EU spends money on private jets and metaverse instead of crisis management
Millions of euros have been earmarked to finance the luxury expenses of the EU's top leaders, while average European citizens skimp on food and cannot properly heat their homes.
Did Serbia defeat Covid? Now there's something else to fear
The Balkan country's dispensaries that opened due to the coronavirus are slowly closing up shop again. There are still new cases with human lives are at risk and the flu epidemic is also imminent, warns an epidemiologist.
Serbia's left without Russian crude. What now?
The EU embargo on Russian crude oil arriving by sea came into effect. This means that from now on, Serbia is also unable to buy Russian crude oil through the JANAF pipeline. However, raw materials from elsewhere can come from the Croatian port, of course at a higher price. According to Serbia's prime minister, this sanction will impact the country's economy.
European countries prepare for power outages
Planned blackouts may leave the Swedish city of Malmo without electricity for days, according to experts. In France, authorities will notify the large stores of any power outages one day in advance
Croats say no to providing military aid
The overwhelming majority of Croatia's population opposes the country taking part in the joint training of Ukrainian soldiers with the EU. According to a recent public opinion survey, 58 per cent of Croats reject this type of assistance, with the head of state also sharing the majority's view.
22 arrested for child pornography released on bail
Out of 23 people arrested in the province in an extensive investigation into possession of child pornography, 22 were released on bail.
Youth drug deaths up two-fold, yet government mulls legalising drug use
Since 2016, the number of drug-related deaths among people under the age of 22 has more than doubled, but the numbers for the entire population are also high.
New government working on tightening migration policy
The Scandinavian country is following in the footsteps of Denmark in matters concerning migration, which is in the complete opposite approach to Germany's, where they are about to relax the regulations for granting citizenship.
Shocking: President admits arms from Ukraine pose security risk
At a conference, the Nigerian president expressed concern that, as in the Libyan war, weapons from the war in Ukraine are beginning to trickle into the Sahel region, threatening its collective peace and security.
No agreement in Croatia on training of Ukrainian soldiers
The Croatian government wants to participate in the joint EU military assistance. However, by doing so, the cabinet is putting the country at risk and distracting attention from problems at home, the opposition says. The president does not support Zagreb's participation in the mission either.
Real-life James Bond says how you unwittingly become a spy
Social media is a goldmine for intelligence agencies, the expert said, adding that today the vast majority of CIA-obtained information is accessed legally through the internet and social media.
Inflation decreases slower than expected
Inflation is Serbia will remain above 15 per cent until the end of this year. The figure is higher than the number the National Bank expected, says a member of the country's Fiscal Council, opining that the price index will fall back to half of its current rate, and could stabilise around 3 per cent by 2024-25.
Hungarian minister in charge of EU funds hails EC decision as big achievement
Commissioner Tibor Navracsics held a press briefing in Budapest after the European Commission had approved Hungary’s recovery plan.
Part on fallen Ukrainian soldiers cut from von der Leyen video
A video posted on the website of the European Commission President this morning was swiftly removed, and then uploaded again in a re-edited version. The internet, however, preserved the original version.
French retail chain caught selling "Antifa" board game
The store chain discontinued the sale of the product that drew strong response, with several politicians and a police union expressing sharp criticism. However, the product is available at their partner dealer, the information on their website says.
PM Orban to visit Slovenia on Friday
The Slovenian press reports regarding PM Orban's planned visit have been confirmed by his press chief.
The Washington Post tries to sensitise
This time, the paper published an article on salted ants, suggesting that eating insects actually has a beneficial effect on both the environment and on our health. This is not the first attempt to try and force the eating of insects on people.
France's overseas territory on brink of civil war
France's poorest department has seen a series of clashes between rival gangs in recent days, with one person having been killed. Crime is rising on the island and public safety is deteriorating. One local MP, who believes that immigration is the underlying cause, has called on the French government to restore the rule of law on the island.
Who do independent fact-checkers depend on? – The financial and political empire behind Lakmusz – Part 3.
A fact-checking group claiming to be independent has received significant EU funds under unclear selection criteria, as V4NA had reported earlier. However, it's turned out that the group active around the micro-blog is rather far from being independent. In the latest part of our series we present the financial and political empire in the background.
Town protests new LNG terminal
The Italian town of Piombino is planning to build a floating LNG terminal. As large vessels would bring liquefied natural gas to the terminal, local residents, supported by the mayor, protest, fearing health and safety risks and threats to the marine life and fishery. They have now taken legal action to stop the project.
Armed migrants and people smugglers terrorise border residents
In recent months, automatic weapons, cartridges and knives have become such a basic equipment for migrants as tents and sleeping bags used to be. After Thursday evening's shooting in the village of Horgos and the subsequent action by authorities, the situation along Serbia's northern border has improved, but people are still afraid, saying this is only a temporary situation. The photos and videos published by police clearly prove that the migrants are full of weapons. In addition, more and more information is filtering out, indicating that illegal migrants also use mind-altering drugs and prostitutes.
Right-wing party president: Moroccan football 'fans' enjoying Europe's benefits trample on its values – video
Moroccan football fans going on a rampage in Brussels after Morocco had defeated Belgium in the World Cup has triggered general outcry over the weekend. Several French politicians responded to the rioting, all condemning the vandalism.
France's minister for territorial cohesion resigns
President Emmanuel Macron let go of his minister upon her own request, after disagreement over her asset declaration.
Normalcy strikes back: the transgender leviathan
Despite a culture of intimidation and silencing, which enjoys a staggering degree of political and financial backing, many in America have grown tired of the trans lobby. Now, sanity strikes back in a 40-page study.
Brutal fights breakout in Paris, one victim in critical condition – video
Over the weekend, several violent fights involving individuals of foreign origin took place in the capital. One of the victims was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
PM Orban posts about Advent preparations
The Hungarian prime minister purchased an Advent wreath for his office.
Two probes into Macron's campaign under way
France’s National Financial Prosecutor’s Office is looking into the role played by the US McKinsey consultancy firm in the 2017 and 2022 presidential campaigns. The judiciary must act with complete independence, the French president's office responded.
Ukrainian ex-intelligence officer applies for asylum in Serbia
Andriy Naumov, who was detained at the Serbia-Macedonia border this summer, has applied for refugee status in Serbia. The senior Ukrainian secret service officer tried to smuggle a significant amount of cash and two precious stones without declaring them at customs. Kyiv is now seeking Mr Naumov’s extradition, which he is trying to escape by claiming asylum. V4NA has also sent its questions regarding the case to the former chief's legal representative.
Automatic weapons fired near Serbia-Hungary border – videos
There was another shooting at the border between Hungary and Serbia. Several amateur videos show migrants walking around with automatic weapons, causing fear in Horgos residents. The last time similar events happened was during the time of the Ottoman and the Tatar invasions, the parliamentary group leader of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (VMSZ/SVM) says.
V4 summit: Prime ministers underline importance of V4 cooperation
The prime ministers of the Visegrad Four Group (Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary) held their summit in Slovakia to discuss a number of key issues.
Meat now a luxury in EU country
The crisis, along with some domestic policy decisions, have led to a crisis of animal husbandry in Croatia. As less and less pigs and cattle are bred, the country needs to import meat products, which results in price hikes.
Political scientist, historian and former Human Rights Commissioner are all board members in group providing millions to leftist propaganda site that denigrates women
A Hungarian portal has sent questions to an organisation that provided funds for a left-wing propaganda site that published content derogatory to women on its social media, back in 2020. The questions were forwarded to the members of the advisory board that includes, among others, a political scientist at Stanford University, history professors at Oxford and Yale Universities, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and NATO's former Commander-in-Chief in Europe.
No new war in Europe, as Serbia and Kosovo strike a deal
A few hours before the deadline, Belgrade and Pristina struck a deal, ending a conflict that threatened with a potential armed conflict. On Monday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti left Brussels without an agreement, but on Wednesday night, with the mediation of the EU, Serbia's and Kosovo's chief negotiators managed to find a solution suitable for both sides.
Micro-donations for Hungarian left called into question
Action for Democracy, a US organisation run by David Koranyi, has raised over €2.5 million with remarkable speed within a week of its launch, and then transferred the money to the Hungarian left's former prime ministerial candidate, Peter Marki-Zay and his circles, as revealed by the documents disclosed on Wednesday by Hungary's national security committee. Based on the pace of the events, the story of micro-donations – as presented by Mr Koranyi and Marki-Zay – becomes strongly questionable and it suggests that the appearance of large donor(s) was coordinated, writes a Hungarian portal.
