A plot to assassinate Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the failed coup attempt in 2016 has been uncovered.
According to published information, the suspected perpetrators had planned to capture Erdogan at the hotel where he was staying on the night of the coup, then take him out of Turkey on a foreign plane and kill him during the flight, the media wrote.
The plan, however, failed after the Turkish president left the hotel shortly before the group of assassins arrived at the scene.
The coup attempt occurred on July 15, 2016, when a group of military officers attempted to seize control of Turkey's key institutions.
After the clash between government forces and putschists, more than 250 people lost their lives.
The Turkish government has blamed cleric Fethullah Gulen's network for orchestrating the coup, while the now-deceased imam and his supporters have denied the allegations.
The event remains one of the most important political moments in modern Turkish history. /Telegraph/
In the Kingdom of Denmark, recruitment for military service is carried out through a lottery system. After reaching the age of 18, men and women are invited for a medical examination and an assessment of their physical and psychological abilities.
Each eligible candidate draws a number at random. Those with the lowest numbers may be called up for military service if the required number of soldiers is not met by volunteers.
After the checks, recruits receive numbers that will be entered into a draw. The system works like a mathematical lottery, where lower numbers mean a greater chance of being called up, while higher numbers usually exclude the candidate from military service.
On the day of assessment, known as "Defense Day" (Forsvarets Dag), candidates who pass the health and psychological tests draw a number from a special drum. The numbers usually range from 1 to several tens of thousands.
Numbers from 1 to approximately 8000 are considered the "danger zone", as the Danish Armed Forces first send out calls for service to those with the lowest numbers. However, if there are enough volunteers, only as many recruits are called up as are needed to fill the annual quota.
People who draw high numbers are given the status of "frinummer" ("free number"). If their number is far above the army's needs, the likelihood of being called up in peacetime is practically zero, as the quota is filled much earlier.
This system aims to make the recruitment process as objective and fair as possible, as the decision does not depend on subjective assessments, but only on the result of the draw.
According to the Danish Ministry of Defense's plan, 6,500 recruits will be trained each year from 2033, about 40 percent more than at present. Denmark, with a population of about six million, has about 9,000 professional soldiers. The new rules also make it easier to accept people with diabetes and ADHD, while the Defense Minister has the power to send recruits on missions abroad if necessary.
Among the Scandinavian countries, Denmark was the last to include women in the compulsory conscription system. Norway did so in 2013, while Sweden did so in 2017. /Telegraph/
As the constitutional deadline approaches, Kosovo remains in a phase of political uncertainty regarding the formation of new institutions.
The discussions so far have not brought any epilogue, while the session for the constitution of the Assembly is expected to be convened in two weeks.
The suspension of discussions by the LDK and internal clashes on this subject, according to experts in the field, have increased uncertainty about securing the majority necessary to elect the president.
Analysts estimate that the role of PDK could be decisive at this stage. According to Sadik Zeqiri, after the divisions in LDK, there is a dilemma as to whether all 18 MPs of this entity will be willing to vote for the new president.
"If there are no talks with PDK, then the country will go to elections. LDK does not have the 18 votes, the guaranteed 18 votes for the presidential candidate," Zeqiri told RTK.
Even according to analyst Fatime Hajdari, recent developments in the LDK have deepened the political crisis in the country.
"LDK has not had internal security in controlling the vote, how many votes it has in a political collaboration. They need to have clarity. These political parties need to have responsibility and obligation to cooperate with each other," Hajdari.
Acting President Albulena Haxhiu said on Friday that the constitutive session of the Assembly will be called in early August.
The Kosovo Government has told RTK that they hope that the opposition will not barricade itself against it and that the country will go to new elections.
After the last meeting, the Democratic Party of Kosovo said they would remain in opposition, while the LDK has suspended talks, creating uncertainty about how the formation of new institutions will proceed.
The Kosovo Security Forces are continuing preparations for the deployment of its contingent to Gaza in coordination with the International Security Force headquarters. All this within the framework of the international stabilization mission in Gaza. The latest to depart for that country are 4 members of the KSF.
