Moscow

BELGRADE - The Serbian music scene will get a new symphony orchestra that will stage its inaugural concert in the Ilija Kolarac Endowment on Saturday, January 31, with Predrag Goste as conductor.

The United States has refuted speculation that suggested it is considering changes to its long-standing Syria policy of prioritizing the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Pro-Russian rebels cemented their hold Friday on a long-disputed airport ceded by Ukrainian troops during an upsurge in clashes that killed nearly 50 people and punctured Europe's latest push for peace in the nine-month war.
      

DAVOS - Serbia is in talks with Romania about importing gas from the Black Sea and is open to discussions about getting gas from Russia through alternative routes, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday, speaking for the Reuters' Global Markets Forum in Davos.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced on Wednesday that Russia had more than 9000 troops and 500 tanks, heavy artillery and armoured personnel carriers in eastern Ukraine.

Poroshenko hurled this accusation during his visit at the World Economic Forum in Davos, which he had to leave earlier due to the renewed escalation of violence in Ukraine, the BBC reports.

BELGRADE - Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel presented Serbian Consul General in Chicago Dejan Radulovic with a resolution to mark the tenth anniversary of twinning between Belgrade and Chicago.

'The Last Tram' by Nedim Gürsel, translated by Ruth Whitehouse (Comma Press, $15, 184 pages)

Russia and the United States have engaged in a war of words over the tension in Ukraine, but U.S. President Barack Obama's remarks putting the fight against Islamists in the focus of his Syria policy have been welcomed by Moscow.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced at his annual press conference on Wednesday that Moscow relies on the fact that the Turkish Stream project will be realized, which will allow for the strengthening of energy security in Europe.

Lavrov stated that the issue with South Streamis concluded, TASS news agency reports.

Bulgaria will demand measures in support of all dairy producers in the EU at the official meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council to be held on 26 January.

This course of action was approved on Wednesday by the Bulgarian government.