—❗️🇲🇰/🇷🇸 North Macedonia opposition accuses deputy PM of ties to Serbian intelligence

➡️ Opposition leader Venko Filipče of the Social Democratic Union (SDSM) has accused Deputy PM Ivan Stoilković of maintaining links with Serbian intelligence connected to the government of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.

➡️ Speaking amid an escalating espionage scandal over reported security breaches involving the office of President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, Filipče claimed sensitive data from the NATO member state is leaking daily.

➡️ He further alleged that Stoilković, who holds Serbian citizenship and supports the nationalist "Serbian World" concept, collaborates with foreign services and maintains ties with the pro-Kremlin Russian biker group "Night Wolves."

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇧🇬 WATCH: Bulgarian PM Rumen Radev officially welcomes Eurovision winner Dara in Sofia.

➡️ The PM congratulated the singer and her team for their major victory, calling it a historic success for the nation.

➡️ During the reception, Radev revealed that during his recent official visit to Berlin, the German Chancellor welcomed him with the song "Bangaranga" and discussed Dara’s notable soft-power impact on European politics.

➡️ "Your dignified behavior following this victory is just as important as the achievement itself," Radev added.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

🇨🇦🗳❗️ — Alberta will hold a referendum on October 19 to decide whether they want to remain in Canada or start the process towards a binding separation referendum

➡️ This Thursday's announcement by Premier Danielle Smith comes after a citizen-led petition calling for separation gathered more than 300,000 signatures early this year and a separate petition advocating that Alberta stay gathered more than 400,000.

📝 Albertan Premier, Danielle Smith, has announced Alberta’s independence referendum question:

“Should Alberta remain a province of Canada or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?”

💭 Still, opinion polls suggest that the majority of Albertans would vote against separating, but in favor of more autonomy within the Canadian Federal system

📆 The provincial referendum has been scheduled for 19 October, the premier said.

🛢 One should note that Alberta is an oil-rich province, so they want to sell oil to the US directly, without Canada.

—❗️🇬🇧/🇹🇷/🇬🇷 NEW: British claim over Elgin Marbles faces collapse as Turkey backs Greece

➡️ Turkey has confirmed that no original Ottoman decree exists to prove the Parthenon sculptures were legally handed to Britain in the 1800s, openly backing Greece’s demand for their return.

➡️ The announcement directly challenges the legal foundation of the British claim, though London continues to insist the artifacts were obtained legally and refuses to repatriate them.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇧🇦/🇪🇺/🇺🇸 NEW: Bosnia and Herzegovina's FM has called on EU member states to independently select the country's next High Representative.

➡️ The minister stated that European nations should take the initiative on regional diplomatic appointments rather than blindly following United States policy or waiting for directives from Washington.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—❗️🇹🇷 WATCH: The leader of Türkiye's main opposition party has publicly torn up an official communiqué sent by the Erdoğan administration.

➡️ The dramatic gesture underscores a widening rift between the government and opposition forces as political instability continues to intensify across the country.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇭🇷/🇮🇹 NEW: Croatia formally approved a cooperative project with Beretta Holding to establish domestic production of small-caliber ammunition.

➡️ Presenting the conclusion, Deputy PM and Minister of Defense Ivan Anušić stated that the construction of the facility is a direct response to changed regional and global security circumstances.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇦🇱/🇪🇺 NEW: Albania will open the final phase of negotiations with the European Union on May 26.

➡️ The announcement marks a critical step forward in Tirana's integration process, fueling optimism within the country regarding its ambitious target of achieving full EU membership by 2028.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🪖🇭🇷 NEW: The Croatian Ministry of Defense has unveiled plans to scale its Armed Forces to approximately 20,000 professional soldiers and 50,000 reserve members by the year 2030.

➡️ Defense Minister Ivan Anušić noted that Croatia is currently the only country in the region enforcing mandatory military service.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇬🇷 POLITICO: Greece’s left-wing former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras launched a new political party [...] that he hopes will unite the country’s splintered opposition amid nationwide frustration over the political establishment and its corruption.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

🇹🇷 🇷🇺⚡️— Reuters reports Turkey cut Russian oil imports to a 1.5-year low.

Kpler data shows May Urals imports at 161,000 barrels/day, down from 302,000 barrels/day a year earlier.

🇪🇺 Legion Europa | Group Chat

—🇧🇬/🇪🇺 POLYMARKET: Bulgaria’s prime minister calls on the EU, not others, to lead peace talks with Russia over Ukraine.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English