Serbia

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin about extending Serbia's gas supply agreement, and Belgrade says it hopes the deal will be prolonged. Serbia relies heavily on Russian gas, and the call signals continued energy cooperation between the two countries despite pressure on European states to reduce dependence on Russian energy supplies.

Crowds of thousands lined the streets of Kragujevac, Serbia, to welcome a group of students arriving by bicycle, days before the country's October 25 election. The cycling students have become a focal point of public attention in the final stretch of the campaign, with the warm reception in the city drawing wide coverage in local and international media.