Russian Extremists Held in Serbia and Ukraine Over High-Profile Murders
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- Published on Friday, 17 May 2013 14:58
- Written by BC & Agencies
Two alleged Russian nationalists suspected of involvement in a number of high-profile murders, including the audacious 2009 shooting of a human rights lawyer in downtown Moscow, have been detained in Serbia and Ukraine, Russia's Investigative Committee said Monday. Some of the gruesome murders such as slaughter of Tajik Muslim were filmed and later released over the internet.
Ilya Goryachev and Mikhail Volkov had been on the international wanted list as part of the criminal case opened into the BORN (Battle Organization of Russian Nationalists) extremist group on multiple charges related to a string of killings.
Bugging Scandal Rocks Bulgaria, Cyprus Scrambles to Regain Russians’ Trust
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- Published on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 18:28
- Written by Joshua Boissevain and Ioana Caloianu
Plus, four-fifths of Croatian voters stay home on Euro-election day and Moscow threatens to close a vital transport link for migrant workers.
1. Bulgarian politics on the boil as new scandal breaks
Bulgarian authorities say a wiretap investigation initiated on a tip-off by Socialist Party leader Sergey Stanishev has turned up numerous violations, Balkan Insight reports.
At a press conference 15 April, Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov said investigators had found evidence of official misconduct and improper use of wiretaps. Three Interior Ministry officials and one employee are under investigation.
Media Reports: Russian Company Offers to Bailout Cyprus in Exchange for Gas Exploration Rights
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- Published on Friday, 22 March 2013 15:11
- Written by BC & Agencies
The Russian energy company Gazprom is offering to bailout Cyprus in exchange for gas exploration rights, according to media reports.
Euro-deputies back suspending Balkan visa-free regime as 'last resort'
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- Published on Monday, 15 April 2013 02:46
- Written by Nikolaj Nielsen
A sudden increase in unfounded EU asylum claims from Balkan nations could see their visa-free regimes temporarily revoked, say euro-deputies.
The European Parliament's civil liberties committee on Monday (8 April) voted in favour of suspending visa-free regimes in case of "substantial and sudden increases" in irregular migrant numbers or unfounded asylum applications but "only as a last resort."
The so-called 'suspension clause' in the EU visa regulation was proposed by the European Commission after thousands from Balkan nations claim asylum in the EU. The countries could see their visa free regimes suspended up to one year or longer if necessary.
Finland Wants to Keep Romania and Bulgaria out of Schengen
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- Published on Tuesday, 12 March 2013 14:20
- Written by BC & Agencies
Finland says it will block Romanian and Bulgarian bids to join the passport-free Schengen travel zone ahead of a meeting of EU Interior ministers on the matter Thursday, Finnish television YLE reports.
Both government and parliament said the two countries are too corrupt and fail to live up to the rule of law, a precondition for accession.
Turkish president warns of Holocaust if intolerance looms over
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- Published on Friday, 12 April 2013 04:10
- Written by BC-Stuff
European countries will face new humanitarian tragedies leading to mass killings of people if they continue in their failure to embrace tolerance toward different cultures and religions, President Abdullah Gül has warned.
"Islam and migrants have been a reality in Europe for centuries. As long as the continent of Europe doesn't approach segments which are different from the majority with tolerance, particularly in regards to religion, an occurrence of new inquisitions and Holocausts, as well as incidents evoking Srebrenica, are probable," Gül said yesterday.
Merkel OKs EU negotiations with Turkey...
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- Published on Thursday, 28 February 2013 03:45
- Written by BC & Agencies
"In recent times, negotiations have stalled somewhat and I am in favor of opening a new chapter in order to move forward," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Turkey during her official visit.
Meanwhile, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called the delay in talks 'unforgivable.'
Previously Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union spoke against full Turkish membership, favoring 'privileged partnership' status for the country..
Given that there are 3 million Turkish people in Germany, some suggest there are more cynical reasons for Merkel's change of heart towards Turkish EU accession process. They point that now "when we see that Angela Merkel's party is now slowly becoming weaker... we can see that there are certain politicians from this party hoping for the Turkish votes in future."
Serbia got $500 million from Russia And pledge on support on Kosovo
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- Published on Thursday, 11 April 2013 17:13
- Written by BC & Agencies
Russia granted Serbia a $500 million loan on Wednesday and promised to back Serbia in its dispute with Kosovo but warned it must broker a deal with its former province on its own.
Yearly conversions to Islam double in France over 25 years
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- Published on Saturday, 23 February 2013 15:53
- Written by BC & Agencies
Bernard Godard, an official in charge of religious issues at the French Interior Ministry, said around 100,000 out of an estimated six million Muslims in France are thought to be converts, compared with some 50,000 in 1986.
The report was published by the New York Times on Sunday.
"The conversion phenomenon is significant and impressive, particularly since 2000," said Godard, adding that the "nature" of conversions has changed.
Eurozone unemployment hits all-time high: 19 million out of work
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- Published on Wednesday, 03 April 2013 03:33
- Written by BC & Agencies
Eurozone unemployment levels have hit 12 percent – the highest in the history of eurozone record-keeping, since the currency was launched in 1999.
The Pig With The Most Lipstick
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- Published on Tuesday, 19 February 2013 03:56
- Written by Jeff Thomas
In recent years, Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Spain have collectively been referred to by economists as the "PIGS." Whoever originally concocted this nomenclature might just as easily have named them the "GIPS," or the SPIG," but then, whoever it was, wished to make a point.
