Balkans

As Serbia begins investigating a blast of unexploded ordnance that killed two cadets, some experts call for top military officials to step down.Serbia has formed a commission to investigate the explosion of a “a leftover 33mm grenade” that killed two students in the fourth year of the Military Academy and …

Croatia’s 2012 National Happiness Index shows most Croats feel no optimism about their prospects and have no faith in the government or political parties.As many as 60 per cent of the Croatians cannot see any future for themselves and for their families, while 75 per cent of respondents do not …

Prime Minister Victor Ponta has denied accusations that he copied parts of his PhD thesis, claiming it is all part of a political plot against him.“I never copied large parts of my doctoral thesis without clear attribution and I am ready to undergo any kind of checks to prove this …

The genocide and war crimes trial of former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic, has been postponed until further notice.The beginning of the evidence hearing by the prosecution at the Hague Tribunal, ICTY, was scheduled for June 25. “The Trial Chamber delayed until further notice the beginning of the evidence …

One of the most vocal supporters of NATO intervention in Kosovo in 1999, Britain’s Tony Blair says he heard nothing about organ harvesting by KLA rebels during the conflict with Serbia.Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said that during his time in office he heard nothing about organ harvesting allegations …

A peacekeeper was injured in northern Kosovo, after a NATO military compound at the Kosovo-Serbia northern border was attacked at dawn on Tuesday.A NATO peacekeeper was injured in northern Kosovo on the border with Serbia after their military compound was attacked with an explosive device, the Kosovo force, KFOR, said. …

Authorities advise people to take precautions as the country expects a scorching blast of heat in coming days – up to 39 degrees Celsius.It may still be officially only spring, but Macedonia is already roasting under a heatwave with daily temperatures for several days in a row exceeding 37 degrees. …

Well-known artists accuse the government of trying to take over the institute charged with promoting Romania’s country’s culture abroad.omania’s new centre-left government has courted a row with the arts world after abruptly adopting changes to the running of the Romanian Cultural Institute. Modelled on the British Council and France’s Institut …

Bulgaria’s informal economy is the largest of any European Union country, over 30 per cent, according to a recent study.The study on the extent of the informal economy was conducted by the Bulgarian National Center Business. According to European Commission data, the average size of the “shadow” economy in EU …

Recent developments in Europe, where the economic crisis continues to affect the political and social life, are showing a worrying rise of the “traditional” extreme – both right and left – parties, as well as of the newer “anti-system” or  “fringe” movements that oppose the existing institutions (especially the global …