News archive of January 2016

The Greek government decided to ask the help of the Hellenic Armed Forces in order to complete in 15 days all the actions required so as to comply with its commitments on the refugee issue following the 3-month deadline EU has given to Greece.

The U.N. Syria envoy said yesterday that he was "optimistic and determined" following an informal meeting with the main opposition group, after it had threatened to leave before planned peace talks begin in earnest as fresh violence hit the country. 

Over 10,000 unaccompanied migrant children have disappeared in Europe, the EU police agency Europol said on Jan. 31, fearing many have been whisked into sex trafficking rings or the slave trade.

Europol's press office confirmed to AFP the figures published in British newspaper The Observer, adding that they covered the last 18-24 months.    

Newly released video footage shows the extent of the destruction in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır’s Sur district, where a military curfew has been in effect amid clashes since Dec. 11

Bulgarian border police detained 34 illegal immigrants in three operations across the country on Saturday.

On Saturday night a border police patrol attempted to stop two vehicles for a check near the village of Gabar in the municipality of Sozopol.

A shocking footage posted on LiveLeak shows a driver who has just survived a car accident being hit by another car.

The driver is seen trying to get some pieces of his ruined car, which is still in the middle of the highway, when a lorry hit him and drag him a few meters.

Another man rushed to the scene to help the man who is seen trying to recover.

Specialised farmers' markets selling organic products will be opened in five Bulgarian cities - Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas and Veliko Tarnovo.

Only certified producers will be able sell their produce at these markets, private bTV station informs.

In order to be eligible to sell at the markets, producers will have to possess certificates for each of the exhibited products.

At least 45 people were killed and 110 wounded on Sunday by a car bomb and two suicide bombers in the blasts in the mainly Shi’ite neighbourhood in Damascus, Syria’s Interior Ministry reported.

The Islamic State terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Internationally acclaimed Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk has accused the European Union of turning a blind eye to the state of democracy and media freedom in Turkey because of its cooperation in the migration crisis.

Ethiopia is struggling with its worst drought for 30 years, with millions in dire need of life-saving aid, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned on Jan. 31.

At least 10.2 million people need food aid in Ethiopia, a figure the U.N. has warned could double within months, casting a fifth of the population into hunger.