All News from Balkans

27 Arrested, 6 Injured in 2nd Day of Riots in Skopje

At least 6 people were injured and 27 arrested in Skopje in a second night of unrest sparked by after the murder of a teenager in a western suburb of the Macedonian capital.

Local police blocked access to the Albanian-populated Saraj area in a bid to prevent serious clashes.

Water levels receding; 22 now confirmed dead

BELGRADE -- The flood-stricken areas of Serbia had a quiet night as the Sava River water levels are receding, and no critical locations have been identified.

Official death toll now stands at 22, 14 of whom died in the town of Obrenovac.

Serbia observes three days of mourning

BELGRADE -- The Serbian government on Tuesday decided to declare three days of mourning in the country due to the number of victims in the disastrous flooding.

The proposal came from Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić. The days of mourning will be observed on May 21, 22, and 23.

Lausevic: I am well

The legend of the Yugoslav cinematography Zarko Lausevic was secretly in Montenegro from Sunday morning till yesterday afternoon.

Minimal damage billion Euros

The damage caused by flooding is six times larger than the limits of the EU funds from which Serbia is expecting to get so much needed help.

According to the first assessments, the damage is at least a billion of Euros, the Blic learns at the Serbia Government.

'The water was so cold and my boots were totally wet. I was shivering, but I was not afraid. Then my grandma started crying and I started crying with her – Ana Stanisic (10) of Borovic at Obrenovac says. She came with her family to Belgrade on Monday.

Neighbours help flooded Serbia and BiH

Countries expecting fewer tourists from Russia

Bulgaria and Montenegro are expecting a drop in Russian tourists this summer. Also in business news: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will invest 500 million euros in Cyprus.

The number of Russian tourists visiting the region this summer is expected to decline. [AFP]

KEPE forecasts return to growth from this quarter

The Center of Planning and Economic Research (KEPE) expects Greeces economy to revert to expansion in the current quarter and that growth will amount to 0.5 percent at the end of the year, according to a report issued on Tuesday.

Socar keeps an eye on DESFA investment projects

By Chryssa Liaggou

Socar is closely monitoring the implementation of the investment program of Greeces natural gas transmission network operator (DESFA) that the Azeri state energy company will soon control after agreeing to buy a 66 percent stake in it.

Slashing transfer tax brings house transaction costs down

By Nikos Roussanoglou

Following the reduction in the transfer tax to 3 percent since the start of the year, Greece has shown a considerable improvement in the European chart of countries based on total property transaction charges.

Fiscal balance requires growth

Despite the stability which has been achieved on the fiscal front in Greece and in the countrys current accounts, the risk that the economy will fail to secure sustainable and robust growth rates remains, according to a study on the reforms that have not been implemented.

Candidates for Athens mayorship brace for TV debate

Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis is to take part in a televised debate on Wednesday evening with his SYRIZA rival Gavriil Sakellaridis but a proposal for a similar discussion between the candidates for Attica governor fell foul of differences between the two hopefuls.

Credit to start flowing to SMEs in September

Institution for Growth to begin funding local companies with 200 million euros at lower interest rates

By Sotiris Nikas

Outside the ivory tower

By Alexis Papachelas

In days such as these, it becomes evident that there are two types of minds out there the independent and the partisan. And they are worlds apart.

Independent minds are sensitive to the signals coming at them from various directions, regardless of whether these are from society or the financial markets.