The United States-led peace board announced that members of the Force will support security efforts in Gaza in areas such as logistics and civil affairs.
Within the framework of this mission, the Chief of Staff of the Acting Minister of Defense, Liridona Gashi, announced that the rest of the contingent has completed operational and logistical preparations and, after final coordination with the Mission Headquarters, will depart for Gaza to assume its duties.
"The participation of the Republic of Kosovo in this mission represents an important step in consolidating its role as an active contributor to international security. This commitment also marks the first participation in a mission approved by the UN, reflecting the level of trust and partnership with international allies," said Gashi.
And those who deal with security issues say that the KSF is putting its capacities at the service of international peace and security, highlighting it as the most important moment in the consolidation of the state of Kosovo.
With this mission, the KSF is writing a historic chapter in its journey as a modern, professional force worthy of international missions. On the eve of the conclusion of the 10-year transition, this commitment demonstrates Kosovo's readiness to be part of the global security architecture and its journey towards NATO./RTK
In the midst of the summer season, Albania remains one of the favorite destinations for many foreign tourists. Even in these hot July days, many European citizens are visiting Tirana.
RTSH spoke with tourists from across the continent, from America, but also with Italian neighbors.
"I come from New York, but I am an Italian citizen. We have arrived here and Tirana seems to me to be a very beautiful place. It has changed a lot as a city and I find it interesting with the tall buildings. I will also go to the sea. The people and the city are full of life."
"For me it's not the first time. I was here in 2023. I feel part of Albania. I feel like I was born here. I live in the south of Italy and it seems to me like we are the same. When I enter the restaurant they greet me in Italian. I feel honored."
"We are here to take a tour of Albania, to then go to Montenegro. We will take with us a beautiful memory of these days and a great consideration for the Albanians," said some of the tourists.
This young man from America in Albania has not only found a beautiful place, but also his life partner, an Albanian girl.
"For me, it's not my first time in Albania, as my wife is Albanian," he said.
In May, the number of visitors to Albania was higher. According to data from INSTAT, the number of visitors accommodated in tourist structures in Albania increased by 12.4% compared to the same period a year earlier.
The hotel room occupancy rate reached 29.8%, up from 28.7% a year earlier, signaling higher utilization of accommodation capacity.
Italy remains the main market for foreign tourists with 19% of the total, followed by Kosovo with 11%, Germany with 10%, France with 9% and Poland with 6%.
The North region recorded the strongest growth in foreign visitors, from around 47 thousand to over 73 thousand, while the South region also recorded significant growth.
Four months after the Supreme Court upheld the life sentence for Dardan Krivaqen for the murder of his girlfriend, in another case of wife murder, it decided to reduce the sentence.
Edmond Lajçi was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first instance for the murder of his wife, but the same sentence was recently reduced to 30 years by the Supreme Court.
The latter justified the reduction of the sentence with the guilty plea by the convicted person.
β The Supreme Court has assessed that the courts of first and second instance have not correctly applied Article 41 of the Criminal Code regarding the imposition of a life sentence. According to the Supreme Courtβs assessment, some of the circumstances considered as particularly aggravating were not supported by evidence, while some of them constitute elements of the criminal offence itself and, for this reason, cannot justify the imposition of the most severe sentence, foreseen by law. The Supreme Court has emphasized that life imprisonment may be imposed only in cases where there are particularly aggravating circumstances that clearly distinguish the specific case from ordinary cases of the same criminal offence and when a milder sentence would not be proportionate to the gravity of the offence and the culpability of the perpetrator in this case, the Supreme Court has assessed that this legal standard has not been met. Relying on the principle of individualisation and proportionality of the sentence, as well as on the practice of the European Court of Human Rights, the Supreme Court has assessed that the sentence of 30 years "The term of imprisonment is proportional to the gravity of the criminal offense, the degree of guilt and the dangerousness of the defendant, and that this sentence can achieve the purpose of the sentence, both in terms of individual and general deterrence ," the Supreme Court's response states.
