Editorial Office, Author at First Balkan Media

Total Solar Eclipse to Cross Greenland, Iceland and Spain on August 12

A total solar eclipse on August 12 will sweep across parts of Greenland, Iceland and Spain, while a much wider area of the Northern Hemisphere will experience a partial eclipse. The total

August 12, 2026

Whats New

Croatia Issued 106,000 Work Permits to Foreign Workers by July

Croatia issued around 106,000 residence and work permits to foreign workers in the first seven months of 2026, with workers from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia remaining the largest groups. The number

August 12, 2026

Croatia

Serbia Opens Minimum Wage Talks as Government Offers €600 for 2027

Serbia has opened negotiations over a new minimum wage for 2027, with the government proposing an increase of 9.2% that would raise the monthly amount from around €550 to approximately €600. The

August 12, 2026

Serbia

Fake Police Officer Took Part in Airport Operations for 18 Months in Slovenia

A civilian posing as a police officer took part in official police operations at Slovenia’s Brnik Airport for around 18 months, exposing serious failures within the country’s police system. The fake police

August 12, 2026

Slovenia

Zelensky’s Belgrade Visit Seen as Continuation of Vučić’s Balancing Strategy

Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Belgrade has fueled speculation about a possible Serbian foreign-policy shift, but analysts argue that Zelensky’s visit to Serbia instead reflects Aleksandar Vučić’s long-established strategy of balancing relations between

August 12, 2026

Serbia

81 Years Since Women in Yugoslavia Won the Right to Vote

Eighty-one years ago, women in Yugoslavia secured the right to vote, marking one of the most significant milestones in the struggle for women’s political equality in the region. On August 11, 1945,

August 12, 2026

Bosnia & Hercegovina·Croatia·Macedonia·Montenegro·Serbia·Slovenia

Massachusetts Removes 24-Week Abortion Limit Under New Law

Massachusetts has removed its previous 24-week gestational limit on abortion, giving healthcare providers greater discretion over procedures later in pregnancy. The new Massachusetts abortion law, signed by Democratic Governor Maura Healey, is

August 12, 2026

Politics

EU Introduces Stricter Packaging Rules to Cut Waste and Plastic

New EU packaging rules took effect on August 12, introducing stricter limits on food packaging chemicals as part of a broader effort to reduce packaging waste, cut plastic use and promote reuse

August 12, 2026

Politics·Whats New

Iran Executes 23-Year-Old Woman Who Claimed Self-Defense

Iran has executed 23-year-old Marzieh Niri, who said she killed a man in self-defense while he was attempting to sexually assault her. The execution of a woman in Iran took place early

August 12, 2026

Politics

Bashar al-Assad Sentenced to Death in Absentia in Syria

Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been sentenced to death in absentia after a Syrian court found him guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the country’s civil war.

August 12, 2026

Politics·Whats New

Decent Living in Serbia Requires a Monthly Salary of 154,740 Dinars

A monthly salary of 154,740 dinars is needed for a decent living in Serbia in 2026, according to a new living-wage calculation by the Center for Emancipation Policies (CPE). The amount is

August 11, 2026

Serbia

Animal Friends Croatia Calls for Nationwide Limits on Fireworks

Animal Friends Croatia is calling for stricter nationwide restrictions on fireworks after Istrian firefighters suspended approvals for displays due to fire risks. The group says fireworks restrictions in Croatia should be regulated

August 11, 2026

Croatia