Europe

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BUDAPEST/PRAGUE (BosNewsLife)-- Official results from the Czech Republic's general election indicate a left-leaning Social Democrats party narrowly won the country's general election. The Social Democrats received less votes than expected, prompting its leader to resign. Analysts say that despite the victory, the country appears headed to a center right government.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent reporting from Budapest BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- Viktor Orban has returned to power as Hungary's prime minister after eight years in opposition, but he inherits a country that is still struggling to overcome a deep recession.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BUDAPEST/PRAGUE (BosNewsLife)-- Voters in the Czech Republic are choosing a new government amid concerns about the country's economic crisis and widespread corruption. Some surveys indicate none of the main parties will have a majority in the lower house of parliament. For the first time in two decades the Communist Party is expected to play a role in the general elections.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife reporting from Uzhhorod, Western Ukraine UZHHOROD, UKRAINE (BosNewsLife)-- month after Ukraine's parliament ratified an agreement with Russia to extend the lease of the Black Sea fleet there is concern about the country's future. Residents in Western Ukraine fear the move is the beginning of more Russian control over their country, which became independent following the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- Hungary's new parliament has adopted a controversial law that will grant citizenship to ethnic Hungarians living in neighboring nations nearly nine decades after the country lost two-thirds of its territory. The law came Wednesday, May 26, despite a major diplomatic row with neighboring Slovakia immidiately retaliated with legislation banning double citizenship.

By BosNewsLife News Center in Budapest BUDAPEST/TASHKENT (BosNewsLife)-- An assistant pastor and two other members of one of Uzbekistan capital's largest Protestant churches began serving 15-day jail terms Wednesday, May 19, on charges that included "violating" strict religious regulations of the former Soviet nation, trial observers said.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife reporting from Budapest BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- A heavy rainstorm overshadowing his concert in downtown Budapest didn't bother the young Roma singer and special ambassador of the European Union. Ferenc "Caramel" Molnar, seemed more concerned about clouds hanging over the future of fellow Gypsies, also known as Roma. They are suffering of a new wave of fire bombings, following attacks that killed nine people, the rise of the far right and poverty.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BUDAPEST/BELGRADE (BosNewsLife)-- Officials in Serbia say they have uncovered a mass grave containing the bodies of hundreds of ethic Albanians who were killed during the war of the 1990s in nearby Kosovo. It is one of the largest mass graves discovered in Serbia since 2001.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife reporting from Budapest, Hungary BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- Hungary commemorated Wednesday, May 5, Scottish missionary Jane Haining, who was killed by Nazis during World War Two because she refused to abandon 400 mainly Jewish orphans under her care.

By Stefan J. Bos. Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife reporting from Budapest BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- The incoming prime minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, has introduced ministers of what observers say will be the smallest Cabinet since the country's communist regime collapsed in 1989. The incoming center right government will have to lift the European Union member from a deep recession.