According to lawyer Yll Zekaj, judges should carefully analyze cases when deciding on a life sentence.
"Publicity should never, no external circumstances should ever, influence the Court's decision. Courts are independent, courts should act only on the basis of evidence and on the basis of what is provided by the prosecutor in the case files," said Yll Zekaj - lawyer.
Zekaj also shows that if a person remains in prison for the rest of his life, he is sentenced to life imprisonment by a final decision.
"Life imprisonment in the system we have in Kosovo does not mean that the prisoner or person sentenced to life imprisonment will never be released from prison. Our legislation, our criminal code, provides that even life imprisonment can be reviewed after 30 years of serving the sentence," said Yll Zekaj - lawyer.
Life imprisonment is the highest sentence in the Kosovo penal system. Since the entry into force of the Criminal Code in 2013, it has been imposed in over 10 cases. /Tv Dukagjini/
After the fire at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in 2023, the main laboratories were damaged and about 300 cases with toxicology results remained unfinished. According to legal experts, such delays harm judicial processes. 10 cases were sent for examination abroad, while renovations are nearing completion and the spaces are expected to be functional next week.
The lack of such a system caused everything to fall into ruins three years ago.
And now, after renovations, a modernized fire-fighting system has been installed at the Institute of Forensic Medicine.
But the 2023 fires blocked work in the main laboratory, due to the damage caused then.
Thus, there are nearly 300 cases that have not yet been concluded.
"July 2023 July 2026 there are about 1500 completed cases, completed in terms of autopsies. But there are about 300 cases awaiting toxicology results that we are hoping will be available soon after the laboratory is operational, after servicing and calibrating the equipment," said Agron Thaqi, Acting Director of the IML.
Thaci announced the number of cases that had to be sent abroad.
"In this context, sending samples abroad is also the competence of the Prosecution, around ten cases have been sent abroad. The IML has agreements with a number of regional and European institutions, so we only help with the organization and communication of the work," said Agron Thaqi, Acting Director of the IML.
However, the delay in results is estimated to affect the handling of cases by justice institutions.
"If the IML has been involved in a fire since the equipment was damaged and does not have capacity, this also hinders the judiciary, and considering that it is under the umbrella of the Ministry of Justice, the failure to empower the IML with capacity, equipment and technical capabilities is in some way a way for the government to hinder the judiciary from carrying out such work," said GΓ«zim Shala, Researcher at the IKL.
In addition to the delay in reviewing court cases, lawyer Ardian Bajraktari says that this also harms the state.
"Of course, this also carries a financial cost due to the fact that, as is known, any such expertise is a financial burden. From this perspective, the Ministry of Justice should make these laboratories functional as soon as possible," said Ardian Bajraktari, lawyer.
The laboratories, main autopsy room, and archive will be operational from next week, as renovations at the Institute of Forensic Medicine are almost complete.
One of the women who was part of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's circle for years has spoken out in detail for the first time about the abuse she says she endured over the years. She described Epstein's system of manipulation as a "cult" from which it was almost impossible to escape.
The woman, who spoke to the BBC under the pseudonym Anya to protect her identity, said that only after Epstein's death in 2019 was she able to leave that life, which, according to her, was characterized by psychological control, sexual abuse and complete dependence on him.
"I'm still trying to accept the fact that I was abused for years. I wasn't chained or locked in a basement. The handcuffs were less visible, but they were there," Anya said.
According to her, Epstein himself described his operation as a "cult" and himself as its leader. She claims that she lived with about ten other young women in apartments financed by him, worked for him 24 hours a day and was constantly exposed to sexual abuse.
Anya says Epstein lured her with promises of a successful modeling career. After leaving Russia to work in the fashion industry and working with well-known fashion houses, she was introduced to Epstein as someone with extensive connections in the industry. She now believes she was carefully targeted from the start.
"It was a perfectly organized trap," she said, adding that the entire process was planned to gain her trust.
She says that for months, Epstein convinced her to work on her appearance, promised her meetings with important figures in the fashion world and asked for photos, including nude photos, while at the same time destroying her self-confidence by telling her she wasn't good enough.
