BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
EU, UK and U.S. condemn minister’s WWII SS helmet stunt
SARAJEVO – The EU delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the British ambassador on Wednesday condemned State Minister Staša Košarac for sending a WWII-era helmet bearing SS markings to High Representative Christian Schmidt, calling the move inflammatory and disrespectful. The U.S. Embassy also criticised the gesture, describing it as “counterproductive and contrary to all efforts” to stabilise the country.
Attacker arrested after assault on police officer in Banja Luka
BANJA LUKA – Police in Republika Srpska arrested a man identified as A.K. after he attacked a police officer from behind outside the presidential palace. Video footage circulating online shows the suspect choking the officer before he was subdued by other policemen.
U.S. officials push for Bosnia–Croatia gas interconnection
SARAJEVO – U.S. diplomats proposed support for the long-delayed “Southern Interconnection” gas pipeline linking Croatia and Bosnia through Zagvozd and Posušje. Bosnian Croat leader Dragan Čović said authorities had accepted the offer, while Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković said U.S. investors could ensure swift construction.
BiH upper house adopts 2025 state budget
SARAJEVO – Bosnia’s House of Peoples approved the 2025 state budget worth around 1.5 billion marks. The move comes unusually late in the year, with officials saying the adoption was necessary to ensure continuity of financing.
SERBIA / REPUBLIKA SRPSKA (ENTITY)
Dodik says Karan will ‘finish his mandate’ in Republika Srpska
BANJA LUKA – Milorad Dodik said his SNSD party candidate Siniša Karan would “finish my mandate” if elected president of Republika Srpska on 23 November, urging voters to back him as the only guarantee of continuity.
CROATIA
Croatian retailers surprised by expanded price-freeze list
ZAGREB – Retailers expressed surprise after the government added 30 new items to the list of price-controlled products, bringing the total to 100. Employers’ representatives said no retailer had intended to deceive consumers, while economists criticised the move as political rather than economic.
Former hospital director brought to USKOK in procurement probe
ZAGREB – Former Jankomir psychiatric hospital head Vladimir Grošić was taken in for questioning at the anti-corruption agency USKOK in an investigation into allegedly rigged public procurement tenders that caused major financial damage. Several other suspects were also detained.
Croatian Parliament to vote on child ombudsperson on Friday
ZAGREB – Lawmakers are expected to vote on appointing a new child ombudsperson and the head of the conflict-of-interest commission. Eight candidates are in the running amid political disagreements within the ruling coalition.
Zagreb’s Vjesnik tower fire raises questions over structural safety
ZAGREB – New footage circulating online shows the Vjesnik building hours before the blaze that destroyed the iconic high-rise. Engineers warned the structure remains unsafe, with authorities closing nearby roads as investigations continue.
Bad Blue Boys report ‘provocations’ after Zagreb incident
ZAGREB – The Bad Blue Boys fan group said it had received provocative messages following last week’s protest outside the Serbian cultural centre. The group denies political motives, saying it will “never be an apolitical stand”.
Croatia marks 34 years since Velepromet camp atrocities
VUKOVAR – Survivors of the Velepromet detention camp recounted torture and mass executions carried out by Serb forces in 1991, as Croatia commemorated more than 700 victims on the 34th anniversary of the crimes.
ALBANIA
Albanian deputy PM dismissed after corruption indictment
TIRANA – Albania’s Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Belinda Balluku was dismissed on Thursday following an indictment over alleged procurement corruption linked to a 2020 road-construction project. A court also imposed restrictions preventing her from exercising public duties.