United States

BELGRADE – The Kosovo parliament declared the independence of Kosovo from Serbia in a legitimate democratic process under UN administration, after all other options were exhausted, the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade said Friday in a comment on a recent statement by U.S. President Barack Obama that an independence referendum took place in Kosovo in 2008.

MOSCOW - The authorities in Moscow are astonished by U.S. President Barack Obama’s claim that the decision to declare Kosovo independence was taken in a referendum held with the approval of the United Nations and neighboring countries.

US and British investors bought the bulk of Alpha Bank’s 1.2-billion-euro new share issue, it said on Friday, providing further evidence that foreign investors are warming to Greece.

Russia "astonished" by Obama's version of Kosovo UDI

MOSCOW -- Russia said on Friday it was "astonished" by a statement made by U.S. President Barack Obama concerning the unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence.

US President Barack Obama has urged Russia to "move back its troops" on Ukraine's border and lower tensions.

Russia is believed to have massed a force of several thousand troops close to Ukraine's eastern frontier. According to some estimates there are around 30 000 troops, while some US generals believe the number can be as high as 80 000. 

One of the two Bulgarians arrested in Bulgaria for card fraud in the US, remains in custody, the other is released under home arrest, ruled the Sofia City Court. 

Mihail Petrov was released because he suffers from cerebral palsy and has clean police record, while Radoslav Pavlov is in good health and, though he also has clean record, will remain in custody for at least 60 days. 

The NATO member states have agreed that the ex-prime minister of Norway Jens Stoltenberg will be the next NATO Secretary-General. 

Bulgarian Economy and Energy Minister Dragomir Stoynev has declared the industrial, energy and social policy of the European Union "a total failure."

Speaking Friday in Sofia at a conference entitled "Social Alternative for Europe", he said the collapse had happened after approximately two terms in office of the rightwing European People's Party (EPP).

The number of government demands for personal data in Google accounts has risen by 120% in the last four years. 

In the second half of 2013 governments across the world made 27 000 requests for 42 000 accounts, according to the Google Transparency Report, which the company releases each six months since 2009. 

BELGRADE - The Office for Kosovo -Metohija (KiM) has stated that no referendum on independence was carried out in the territory of KiM, adding that neither Albanians nor Serbs or any other ethnic community living in KiM took part in it.