According to her, the first sexual assault occurred while Epstein was serving a prison sentence in Florida. Later, other women in his circle told her that he was exaggerating the situation, which made her doubt her own perception of what had happened.
Over time, she became completely financially and physically dependent on Epstein. She had no bank account, could not rent an apartment, and he controlled her movements, contacts with other people, and even access to healthcare.
Anya claims that Epstein used various methods to keep the women under control. He threatened them with compromising photos and videos, forced them to write thank-you letters, and turned them against each other to break down trust between them.
One of the most difficult moments, according to her, was when he convinced her to remove a tattoo surgically by cutting the skin, instead of laser treatment, which has left visible scars even today.
She says that her greatest shame is the fact that, under pressure, she also participated in the behavior of other young girls.
"He created an entire ecosystem of abuse that served only him," Anya said, adding that she decided to speak out publicly to help other women recognize and leave abusive relationships. /Telegraph/
Europol has supported a large-scale international operation against an organised criminal network involved in the production of amphetamine in Germany and the Netherlands.
During the coordinated raids, several people were arrested and illegal drug laboratories were dismantled.
The investigation revealed that the criminal group specialized in producing large quantities of amphetamine, using clandestine laboratories and a logistics network to distribute the drug to various European countries.
Authorities seized drug production equipment, chemical substances, ready-made drugs, and other evidence related to criminal activity.
The operation was conducted with the participation of German and Dutch authorities, while Europol provided analytical and coordination support throughout the investigation.
The agency's experts helped exchange information and coordinate actions on the ground.
According to Europol, the production of synthetic drugs remains one of the most serious threats to security in the European Union.
Criminal organizations are increasingly using sophisticated laboratories and international networks to produce and distribute narcotics, making international cooperation crucial in the fight against this phenomenon. /Telegraph/
Russian oligarchs linked to the Kremlin have begun massively moving their capital abroad, in a signal that analysts say shows growing uncertainty about Russia's economic future.
According to estimates published by various sources, businessmen close to the government in Moscow are trying to protect their assets from potential risks, while the Russian economy is facing great pressure due to international sanctions, high military spending and the weakening of some economic sectors.
The oligarchs, who for years have been among the main beneficiaries of the Russian economic system, are suspected of fearing a new wave of state intervention, including taking control of private companies or transferring assets to state-linked structures.
"When even the people closest to power start to worry, it's a sign of deeper problems," Kremlin critics say, Bloomberg writes.
However, Russian authorities have repeatedly denied that the country's economy is in crisis and have stated that Russia has managed to adapt to Western sanctions.
The shift of capital by wealthier businessmen is seen as an important indicator of the climate of uncertainty, while the Russian economy continues to be dependent on state spending and the defense sector. /Telegraph/
An Iranian intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) is suspected of hitting the troop accommodation area at Muwaffaq Al Salti Air Base in Jordan, where US forces are stationed.
According to preliminary reports, the strike affected the area housing military personnel. The defensive structures at this base are designed primarily for protection from shrapnel and fire, but not to withstand a direct hit from ballistic missiles.
At the moment there is no official data on the number of casualties or damage caused, but there is concern that the attack may have caused losses among American troops.
Meanwhile, Iran has carried out another attack on targets in the region, striking a power and water desalination plant in Kuwait for the second day in a row, where a fire was reported.
The attack on the water plant comes after a similar facility was hit a day earlier. Authorities believe the plants are critically important to Kuwait, as the country obtains about 90 percent of its drinking water through desalination of seawater.
The attacks are part of a broader Iranian campaign against US bases and infrastructure in the region, including Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and other military facilities.
So far, American and regional authorities have not published an official assessment of the consequences of the recent attacks. /Telegraph/
Ukrainian drones have hit the largest order processing center of Wildberries, the largest e-commerce company in Russia, in the Moscow region.
According to reports, the attack targeted one of the company's main logistics facilities, which serves as a central point for processing and distributing millions of orders across Russia.
Russian authorities did not immediately provide full details of the damage caused, while the Ukrainian side has not yet made an official statement about the operation.
Drone attacks on Russian territory have intensified in recent months, with Ukraine expanding its use of unmanned aerial vehicles to strike targets it considers linked to Russia's logistical, military and economic capabilities.
The Moscow region, including areas surrounding the Russian capital, has been hit several times by drone attacks, causing temporary disruptions and additional security measures.
Wildberries is one of the largest online sales companies in Russia and is considered the Russian equivalent of international e-commerce platforms. /Telegraph/
Europe and the United States are facing unusually high temperatures, while cities are being forced to seek new solutions to adapt to extreme heat waves.
Experts say cities should follow the example of several areas in Arizona, USA, which have faced extreme temperatures for years and have developed ways to protect residents from the intense heat.
Among the measures being considered are expanding green areas, planting more trees, using materials that reflect sunlight on buildings and roads, and creating fresh public spaces for citizens.
Heat waves in Europe have brought record temperatures, putting health services and local authorities on alert.
Scientists warn that climate change is making these episodes more frequent and intense, writes the BBC .
In many European cities, traditional urban infrastructure is proving inadequate to cope with increasingly high temperatures.
The extensive concreting and lack of green spaces create the so-called "urban heat island effect", where temperatures in cities are significantly higher than in surrounding areas.
Experts emphasize that cities must change the way they plan their cities and prepare for a hotter climate, treating protection from extreme temperatures as a public safety issue. /Telegraph/
Astronomers have detected for the first time an atmosphere around a rocky planet located in the habitable zone of its star.
It is a "super-Earth" called LHS 1140 b, and this discovery represents an important step in the search for worlds that could be suitable for life. Until now, atmospheres had only been detected on gas giant planets, writes ScienceAlert.
The search for habitable worlds is based on two main criteria: the planet must have a composition similar to Earth and be at a distance from its star that allows for the existence of liquid water, writes sciencealert .
"It's the first time anyone has found an atmosphere on a rocky planet in the habitable zone of another star," said Collin Cherubim, a planetary scientist at Harvard University and lead author of the study published in the journal Science.
Measurements show that LHS 1140 b has a mass about five times that of Earth and a radius 1.7 times that of Earth. This indicates that it is rocky in composition, but its lower density than Earth suggests the presence of a thin atmosphere and possibly some water.
The planet is an ideal object for study, as it is only about 50 light-years from Earth. It orbits a red dwarf star, which is much smaller and cooler than the Sun and has about a fifth of its mass.
"Twenty years ago we wondered whether other terrestrial planets existed at all. Then we discovered that they are common and found some in the habitable zone. The next question was whether any of them had managed to retain an atmosphere. Now we know that at least one of them has," said Robin Wordsworth of Harvard University.
Cherubim had previously predicted that LHS 1140 b might have a helium-rich atmosphere. To do this, he created a computer model that analyzed the processes of planetary mass loss.
The model showed that planets at the right distance from their star could lose hydrogen but retain helium, creating an atmosphere dominated by this gas.
"I call these planets 'helium-rich worlds.' I think they may not be that exotic, but a natural step in the evolution of many small planets. I wanted to test this prediction and looked for helium escaping from the planet β and I found it," Cherubim said.
To confirm the prediction, the researchers used the WINERED spectrograph at the Las Campanas Observatory in the Atacama Desert of Chile.
They observed LHS 1140 b and a neighboring planet during a night in September 2024, when both bodies passed in front of their star.
By analyzing light passing through the planet's atmosphere, scientists were able to determine which wavelengths were absorbed by the gases.
They found that LHS 1140 b, unlike its neighboring planet, showed signs of a helium atmosphere that is escaping into space at speeds of hundreds of thousands of kilograms per second.
This process could be caused by the star's solar winds or by magnetic interactions between the planet and the star. However, the phenomenon appears to change over time, as it was not observed during another observation in 2025.
One of the most important aspects of the discovery is the fact that LHS 1140 b has managed to preserve its atmosphere for more than three billion years, even though red dwarfs are known for their unstable activity.
