Georgia detains former PM on graft charges: official
Tbilisi. Georgian authorities have detained former prime minister Vano Merabishvili, one of the top allies of President Mikheil Saakashvili, and another senior ex-official on corruption charges, local prosecutors said, cited by AFP.

Construction works in Thracian rock sanctuary in S. Bulgaria violate rules, check reveals
Asenovgrad. The construction of a guest house in the region of the village of Vrata, southern municipality of Asenovgrad, district of Plovdiv, violates the conditions for construction works in the guarded area Belintash Thracian Rock Sanctuary, reveals a check by the local unit in charge of controlling construction works, announced the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works.

Next European Parliament elections to be brought forward to May 2014
Brussels. The 2014 European Parliament elections should be held from 22 to 25 May, instead of 5-8 June, according to a draft decision endorsed by the full House on Tuesday. Bringing the elections forward would give the new Parliament more time to prepare for the election of the European Commission President in July 2014, the press service of the European Parliament announced.