The Dispatch

Photo Story: Orthodox Church prepares for the Christmas in Skopje

Orthodox believers buy traditional Christmas oak-tree branches, a symbol of the Orthodox Christmas Eve, at the green market in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia. Orthodox Christians will celebrate the Christmas…

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Photo Story: Croatian earthquake aftermath

Citizens and workers repair a destroyed house in the Strasnik village, near Petrinja, 04 January 2021. The 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Croatia on 29 December 2020 left many houses…

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EU allocates additional €3.5 million to support vulnerable refugees and migrants

The European Commission has announced today an additional €3.5 million in humanitarian aid to help vulnerable refugees and migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina facing a humanitarian disaster. More than 1,700 refugees and…

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Bosnia sets up tents for freezing migrants

Trying to resolve a humanitarian disaster, the Bosnian military set up tents Friday for hundreds of migrants who have been stuck in a burned-out refugee camp that has no facilities…

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Turkish police detain Islamic State suspects

Turkish police detained people suspected of ties to the Islamic State militant group in an operation targeting a total of 35 foreign suspects in Istanbul on Thursday, state-owned Anadolu news…

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New earthquake of magnitude 4 registered in Croatia

A new earthquake of magnitude 4 was recorded at 4:33 in the centre of Croatia early Thursday morning.According to data from the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (Ingv),…

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Turkish court gives 92 life sentences in 2016 coup trial – Anadolu

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A Turkish court sentenced 92 defendants including former high-ranking army officials to life in jail on Wednesday for their roles in the 2016 attempted coup, state-owned Anadolu…

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Croatia earthquake aftermath

Anadolu - A number of people in quake-hit Petrinja of Croatia have spent the night outside at cars and tents after many buildings were destroyed by the earthquake. The death…

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Turkey extends lay-off ban by two months

ANKARA, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Turkey has extended a ban on lay-offs for two months from Jan. 17, a presidential decree published on the Official Gazette showed on Wednesday. The…

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Croatia Earthquake Update -Seven die 20 injured

SISAK, Croatia, Dec 29 (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 struck central Croatia on Tuesday, killing seven people, injuring more than 20 and rattling several neighbouring countries, officials and residents said. Rescuers…

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In Pictures – Earthquake strikes central Croatia, killing five and damaging buildings – Updated

SISAK, Croatia, Dec 29 (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 struck central Croatia on Tuesday, killing five people and injuring at least 20, and shook several neighbouring countries, officials…

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Turkey and UK sign post-Brexit free trade deal

ANKARA, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Turkey and the United Kingdom signed a free trade deal on Tuesday, days before Britain formally leaves the European Union, to keep up the existing…

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Watch – “Many injured” as hospital and kindergarten collapse after strong second earthquake strikes Croatia

ZAGREB, Dec 29 (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 struck a town in Croatia on Tuesday, with the emergency services saying many people had been injured and video footage…

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Russia expels Bulgarian diplomat in tit-for-tat move

Russia's Foreign Ministry on Monday declared a Bulgarian diplomat persona non grata in a tit-for-tat move after the expulsion of a Russian diplomat by Sofia. Bulgarian authorities earlier this month…

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5.2 Earthquake strikes Croatia – UPDATE

ZAGREB (Reuters) - A magnitude 5.2 earthquake hit central Croatia on Monday with an epicentre some 50 kilometres southeast of the capital Zagreb, Croatian state television reported citing data from…

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Turkish parliament passes associations oversight law that critics say will stifle NGOs

Turkey’s parliament passed a law on Sunday that would ramp up oversight of foundations and associations and, according to rights groups including Amnesty International, risks limiting the freedoms of civil…

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Turkey warns Libya’s Haftar against attacking its forces

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar warned on Sunday that the forces of Khalifa Haftar and their supporters based in eastern Libya would be viewed as "legitimate targets" if they attempted…

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Hundreds of migrants freezing in heavy snow in Bosnia camp

Hundreds of migrants were stranded Saturday in a squalid, burnt-out tent camp in Bosnia as heavy snow fell in the country and winter temperatures suddenly dropped. Migrants at the Lipa…

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UPDATED: Magnitude 5.3 earthquake strikes eastern Turkey

