Greek government replaces heads of fire departments and police


In the wake of the fires in the region of Attica, that caused the deaths of dozens of people, the Greek government replaced the heads of the police and the country's fire service. Before that the Deputy Minister of Interior, who was responsible for citizen protection in disasters, also resigned. His decision was triggered by sharp criticism from the opposition that actions of the authorities were inadequate.

Serbian army raises combat readiness because of Kosovo?


Vecernje Novosti newspaper reported on Sunday that the Serbian army had raised combat readiness because of tensions in Kosovo. After a Security Council meeting with President Alexander Vucic held on Saturday, the paper wrote that "the security forces have stepped up their readiness to prevent alleged plans of the authorities in Pristina to trigger unrest”. President Vucic himself announced after the meeting that a solution to the conflict between Belgrade and Pristina does not currently exist. Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said that an agreement would soon be signed between Belgrade and Pristina, and it would be legally binding and final.

Assets of US ministers in Turkey to be frozen


Turkey's President Recep Erdogan has ordered assets of US Justice and interior ministers frozen if it turned out there were such assets in Turkey. The decision of the president came in response to an identical measure imposed on Turkish ministers by Donald Trump because of Ankara's refusal to release US pastor Andrew Brunson, charged with espionage and ties with terrorists from FETO and Kurdish PKK. Erdogan pointed out that US sanctions against Turkey were a sign of disrespect and Ankara would respond in the same way to Washington.

Slovenia with the highest and Macedonia with the lowest salary among former Yugoslav republics


MIA agency has reported that Macedonia has the lowest average salary among the countries of former Yugoslavia. Macedonia's average salary in May was 399 euros. With a monthly net salary of 1,078 euros in May 2018, Slovenia is the country with the highest income. The largest rise in the average net wage has been registered in Croatia, where in comparison to May last year it grew by 71 euros and reached 866.95 euros. In Montenegro, the average salary in June was 511 euros, in Bosnia and Herzegovina - 449 euros, and in Serbia - 426 euros.

Macedonia is regional leader in use of anonymous media sources


The European campaign that addresses pro-Kremlin disinformation  "EU vs Desinfo" has announced the results of a survey of a Serbian NGO - the Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability, on the state of the media and disinformation in the region. The study was carried out in Montenegro, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and found out that media reports citing "anonymous sources" are the most widespread in Macedonia. Serbia tops the chart of reports that quote no sources. In Macedonian media, positive comments about the EU, US and NATO reach 39%, and those disapproving of US and NATO are 20%. At the same time, pro-Russian and anti-American media reports prevail in Serbia.

Compiled by: Stoimen Pavlov

English: Alexander Markov