Macedonia

Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and US Secretary of Defense James Mattis are shown walking past military officials in dress uniforms during a welcoming ceremony in Skopje.

US Defense Secretary warns of Russian meddling in Macedonia referendum

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis accused Russia on Monday of attempting to influence the outcome of a referendum in Macedonia on changing the country's name that would open the way for it to join NATO and the European Union.

US Defense Secretary warns of Russian meddling in Macedonia referendum
macedonia

Protests and passion as Macedonians contemplate name change

Protests and passion as Macedonians contemplate name change
Protesters

Macedonians rally against renaming the former Yugoslav republic

Macedonians rally against renaming the former Yugoslav republic
A poll posted on USAPolitics.co, one of the fake news sites started by teenagers in Veles, Macedonia.

Macedonia is infamous for fake news. This woman is trying to combat it with real journalism.

Macedonia is infamous for fake news. This woman is trying to combat it with real journalism.
Esma Redžepova representing Macedonia with the song "Pred da se razdeni"  during a dress rehearsal for the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö.

The World's music features this week: Planet Drum at 25, ETHEL and Esma Redžepova

The World's music features this week: Planet Drum at 25, ETHEL and Esma Redžepova
The scenic town of Veles, Macedonia, is home to at least 100 false US news sites.

Kids in Macedonia made up and circulated many false news stories in the US election

It turns out that a lot of the false news stories shared on social media before the election were generated by teenagers in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. And according to BuzzFeed News, they made a good amount of money doing it.

Kids in Macedonia made up and circulated many false news stories in the US election
Zozan Khaled Musa, 25

This Syrian's decision to pass as a non-refugee came at a personal cost

Zozan Khaled Musa decided not to speak Arabic on a train ride to Germany. That changed everything about her journey.

This Syrian's decision to pass as a non-refugee came at a personal cost
A migrant sits on her bags while waiting for a train in Presevo, Serbia.

No bathrooms. No heat. Aboard the decrepit refugee 'cattle cars.'

A bakery owner from Massachusetts used her vacation days to volunteer in a refugee transit camp. She slipped aboard one of the decrepit trains that take refugees from Macedonia to Serbia and this is what she saw.

No bathrooms. No heat. Aboard the decrepit refugee 'cattle cars.'
Thousands of migrants and refugees arrive daily by train into Tabonovzce, Macedonia, on their way north. Volunteers with flashlights illuminate their path as they walk to an informal crossing point into Serbia.

Volunteers light the way for refugees crossing through Macedonia

Driton Maliqi was studying for his PhD in political science when the migrant crisis exploded. Now he's volunteering 24/7 to help them get through Macedonia.

Volunteers light the way for refugees crossing through Macedonia
Protesters carrying placards attend a rally in favor of taxing carbon emissions in Melbourne, Australia, on March 12, 2011.

Which repressive regime is restricting protests now? Try a state in Australia...

Legislators in the state of Victoria have imposed strict new rules on public protesters. Critics say it's an effort to clamp down on long-running protests. In Sri Lanka, it's hard to hold onto an executioner, even though no one has been executed for nearly 40 years. And Caribbean dads fight to be present when their kids are born, in today's Global Scan.

Which repressive regime is restricting protests now? Try a state in Australia...

Man mistaken by U.S. officials for terrorist wins human rights case

A European court last week gave some measure of justice to a a German man who was mistakenly believed to be an al-Qaeda terrorist, then kidnapped and tortured, supposedly at the behest of the U.S. government. But U.S. officials remain silent about the case.

Man mistaken by U.S. officials for terrorist wins human rights case

US Criticized in Europe on Torture and Rendition Cases

Two cases involving CIA torture and extraordinary rendition of terror suspects made the news Thursday. Anchor Marco Werman gets details from the BBC's Dominic Casciani.

US Criticized in Europe on Torture and Rendition Cases

Serbian group takes cues from The Onion

Watch out Onion, a Group of Serbs known as the NJUZ group have their eye on you. Taking cues from the work of The Onion, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, the group launched a satirical news site in Serbia, and now they're moving their work into English.

Serbian group takes cues from The Onion

American cars a sign of status, admiration in Kosovo

The United States is held in high regard in Kosovo because of its role in supporting the former Serbian province's bid for independence. So, for many Kosovars, having a beefy American muscle car is a high sign of status. So much so that Kosovars living abroad, even in the U.S., often bring their cars home with them on vacation.

American cars a sign of status, admiration in Kosovo

Earth Ear

Bagpipes and bells echo through a small village in Greek Macedonia during their winter festival.

Earth Ear