Ukraine

Russian gas firm Gazprom said on May 7 that construction had begun for a gas pipeline under the Black Sea to Turkey, which is meant to eventually also serve the European Union.

"Construction of the TurkStream gas pipeline began in the Black Sea near the Russian coast," Gazprom said in a statement.

The Bulgarian rhythmic gymnastics group team led by Coach Vesela Todorova won the gold in the all-around from the World Cup in Sofia's Arena Armeec, BNR reported.

Simona Daynkova, Madlen Radukanova, Elena Bineva, Teodora Alexandrova and Laura Traats scored the total of 36.550 points from the five hoops and the three balls & ropes routines.

Action movie legend Steven Seagal has been barred from Ukraine and marked a “threat to national security” over his cosy friendship with Vladimir Putin. The Hollywood veteran, banned by Ukranian’s security service, the SBU, is the second of Putin’s celebrity friends to be blacklisted by the former Soviet state – following French actor Gerard Depardieu.

The Russian intervention in Syria has been, by most accounts, a success. And Russian President Vladimir Putin is going to do everything he can to keep it that way.

As the European Union's foreign ministers met recently in a baroque palace in Malta, Finland's top diplomat quipped that despite the grandeur of their surroundings, they were all merely "doctors and welders," trying "to sew things up" in the world.

Another edition of the 2017 FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup Series was officially unveiled at Sofia's Arena Armeec Sofia Hall, BNR reported.

Greece is at serious risk of becoming a lot like Ukraine in terms of seeing its media and public affairs slipping into the hands of a small group of new oligarchs who will make the maligned old guard seem like nice guys.

The number of tourists visiting the Mediterranean resort of Antalya saw a sharp rise in April with a 40 percent increase since the same month in 2016. 

The arrivals from Russia soared 15.5 times during the period, data from the Antalya Governor's Office showed, Doğan News Agency reported on May 2. 

Turkish police have seized two telescopes and two trigger mechanisms used in the making of anti-missiles in the northern port of the Black Sea province of Zonguldak, while detaining a suspect of Iranian origin, according to reports emerged on April 30. 

European Union nations have agreed to help each other meet gas shortages in a severe crisis, officials said April 27 as they seek to depend less on Russia.

Neighboring EU states will cooperate to ensure supplies for households and essential services such as hospitals if there are major shortages under the plans.