The Dispatch

Bulgaria Tightens Security at Critical Infrastructure Sites

Bulgaria will begin supplying critical infrastructure facilities with anti-drone systems and has directed police to increase patrols at weapons production and storage sites, the government said Friday, amid heightened security…

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Serbian war criminal Ratko Mladic to be buried with ‘state honours’

Serbia's Justice Minister Nenad Vujic said Friday that former Bosnian Serb military leader and convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic "will receive all the military and state honours to which he…

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West Nile virus outbreak kills four in North Macedonia

Four people have died from West Nile fever out of 38 testing positive for the disease so far this year in North Macedonia, with three of them dying ‌in the…

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Serbia to hold snap elections on Oct 18 or 25

Serbia will hold snap parliamentary elections on October 18 or 25, President Aleksandar Vucic said, more than a month after he pledged at his party rally to schedule them. “The…

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Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan to sign joint defence deal

Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan will sign a joint defence agreement on Friday, regional sources with direct knowledge of the matter said, at a time of regional turmoil with Gulf…

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German and Serbian authorities launch joint strike against Syrian migrant smuggling group

A coordinated international operation has dealt a significant blow to two international migrant smuggling networks with close links to Libya and the Western Balkans, leading to the arrest of three…

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Turkey Moves to Formalize PKK Peace Process With New Draft Law

Turkey's ruling alliance is expected to submit a draft ‌law to parliament on Wednesday that would facilitate the disbandment of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) by allowing the return of…

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Migrant smuggling network using rental cars dismantled across the Balkans

Authorities in Bulgaria, Greece, the Netherlands, and Romania have taken coordinated action against an organised crime group suspected of smuggling migrants through the Balkans using rented, stolen and fraudulently registered…

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NATO leaders weigh what to do with Erdogan’s revolver gifts after summit

Belgium's prime minister was a little surprised on landing back home from Wednesday's NATO summit in Turkey to find that he had a handgun and ammunition in his luggage. After…

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Trump to cut trade with Spain

U.S. President Donald Trump ‌said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end the conflict was "over", adding he did not want to engage with Tehran,…

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NATO Ankara summit: who’s going and what to expect

NATO leaders will gather in Ankara for a summit on Tuesday and Wednesday, amid pressure from President Donald Trump for Europe to step up defence spending and following months of…

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NATO gathers in Ankara amid efforts to reduce friction with Trump

NATO leaders gather next week in Ankara, where Europeans aim to set aside strife with U.S. President Donald Trump over Iran and Greenland and show they are stepping up to…

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Expert warns Albanian organised crime has expanded across Europe

Albanian organised crime groups have significantly expanded their presence across Europe in recent years and, according to anti-mafia researcher Professor Vincenzo Musacchio, have become one of the main drivers of…

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Montenegro ready to assume EU membership responsibilities, president tells MEPs

Montenegro is ready to assume the responsibilities of European Union membership and contribute to the bloc's future, President Jakov Milatović told the European Parliament on Tuesday, describing the current period…

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Kosovo to hold another parliamentary election amid deadlock over new president

Kosovo will hold a parliamentary election on Sunday, its third in just 18 months, after its political parties failed ‌to reach a compromise on choosing a new president. The tiny…

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29 arrested as law enforcement strikes criminal networks behind illegal streaming

Criminal networks making millions from illegal access to premium sports broadcasts, film and television channels have been targeted in a major international operation coordinated by Bulgaria with Europol’s support. The…

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European police bust Albanian investment and call centre scam

A criminal gang suspected of running ‌an investment fraud scheme via call centres in Albania has been dismantled, the pan-European police body Europol said on Wednesday. Europol said the operation,…

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Bulgaria’s former President Radev wins parliamentary election

Progressive Bulgaria, ‌the party of Bulgaria's pro-Russian former ⁠President Rumen Radev was leading in Sunday's parliamentary election with ‌44.7% ⁠of votes, after 91.68% of ⁠votes were counted, official ⁠results showed.…

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Leading Balkan Cartel member arrested in Montenegro

On 15 April 2026, Europol supported law enforcement authorities in Montenegro in conducting a large-scale operation targeting a significant cell of the Balkan Cartel. Europol also supported law enforcement authorities…

