—🇦🇱❌🇮🇷 NEW: In a recent address, Albanian PM Edi Rama stated, “If hell exists, I hope Khamenei rots in it,” adding that Albania is “not afraid” of Tehran’s threats.

➡️ This escalation in rhetoric follows years of strained relations between the two nations, which reached a breaking point in 2022 when Albania severed diplomatic ties with Iran over a massive state-sponsored cyberattack.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇷🇸/🇧🇬 NEW: Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has congratulated Rumen Radev on his success in Bulgaria’s parliamentary elections, expressing confidence in the continued strengthening of bilateral cooperation.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇷🇺/🇷🇸 NEW: Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko has arrived in the Republic of Srpska for an official visit to meet with the entity’s leadership, including President Siniša Karan.

➡️ The talks will focus on the further expansion of bilateral relations and the development of potential economic projects.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

— 🇷🇸📞🇭🇺 NEW: Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has congratulated Péter Magyar on his electoral victory following a "substantive" conversation regarding the future of Serbia-Hungary relations.

➡️ The two leaders discussed key energy issues, supply security, and regional connectivity. Vučić also addressed the status of ethnic minorities in both countries and Serbia’s EU path, while extending an official invitation for Magyar to visit Belgrade.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇷🇸/🇪🇸 NEW: Serbia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Spanish company Ingerop T3 S.L.U. for system integration on the first line of the Belgrade Metro.

➡️ The Spanish partner will coordinate and integrate all key technical systems—including infrastructure, signaling, communications, and safety—to ensure the project meets the highest international standards.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—❗️🇮🇷❌🇬🇷 URGENT: Greek FM has confirmed that a Greek-owned cargo ship was attacked by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) while transiting the Strait of Hormuz today.

➡️ The vessel, identified as the Liberian-flagged Epaminondas, sustained "heavy damage" to its bridge and navigation systems after being fired upon by an IRGC gunboat without prior warning.

➡️ While Tehran claims to have seized the vessel for "maritime violations," Athens and the ship’s management have denied the reports of seizure, confirming that all 21 crew members are safe and the captain remains in control of the ship.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇷🇸 (🇧🇦) /🇬🇷 NEW: Željka Cvijanović, the Serb member of the BiH Presidency, has criticized Bosnia and Herzegovina’s governance during an official visit to Greece, describing the country as a "colonial structure."

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇧🇦/🇭🇷 NEW: An agreement to connect the gas networks of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia via the Southern Interconnection is set to be signed next week in Dubrovnik.

➡️ The project will allow Bosnia and Herzegovina to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the terminal on Krk, significantly reducing its heavy dependence on Russian gas supplied through Serbia.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇷🇸/🇭🇷/🇦🇱/🇽🇰 NEW: Serbian Chief of General Staff Milan Mojsilović has stated that the Serbian Armed Forces are capable of independently countering a potential military alliance between Croatia, Albania, and Kosovo.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇭🇷/🇷🇸 NEW: Croatian President Zoran Milanović has stated that Croatia has no enemies except for Serbia, with whom it remains unable to harmonize relations.

➡️ Milanović remarked that while it would be "great" if a rapprochement were possible, he currently views it as unachievable.

➡️ He further added that he does not see "anyone guilty in Croatia" for the ongoing diplomatic stalemate between Zagreb and Belgrade.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇲🇰 NEW: North Macedonia's parliament has passed a law requiring lawmakers to hold only Macedonian citizenship, effectively banning dual citizens from serving as MPs.

➡️ The measure was introduced following long-standing allegations from the opposition that several MPs from the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party hold dual Bulgarian citizenship.

➡️ While the Macedonian opposition backed the move, ethnic Albanian opposition parties opposed the law.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—☢️❗️🇺🇸 NEW: Pentagon nuclear security official Andrew Hugg has reportedly been detained after being caught on hidden camera disclosing classified information at a bar.

➡️ Hugg is accused of revealing sensitive nuclear secrets to an undercover individual, including the alleged locations of four underground missile silos.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇷🇴 Bloomberg: Romania’s biggest political party quit the government after disagreements over unpopular austerity measures, leaving Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan in charge of a minority cabinet.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

🟦❌🌹 The National Liberal Party (PNL) will no longer form a future coalition with the Social Democrat Party (PSD).

Prime-minister and President of PNL, Ilie Bolojan says that the social democrat's behaviour and "habit of governing" is unacceptable. PSD is expected to play most cards when it comes to deciding who gets into government.

@Wallachian_Gazette

🇫🇷🇬🇷🇺🇦⚡️ — France has proposed a deal in which Greece would transfer its Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine in exchange for discounted Rafale jets, Le Parisien reports.

➡️ The offer involves Greece potentially handing over up to 43 Mirage jets, though not all are operational, in return for a similar number of Dassault Rafale planes at a reduced cost.

➡️ Final terms and pricing are still expected to be negotiated between the two sides.

🏛⚖️ Ilie Bolojan announces interim ministers after PSD ministers resign!

Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan stated that he has taken note of the resignations of PSD-backed ministers and that he will send to President Nicușor Dan the proposals for the interim filling of the vacant portfolios.

The Head of the Executive stressed that it is essential that the Government's activity continues without any hitches, in the context of ongoing projects and assumed obligations, including with regard to PNRR funds and investment programs. In this regard, discussions were held with the deputy prime ministers to establish quick solutions.

According to the prime minister, the proposed interim ministers are ministers from the current cabinet, with experience, capable of immediately taking over their responsibilities. Thus, Dragoș Pîslaru will take over the Ministry of Labor, Cseke Attila, the Ministry of Health, Tánczos Barna, the Ministry of Agriculture, and Cătălin Predoiu will take the Ministry of Justice. Also, Bolojan will provide the interim at the Ministry of Energy, Radu Miruță at Transport.

The prime minister specified that the new interims must quickly collaborate with the former portfolio holders to ensure the continuity of projects and the proper functioning of the institutions, with a working meeting to be organized early next week to establish immediate priorities.

@Wallachian_Gazette

—🇧🇬 NEW: Acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov has officially resigned after submitting a letter to the Prosecutorial College of the Supreme Judicial Council, withdrawing his consent to take up the position. The decision is effective immediately.

➡️ The resignation comes against the backdrop of numerous protests in recent years, including since the beginning of the year.

ℹ️ Information reported by our source in Bulgaria.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇧🇬 Part of Sarafov's statement:

I made my decision some time ago, after careful consideration of all legal and institutional consequences. I postponed its announcement in order to prevent further destabilization of the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Bulgaria in the context of a prolonged and severe political crisis, which, I hope, as the majority of Bulgarian citizens have demonstrated, has found its successful resolution this time.

ℹ️ Information reported by our source in Bulgaria.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English