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ContourGlobal gets support to build new coal power plant in Kosovo

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said Tuesday the U.S. power company ContourGlobal will proceed with plans to build a 500 megawatt (MW) coal-fired plant in Kosovo. In October 2018 the World Bank confirmed that they will not support a coal power plant in Kosovo because it would use coal rather …

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Kosovo’s Haradinaj resists US request on suspending tax

Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said on Tuesday after meeting US Ambassador Philip Kosnett that the 100 percent tax on Serbian goods will not be suspended until Serbia recognizes Kosovo. US Ambassador is urging Kosovo authorities to suspend the tax. Original post Here

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Trepca miners temporarily trapped underground

Around 100 miners were trapped inside a mine in the Kosovo’s town of Mitrovica after an alleged elevator malfunction. But authorities announced that an alternative solution has been found and miners have been rescued and are in good health. Original post Here

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Kosovo’s Thaci extends mandate of KSF’s Commander-in-chief

President Hashim Thaci, has extended the mandate of the army’s commander in chief for additional five years. Original post Here

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Kosovo takes decisions in coordination with the United States, says Veseli

Speaker of Parliament Kadri Veseli who on Tuesday hosted US Ambassador Philip Kosnett and Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, says Kosovo institutions takes decision in coordination with the US and other international partners. Kosovo leaders reportedly discussed with the US Ambassador on the 100 percent tax imposed on Serbia’s goods. US …

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Kosovo’s President to attend World Economic Forum in Davos

Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci has on Tuesday travelled to Davos, Switzerland, where he will attend the World Economic Forum, his Office announced. Original post Here

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Kosovo Telekom privatization procedures to be launched

The Government during its regular meeting today is expected to review the draft-proposal authorizing a Government commission to launch procedures for privatization of the state owned Telekom of Kosovo. Original post Here

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Kosovo entered final chapter of visa liberalization, says PM Haradinaj

Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj attending the High Level Rule of Law meeting said Kosovo entered final phase of visa liberalization with the EU. Original post Here

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Opposition MPs met Head of EU Office in Kosovo, Nataliya Apostolova

Members of Parliament of the opposition party of LDK met on Monday the Head of the EU Office in Kosovo, Nataliya Apostolova. Original post Here

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Kosovo demining expert killed in Yemen

Five demining experts, including a Kosovo citizen, have been killed on Sunday in Yemen, AFP is reporting according to a Saudi-run organisation in charge of the project. Original post Here

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Albanian Banks Brace for Rising Bad Loans

Tirana Times, January 15, 2026 – Albania’s banking sector enters 2026 with growing caution, as banks operating in the country anticipate an increase in non performing loans despite strong demand for credit. According to the latest CESEE Banking Lending Survey conducted by the European Investment Bank for the second half …

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Trump Visa Freeze Sparks Blame Game in Albania

After the US paused visa processing for 75 countries, including Albania, the opposition in Tirana has accused the government of getting the country put on Trump’s “blacklist”. Original post Here

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U.S. designates Muslim Brotherhood branches as terrorist organizations

Saudi Arabia welcomes Washington’s decision and reaffirms joint stance against extremism Tirana Times, January, 14, 2026 – The United States has officially designated branches of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon as terrorist organizations, marking a major shift in Washington’s approach toward political Islamist movements. The announcement immediately drew …

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Washington suspends visas for Albania

Albania included among weak or failing states despite being a NATO member Tirana, Tirana Times, 14 January 2026 – Washington’s decision to suspend U.S. visa processing for Albania, effective January 21 and for an indefinite period, marks one of the strongest diplomatic signals sent to Tirana in years. Albania has …

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NATO Values as Security Infrastructure: Evidence From Student Conversations

In the Western Balkans, “security” is rarely an abstract concept. It is encountered as a lived condition, shaped by memory, geography and a persistent awareness that stability can erode when trust is thin. Security, in this context, is not discussed only in strategic documents or institutional language, but reasoned through …