French presidential candidate: Meloni was brave, Macron was cowardly and powerless – video
Except for 6 people, more than two hundred migrants travelling on board the Ocean Viking ship have vanished, according to a politician of the French Republicans, who remarked that Italy's prime minister behaved bravely when she refused to issue permission for the vessel to dock, while Emmanuel Macron was cowardly and powerless.
Kosovo on the brink of war – clock is ticking, again
After Serbia's president and Kosovo's prime minister held unsuccessful talks in Brussels on Monday, the threat of an armed conflict has intensified yet again. The Serbs were given a 48-hour grace period. Acting on pressure from the United States, Pristina's leadership postponed the fining of cars using Serbian licence plates.
Demand for coal in dynamic growth
In the EU member state demand for coal grew by an average of 35 per cent in the first nine months of 2022, owing to the high energy prices.
EU Commissioner calls for admission of more African migrants
Dubravka Suica wants to solve demographic problems by attracting more African immigrants to the EU. In the first ten months of this year, authorities registered 281,000 illegal entries at the European Union's external borders, preliminary estimates reveal. This represents an 77-percent increase compared to the same period last year.
EU Commissioner gets richer during crisis
The EU commissioner, who has millions in assets, has mockingly described the anti-Russia sanctions impoverishing Europe as part of a "reduced diet." In the meantime, during a period of war and epidemics, he has increased his wealth by hundreds of thousands of euros in recent years, his assets declaration reveals.
EC sponsors Soros's micro-blog in suspicious manner – Part 1
The European Commission happens to finance various fact-checking groups under dubious circumstances. Each of these groups may have received hundreds of thousands of euros. However, the exact financing criteria are unclear, since some of these groups make no effort whatsoever to appear independent.
Paris is most expensive, Greek coast offers alternative to utility bills
House prices have skyrocketed across Europe. While in Paris and Munich, the price of homes is over 10,000 euros per square metre, properties are much more affordable in the Balkans. In Greece, you can buy a 70-square-metre beach apartment for a very reasonable 70,000 euros.
IMF loan may trigger further gas and electricity price hikes
Gas prices in Serbia may rise by 11 per cent from January and North Macedonia is also in trouble as it needs to import electricity, the vice chair of the opposition VMRO-DPMNE party – who blames the government for the current situation – told V4NA in an exclusive interview.
Shocking revelations about migrants and people smugglers – videos
Apparently, France has shot itself in the foot with migrants on board the Ocean Viking, as most of the minors have left after one day. However, authorities say this is not a problem, it was to be expected. Meanwhile, a right-wing French politician has highlighted the link between the people-smuggling mafia and the migrant-rescue NGOs.
Yellow vest movement resurgence likely in January
The French government's fuel price rebate was reduced by a third in mid-November and will be phased out in January. Opposition politicians warn that the anti-government yellow vest movement could swing into action again. The government plans to introduce new, more targeted support from January, but the premier has not yet disclosed details.
Andrzej Duda calls missile strike an accident
The Polish president visited the site of the missile explosion which claimed two lives in Przewodow on Tuesday.
Inflation soars in Western Balkans
The international environment is also prompting price increases, Serbia's National Bank Governor Jorgovanka Tabakovic says, adding that inflation will remain until 2025. In Kosovo, Montenegro and Croatia, statisticians have reported above-average price increases.
PM Orban: We always stand on the Hungarian side of history
Prime Minister Viktor Orban received members of the Diaspora Council, whom he thanked for their organisations effectively and bravely standing up for Hungary, even recently, in international debates the world over, Bertalan Havasi, the prime minister’s press chief informed the Hungarian news agency MTI.
Government to finance ferrying of illegal migrants
The German government will be providing financial support to the tune of 2 million euros annually to an NGO engaged in transporting migrants picked up on the Mediterranean Sea to Europe. Quite coincidentally, the companion of the Green party vice-president of the German Parliament happens to be a member on the NGO's board.
Druzhba pipeline resumes oil deliveries to Hungary
Since Thursday afternoon, the pipeline also known as Friendship II has resumed operation at full capacity, delivering oil to the country, Hungary's oil company confirmed.
Hungary, Serbia and Austria to take joint action against migration
Flowers and teddy bears won't be of any help, force is needed to protect borders against migrants. This was said in Belgrade, at the second tripartite summit of Serbia, Austria and Hungary. Pushing back illegal migration was the focus of talks between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.