Romania

The annual Night of Museums in Romania will involve exhibitions, dance and theatre performances, concerts and films in events all across the country, according to the official website for the event.

Thousands of Romanians are expected to attend the events, hearing hitherto little-known stories of different objects in the museums.

Russian rescuers arrive in flood-stricken Serbia

NIŠ -- The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations has responded to an appeal for assistance made by the Serbian government and sent a team of rescuers to Serbia.

ROME - Serbia's Ana Ivanovic reached the quarter-finals of the WTA tournament in Rome on Thursday by beating Maria Sharapova of Russia 6-1, 6-4 in the third round.

The win was Ivanovic's first against Sharapova after seven consecutive defeats.

In a bid to reach the semi-finals, Ivanovic will face Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain, who beat Romania's Simona Halep 2-1.

NATO needs to have a larger presence in eastern Europe in light of the crisis in Ukraine, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Thursday, quoted by The New York Times.

Tusk is in the Slovak capital Bratislava, to attend the session titled "Visegrad Up: Finding Common Grounds in Times of Crisis" at the 2014 GLOBSEC Security Forum. 

Bulgaria's Interior Ministry is planning to open eight new border crossing points by 2017, reports Sega daily. 

The checkpoints will be at the borders with Greece – one, Serbia – two, FYROM – three and Romania – two, shows a ministry plan, entitled Strategy for integrated border management. 

Romania has announced plans to cancel the debts of 15 companies in the defence sector, citing the worrying geopolitical context, which it says requires strengthening defence capacities.

An American tourist who was injured by a large firecracker explosion on the island of Santorini during celebrations for Greek Orthodox Easter in April has been discharged from the hospital on Crete where she spent several days in critical condition and underwent lifesaving abdominal surgery.

Fulham striker Costas Mitroglou, who has barely played this year due to a knee injury, was included in a 30-man provisional World Cup squad reluctantly revealed by coach Fernando Santos on Wednesday.

Santos had previously stated that he would not announce his provisional squad, only his final selection of 23 players, on May 19.

Predictions that workers from Bulgaria and Romania would arrive en masse in the UK after the removal of remaining work restrictions in January appeared disproved by new statistics showing the total number working in the UK had actually fallen in the last three months.

Ahead of the European Parliament elections, the EP's Facebook page has launched "A Taste of Europe" campaign.

Facebook users can vote for their favorite national dish of the 28 EU member states. Each country has nominated one dish to be represented.