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Three killed in shooting near Israeli consulate in Turkiye’s Istanbul

At least two attackers were killed and one was seriously injured in an extended gun ‌battle between police and assailants directly outside the building housing the Israeli consulate in Istanbul…

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Guns-for-cannabis network hit: Europol high-value target arrested in international action

A Europol high-value target has been arrested and key members of his criminal network targeted during a coordinated action on 23 March across Spain, Bulgaria and Greece. The network is…

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Turkey’s Erdogan says Iran war must stop before whole region dragged in

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has warned that the war involving Iran risks setting the entire Middle East “on fire” if it is not halted, urging that diplomacy be given…

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Kosovo president dissolves parliament, calls snap election after failed presidential vote

Kosovo's President Vjosa Osmani on Friday dissolved parliament and called snap elections after lawmakers failed to elect a new head of state within a constitutional deadline. The parliament ‌had until…

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Turkey says NATO defences destroyed Iran missile, risking war expansion

Turkey said NATO air defence systems intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile headed towards its airspace on Wednesday, marking the first time the country has been directly drawn into the widening…

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What Brought Down the Turkish F-16? Mystery Deepens After Fatal Crash Near Bulgarian Border

NATO member Turkey is investigating the still unknown cause of an F-16 fighter jet crash that killed its pilot shortly after takeoff on a mission toward the Bulgarian border region,…

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Bulgaria to hold snap election in April as Radev enters race

Bulgaria will hold a snap general election on 19 April, in what could mark a turning point after years of political instability. President Iliana Yotova announced on Wednesday that she…

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Turkey’s Textile Sector Faces Job Losses and Economic Struggles

Turkey's textile industry faces a major crisis, with exports declining amid China and Bangladesh's dominance of EU markets. Once central to Turkey’s economy, the sector now struggles, with wages below…

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Croatia Rules Out Joining Trump’s “Board of Peace” Framework

Croatia will not join US President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace," the Balkan country's Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Wednesday without giving specific reasons for the decision. "After thorough…

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Anti-Government Protests in Tirana Escalate into Violence

On Saturday evening, the Albanian capital of Tirana became the scene of violent clashes between police forces and anti-government demonstrators. The protest, which was organised and led by opposition leader…

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Bulgarian President Radev resigns

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said on Monday he will resign, fuelling speculation that he will form his own political party to run in upcoming parliamentary elections after the previous government…

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Turkey to deploy jets to Estonia, Romania under NATO air policing missions

Turkey plans to deploy fighter jets to Estonia and Romania as part of NATO's enhanced air policing missions, the defence ministry said on Thursday. Turkey plans to conduct a four-month…

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Bulgaria likely heading to new election

Bulgaria's biggest parliamentary grouping, the centre-right GERB-SDS, declined a request on Monday from the president to try and form a new government, increasing the likelihood of a snap election in…

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Bulgaria prepares to adopt the euro

Bulgaria will become the 21st country to adopt the euro, but some believe the move could bring higher prices and add to instability in the European Union's poorest country. A…

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Kosovo’s Kurti wins snap election, signalling end of impasse

Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti won a clear victory in Kosovo's second parliamentary election in 2025 with some 49.3% of the vote, results suggested on early Monday, with most of the…

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Turkey recovers black boxes from jet crash that killed top Libyan military officials

Search teams in Turkey recovered the cockpit voice and flight data recorders from a jet crash that killed eight people, including western Libya’s military chief, while efforts to retrieve the…

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Protests Erupt in Albania as Corruption Case Puts Political Leadership Under Pressure

Protesters in Tirana hurled petrol bombs at the government building housing Prime Minister Edi Rama's office on Monday, demanding the government's resignation after prosecutors indicted the deputy prime minister for…

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Turkey wants to extend military presence in Libya by two more years

Turkey has formally requested its parliament to approve a 24-month extension of its military mandate in Libya, according to a motion submitted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The document highlights…

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Bulgaria faces turmoil after protests topple government on eve of euro entry

The resignation of Bulgaria's government on Thursday puts an end to an increasingly unpopular coalition but is likely to usher in a period of prolonged political instability on the eve…

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Turkish clerk flees to UK after stealing millions in gold and silver from courthouse

A court employee has fled to the United Kingdom with a significant haul of gold and silver stolen from an Istanbul courthouse, Turkish authorities reported on Wednesday. Erdal T., who…

