London School of Economics

By Tina Mandilara

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has shown himself to be anything but a predictable negotiator.

A new telephone conversation was held between US FinMin Jack Lew and Greek PM Alexis Tsipras. This shows Washington DC’s wish to see an agreement on Greece as soon as possible.

The Scottish National Party (SNP) won a landslide in Scotland on May 8, destroying the Labour party north of the border in a historic leap forward which could increase pressure for a fresh referendum on independence.

The nationalists won 56 of 59 parliamentary seats in Scotland in the May 7 general election, final results showed, up from just six at the last vote in 2010.

One of Greece’s best known free-market economists didn’t mince her words recently in London, saying she’s pulled her bank deposits from Greek banks, while charging that the leftist SYRIZA government merely aims at “wealth redistribution” instead of creating more wealth.

About 2,000 people have been evacuated from buildings in central London on Wednesday afternoon due to fire suspected to have started among underground electrical cables in Holborn, according to British media reports.

No-one is believed to be injured, The Telegraph said.

Almost two decades after the war in Bosnia ended, positive momentum seems lost, the country shows signs of backsliding and stronger international engagement is needed, a report entitled "Bosnia and Herzegovina - New International Thinking", which leading British academic institutions will publish this week, says.

Serbia chooses West Vu?i?'s big "NO" to Putin

After US Secretary of state John Kerry said that Serbia is "in the line of fire between Russia and the USA", some experts say that Belgrade already made its choice.

Turkey and Russia do not have common interests in energy in the long-term, and EU could boost cooperation with Ankara through its nascent Energy Union, a recent report argues.

In two years Bulgaria will be able to achieve diversification, Iliyan Vasilev, a former Bulgarian ambassador to Russia and currently an energy expert, has said.

Speaking on an event presenting a report on Russia-Turkey relations held in Sofia on Monday, Vasilev argued links with Romania and Greece could be used to this end, but denied to give further details.