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Kosovo to play Denmark in March friendly in Pristina

Kosovo will play Denmark in a friendly on 21 March at Pristina’s “Fadil Vokrri” arena. Original post Here

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Kosovo backsliding, says opposition leader

Avdullah Hoti, chief of parliamentary group of the biggest opposition party of Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, in a Facebook post said Kosovo is backsliding on fighting corruption, has deteriorated relations with the US, and warned of social turmoil after the strike of civil servants asking increase of salaries. Original …

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Kosovo’s opposition leader backs unification of Mitrovica

Albin Kurti, leader of the opposition party of Vetevendosje, met on Tuesday mayor of Mitrovica South, Agim Bahtiri, to discuss a petition launched by the latter on unification of this ethnically divided town. Original post Here

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Kosovo: Coalition rift deepens over tax on Serbian goods

Rifts inside the Kosovo coalition government appear to deepen after Speaker of Parliament and head of biggest political party, PDK, Kadri Veseli, proposed temporarily suspension of tax on Serbian goods, which is being opposed by Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj. Original post Here

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Serbian President likely to visit Albania in March

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic is expected to visit Tirana on 7, 8 March when he will attend the regional Summit of Brdo-Brijuni. Original post Here

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Kosovo’s negotiators met EU Officials in Brussels

Co-heads of Kosovo’s negotiation team in dialogue with Serbia, Fatmir Limaj and Shpend Ahmeti, during their visit to Brussels on Tuesday met senior officials of EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini’s office. Original post Here

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Kosovo ready for compromise agreement with Serbia, says Thaci

Kosovo President, Hashim Thaci, in a letter to US President Donald Trump said Kosovo is ready for a compromise deal with Serbia to resolve long-standing issues between the countries. He also invited the US President to visit Kosovo. Original post Here

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Kosovo considering 120-day suspension of tax

Speaker of Kosovo Parliament and chairman of Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, Kadri Veseli said the 100 percent tax imposed by Government on all imported goods from Serbia and Bosnia will not be revoked, but it may be suspended temporarily under some conditions as a good will sign towards the …

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Serbia must be held accountable on missing persons, says Kosovo Justice Minister

Kosovo’s Justice Minister, Abelard Tahiri, said Serbia must be held accountable for the fate of those who went missing during the war in Kosovo. More than 1600 people are still considered as missing since the end of the war in 1999. Original post Here

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Haradinaj sets Kosovo’s conditions to Quint for suspending tariffs

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, wrote on Monday a letter to ambassadors of Quint (US, UK, Germany, France and Italy) as well as the EU Special Representative to Kosovo, setting conditions for suspension of 100 percent tariffs imposed on all imported goods from Serbia. Original post Here

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Week in Review: Boom and Bust

From politics to the media business, high expectations often go hand-in-hand with disappointments big and small, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

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Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive

When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here

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BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo

In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here

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Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania

Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here

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NATO Summit in The Hague Reaffirms Alliance Unity

Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …

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Activists Condemn Secret Migrant Deportations from Albania

Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here

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Albania Aligns Firmly with U.S. in Iran Standoff, Reflecting Decades-Long Strategic Alliance

June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …

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Iran Hacks Tirana Municipality in Retaliation Over MEK

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania  20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …

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Week in Review: SLAPPs, Surveillance and Smuggling Networks

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here

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The Israel – Iran conflict in our perspective

by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania   Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …

News

Week in Review: Boom and Bust

From politics to the media business, high expectations often go hand-in-hand with disappointments big and small, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

News

Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive

When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here

News

BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo

In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here

News

Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania

Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here

News

NATO Summit in The Hague Reaffirms Alliance Unity

Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …

News

Activists Condemn Secret Migrant Deportations from Albania

Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here

News

Albania Aligns Firmly with U.S. in Iran Standoff, Reflecting Decades-Long Strategic Alliance

June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …

News

Iran Hacks Tirana Municipality in Retaliation Over MEK

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania  20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …

News

Week in Review: SLAPPs, Surveillance and Smuggling Networks

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here

News

The Israel – Iran conflict in our perspective

by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania   Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …