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Alert for an air attack in North Kosovo

Alert for an air attack sounded in North Mitrovica, at noon on Friday, while citizens gathered in front of municipal facilities in Zubin Potok, Leposavič and Zveçan. In front of the municipality building in Zveçan there are also cars of the Kosovo Police.  The former councilor in the Municipal Assembly …

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Tension in North Kosovo/ Gunshots in Zveçan, police cars set on fire

Gunshots were heard in Zveçan, while police cars were also burned. Kosovo Police used tear gas to disperse the Serbs in front of the Zveçan Municipality facility. Earlier, the police announced that they are assisting the elected mayors to enter the municipal facilities. https://t.co/AEWZfZkHjg 👈👈 okupljanja građana u centru Zubinog …

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Tensions in the North/ Kosovo: Violence will not prevail, Serbia is responsible

The Presidency of Kosovo has reacted regarding the tensions in the north of the country. Spokesman Blerim Vela has stated that the illegal and criminal structures of Serbia have received orders to escalate the situation. Serbia’s illegal and criminal structures in north Kosovo have received orders to escalate the situation …

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Archive Documents Reveal Dissent Did Exist in Communist Albania

Reports written by Albanian academics who were allowed to travel abroad and official documents detailing students’ nonconformist tendencies show that some citizens were critical of the country’s authoritarian communist-era regime. Original post Here

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Yuri Kim meeting with the chairman of the Constitutional Court: US continues to support judicial reform

Yuri Kim meets with the chairman of the Constitutional Court: US continues to support judicial reform. The American ambassador, Yuri Kim, held a meeting with the chairman of the Constitutional Court, Holta Zaçaj. The American diplomat congratulated the judge on her new position and reconfirmed the US support for judicial …

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The Assembly approves salary increase for the administration, 130,000 employees will benefit

The Assembly has approved the salary increase for the public administration. In the session held this Thursday, the decision was approved with a vote in favor of 97 deputies, while 3 voted against. 130,000 employees who are part of the public administration will benefit from this decision. The focus of …

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30-year-old prosecuted for attempting to bribe Kakavija border police officers

A 30-year-old man has been criminally prosecuted this Thursday after trying to bribe a Border Police employee in Kakavija. Based on information released by police, the 30-year-old man had put 50 EUR inside his passport so that the police would allow him to cross the border irregularly after he had …

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Draft on ministers, MPs’ salary increase in parliament’s agenda

The focus of today’s plenary session in the Assembly will be the discussion and voting of the draft law that provides for the increase in salaries for the public administration, including MPs and ministers. The green light for the wage increase was given by the Economy Commission at Tuesday’s meeting. …

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Unemployment has dropped, Rama: We are making a historic increase in wages

Prime Minister Edi Rama estimates that the Albanian economy is growing. In his speech at the plenary session in the Assembly, Rama said that consumption has increased, while unemployment has decreased. According to the head of the government, the government is making a historic increase in salaries. “The simple truth …

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Albanian TV Election Coverage Unfairly Favoured Big Parties, Monitoring Shows

Data from media monitoring shows that during the recent local election campaign, TV networks gave little airtime to smaller parties and so violated the legal requirements on balanced reporting. Original post Here

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Albanian PM’s Private Jet Trip to Israel Raises Transparency Questions

During last week’s visit to Israel, Albania’s Prime Minister used a private jet once owned by Sam Bankman Fried, now-jailed owner of crypto exchange FTX – but it’s unclear who footed the bill. Original post Here

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Albania Arrests 20 for Toxic Waste-Trafficking to Thailand

The suspects are among 33 people accused of involvement in shipping a cargo of dangerous industrial waste from Albania to Thailand. Original post Here

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As Trump’s Family Eyes Pristine Albanian Coast, Villagers Cry Foul

The US president’s son-in-law wants to build a tourism development in southern Albania, but residents of the unspoilt strip around Zvernec say a dispute over ownership of the land is being ignored. Original post Here

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Local roads, national standards: Tropojë case tests Albania’s procurement and oversight

Tropojë Mayor Indicted for Illegal Roadworks Tirana Times, 02 February 2026 – In a case related to alleged abuse of office, Albania’s Special Court has sent Tropojë’s mayor Rexhë Byberi and his deputy Abedin Kërrnaja to trial on charges of “abuse of office” related to local infrastructure projects. The officials are …

