News archive of May 2023

Anže Logar, the former foreign minister, who has ranked as the most popular politician since he unsuccessfully challenged Nataša Pirc Musar in the 2022 presidential election, has started a new platform to discuss Slovenia's key challenges. Some speculate the forum might develop into a new party.

GERB leader Boyko Borissov speaks at a-post-election press conference in Sofia, 5 April 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/VASSIL DONEV

The prosecution says there is now incriminating evidence that Bulgaria's PM for much of the time from 2009 to 2021 provided third parties with funds - acquired from crime - to purchase and rent real estate abroad. 

On the occasion of International Children's Day, Bulgarian Railways (BDZ) is giving free travel to all children up to the age of 14 this year, the company reports.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Asen Medzhidiev, will initiate changes to the Health Law to allow for the abolition of the mandatory isolation of persons sick with COVID-19, as well as the mandatory quarantine of the contacts of these persons.

On May 5, the World Health Organization lifted the Public Health Emergency of International Concern due to COVID-19.

MUSAI, the Music and Artificial Intelligence Festival, is launching at the Greek National Opera's (nationalopera.gr) Alternative Stage with 14 acts that will be exploring the fascinating encounter between conventional forms of music creation and production and cutting-edge technology.

Türkiye with its 85 million people will march towards bigger goals in its second century, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said, stressing the outcomes of the May 14 and May 28 polls have shown the Turkish people's commitment to implementing the Century of Türkiye Vision.

Prime Minister Ioannis Sarmas, on Wednesday received the US Ambassador to Greece, George Tsunis at his office.

The ambassador congratulated Sarmas on his appointment as prime minister and wished the caretaker government good luck in its endeavours. They reaffirmed that Greek-US relations are "at their best point".

[AMNA]

BELGRADE - Serbia registered 22.2 pct more tourist visits in April 2023 relative to the same month of last year and the number of overnight stays was up by 17.7 pct, according to figures released by the national statistical office.

Overnight stays generated by Serbian tourists were up by 9.5 pct y-o-y, while those generated by foreign tourists were up by 28.6 pct y-o-y.

New rules, restrictions and sanctions for the use of scooters and electric scooters in Sofia are proposed in amendments to the "Ordinance on the organization of traffic on the territory of the Capital Municipality". They will be submitted by the chairman of the Metropolitan Municipal Council, Georgi Georgiev, and published for public discussion.

The City of Athens has announced an open competition for public space design ideas in downtown districts like Kolonaki, Exarchia and Kypseli, which are frequented by thousands of people every day and are to get busier as new subway stations are being built there.