An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 struck eastern Turkey on Sunday, the country's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said, while the interior minister said there were no immediate reports of…

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Turkey debates law that risks limiting freedom of NGOs

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey's parliament began debating a draft law on Friday that would increase oversight of non-governmental organisations and which, according to rights campaigners, risks limiting the freedoms of…

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26

Dec

Montenegro Airlines to cease operations

Simple Flying - Montenegro Airlines will be shut down, the government of Montenegro announced in a press conference today. The government of Montenegro intends to create a new carrier which…

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Turkey requires negative PCR tests for all incoming passengers

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey’s health minister said on Friday that as of next Monday all passengers coming into the country will have to provide proof of negative tests for coronavirus…

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Turkey lowers tax on tobacco products to ease pressure on inflation

ANKARA, Dec 25 (Reuters) - Turkey lowered the special consumption tax on cigarettes and tobacco products to 63%, the Official Gazette showed on Friday, a move that could help ease…

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Photo Story: Christmas light in Skopje

A man walks through the empty decorated street during heavy fog and air pollution that cover Skopje valley, in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia. Heating season, fog, smog and pollution…

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Kosovo pins U.N. membership hopes on Biden presidency

Like many Kosovars, cattle seller Xhelal Terstena hopes incoming U.S. President Joe Biden will help the small Balkan country’s push for United Nations membership. Biden is respected in Kosovo for…

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Erdogan says Turkey hopes to turn new page with U.S. and EU in 2021

President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Turkey hopes to "turn a new page" in its ties with the United States and European Union, and that Ankara had been subjected…

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Turkey sentences journalist to 27 years in jail

Turkish journalist Can Dundar has been sentenced to more than 27 years in prison for allegedly supporting terrorism and "military or political espionage." A court in Istanbul sentenced Dundar to…

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In Bosnia’s Mostar, ethnic parties win 1st local vote in 12 years

Preliminary results from the first local election in 12 years in the Bosnian town of Mostar on Sunday showed most votes going to the Croat and Bosniak parties whose rivalry…

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Bulgaria expects COVID-19 vaccinations to start December 27

Bulgaria plans to start vaccinations against COVID-19 on Dec. 27 in three of its main cities, chief health inspector Angel Kunchev said. Along with other European Union members, Bulgaria has…

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Bulgaria expects COVID-19 vaccinations to start Dec. 27

SOFIA, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Bulgaria plans to start vaccinations against COVID-19 on Dec. 27 in three of its main cities, chief health inspector Angel Kunchev said on Sunday. Along…

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Bosnia’s divided town of Mostar holds first local vote in 12 years

MOSTAR, Bosnia Dec 20 (Reuters) - Citizens in Bosnia's ethnically divided town of Mostar voted for their city councillors on Sunday for the first time in 12 years, after the…

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Nine people killed in hospital fire in southeast Turkey

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Nine people were killed in a fire which broke out in a private hospital's COVID-19 intensive care unit in the southeastern Turkish province of Gaziantep, Health Minister…

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Turkey’s Erdogan, EU’s Michel discussed EU summit in call

President Tayyip Erdogan told European Council President Charles Michel in a call that Turkey wants to build its future with the EU, calling for Ankara and the bloc to move…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Sarajevo, Bosnia

A general view of the surroundings of the city of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. With 164 AQI (Air Quality Index), Sarajevo is one of the polluted cities in the world.…

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World Bank lends Bosnia $65.3 million to help pandemic-hit businesses

The World Bank announced it had approved a $65.3 million loan to Bosnia to help the Balkan country's micro, small and medium-sized enterprises withstand the coronavirus crisis. The loan will…

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Turkey rejects ‘biased and illegal’ EU approach at summit

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey rejects the European Union's "biased and illegal" approach at its summit this week and calls on the bloc to act as an honest broker in an…

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Turkish unemployment dipped to lowest since 2018

Turkish unemployment dipped to 12.7% in the September period as the economy heated up between the first and second coronavirus waves, according to data on Thursday that also showed record…

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Turkey condemns seizure of vessel by east Libyan forces

Turkey condemned the interception of one of its ships by eastern-based Libyan forces in the Mediterranean, saying it must be allowed to resume its journey to western Libya and warning…

