The Dispatch

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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PKK to Disarm in Bid to End Decades-Long Turkish Conflict

After 40 years of armed struggle against the Turkish state, the outlawed Kurdish PKK will hold a ceremony on Friday to mark a symbolic first step in laying down its…

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Spain, Serbia and Slovenia register record hot temperatures

A heatwave continues to grip large parts of Europe, with authorities in many countries issuing health warnings amid searing temperatures. Southern Spain is the worst-affected region, with temperatures in the…

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Kosovo accepts US request to host third-party deportees

Kosovo has accepted a request to receive migrants deported from the United States, with an initial plan to take in 50 deportees per year, the government said in a statement…

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Bulgarian authorities arrest 18 for smuggling migrants across its southern border

A criminal network smuggling mainly Syrian migrants from Türkiye to Western Europe has been taken down following a coordinated action led by the Bulgarian authorities and supported by Europol. On…

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Serbia’s Vucic says he wants to join EU

Serbia remains committed to its plan to join the European Union and wants to speed up its membership bid, President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday after his recent trip to…

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Rama to secure historic 4th term in Albania

Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama secured a comfortable majority in Albania’s election, riding a wave of pro-EU sentiment to become the country’s longest-serving democratic leader. “It is the most humbling…

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Kurdish PKK disbands and ends 40-year Turkey insurgency

Outlawed Kurdish group the PKK, which has waged a 40-year insurgency against Turkey, has announced it is laying down its arms and disbanding. The move followed a call in February…

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The Albanian general election at a glance

A total of 26 political parties, including eight standalone and three coalitions, are competing for 140 seats in parliament under the proportional representation system. This will be Albania's tenth parliamentary…

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Albania’s Rama seeks fourth term in election dominated by graft, EU membership

Ilir Rranci moved to a hamlet outside the Albanian city of Elbasan for the view of snow-capped peaks and a garden big enough for fruit trees, chickens and turkeys. Today,…

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UPDATED: Turkey hit by 6.2 earthquake

A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 shook Istanbul on Wednesday, Turkey's AFAD disaster agency said, one of the strongest quakes to strike the city of 16 million in…

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Politically inexperienced medical professor appointed as Serbia’s prime minister

Serbia's parliament on Wednesday approved politically inexperienced medical professor Djuro Macut as Prime Minister of the Balkan country, following months of anti-corruption protests that led his predecessor to resign. The…

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Mystery sound at Serbia protest sparks sonic weapon allegations

Tamara Bojanovski was in a crowd of anti-government protesters in Belgrade on March 15 when she heard a sound "like some powerful machine hurtling up from behind". Thousands of others…

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Bosnian Serb leader flees to Moscow as authorities step up pursuit

Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik surfaced in Moscow, confirming his whereabouts in a video message as authorities in Sarajevo demand an international arrest warrant following his conviction for defying the…

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NATO Mediterranean drill begins

A NATO exercise in the Mediterranean began Monday ahead of Türkiye taking command of the alliance's amphibious task force starting in July. NATO launched Exercise Dynamic Mariner / Flotex 25…

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Istanbul rocked by protests as Turkey jails mayor before trial

A Turkish court on Sunday jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival, pending trial on corruption charges, in a move likely to inflame the country's biggest…

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Istanbul mayor, a key Erdogan rival, arrested as government crackdown escalates

Turkish police on Wednesday arrested Istanbul’s mayor — a popular opposition leader and key rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — and several other prominent figures as part of investigations…

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Additional EUFOR peacekeeper troops arrive in Bosnia amid rising tensions

The EU announced plans to send peacekeepers to Bosnia after the nation's top court suspended laws adopted by its ethnic-Serb majority regional entity. Reserve peacekeepers arrived in Bosnia on Wednesday…

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PKK leader Ocalan orders militants to end war with Turkey

Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdish group PKK, has called on his movement to lay down its arms and dissolve itself. His statement, read out in a…

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