Balkans

Djokovic announces Balkan region series, Thiem joins

All professional tennis tours were suspended in early March and will not return before August as countries went into lockdowns and closed borders to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The national theatre is demolished but Albania’s civil society is unbowed

Using the cover of the coronavirus lockdown, a political elite sees an opportunity to bulldoze the opposition.

EU aims to reassure Balkans with virus aid, economic support

Delays in starting EU membership talks for Albania and North Macedonia, tensions between Serbia and Kosovo and a perception that the EU was slow to help its Balkan partners cope with Covid-19 fuel concern that they might turn toward Russia and China.

Covid-19 cases top 1.5 million worldwide – latest updates

The virus has infected more than 1,5 million people and killed over 88,000 by spreading to 209 countries and territories. Here are the latest updates for April 8:

'Guy with 100kg of flour seeking girl with 100 rolls of toilet paper'

Humour helps us deal with anxiety and the current pandemic is a testament to that notion.

Geopolitical schadenfreude: The US, Iran, China and the pandemic

Visions of regime change in China and Iran due to Covid-19 represent a strain of Western callousness.

Is the EU’s new Balkan accession plan divorced from ground realities?

Addressing the future of the region, the EU has proposed a new methodology to move Balkan accession forwards, but local politicians are doubtful of its success.

EU seeks to expand to six Balkan states – official

EU enlargement commissioner Oliver Varhelyi says goal remains to embrace Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and North Macedonia in the economic bloc.

NATO should follow Turkey's advice and make Georgia a member

Georgia's track record as a dependable NATO ally and its geostrategic importance make a convincing case for the country's membership to the Alliance.

Trump treats Iraq with the same disrespect he's shown Mexico

Sifting through Trump’s most recent tweets and speeches reveal insults and injuries to the Iraqis

Albania becomes a frontline in the proxy battle between Iran and the US

By hosting the People’s Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) on behalf of the US, despite the group being labelled a terrorist organisation by Iran, Albania has drawn the ire of Supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Czech Muslims face mockery, mosque desecration and death threats

The Czech Republic has a tiny Muslim minority of 0.2 percent and yet they have been at the receiving end of increasing hate crimes.