Italy investigates claims of hunting of people in Sarajevo in the 1990s

The prosecutor's office in Milan has launched an investigation into shocking reports of organized "sniper safaris" in Bosnia during the war in the early 1990s. It is alleged that wealthy Italians paid huge sums to shoot civilians during the brutal siege of Sarajevo (1992-1996). The investigation was sparked by Italian journalist Ezio Gavazzeni, who reported the matter to the authorities.

There have been allegations of similar atrocities before but now prosecutors are examining evidence presented by Gavazzeni, including testimony from a Bosnian military intelligence officer. The journalist returned to the topic after watching a 2022 documentary by Slovenian director Miran Zupanič, which claims that citizens of several countries, including the United States, Russia and Italy, participated in the manhunts. During the nearly four-year siege of Sarajevo, more than 11,000 people died.

Salaries in Cyprus to be automatically indexed

After months of tense negotiations and a nationwide strike, the government, unions and employers in Cyprus have reached a key agreement to automatically index salaries, according to inflation. The deal puts an end to the country's largest labor dispute, BNR correspondent Branislava Bobanac has reported.

A gradual increase in the "cost of living allowance" is planned: from January 1, 2026, salaries will be indexed by 80% of the annual inflation rate (currently 66.7%) and from July 1, 2027, the indexation will reach the full amount of 100%. The main goal is a fair adjustment of wages and protection of citizens' purchasing power.

Every fifth Croatian works in two places

One out of five Croatians has an additional job due to the rising cost of living, according to a study quoted by Croatian news agency Hina. Most often, the second job is in the service sector, transport, cleaning and various types of temporary employment. The study, conducted among 690 respondents by the online platform Mojaplaca, shows that 21% of respondents have a second job mainly to supplement household income. Many respondents said that one salary is no longer enough to cover housing, food and fuel costs, and some are even looking for a third source of income.

The survey report notes that the average net monthly salary in Croatia in the third quarter of this year was 1,539 euros, while many believe that the minimum wage should be around 2,000 euros to ensure a normal standard of living.

Romania takes emergency measures against dangerous bears

The Romanian government has approved an emergency measure that allows for the faster euthanization of aggressive bears that pose an immediate threat to populated areas. The decision aims at achieving a balance between the safety of citizens and the protection of wildlife in a country with a population of between 10,000 to 12,000 bears, Minister of Environment Diana Buzoianu said, as quoted by Radio Romania International. Authorities assure that this will not be a mass shooting. A decision on each individual case will be made after an analysis by a special commission. In addition, higher fines of up to 30,000 lei (nearly 5,900 euros) are foreseen for feeding bears in the wild, which are a major attraction for tourists. This is expected to curb the practice, which changes the animals' behavior and increases the risk of attacks. The possibilities for housing aggressive animals in bear parks are limited. There is only one such park in the country. Another one is being prepared and it will be ready by the end of next year and will be able to accommodate about 80 bears.

Double-decker bus introduces tourists to Tirana

Guests of the Albanian capital city can now see the city's sights more comfortably thanks to the Tirana City Tour and a new open double-decker bus. The initiative, also promoted by Prime Minister Edi Rama, aims to facilitate access to Tirana's rich history and culture. The panoramic tour offers tourists the opportunity to hop on and off at various stops along the route, which connects iconic locations such as the central Skanderbeg Square and the Bunk’Art 1 museum. The journey is accompanied by a multilingual audio guide that tells about the attractions along the way.

In addition to the bus tour, Tirana also offers a variety of other tourist experiences, including walking and gastronomic tours, as well as ATV and bicycle tours in the city's surroundings.

Compiled by: Miglena Ivanova

Publication in English: Alexander Markov

Photos: AP, incynews.com, croatiaweek.com, Tirana City Tour, romania-insider.com