"The planet receives from its star about 42 percent of the energy that Earth receives from the Sun," Cherubim explained.
"Although it has been exposed throughout its history to the highest levels of X-ray and ultraviolet radiation that typically destroy the atmospheres of rocky planets, it has retained some of the helium it probably received during its formation," he claimed.
Scientists will now focus on further analysis to find out if the planet has oceans or other features that could support life.
The fact that this discovery was made with a telescope on Earth shows that ground-based observatories also have an important role in studying atmospheres outside the solar system, alongside space telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
"This was a confirmation of the model and I hope it is just the first of many future observations," Cherubim concluded. /Telegraph/
Firefighters in northeastern Spain are battling forest fires with the help of 30 aircraft today, after a large blaze forced the evacuation of around 1,000 people.
The situation comes after recent heatwaves that have dried out vegetation across much of Europe.
Successive waves of extreme temperatures have pushed thermometers to unprecedented levels in large areas of the continent, causing water shortages, crop damage and thousands more deaths than usual.
According to Reuters, the average temperature in Europe today is 27.5 degrees Celsius, which is 4.2 degrees higher than the average maximum temperature for July 17 in the period 1961-1990.
In France, the drought has worsened every day since late May. A nuclear power plant in the south of the country could be forced to shut down after high temperatures in the Mediterranean Sea made the water too warm to cool the reactors.
In Germany, low water levels on the Rhine River have hampered river transport, leading to increased transport costs. While temperatures have started to drop in some areas, powerful storms have appeared.
Two people have died in central and eastern France. One of the victims is a woman in the Saint-Victurnien area, in the Haute-Vienne department, who died after a tree fell on her.
In the eastern part of the country, in Dolomieu, the body of a man was found in a factory destroyed by fire. According to the AFP agency, the fire was caused by a lightning strike.
French grid operator Enedis confirmed that a total of 53,000 households were left without electricity. The biggest supply problems were recorded in the Auvergne-RhΓ΄ne-Alpes regions in the southeast and Nouvelle-Aquitaine in the southwest of France.
The Spanish meteorological service warned that temperatures will start to rise again on Sunday. In some areas of Andalusia and La Mancha, temperatures of 42 to 44 degrees Celsius are expected, due to the arrival of hot air from North Africa.
A forest fire near Ores, in the northeastern region of Aragon, spread over more than 12,000 hectares on Friday night. Around 300 soldiers are battling it, assisted by helicopters and five firefighting aircraft.
Firefighters are also trying to control blazes near Madrid and in Guadalajara province, where about 1,500 hectares have burned and a children's summer camp has been evacuated.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned last week that Europe faces "a deadly few weeks" due to new heat waves forming over the Atlantic Ocean.
Scientists monitoring so-called excess deaths said that during the heatwave in late June, thousands more people died in Europe than usual for this time of year. /Telegraph/
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated that Berlin will continue to work towards a close relationship with France, despite political developments in Paris and the election of the next French president.
Speaking about France's political future, Merz said that current President Emmanuel Macron will not be able to run for a new term, but expressed his belief that his successor will be guided by the common interests of both countries.
"Emmanuel Macron will not be able to be the next president of France, but I assume that whoever succeeds him will be guided by what is right and necessary for the interests of our countries," Merz said.
The German Chancellor stressed that Germany will continue to strengthen its partnership with France, regardless of the election result.
"We will do everything we can to make cooperation with our French neighbor as close, deep and based on trust as possible, regardless of how the French people vote," he said.
"Germany's hand will always remain extended for deeper and more reliable cooperation with France, regardless of the decisions of the voters in our two countries," the German Chancellor declared.
Otherwise, Macron cannot be president of France anymore because the French Constitution limits the president to two consecutive terms.
Macron was first elected president in 2017 and was re-elected for a second term in 2022. According to Article 6 of the French Constitution, a president cannot serve more than two consecutive terms. /Telegraph/
The United States has launched another series of airstrikes against Iran, marking the seventh consecutive night of military operations, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced.