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Hamid’s Story: A Tale of Death and Europe’s Drift Towards Offshore Detention

The Italy-Albania asylum ‘offshoring’ scheme is being studied by other Western European governments wanting to look tough on migration. But the case of Hamid Badoui, who took his own life after being held at an Albanian migrant detention camp, highlights the human cost. Original post Here

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We Were Always Here: The Balkans Should Honour Its LGBTQ+ Pioneers

Balkan LGBTQ+ people, both in the region and in the diaspora, are often told that their identities are incompatible. It’s time to hear a different story – and learn more about the region’s pioneers. Original post Here

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Ivanka Trump Visit Reignites Property Dispute in Zvërnec

Plans by relatives of U.S. President Donald Trump to build a luxury resort in the scenic coastal area of Zvërnec have sidelined local residents and their property claims, while intersecting with a long-running court battle involving controversial real estate businessman Artur Shehu. By Vladimir Karaj Tirana Times, 02 February 2026 …

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Monday Briefing from the Balkans: February 2, 2026

Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here

News
Tunnel Revelation Raises Awkward Questions for Albanian Government

The Murrizi Tunnel was opened to much fanfare in March last year, not long before a parliamentary election. Now the Albanian Road Authority says it has yet been certified for use. Original post Here

News
Albania and the Balkans in the Epstein Files

Tirana Times, 01 February 2026 – The release of more than three million pages of documents linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case by the United States Department of Justice has expanded the scope of one of the most disturbing scandals of the past decade far beyond the United States. The …

News

Albanian PM’s Private Jet Trip to Israel Raises Transparency Questions

During last week’s visit to Israel, Albania’s Prime Minister used a private jet once owned by Sam Bankman Fried, now-jailed owner of crypto exchange FTX – but it’s unclear who footed the bill. Original post Here

News

Albania Arrests 20 for Toxic Waste-Trafficking to Thailand

The suspects are among 33 people accused of involvement in shipping a cargo of dangerous industrial waste from Albania to Thailand. Original post Here

News

As Trump’s Family Eyes Pristine Albanian Coast, Villagers Cry Foul

The US president’s son-in-law wants to build a tourism development in southern Albania, but residents of the unspoilt strip around Zvernec say a dispute over ownership of the land is being ignored. Original post Here

News

Local roads, national standards: Tropojë case tests Albania’s procurement and oversight

Tropojë Mayor Indicted for Illegal Roadworks Tirana Times, 02 February 2026 – In a case related to alleged abuse of office, Albania’s Special Court has sent Tropojë’s mayor Rexhë Byberi and his deputy Abedin Kërrnaja to trial on charges of “abuse of office” related to local infrastructure projects. The officials are …

News

Hamid’s Story: A Tale of Death and Europe’s Drift Towards Offshore Detention

The Italy-Albania asylum ‘offshoring’ scheme is being studied by other Western European governments wanting to look tough on migration. But the case of Hamid Badoui, who took his own life after being held at an Albanian migrant detention camp, highlights the human cost. Original post Here

News

We Were Always Here: The Balkans Should Honour Its LGBTQ+ Pioneers

Balkan LGBTQ+ people, both in the region and in the diaspora, are often told that their identities are incompatible. It’s time to hear a different story – and learn more about the region’s pioneers. Original post Here

News

Ivanka Trump Visit Reignites Property Dispute in Zvërnec

Plans by relatives of U.S. President Donald Trump to build a luxury resort in the scenic coastal area of Zvërnec have sidelined local residents and their property claims, while intersecting with a long-running court battle involving controversial real estate businessman Artur Shehu. By Vladimir Karaj Tirana Times, 02 February 2026 …

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: February 2, 2026

Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here

News

Tunnel Revelation Raises Awkward Questions for Albanian Government

The Murrizi Tunnel was opened to much fanfare in March last year, not long before a parliamentary election. Now the Albanian Road Authority says it has yet been certified for use. Original post Here

News

Albania and the Balkans in the Epstein Files

Tirana Times, 01 February 2026 – The release of more than three million pages of documents linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case by the United States Department of Justice has expanded the scope of one of the most disturbing scandals of the past decade far beyond the United States. The …