Croatia leads the Balkans in providing the best legal environment for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people, while Macedonia offers the least protection, new research says.

As more than 6 million Bulgarians potentially head to polling stations on Sunday, it is still far from clear which of the two main political blocs will emerge the victor.

The Macedonian and Bulgarian academies of sciences are mulling ways to end decades of non-cooperation at a time when the two countries' political ties remain strained.

The release of a covert recording of former Prime Minister Boiko Borisov has intensified the continuing scandal over the bugging of top Bulgarian politicians.

Bulgaria has charged four officials of the police's Specialized Directorate Technical Operations with abuse of power and obstruction of justice over an eavesdropping scandal.

A leading Bulgarian police official investigating organised crime is being probed for alleged corruption after an anonymous whistleblower revealed secret documents.

Bulgarian and Romanian officials have signed a memorandum to expand and jointly manage protected wetland areas along their Danube border.