In a statement published on the X platform, CENTCOM confirmed that the attacks continue with the objective of weakening Iranian military capabilities.
"The attacks are designed to continue to degrade Iran's military capabilities, as directed by the Commander in Chief," the US military said in a statement.
The US military did not immediately provide details on the number of targets hit, their locations or the damage caused by the latest attacks.
The campaign of attacks comes at a time of high tensions between Washington and Tehran, with both sides engaged in military clashes and diplomatic efforts to manage the crisis.
According to US officials, the operations are aimed at limiting Iran's ability to develop and use military capabilities that could threaten US interests and its allies in the region. Meanwhile, Iranian authorities have criticized the US attacks and warned of consequences for continuing military operations. /Telegraph/
Renowned professor at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, Daniel Serwer, has reacted sharply to the statements of the Serbian Minister of State Administration and Local Self-Government, Snezhana PaunoviΔ, who stated in a television appearance that, if she had been in the position of Serbian wartime leader Slobodan MiloΕ‘eviΔ, she would have "ethnically cleansed Kosovo" in 1998.
In an interview with N1 television, Serwer described the minister's statement as extremely serious and unacceptable, emphasizing that a serious institutional reaction from the Serbian leadership should be immediate.
"If Vucic had even a single part of himself that disagreed with this, he would immediately dismiss him. It is such a reprehensible statement that it is difficult to describe," Serwer declared.
According to the American professor, PaunoviΔ's failure to resign from his ministerial post shows that the issue is not just related to a personal statement, but raises questions about the broader political stance of Serbian institutions towards rhetoric related to ethnic cleansing.
The Serbian minister's statement, made during an interview on July 11 on Kurir TV, caused strong reactions in Kosovo and in the international arena.
Paunovic, who is part of the Socialist Party of Serbia once led by the former butcher of the Balkans, Slobodan Milosevic, was criticized for normalizing an idea related to crimes and mass deportations during the war in Kosovo.
Kosovo institutions have declared her persona non grata, while the Ministry of Justice has announced that it has taken legal steps against her. Criticism of her statements has also come from representatives of the European Union and the US State Department. /Telegraph/
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly detained a ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the Iranian Tasnim news agency, citing an informed source, Iranian forces have intercepted a Thai-flagged ship after it allegedly ignored warnings and attempted to pass through the waterway without authorization.
Meanwhile, other reports indicate that Iran has carried out attacks on ammunition depots and military bases in northern Iraq.
Images posted on social media show explosions and fires in the affected areas.
So far there are no full details on the damage or the exact targets of the attacks, writes skynews.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most strategic maritime transport points in the world, as a significant portion of global oil supplies passes through it.
Any military incident in this area raises concerns about the security of energy markets and international navigation.
The latest developments come at a time of high tensions between Iran and its regional and international adversaries, with the international community closely monitoring the situation. /Telegraph/
The American cities of Detroit, Chicago and Washington now have some of the worst air quality levels in the world, while New York ranks fourth for air pollution. Citizens wear masks as they do during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to data from the air quality monitoring platform IQAir, the pollution index has reached alarming levels: in Detroit, the level was recorded at 435, in Chicago 330, and in Washington 242, which are considered very dangerous levels for health.
In comparison, cities known for air pollution such as Jakarta, New Delhi and Beijing have now had better air quality.
A thick layer of gray smoke has blanketed many cities in the northeastern United States, significantly reducing visibility.
From Arlington in Virginia, where the panorama of Washington is usually clearly visible, today monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument are barely distinguishable.
Residents have also reported an unusual smell in the air, while authorities have activated the purple alert, which indicates air that is very harmful to health.
Similar situations have been reported in New York, Boston and Chicago. Residents have reported smelling and tasting smoke, while authorities have advised against outdoor activities due to hazardous particles in the air.
The source of the smoke is the large forest fires that are engulfing the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec, as well as the American state of Minnesota.
Experts warn that climate change has contributed to the expansion of areas affected by fires. Drought has made the soil and vegetation burn more easily, causing more frequent and larger fires. /Telegraph/
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