News archive of August 2014

BELGRADE - Serbia has launched developments in its sport system and it will draw on the experiences of EU countries on this path, Serbian Minister of Youth and Sports Vanja Udovicic said.

The Christian Liberal Alliance (ACL, made up of the National Liberal and Democratic Liberal parties) calls for the introduction of the vote by correspondence; ACL say it would facilitate voting for citizens abroad, which are just as important for the country as those residing in Romania.

International lenders will withhold the next payment in Greek Cyprus’s 10 billion euros bailout unless parliament this week passes a crucial law speeding up foreclosures of non-performing banks loans (NPLs).

Financial markets are looking to the European Central Bank (ECB) to open the cash floodgates this week after consumer price data showed the 18-country eurozone is flirting with deflation, analysts said.

The 28th International Ä°zmir Festival, organized by the Ä°zmir Foundation for Culture and Arts, will end on Sept. 3 with a concert by French-American cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The cellist, who has won 17 Grammy awards over the course of his career and who currently serves as an EU peace envoy, will be accompanied by the Silk Road Ensemble.

Now competing in Venice, newcomer Kaan Müjdeci’s ‘Sivas’ tells the friendship of an 11-year-old boy and an Anatolian sheepdog.

Bulgaria will make a commitment to increase army funding from 1.33% to 1.5% of the GDP, seeking to reach 2% of the GDP by 2020, according to President Rosen Plevneliev.

Plevneliev commented on the upcoming NATO summit to be held in Wales on September 4-5. Bulgaria’s head of state noted that the other NATO countries were expected to make the same financial commitment.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 31 dramatically raised the stakes in the Ukraine conflict by calling for the first time for statehood to be considered for the restive east of the former Soviet state.

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - Acting EULEX Chief Joelle Vachter stated on Sunday that warrants have been issued for the arrest of Zubin Potok Mayor Stevan Vulovic and former mayor Slavisa Ristic.

The Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) and power distributor CEZ have signed a memorandum of cooperation on searching technical and economic solutions to extend the life of the Varna Thermal Power Plant.

A working group has been formed for the purpose and it is to function by October 31.