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Albanians protest after police shot dead a man for violating coronavirus curfew

TIRANA (Reuters) - Police used tear gas late on Wednesday to disperse hundreds of Albanians protesting the killing by police of a young man who authorities said had violated an…

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Turkey will not buy Russian vaccine, health minister tells website

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey has ruled out buying the Russian coronavirus vaccine since its development lacked "good practice", its health minister said in remarks published on Wednesday, as Ankara steps…

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Erdogan to discuss U.S. strains when Biden takes office

ANKARA (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan said he would discuss strained U.S. relations with President-elect Joe Biden when he takes office, playing down the possibility of sanctions over Turkey's purchase…

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Turkey calls on EU to act with common sense, says wants to improve ties

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey urged the European Union on Tuesday to use "common sense" to end a row over natural gas exploration that has fanned territorial disputes in the eastern…

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Turkey orders detention of 304 military personnel over suspected Gulen links

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey has ordered the detention of 304 military personnel in an operation targeting supporters of the Muslim preacher that Ankara says was behind a failed coup in…

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EU to consider making good on sanctions threat against Turkey

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU foreign ministers will evaluate grounds for sanctions against Turkey over a Mediterranean gas dispute on Monday before the bloc's leaders decide whether to make good on…

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Earthquake of magnitude 5.5 strikes off Turkey’s Mediterranean coast

ANKARA (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 5.5 struck off the coast of Turkey's Mediterranean coastal province of Antalya on Saturday, the Kandilli Observatory said. The earthquake occurred at a…

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Turkey in weekend lockdown as coronavirus cases hit record highs

Turkey has entered its first full weekend lockdown since May after coronavirus infections and deaths hit record highs in recent days. The country of 83 million people on Friday recorded…

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Photo Story: Bulgarians prepare to celebrate St. Nicholas

People look at fresh fish for sale at an open-air fish market in Sofia, Bulgaria. Bulgaria celebrates on 06 December Saint Nicholas, patron of fishermen, sailors and bankers. Traditional fish-based…

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Bulgaria prepares for COVID-19 vaccines as death rates spike

Bulgaria announced plans to vaccinate people against the coronavirus free of charge once it has procured vaccine doses, and said it would start with doctors, nurses, dentists and pharmacists. Under…

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Montenegro approves new coalition, overturning three decades of socialist role

Montenegro’s parliament on Friday endorsed a new coalition government with a wafer-thin majority that needs to steer the country through the coronavirus crisis and an economic downturn after ending three…

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Serbia unearths mass grave from Kosovo war

Human remains believed to be the bodies of over a dozen ethnic Albanians killed during the 1998-99 war in Kosovo have been found just inside Serbia, a Serbian official said…

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Erdogan says he hopes France will get rid of Macron “burden” soon

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday he hoped France would soon get rid of President Emmanuel Macron, describing him as a burden on France which was…

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Cat-and-mouse game with Turkey must stop, Michel says

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A game of "cat-and-mouse" between the European Union and Turkey needs to come to an end, European Council President Charles Michel said on Friday, in reference to…

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Photo Story: Golden and silver face masks for sale in Istanbul

A model tries Golden protective face mask design of silver master Sabri Demirci for Coronavirus at his silver shop in Istanbul, Turkey. Sabri Demirci a 32-year Silver master at a…

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Business owners in Serbia demand government aid ahead of coronavirus lockdown

Owners of small businesses in Serbia demanded government aid as the country prepared for its first weekend coronavirus lockdown since May. Several dozen people, including restaurant owners and travel agents,…

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Montenegro PM-designate targets corruption in new govt programme

Montenegro’s Prime Minister-designate Zdravko Krivokapic pledged to slash red tape and tackle endemic corruption in a programme put before parliament which, if approved, would end three decades of socialist rule.…

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Bulgarian doctors exhausted as COVID deaths hit record

With coronavirus death rates surging to record levels in Bulgaria, doctors and nurses in a health service already weakened by decades of emigration to the West say they are exhausted.…

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Turkey’s COVID curfew fails to contain surging second wave

Coronavirus deaths in Turkey rose to a record for the seventh consecutive day on Sunday and the number of new cases remained high despite efforts by President Tayyip Erdogan's government…

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