News archive of March 2023

BELGRADE - Serbian PM Ana Brnabic met with European Investment Bank (EIB) Vice President Lilyana Pavlova on Thursday to discuss EIB-assisted projects in Serbia aimed at contributing to the economic and social well-being of citizens.

The Kremlin said on Thursday that no decision had been taken on whether President Vladimir Putin will visit Turkey in April for the inauguration of a reactor built by Russia's state nuclear energy company.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday it was possible Putin could visit for the ceremony on April 27. [Reuters]

Cyprus' justice minister has unveiled a host of measures to combat fan violence at sporting events, including pre-game drug and alcohol tests, increased body searches and tougher policing.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his closest aides are holding strategy sessions to shape the ruling center-right New Democracy party's election strategy.

BELGRADE - The Serbian government and the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed on Thursday an agreement on a 175 mln euro grant for the construction of a Belgrade-Nis high-speed rail line.

The amount is the second tranche of a 600 mln euro EU grant for the project.

If the elections were held in the last ten days of March, the result would be as follows: "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB) and GERB-SDS would have similar support with 26.9% and 26.5%, Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) and "Vazrazhdane" would contest the third place, respectively with 13.3% and 13%. In fifth place is the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) with 7.2%.

The Athens Conservatory is holding a special event on Monday in honor of music collector Stathis Arfanis, who donated more than 30,000 records - mostly classical and opera and many rare - to the state music school. 'I could keep them locked up in my house, caressing them like many mad collectors do.

The Western Balkans has faced ongoing political tensions and "culture wars" that have migrated from the physical world to the digital space, leading to human rights violations in digital environments.

A special commission of the National Assembly tasked with examining proposed amendments to the Constitution has initiated proceedings aimed at reforming judicial appointments, the first of several changes that may come its way in the coming months.

Four witnesses testified in the war crimes trial of former Kosovo Liberation Army member Pjeter Shala, known by the nom de guerre 'Commander Wolf', at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague this week, accusing him of torture.