News archive of April 2014

BELGRADE - The area under organic farming in Serbia increased by 16 per cent last year compared to 2012, reaching 7,200 hectares, indicate the latest preliminary data released by the association Serbia Organica.

This refers to farms that already gained full organic status and to areas in conversion.

BELGRADE - Ballet dancer and choreographer Konstantin Kostyukov received the Terpsichore Prize on Tuesday at a ceremony organised by the Serbian Association of Professional Ballet Dancers, Choreographers and Pedagogues at the Museum of the National Theatre in Belgrade to mark the International Dance Day.

The Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) will put out 170 additional carriages on 139 trains for the upcoming six-day holidays.

Bulgaria's government has allocated BGN 26,732,642 from the state budget for unforeseen and urgent expenses for the prevention, control and overcoming the impacts of disasters.

A witness said that he saw Nedzad Hodzic, one of two Bosniak ex-servicemen on trial for wartime abuse of prisoners on Mount Igman, beating other detainees with a table leg.

A World Bank report suggests that China could take over from the US as the world’s biggest economy as early as this year.

The new report of the International Comparison Program of the World Bank suggests, that China’s economy is catching up to the US’s much more quickly than anticipated. 

Bulgaria and Macedonia will hold for the first time a joint event to mark the annual celebrations of the Slavic Script and Culture.

On May 11, Archbishop Stefan, head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, and the chair of Macedonia's Academy of Science Vlado Kambovski are due to arrive in Sofia, CROSS agency has reported.

Pensions "may have to be reduced" by end of year

BELGRADE -- Finance Minister Lazar Krstić has announced that "pensions also may have to be cut" by the end of this year.

Speaking for the public broadcaster RTS, he said his ministry's priority would be "fiscal consolidation and introduction of financial discipline."

Asarel Investment, the investment arm of leading copper ore mining and processing company Asarel-Medet, has been awarded a metallic minerals prospecting and exploration permit.

BELGRADE - Three Belgrade students have reached the final of the largest world competition in oil system management, which will be held in Budapest on May 29.