Syria rebels seize Alawite villages in Hama: NGO
Beirut. Rebels in Syria have seized control of four deserted Alawite villages in the central province of Hama, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday, AFP reported.

Bulgaria trade union to start a strike unless a balanced programme for energy sector is worked out
Sofia. Structures of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) will launch a petition for staring effective strikes unless a balanced programme for the development of the energy sector is worked out within a ten-day deadline. The programme should guarantee opening of new jobs and to be coordinated with the trade unions, the press office of the CITUB announced.

Serbia arrests eight over pharma firm embezzlement
Belgrade. Serbian police on Saturday arrested eight people suspected of embezzling some 12 million euros ($15 million) from the country's main pharmaceutical firm Galenika, AFP reported.