancient astronomic observatory, located about 100 km northeast of Skopje, North Macedonia, dates more than 4.000 years back in time. It is ranked by NASA as the fourth ancient observatory in the world.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP
Participants take part in the "Skopje Pride" in downtown Skopje on June 24, 2023. Today North Macedonia is holding its The third Pride Parade in Skopje, organized by the National Network against Homophobia and Transphobia.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP
Macedonian Hristijan Nineski triumphantly shows the cross he pulled out of the freezing waters of the river Vardar in Skopje during the traditional holiday of Vodici (Epiphany), on January 19, 2023. Macedonians celebrated the Baptism of Christ with Orthodox Christian priests consecrating the waters of lakes and rivers by throwing in a cross and local men raced to find it. According to popular belief, the one who finds it will have a year of good luck.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP
People hold placards and wave Palestinian flags during a solidarity march with the people of Gaza, in Skopje on November 17, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP
The moon rises over a cross on the Church of St John the Baptist in Skopje on August 1, 2023.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP
Worshippers attend a mass during the Orthodox celebrations of the Assumption of Mary in the St. Mother of God church in Skopje, on August 28, 2023. The Macedonian Orthodox church celebrates religious holidays according to the Julian calendar.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFPMacedonian soldiers attend the NATO exercis."Fast response 23"' at the Krivolak Army Training Area, near Negotino, on May 29, 2023.More than 1,800 members of the Macedonian army will participate in the exercises, which will last until June 5, as well as from the armies of the USA, Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP 
Costumed revelers perform in a carnival procession on the streets of Strumica in the great evening carnival late on February 25 ,2023. The renowned carnival, which marks the beginning of the Christian Orthodox Lent, attracted hundreds of participants and tens of thousands of visitors in Strumica.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP
A boy jump to cool off in the river Treska near Skopje on July 13, 2023, as temperatures about 40 degree Celsius.
A heat wave with temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius hit North Macedonia and the region.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFPA hippopotamus eats a watermelon during a very hot day in the zoo in Skopje, on 18 July 2023. Due to a heatwave with temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, the workers from Skopje's zoo prepared and served special frozen food and fruits for the animals.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP 
A view of a Skopje valley covered with heavy fog and air pollution, in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia, on December 21, 2023. Skopje recorded an Air Quality Index, which is labeled as 'Unhealthy', making the capital city among the 10 most polluted in the world. The levels of toxic PM10 and PM 2.5 particles in the air measured by IQAir in Skopje were about 15 times higher than the safety threshold established by the World Health Organization.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP
Demonstrators holding banners demand resignation of government officials and accountability of all involved in the case of stealing expensive cancer therapy from state clinic, in Skopje, North Macedonia on September 4, 2023. After media reports about criminal scheme with stealing and selling expensive cancer therapy on the black market, the prosecutors and police opened an investigation last week, but citizens organized protest in from of the Government demanding swift resignations and accountability for the health scandal.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFPTurkish students studying in North Macedonia and volunteers gather humanitarian aid for Turkish and Syrian earthquake-affected people at a collecting point at the main square in Skopje, on February 10, 2023, ahead of their distribution to earthquake victims following a 7.8 magnitude earthquake shich struck the border region of Turkey and Syria on February 6.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP 
A bride rides a horse during a wedding procession in the western Macedonian village Galicnik,some 150 km southwest of Skopje, during "Galicnik wedding" on July 16, 2023. Every year, around the Christian Orthodox holiday Petrovden (St. Peters day), Macedonians originating from Galicnik gather in this almost deserted mountainous village and a couple gets married according to the old traditions of this region.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFPPeople protest to mark the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Skopje on February 24, 2023.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP Disguised revelers take part in a carnival procession through south-western Macedonia’s village of Vevcani, on January 13, 2023. The Vevcani carnival is 1.400 years old and is held every year on the eve of the feast of Saint Basil ( January 14), which also marks the beginning of the New Year according to the Julian calendar, observed by the Macedonian Orthodox Church.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP 
A man tries to cool off in Skopje, on July 24,2023.
For over a week North Macedonia is facing orange warning for extreme temperatures going between 38 and 42 degrees. Citizens were advised by the Government to take all needed measures to protect themselves from the extreme heat, recommended pregnant women and people older than 60 to stay home and not to be exposed to sun longer period of time after 11 a.m.
Despite high temperatures, on Monday, citizens were doing their errands while trying to find creative ways to hide from the sun or to cool down. The temperatures are expected to peak on Tuesday, while according to forecasts cooling down is expected from Wednesday.023.Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP
People dressed as Santa Claus take part in the annual Christmas city race in Skopje, on December 24, 2023
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP
One man without a shirt tries to cool off in Skopje, on July 24,2023.
For over a week North Macedonia is facing orange warning for extreme temperatures going between 38 and 42 degrees. Citizens were advised by the Government to take all needed measures to protect themselves from the extreme heat, recommended pregnant women and people older than 60 to stay home and not to be exposed to sun longer period of time after 11 a.m.
Despite high temperatures, on Monday, citizens were doing their errands while trying to find creative ways to hide from the sun or to cool down. The temperatures are expected to peak on Tuesday, while according to forecasts cooling down is expected from Wednesday.023.Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP
The last full moon of this year, also known as the 'Cold Moon', is seen between New Year's decoration in Skopje on December 27, 2023.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP
An old lady take part in the "Skopje Pride" in downtown Skopje on June 24, 2023. Today North Macedonia is holding its The third Pride Parade in Skopje, organized by the National Network against Homophobia and Transphobia.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP
A masked participant jumps over an open fire during the traditional mask burning on the second day of a carnival celebration marking the Orthodox St. Vasilij Day in the village of Vevcani, on January 14, 2023.The Vevcani carnival is 1.400 years old and is held every year on the eve of the feast of Saint Basil ( January 13-14), which also marks the beginning of the New Year according to the Julian calendar, observed by the Macedonian Orthodox Church.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP
