The Dispatch

Erdogan threatens to flood Europe with 3.6 million refugees if EU calls Syria operation an ‘invasion’

Turkey’s president threatened to send millions of Syrian refugees to Europe if the European Union labelled its military operation in Syria an “invasion”. “We will open the gates and send 3.6 million refugees your…

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The UN warns 1.7 million people at risk as Turkey invades northern Syria

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, “has called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint,” said a statement released by his spokesperson, emphasizing his concern for the risks posed to civilians by potential military actions in the war-torn…

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Widespread condemnation for Turkish offensive in northern Syria

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called on Turkey to immediately cease the operation and urged restraint from all sides. He cautioned that the European Union would not fund a "safe zone"…

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Syrian Kurds mobilize ahead of Turkish incursion

The Kurdish militia-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Wednesday declared a three-day state alert in preparation for the Turkish incursion. "As threats and mobilization of the Turkish Army and its…

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Turkey expects to be second most affected country by Brexit

Turkey's Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan expressed her country's concern regarding the possibility of no deal Brexit during a meeting, "Trade Wars, Brexit and the Future of the Multilateral Trading…

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Turkey announces incursion into northeast Syria

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The ruling alliance in Kosovo has lost the election

Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) snatched 26% of the vote at the Sunday's parliamentary election, in Kosovo, barely edging out another opposition party, the LDK, which claimed around 25% according to an early…

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Erdogan threatens military action in Syria

Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that his country will soon launch an “air and ground military operation” east of the Euphrates River in northeastern Syria, prompting the U.S.-backed…

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Kosovo holds early election

Kosovo is holding an early general election Sunday amid calls for leaders to resume dialogue with Serbia over normalizing ties. The vote comes after the outgoing prime minister resigned following…

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Photo Story: Pompeo visits North Macedonia

Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov (R) welcomes US State Secretary Mike Pompeo (L) at the St. Paul the Apostle Airport in Ohrid, North Macedonia. Pompeo is on a tour of…

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Photo Story: Bulgarian President Rumen Radev visits Austria

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev (L) and Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen (R) arrive ahead of a meeting at the Presidential residence of the Hofburg Palace, in Vienna, Austria.…

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Juncker Plan backs Croatia’s first social impact fund

Thanks to EU support, Croatian and Slovenian startups will benefit from Croatia's first social impact fund, Feelsgood. The European Investment Fund contributed half of the capital of this €30 million-strong…

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Reports indicate no chance of Croatian Schengen entry for at least two more years

Croatian media is reporting that the Republic of Croatia will not be part of the Schengen area for at least another two years, despite the fact the European Commission is…

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Earthquake with 5.7 magnitude shakes Istanbul

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.7 shook Turkey’s largest city Istanbul on Thursday, the Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute said. The epicenter of the quake was about 70…

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Albania rocked by 340 aftershocks, schools kept closed in Tirana, Durres and Elbasan

Albania’s Institute of Geosciences, Energy, Water and Environment said more than 340 aftershocks have followed the 5.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Saturday afternoon near Durres. Education Minister Besa Shahini said…

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Albania in shock after massive earthquake

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.6 and an aftershock only slightly weaker shook the Albanian port town of Durres on Saturday, rocking buildings there and in the capital…

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Albanian ex-minister guilty of abuse of office

An Albanian court found former interior minister Saimir Tahiri guilty on Thursday of abuse of office but innocent of trafficking drugs and sentenced him to three years’ probation. Prosecutors wanted…

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Erdogan says Syrian refugees in Turkey and Europe can be resettled in ‘safe zone’ in Syria

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said that a planned “safe zone” in northern Syria could host 2-3 million Syrian refugees that have settled in Turkey and Europe after eight years of…

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Turkish seismic exploration vessel ‘Oruc Reis’ in the Eastern Mediterranean research area

A handout photo made available by the Turkish Defence Minister press office shows Turkish 'TGC Oruc Reis' frigate escorting to National seismic exploration vessel 'Oruc Reis' in the Eastern Mediterranean.…

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Photo Story: The Rally Turkey 2019 in Marmaris

Thierry Neuville of Belgium drives his Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC during day 3 of the Rally Turkey 2019 in Marmaris, Turkey. Photo: EPA-EFE/NIKOS MITSOURAS

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Photo Story: The Rally Turkey 2019

A scene from the World Rally Championship (WRC) being held in Turkey. Andreas Mikkelsen of Norway drives his Hyundai i20 WRC during the Rally Turkey 2019 as part of the…

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Ex-Turkish Prime Minister Davutoglu leaves Erdogan’s party

Turkish former-Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has resigned from the ruling AKP party, saying he will start a "new political movement." On announcing his resignation, Davutoglu said the party had moved…

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Art project in Istanbul aims to raise awareness on domestic violence

A view of a contemporary art installation by Turkish artist Vahit Tuna that aims to raise awareness on women killed by domestic violence, in Istanbul, Turkey, 12 September 2019. Some…

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Serbia determined to join Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union in spite of EU warnings

Serbia’s plan to join a Russian-led economic union is drawing ire from the European Union, which the Balkan nation says it wants to be part of. The EU’s executive commission…

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Human traffickers stealing yachts for Aegean crossings

There has been a surge in reports of theft of luxury boats on Turkey's Aegean coast to then be used for smuggling illegal migrants from Turkish shores to Greek islands.…

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Greek PM criticizes Turkey for its threat to reopen its borders to refugees

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has sent a strong warning to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, telling him not to threaten Greece and Europe in order to secure more money from…

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Turkey-US patrols for Syria safe zone to begin today

Joint Turkish-U.S. ground patrols for a planned safe zone in northern Syria are set to begin on Sept. 8, according to Hulusi Akar , Turkey’s defence minister. Akar also said…

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Erdogan says it’s unacceptable that Turkey can’t have nuclear weapons, warns may open gates for migrants to Europe

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday Turkey may have to open the route for migrants into Europe if Ankara does not receive enough international support to deal with Syrian…

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Photo Story: Cliff Diving World Series in Mostar

An unidentified competitor jumps from the Old Bridge over the Neretva river during the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 24 August 2019. Twenty-four athletes…

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Kosovo heads to early election

Kosovo is heading to an early election after MPs voted to dissolve parliament on Thursday, after Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj resigned last month. Eight-nine deputies voted to dissolve the 120-seat…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Antalya, Turkey

A picture taken with a drone shows thousands of hand knotted Turkish carpets laying in fields owned by carpet companies at Dosemealti district in Antalya, Turkey. Workers put on fields…

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Turkey says its convoy attacked in Syria

Turkish military convoy was attacked en route to one of its observation posts in northwest Syria on Monday, Turkey’s Defence Ministry said, adding that three civilians were killed and 12…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Izmir, Turkey

A photograph taken with a drone shows Syrian refugee seasonal workers cutting tomatoes to dry them in the sun in Izmir, Turkey. According to the Aegean Exporters Association, more than…

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EU worried by spread of African swine fever in Bulgaria

The spread of African swine fever in Bulgaria, which threatens the Balkan country’s pig breeding industry is worrying, an EU Commission spokeswoman said on Thursday. Bulgaria has reported more than…

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Photo Story: 16th FAI Paragliding World Championship

Participants fly their paraglides during the 16th FAI Paragliding World Championship near Krusevo, North Macedonia. The competition lasts for nearly two weeks, from 7-17 August 2019. The championship will see…

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Turkey says another drill ship en route to eastern Mediterranean

Two Turkish drill ships are continuing operations in the eastern Mediterranean and another ship will join them this month, Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said, as a dispute over natural resources…

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ECB to test five Croatian banks

The European Central Bank said on Wednesday it would carry out a stress test of five Croatian banks, a preliminary step in Zagreb’s bid to join the euro zone. Zagrebačka…

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German citizen arrested in Turkey for Facebook shares

Another German citizen was arrested in Turkey on charges of spreading propaganda. According to reports from German public broadcasters NDR, WDR and newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, 36-year-old Osman B. from Hesse was arrested…