News
‘Fiscal Peace’: Albanian Amnesty for Tax-Dodging Businesses Branded Unfair and Opaque

Albania’s government is poised to waive business tax debts more than a decade old, as part of what it says is a reset in relations between the tax authorities and businesses. Critics say it is unfair on those who have played by the rules. Original post Here

News
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: January 12, 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

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How Albanian Organized Crime Conquered Europe’s Cocaine Market

On a locked down November afternoon in 2020, as Europe grappled with Covid 19 restrictions, two Albanian men based in Belgium exchanged a handful of encrypted messages. Deciphered years later from the Sky ECC platform, their words captured a watershed moment in Europe’s cocaine trade. A shipment measured not in …

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Port-to-Port: How Albanians Conquered the European Cocaine Market

BIRN reporters trace the rise of Albanian crime gangs to the top of the European cocaine trafficking ladder, from remote parts of Paraguay to European Union ports. Original post Here

News
Albania in 2026: Battles With Anti-Graft Prosecutors Risk Slowing EU Progress

Political polarisation and government pressure on the judiciary – sparked by investigations of top politicians – could hinder Albania’s rapid progress towards European Union membership. Original post Here

News

Albanian Banks Brace for Rising Bad Loans

Tirana Times, January 15, 2026 – Albania’s banking sector enters 2026 with growing caution, as banks operating in the country anticipate an increase in non performing loans despite strong demand for credit. According to the latest CESEE Banking Lending Survey conducted by the European Investment Bank for the second half …

News

Trump Visa Freeze Sparks Blame Game in Albania

After the US paused visa processing for 75 countries, including Albania, the opposition in Tirana has accused the government of getting the country put on Trump’s “blacklist”. Original post Here

News

U.S. designates Muslim Brotherhood branches as terrorist organizations

Saudi Arabia welcomes Washington’s decision and reaffirms joint stance against extremism Tirana Times, January, 14, 2026 – The United States has officially designated branches of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon as terrorist organizations, marking a major shift in Washington’s approach toward political Islamist movements. The announcement immediately drew …

News

Washington suspends visas for Albania

Albania included among weak or failing states despite being a NATO member Tirana, Tirana Times, 14 January 2026 – Washington’s decision to suspend U.S. visa processing for Albania, effective January 21 and for an indefinite period, marks one of the strongest diplomatic signals sent to Tirana in years. Albania has …

News

NATO Values as Security Infrastructure: Evidence From Student Conversations

In the Western Balkans, “security” is rarely an abstract concept. It is encountered as a lived condition, shaped by memory, geography and a persistent awareness that stability can erode when trust is thin. Security, in this context, is not discussed only in strategic documents or institutional language, but reasoned through …

News

‘Fiscal Peace’: Albanian Amnesty for Tax-Dodging Businesses Branded Unfair and Opaque

Albania’s government is poised to waive business tax debts more than a decade old, as part of what it says is a reset in relations between the tax authorities and businesses. Critics say it is unfair on those who have played by the rules. Original post Here

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: January 12, 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

How Albanian Organized Crime Conquered Europe’s Cocaine Market

On a locked down November afternoon in 2020, as Europe grappled with Covid 19 restrictions, two Albanian men based in Belgium exchanged a handful of encrypted messages. Deciphered years later from the Sky ECC platform, their words captured a watershed moment in Europe’s cocaine trade. A shipment measured not in …

News

Port-to-Port: How Albanians Conquered the European Cocaine Market

BIRN reporters trace the rise of Albanian crime gangs to the top of the European cocaine trafficking ladder, from remote parts of Paraguay to European Union ports. Original post Here

News

Albania in 2026: Battles With Anti-Graft Prosecutors Risk Slowing EU Progress

Political polarisation and government pressure on the judiciary – sparked by investigations of top politicians – could hinder Albania’s rapid progress towards European Union membership. Original post Here