Ansa news

(ANSA-AFP) - BELGRADE, AUG 27 - Former Bosnian military Serb leader and war criminal Ratko Mladic has died in a prison hospital in the Hague, according to Serbian state broadcaster RTS, after suffering several strokes. Mladic, 84, was dubbed the "Butcher of Bosnia" for his role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre during the Bosnian war. (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 27 - Slovenia's conservative government, led by Janez Janša, has faced criticism from the opposition and President Nataša Pirc Musar for refusing to sign the European Union's joint declaration against new Israeli settlements in the West Bank, reports EU Observer. The latter urged Ljubljana to strongly support the EU's position, stating that such settlements "violate international law, undermine the two-state solution, and impede long-term peace." Pirc Musar emphasised the…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 27 - Germany is in talks to join Britain's nuclear deterrent, which consists of Trident missiles carried by Royal Navy submarines. This is according to a front-page report in the Daily Telegraph, which quotes diplomatic sources familiar with the ongoing talks between London, Berlin, and Paris. Germany would provide financial assistance as part of efforts to establish a European nuclear umbrella to deter Russia. Given the burden of its past associated with World War II, Germany…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 27 - Ursula von der Leyen will pledge today in Paris to relaunch investment in European industry and protect the continent's businesses from unfair competition, putting the Union's competitiveness back at the forefront of her second term agenda. The Financial Times previewed the news, quoting excerpts from the speech scheduled for the meeting with business leaders. "Our goal is clear: to make Europe a continent that produces, invests, and protects. To reposition industrial…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 26 - According to Radio Slobodna Evropa (Radio Free Europe), Serbia intends to be "ready to join the Schengen area" by the end of 2027, but is "not considering" introducing visas for Russian citizens. However, for Serbia to join the European free travel area, each candidate country's visa policy must be consistent with that of the European Union. For Belgrade, this would imply the abolition of visa-free travel with several countries, including Russia, with which it has long…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 26 - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz predicts an economic recovery in Germany. "We have left three years of recession behind us, and now we are returning to growth," the CDU president stated at the conclusion of the Council of Ministers' two-day closed-door meeting at Neuhardenberg Castle in Brandenburg. "Full focus on growth," Merz said. "We are approaching the remaining months of 2026 with dynamism and great confidence," the chancellor declared. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 26 - Two Albanian women and three children have been repatriated from Syria's Al-Hol refugee camp, which houses families of former Islamic State fighters. "It has been a long and difficult process, while we continue our efforts to repatriate those who remain in the country," wrote Prime Minister Edi Rama on social media. Between 2014 and 2015, it is reported that approximately 100 Albanians joined ISIS. Some returned voluntarily, while others were allegedly killed during the…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 26 - "Do not believe in a peace agreement with Russia: Europe should prevent any 'normalisation' of relations with Moscow on the international stage," Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs declared. Kulbergs expressed hope that Russia's full return to the international stage would occur only after the conflict was resolved, preventing Moscow from capitalising on the image benefits that could result from its gradual return to various international formats. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 26 - According to some of Portugal's leading business newspapers, Volkswagen's crisis will have little impact on the Palmela factory, citing sources within the German company. "We are reviewing everything," the statement read. "We cannot remain competitive in the global market with underutilised plants." However, according to current plans, Volkswagen confirms that the production version of the ID.Every one will be manufactured alongside the T-Roc at the Autoeuropa plant in…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 25 - Slovenia's Tadej Pogačar won stage 4 of the Vuelta a Espana on Tuesday, consolidating his overall lead in the season's final Grand Tour. Pogačar finished two minutes and 39 seconds ahead of the peloton after breaking away from the group 50 kilometres before the finish line. Primož Roglič, his compatriot, ranks second in the general classification, STA reported. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 25 - The Serbian National Assembly is meeting in extraordinary session following the summer recess to discuss a 59-point agenda, the majority of which concerns state budget adjustments. This includes a series of financial subsidies recently approved by the government through a specific law, which is currently being considered by parliament. This is a massive one-time financial assistance package for low-income families, pensioners, and other groups to alleviate the energy…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 25 - According to incomplete data for just under half of the European continent, this summer's four record-breaking heatwaves killed "at least 35,000 more people than would normally be expected. This is the Guardian's estimate, based on available data. "Excess mortality in three of the EU's largest countries," the Guardian writes. "Germany, France, and Spain have already exceeded 25,000 cases, according to provisional national data, and experts say the toll will rise significantly…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 25 - Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume emphasised to employees the need for additional cost-cutting measures. "We must reduce complexity, streamline our structures, and reduce costs," Blume said during a staff meeting at the Wolfsburg plant, DPA reports. The meeting at the group's headquarters marked the beginning of a series of meetings at various VW locations in which employees will question the board of directors. "Tariffs, new competitors, and geopolitical risks: the entire…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 25 - The German economy experienced mini-growth in the second quarter of 2026, with GDP up 0.3% from the previous quarter. This figure is slightly higher than the forecasted 0.2% growth. This was announced by the federal statistics office Destatis, which also released the final data. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 24 - The ministry of Infrastructure and Energy announced on Tuesday that regulated fuel prices will rise in Slovenia by 2.6 cents to EUR 1.608 per litre for regular petrol and by 4.6 cents for diesel to a record of EUR 1.903 per litre. For the first time, diesel in Slovenia will cost more than EUR 1.9. So far, the highest price was recorded between April 8 and 13, when it stood at EUR 1.897, according to Slovenian news agency STA. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 24 - Wildfires continue to rage in the Western Balkans, with the majority of emergencies centred in North Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, particularly Republika Srpska (RS). North Macedonia has taken the lead in recent hours and is experiencing its worst environmental crisis in years, with over 15 active fires as of Sunday afternoon and over 30 outbreaks in recent days. The fires are raging from north to south, particularly in Prilep, Studeničani, Kičevo, and Lipkovo.…

