Southeast Europe

Bulgaria, meanwhile, has made it clear that its priority is securing water resources for its own needs before considering supply agreements with neighboring countries. The Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture has emphasized that domestic demand must be met first, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the future of water exports to Greece.

For local farmers, the situation is dire. They say water from the Arda River is their only source of irrigation, as the region’s infrastructure has seen little investment or maintenance over the past 60 years. Many farmers have reported declining yields, with some experiencing a 30-40% drop in production last year due to drought.

The aim of the march is to reach the Novi Sad central square on February 1 to mark three months since a tragedy in the northern Serbian city where a concrete canopy of the local railway station collapsed and killed 15.

During his address, Dodik spoke about the Serbian identity in Republika Srpska, emphasizing their desire to live in their own country without intending to harm others. He controversially stated that a war had been fought based on false claims that the Bosnian Serbs had killed 300,000 people, "a narrative perpetuated by U.S. President Joe Biden and his administration". Dodik further compared the war in Bosnia to the current situation in Ukraine, asserting that Russia, under Vladimir Putin, was justified in protecting the Russian minority in Ukraine to prevent NATO's encroachment near Moscow.

The controversy has drawn reactions from various groups. The Bosnian Democratic Alliance criticized Stoilkovic for meeting Dodik in his official capacity, while the Albanian party DUI labeled Dodik as an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of working to divide Bosnia and Herzegovina. DUI also condemned the government's actions, calling it a blow to North Macedonia's international reputation and its commitment to European values. Former Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani expressed his disappointment, accusing the government of undermining the Ohrid Framework Agreement and questioning the message being sent to Albanian citizens and victims of genocide.

The article gives the examples of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Northern Macedonia.

"This practice of 'creating' new languages - God forbid new nations, in the Balkans, of which w are all too familiar, starts exactly like this - when a nature is unclear, it is intermediate", Kocheva said. "However, such practice eventually finds another ethnonym, another linguistic labelling, which has nothing to do with its genetic derivation, i.e. with Bulgarian. In other words, I mean to say that it is no wonder that one day we will end up not only with a Shopi language and a Shopi nation, but that this language will be almost Serbian."

"I feel sorry for the Bulgarian minority in Serbia because instead of becoming a bridge of good-neighbourliness between the two countries it is becoming a hostage of Serbian political interests in the region,"

In an open letter to Serbian state officials, eight ethnic Bulgarian associations in Serbia recently condemned the newly resurged "Shopi ethnicity" narrative in that country. A key bone of contention is the support provided by the National Council of the Bulgarian National Minority, the Municipality of Bosilegrad, and the Hristo Botev National Library in Bosilegrad for A Book about Bosilegrad – Notes from the Past by Ivan Mitic, where the author claims that the local Bulgarian population is not Bulgarian but belongs to a separate Shopi nation. The letter accuses the National Council of funding a publication that undermines Bulgarian history and identity, violating its constitutional duty to protect minority rights.

Great, another waste of money...

However, no national unions have officially endorsed a general strike. Legal experts in local media have debated whether such a large-scale work stoppage is feasible under Serbian law without risking government or employer retaliation.

If it is anything like Bulgaria, these union leaders are way too cosy with government support and can't risk their comfort for some general cause.

More details will be announced on Monday, January 27th at 11:55.

I wonder how they will make this bigger than last time. I only hope they will now include the cafe bars as well since the prices there also went way too far. I rarely go there but every time I do I definetly feel it.

A woman rammed a car into a crowd of anti-government protesters in Serbia’s capital and injured one of them Friday, police said, as a student-led strike shut down businesses and drew tens of thousands of people to demonstrations around the country.

The nationwide protests took place on the same day that President Aleksandar Vucic held a big afternoon rally with thousands of supporters in the central town of Jagodina, his coalition stronghold, to counter the persistent anti-government protests that have challenged his tight grip on power for nearly three months.

Police in Belgrade said that they detained the 24-year-old driver who rammed into a crowd of protesters in a section of the city called New Belgrade. The injured victim, a 26-year-old woman was hospitalized; her condition was described as stable.

The Croatian activists told media in their home country that police came to their hotel and detained them before sending them back home. They said police offered no reason except a document stating the activists represented a threat to Serbia’s security.

Data for Industry G-47 – Retail Trade (Excluding Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles)

[...]

The data shows that on Friday, 24th January 2025, from 00:00 to 16:00, the number of invoices decreased by 43% compared to Friday, 17th January 2025, for the same period, while the total value of invoices was 50% lower.

Could be better, but not a bad start. I'm going to boycott them tomorrow as well.

cross-posted from: https://sopuli.xyz/post/21746885

Source: https://old.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/1i81kv0/the_balkans_and_anatolia_in_the_year_1444/

Author

My new map of the Balkans and Anatolia in the year 1444 in the size of 13,981x9,752. 🗺️✨
More info on my social media! https://heylink.me/stefan74

In 1444, the Balkans were a region of significant conflict and transformation. The Ottoman Empire, under Sultan Murad II, was expanding its influence, while Christian kingdoms, including Hungary and Poland, sought to resist Ottoman encroachment. This period culminated in the Battle of Varna on November 10, 1444, where Ottoman forces achieved a decisive victory over the Christian army, leading to the further consolidation of Ottoman power in the Balkans. ⚔️🏰 Encyclopedia Britannica

During this time, many parts of the Balkans were under the rule of Venetian, Hungarian, or Orthodox powers. Strategic cities like Belgrade, Skopje, and Sofia emerged as key centers of influence, marking the crossroads of East and West in this turbulent era. 🌍💥 EGO | Europäische Geschichte Online

In Anatolia, the Ottoman Empire had firmly established its control, unifying the region and strengthening its central authority. Sultan Murad II's reign marked a period of significant consolidation, laying the foundation for future Ottoman expansion into the Balkans and beyond. The empire's dominance over Anatolia provided the stability and resources needed for its military campaigns, including incursions into Southeast Europe that would dramatically reshape the political landscape of the region. 🏛️💪

The Ottoman control over Anatolia in 1444 was pivotal in enabling the empire to project its influence and power, setting the stage for its future expansion across the Mediterranean and into the heart of Europe. 🌍🚀

Apparently some retailers have already made one-day discounts on some products. They're scared. Good.

It is questionable whether they have the means to organise it.

Allegedly #Banksy left a message to #Musk in #Croatia:
https://pubeurope.com/@europesays/113875154421814698
@balkanika

Moreover, municipalities who were supposed to pay a sort of fine to the national recycling agency, EOAN, owe a staggering amount and were excused from paying these fines this year after a near-revolt.

In it Josip Dabei is shown shooting in the air from a car.

I suspect a significant number of politicians in the region have done something similar, but not many would be willing to resign over it.

With it Belgrade claims part of Istanbul's role as a transport hub of the region. Now there's a direct connection to China from the heart of the Balkan peninsula.

The two countries previously have exchanged accusations for the delays in construction. North Macedonia's Mickosky has argued that his country has other priorities, even if funding is expected to come from the EU.