—🪖🇽🇰/🇵🇸 NEW: Kosovo’s parliament has approved the deployment of a Kosovo Security Force (KSF) contingent to Gaza as part of the International Stabilization Force (ISF).

➡️ The proposal passed with a required two-thirds majority, marking a significant step in Pristina’s efforts to increase its participation in international peacekeeping missions.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇽🇰/🇺🇸 NEW: The US State Department has notified the Senate Foreign Relations Committee of a license to export firearms and components to Kosovo.

➡️ The formal notification indicates the transaction is valued at $1 million or more, the threshold required for such legislative reporting.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—NOTE: This latest acquisition follows a series of defense agreements between Pristina and Washington aimed at modernizing the Kosovo Security Force (KSF).

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇦🇱❌🇮🇷 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