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, AUG 24 - Greater economic integration of the Western Balkans—both within the region and with the European market—to strengthen the competitiveness of businesses. A context in which Trieste's role can foster new connections and collaborations, including with the contribution of the private sector. This was the hope expressed by Marko Čadež, President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and David Piegazki, Secretary General of the Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 24 - "I see no conflict between Germany and Italy," German Chancellor Merz's spokesperson, Stefan Kornelius, reiterated during a government press conference, in response to a question about the ongoing exchange between the two countries on the case of repratiations, which Berlin announced in recent days. "There is close cooperation between Italy and Germany on migration policy," a spokesperson for the Interior Ministry confirmed today, adding that the exchange between the…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 24 - Three of the four units at the Paks nuclear power plant (southern Hungary) have been reconnected as the Danube level rises. The risk of an energy crisis is no longer present, according to Prime Minister Peter Magyar, who spoke from the site of the construction of a submerged dam on the Danube to contain water and raise river levels. The plant, which provides nearly half of the country's electricity, is cooled by Danube water, and a record drop in the river level forced…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 24 - "I have just arrived in Kyiv for the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's Independence Day. I am honoured to be here on such a historic day, demonstrating the EU's unwavering support. Ukraine is a free and courageous country. Its fight is also our fight," said European Council President Antonio Costa. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 24 - "We believe that there should be no Italian troops on Ukrainian soil. We're not at war with Russia. We condemn Russia's attacks on Ukraine, but we are not at war with Russia. We support strengthening European defence to protect our citizens from "any threat that may arise from abroad." This was stated by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani during an interview with RTL 102.5. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 22 - Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić recently stated that General Ratko Mladić, the Bosnian Serb military commander serving a life sentence in The Hague for genocide and war crimes related to the 1992-1995 Bosnian War, is dying and does not understand the "inhuman principles" that led the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals to deny his transfer to Serbia. Vučić made the statements at the request of Mladić's son, Darko, who claimed his father had…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 21 - "We said no to illegal immigration. Hungary will not accept illegal immigrants, as stated by the government prior to the elections and repeatedly since taking office. During the EU negotiations, we made it clear that we do not support quota-based resettlement or the idea that Hungary should pay a financial contribution in exchange for acceptance," The Hungarian Interior Ministry announced, while emphasising its "zero tolerance" policy. "We will not allow illegal immigrants…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 21 - The exhumation of the final three human remains marks the end of weeks of excavation work in three mass graves in the villages of Kalludër, Vogël, and Jabukë, in the municipality of Zubin Potok, northern Kosovo, which began in late July. A total of 23 human remains have been discovered. Their number, pending body identification, corresponds to the number of people who disappeared in Zubin Potok in April 1999: all Albanian intellectuals (doctors, lawyers, professors,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 21 - A secret weapons cache was discovered near Berlin. According to NDR, WDR, and Sueddeutsche Zeitung, German security officials believe they are Russian and were intended for agents assigned to carry out attacks. According to media reports, at the end of last summer, agents discovered a hidden cache of firearms in the woods after receiving a tip. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution believes the cache was established on behalf of Russian intelligence…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 21 - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced on Thursday that parliamentary elections will take place in the second half of October, according to regional television N1. "Parliamentary elections will take place on either October 18 or 25, and we will know in a few days," Vucic told state television RTS. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 20 - Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić urged NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to end terror against Serbs, persecution, arrests, and home demolitions. He also urged KFOR to block the opening of the Ibar River bridge to car traffic, as requested by Pristina, and for the international community to ensure Pristina implements key provisions of the 2013 Brussels Agreement. (ANSA).

(ANSA-AFP) - BRUSSELS, AUG 20 - European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen Thursday slammed a "hybrid warfare" campaign against the bloc after a Romanian jet destroyed a marine drone in an incident Bucharest blamed on Russia. "An escalating campaign of threats is underway, unsettling our citizens and seeking to divide our Union," von der Leyen said, warning the EU must step up its defence push to be able to "deter provocation and aggression." (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 20 - Heat-related deaths have reached 14,000 in Germany since the beginning of the year, according to the Robert Koch Institute. The toll is as of August 9th. This figure, in the past seven months of 2026, exceeds the total number of heat-related deaths in any previous year. Until now, the record had been reached in 2018, with approximately 9,000 deaths. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, AUG 20 - Minister Plenipotentiary Daniele Rampazzo, a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and a member of the Board of Directors of the People's University of Trieste, visited the Italian communities in Istria. The three-day visit, undertaken together with UPT President Edvino Jerian and Secretary General Fabrizio Somma, aimed to gain firsthand insight into the communities and strengthen collaboration. "I'm here first and foremost to…