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Croatia’s President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarevic to run for second five-year term

Croatia President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarevic will run for a second five-year term on behalf of her ruling party, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, who also heads the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), said…

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Bulgarian Kristalina Georgieva selected by EU for IMF top job

Kristalina Georgieva, the Bulgarian chief executive of the World Bank, has been picked as Europe's choice to lead the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after a divisive 14-hour round of voting…

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Massacre in Zagreb

Croatian police have opened an investigation into the murder of six people inside a house in the capital, Zagreb. In what Croatian media have called a "massacre," three women, two men…

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Greece accuses Turkey of undermining security in the eastern Mediterranean

Greece accused Turkey of undermining security in the eastern Mediterranean by drilling for oil and gas around Cyprus. These were some of the strongest comments on the issue from Athens’…

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Turkey’s first S-400 shipment complete, second shipment being planned

The first shipment of Russia's S-400 defence missile system to Turkey has now been completed,Turkish officials said. Russia has completed delivery of the first shipment of its S-400 anti-aircraft missile…

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Two charged with terrorism over Bulgaria’s biggest data breach

Prosecutors have charged two workers at a cybersecurity company with terrorism as part of an investigation into Bulgaria's biggest-ever data breach, a lawyer for the defendants said on Wednesday. Georgi…

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30 Poles injured after bus crash in southern Turkey

At least 30 Polish citizens were injured, including three seriously, after a bus crashed down a wooded slope near the southern Turkish resort of Kemer, according to a Polish ministry…

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Dutch Supreme Court rules Netherlands partially responsible for Srebrenica deaths

The Dutch Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the Netherlands is partially responsible for the July 1995 deaths of 300 Muslims in Srebrenica. Relatives of the victims first sued the…

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Turkey plans to deploy fourth drill ship off Cyprus

Turkey is set to deploy a fourth ship to explore for gas and oil off the coast of Cyprus in defiance of EU sanctions imposed to end Ankara’s illegal operations…

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Trump says no sanctions against NATO ally Turkey for now

President Donald Trump said he’s not looking at economic sanctions against Turkey “right now” following its decision to begin receiving parts of a Russian missile-defense system that has divided the…

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Turkey removed from US F-35 fighter jet programme

The US says it is removing Turkey from its F-35 fighter jets programme, after Ankara received the first parts of a Russian missile defence system. The US says the "F-35…

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Financial records of nearly every Bulgarian exposed

A 20-year-old cybersecurity worker has been arrested in Bulgaria and charged with hacking the personal and financial records of millions of taxpayers in the country’s biggest ever data breach. Bulgaria’s…

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EU Suspects Turkish Drilling Ship has Started Operation Off Cyprus

According to Cypriot daily Fileleftheros, a reliable EU source from Brussels has said that there is talk of “successful drilling” by the “Fatih” that is located off Paphou and there…

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EU signals sanctions on Turkey over Cyprus drilling

The European Union will put on hold high-level talks with Ankara and negotiations on an air transport agreement, as well as freezing funding for Turkey next year, over “illegal” drilling…

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Photo Story: The 24th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre

A Bosnian Muslim woman cries during the funeral of 33 newly-identified Bosnian Muslims at the Potocari Memorial Center, Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 11 July 2019. The burial was part of…

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UPDATED: Washington urges Turkey to halt drilling operations off the coast of Cyprus, Ankara reacts to EU warning

UPDATED: Turkey said on Wednesday it rejected Greek and European Union assertions that Turkish drilling for gas and oil off Cyprus was illegitimate, and said it showed the EU could…

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Second Turkish drillship arrives off coast of Cyprus

A second Turkish drillship arrived off the northeastern coast of Cyprus on Monday. The ship, the Yavuz, is expected to begin drilling for oil and natural gas near Cyprus this…

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Mitsotakis sworn in as new Greek PM

Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Greece shortly after winning the Greek general election held on Sunday. The center-right New Democracy party won…

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Labour shortage a burning issue in Croatia

The President of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) Luka Burilović said that Croatia had benefited from its membership of the European Union, however, the labour shortage was becoming…

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