Skopje

Police confirmed there were four casualties in the crash in the Russian-made multi-purpose Mi 17 helicopter, announcing more details would follow on Friday.

The helicopter that crashed minutes after 10pm was reportedly transporting a shift of border police officers.

Sofia is the most affordable EU city for expat living, shows the 2014 Mercer Cost of Living Rankings annual survey. 

The capital of Bulgaria takes the 172-nd position out of 211 surveyed cities. 

Compared to the 2013 survey, the cost of expat living increased, shows the survey. Last year Bulgaria was at the 181-st place. 

Police spokesperson Ivo Kotevski said that officers were “closely monitoring social networks” ahead of the possible unauthorised protests on Friday and warned that “violent outbursts cannot be tolerated”.

Macedonia hopes for calm after days of protests, riots

Ali Ahmeti, the head of the junior party in Macedonia's ruling coalition, the Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, demanded on Tuesday a transparent retrial and a public presentation of the evidence that led to the conviction of six ethnic Albanians for terrorism - a verdict that sparked unrest on the streets of the capital last week.

The Association of Macedonian Architects, AAM, is to submit an initiative for a referendum to the municipality of Centar in Skopje after the authorities announced a start to construction in September.

SKOPJE – Ethnic Albanians in Macedonia have been protesting for a few days demanding the release of six members of the Albanian community in the country sentenced to a life in prison.

The six Albanians were sentenced to life for a brutal murder of five Macedonians in Smilkovci, near Skopje, in 2012.

Macedonia’s ethnic Albanians were urged to rally again in the capital Skopje on Monday after midday prayers in mosques, raising fears of more unrest after clashes between protesters and riot police over the past several days.

Police said they were investigating on Saturday after 20 officers and several protesterssustained injuries in the previous day’s protests, which spokesperson Ivo Kotevski described as “extremely violent”.

Police established a high-profile presence in the city centre on Friday ahead of the demonstration, which is being seen by the authorities as high-risk and a potential flashpoint for violent confrontation.