News archive of April 2015

BELGRADE - Serbia's gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 1.9 percent in real terms in the first quarter of 2015 against a year earlier, according to a quarterly flash estimate by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (RZS).

The Sabanc? Foundation?s Turkey?s Changemakers Program continues in its 6th season to share the unique stories of extraordinary people who have contributed to social development. The 14th Changemaker of the 6th season is Dilek Livaneli.

BELGRADE - The European Union is planning to double the money allocated for civil society development in the countries of the Western Balkans and Turkey through IPA funds, bringing the figure to around EUR 350 million by 2020.

SVILAJNAC - The EU has approved EUR 2.7 million for regulation work on the section of the river Resava running through the municipality of Svilajnac, central Serbia, head of the municipality Predrag Milanovic said on Thursday.

The United States has put on its terrorism blacklist two men identified as key suspects in the bombing of a bus at Bulgaria's Burgas in 2012 attributed to Hizbollah organisation.

The State Department said in a statement it has designated Meliad Farah and Hassan el-Hajj Hassan, both believed to be located in Lebanon, as "specially designated global terrorists".

President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has again vowed to transform Turkey?s entire political system, saying the adoption of the presidential system will constitute a profound reform to this end and repeating his call for ?400 lawmakers? to amend the constitution. 

In the run-up to the June 7 parliamentary elections, the top European security body has highlighted concerns in Turkey over incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an?s ?active role in the campaign,? as they have recommended the deployment of a team in order to observe the election.

KOPAONIK - Israeli companies increasingly want to invest in Serbia, which best indicates that Serbia is on a good path out of several years of economic crisis, Israel's Ambassador to Serbia Yossef Levy said.

Around 90,000 cruise visitors are expected to arrive in Chania, Crete, within the next few months.

By Maria Petrakis

Londoner Eleni Kyriacou is building her fashion brand on the ruins of Greece's textile industry.