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After 26 years in prison, PKK leader Ocalan has key role in Turkey peace process

After 26 years in a Turkish prison, Abdullah Ocalan is carving out a key role for himself as Ankara tries to end his outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party's four-decade insurgency. In…

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Pope Leo warns of conflicts endangering humanity on first overseas trip

Pope Leo lamented during his first trip outside Italy as Catholic leader on Thursday that the world was seeing an unusual number of bloody conflicts, and warned that a third…

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Serbian President Named in Investigation Over Alleged Sarajevo ‘Sniper-Tourism’

A Croatian investigative reporter has filed a complaint with Milan prosecutors in Italy against the Serbian president, Aleksandar Vučić, for his alleged involvement in the “Sarajevo safari” affair, in which…

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“We Know Our Responsibilities”: Rama Rejects Outside Guidance on Corruption Fight

Albania is committed to joining the European Union by 2030, Prime Minister Edi Rama told Euronews, labelling his country as “the most Euro-optimistic nation in Europe”. “2030 is not a…

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Opponents and loyalists of Serbia’s autocratic president clash in Belgrade

Hundreds of riot police separated opponents and loyalists of Serbia’s autocratic president, Aleksandar Vučić,in central Belgrade on Sunday as political tensions boiled after a year of anti-government protests. Several thousand…

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Kurdish PKK militants announce withdrawal from Turkey

The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group said on Sunday it was withdrawing from Turkey as part of a disarmament process being coordinated with the government, pressing Ankara to move…

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UPDATED: Shots fired outside Serbian parliament, one detained

Shots were fired outside Serbia's parliament building in Belgrade on Wednesday and one person was injured, local media reported. A video posted on the NOVA media outlet, the location of…

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Four Maltese Killed in Croatia Road Crash

Four Maltese citizens were killed Thursday afternoon when their car plunged off a coastal road near the Adriatic resort of Bunica and into the sea, Croatian authorities said. The crash…

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Europe’s liberals demand EU freezes funds to Bulgaria over imprisoned mayor

Liberal MEPs are calling on the European Commission to suspend payments to Bulgaria after the arrest of Blagomir Kotsev, the liberal mayor of Varna. In a letter to the Commission,…

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Montenegro hopes to join EU and euro zone in 2028

Montenegro hopes to join the European Union and the euro zone in 2028, Prime Minister Milojko Spajic said on Tuesday, in what would mark some progress in the EU's stalled…

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Serbia to raise minimum wage by 10% starting January

Serbia’s government said it will increase the country’s minimum monthly net wage by 10.1% to 64,554 dinars ($647/551 euros) starting Jan. 1, after failing to reach an agreement with employers…

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Dubrovnik Moves to Limit Tourist Numbers

Dubrovnik is the latest city to crack down on overtourism after a surge in visitor numbers, due in part to its use as a filming location for Game of Thrones.…

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Turkish ports asking ships to declare they are not linked to Israel

Turkish port authorities have begun informally requiring shipping agents for letters declaring that vessels are not linked to Israel and are not carrying military or hazardous cargo bound for the…

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Internationally active Albanian organised crime network busted

A series of raids performed 7 to 8 August 2025 in Albania saw the arrest of 10 suspected members of an Albanian organised crime network engaged in multi-tonne cocaine trafficking…

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Turkey earthquake flattens buildings in north-east Balikesir province

One person has died in Turkey after a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the north-west province of Balikesir on Sunday evening. An 81-year-old woman passed away shortly after she was pulled…

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Price Controls Rolled Out as Bulgaria Prepares for Euro Entry

Bulgaria's parliament passed legislation introducing year-long price controls from August 8, a part of its technical transition process before adopting the euro currency in January. The move comes after European…

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Chechen Leader Ramzan Kadyrov Saved From Drowning in Turkey

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov was rescued from near-drowning incident in Turkey. Turkish media said the incident occurred at a five-star hotel in the Kaynar district, where Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov…

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Bulgaria’s Small Businesses Wary as Euro Adoption Nears

As Bulgaria prepares to adopt the euro on Jan. 1, 2026, small business owners across the country are expressing concern about the transition, fearing disruption and financial strain despite reassurances…

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