News archive of December 2016

Parliament has approved an additional BGN 10 M for the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAN) and BGN 500,000 for Sofia University St, Kliment Ohridski, reported Focus agency.

A total of 80 deputies voted "for" the proposal of Borislav Velikov from the parliamentary group of the Patriotic Front. One deputy voted "against" and 73 abstained.

Presenting his defence before the court in Podgorica on Thursday, investigative journalist Jovo Martinovic pleaded not guilty to drugs smuggling, saying his contacts with the other suspects in the case were purely linked to his work as a journalist.

The Congress formally ratified a revised peace agreement with Colombia's biggest leftist rebel group, capping a torturous four years of negotiations, a stunning referendum rejection, last-minute compromises and two signing ceremonies.

Turkish authorities detained a total of 365 suspected Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants and arrested 131 in November 2016, the Interior Ministry stated on Dec. 1.        

The arrests and detentions took place in 12 provinces across the country, including Ankara and Istanbul, the ministry added.      

Tens of refugees were left stranded in the snow around Thessaloniki, reported the online edition of Рrotothema.gr.

The newspaper cites an announcement by Thessaloniki radio according to which the snow has paralysed the entire area of the city and tens of refugees found themselves in the snow trap after having been transferred from the border with Turkey.

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic told reporters Thursday that he "knows nothing" about speculation concerning the possibility of early parliamentary elections.

Vucic was visiting Valjevo, a town in western Serbia, when journalists asked him to comment on media reports that both presidential and parliamentary elections would be held next year.

Greek PM Alexis Tsipras and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a conversation over the telephone on Thursday, the Greek premier's office said in a statement.

Implementation of the agreement on the judiciary means that Serb judges and prosecutors will now participate in the work of judicial institutions in Kosovo.

A firm date for a five-party conference needs to be set in order to revive the peace talks and reach a peaceful solution on Cyprus, Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akıncı has said. 

Bulgarian lawmakers have voted to retain the value of state subsidies allocated to parties after parliamentary elections to BGN 11 per vote.

The decision comes despite the results of a recent referendum in which an overwhelming majority answered "yes" when asked if the subsidies should be slashed to BGN 1 per vote.