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Kosovo’s President believes ex-KLA members are innocent

Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci in a Facebook post has commented on readiness of ex-KLA members Sami Lushtaku and Rrustem Mustafa who are to be questioned next week by The Hague-based Specialist Prosecutor’s Office. Former political representative of KLA said he believes his former brothers in arms are innocent. Original post …

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Two Kosovo ex-KLA members travel to Hague for questioning

Two former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commanders traveled to The Hague in the Netherlands on Sunday answering the summons of the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office dealing with alleged crimes committed by the KLA during 1998-99 war in Kosovo. Original post Here

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Macedonian parliament votes to change country's name

The Parliament of Macedonia has on Friday passed amendment to the constitution to rename the country Republic of North Macedonia. Original post Here

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Protesters in Serbia ask Vucic to present Kosovo plan if he has one

Organisers of the ongoing protests in Belgrade asked Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to present his plan for a final agreement with Kosovo if he had one, media in Belgrade are reporting. Original post Here

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Kosovo opens its embassy in Portugal

Kosovo has opened its embassy in Portugal, Foreign Ministry confirmed in a press release. Original post Here

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Kosovo-Serbia dialogue to continue without revocation of tariffs, says PM Haradinaj

Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, believes the dialogue with Serbia can continue without revocation of the decision on imposing 100 percent tax on Serbia’s goods. Haradinaj called on opposition parties of LDK and Vetevendosje to join State Delegation tasked to dialogue with Serbia. Original post Here

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No revocation of tax with Serbia, Kosovo keeps repatriating war victims’ remains, says PM Haradinaj

Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has not commented the request of the EU officials who urged Kosovo authorities to revoke the decision on imposing 100 percent tax on all Serbia;’s goods. He said that twenty years after the war Kosovo continues repatriating mortal remains of Albanians found in mass graves in …

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Kosovo to ask a special war crimes court for Serbs, says Limaj

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and co-head of state delegation in talks with Serbia, Fatmir Limaj, says they asked the EU to establish a special court to deal with crimes which Serbia has committed in Kosovo during 1998-99 war. Original post Here

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German Ambassador visits Kosovo’s Ministry of Defence

Kosovo Deputy Minister of Defence, Burim Ramadani, has hosted on Thursday German Ambassador to Kosovo, Christian Heldt. Original post Here

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Haradinaj condemns Anti-Kosovo chanting in Banja Luka march

Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has condemned the anti-Kosovo chanting during a march organised in Banja Luka celebrating Republika Srpska Day saying that such actions are aimed at destabilising Balkans. Original post Here

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Balkan States Give Divided Reactions to US Strike on Venezuela

Albania and Kosovo applauded the Trump administration’s military operation against Venezuela’s regime and the ousting of Nicolas Maduro, while other states in the region initially remained silent or called for calm and restraint. Original post Here

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Roaming Like at Home and the Western Balkans

By Genc Pollo Tirana, 02 January 2026 – Today’s decision by the European Union to grant “roaming like at home” to Ukraine and Moldova deserves praise. It is a practical citizen-centered step that immediately lowers costs improves connectivity and makes Europe tangible in everyday life. Yet the non inclusion of …

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Albania in the EU Fast Lane – Accelerating Without Democratising?

Tirana’s EU accession process is running in top gear – but worryingly, there’s no sign this is being matched with a democratic deepening at home. Original post Here

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Albania 2026: Power Under Investigation

As Albania enters 2026, the country stands at a political and institutional crossroads shaped decisively by the shocks of 2025. What initially appeared to be a year of electoral routine and managed stability evolved instead into the most serious confrontation between executive power and the justice system since the launch …

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Saudi Arabia’s Yemen Action: Between Deterrence, Diplomacy, and Regional Responsibility

The latest Saudi action in Yemen should be understood not as escalation for its own sake, but as part of a broader strategic approach that combines deterrence with diplomacy, aimed at safeguarding regional stability and preserving internationally recognized state authority. Riyadh’s move comes in response to concrete security concerns arising …

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Exposing Scams, Probing the Powerful: A Year of BIRN Investigations

As 2026 begins, we look back on some of the most important investigations published by BIRN in its 20th anniversary year – from brutal migrant-smuggling gangs and arms deals with Israel to state surveillance of protesters and online frauds. Original post Here

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Letter From Washington: The US Just Blasted Balkan Authoritarians – Or Did It?

The recently-passed Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act shows that some US lawmakers still care about the region. But it doesn’t mean that Donald Trump is going to tell Aleksandar Vucic to be nicer to student protesters. Original post Here

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PM Kurti claims victory in Kosovo vote, no clear majority

Tirana Times PRISTINA, Kosovo December 29, 2025. Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti secured another clear electoral victory in Kosovo’s repeat parliamentary election on Sunday, with his left wing Vetëvendosje movement significantly expanding its lead over rivals but once again failing to secure the parliamentary majority needed to govern alone, according …

News
Deputy PM Balluku Arrest Bid Shakes Albania’s Rule of Law

Will Parliament Lift the Deputy Prime Minister’s Immunity? Tirana Times, December 28 th , 2025. Albania has entered one of the most serious institutional confrontations since the launch of its justice reform, as the Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) formally requested parliamentary authorization to arrest Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of …

News

Balkan States Give Divided Reactions to US Strike on Venezuela

Albania and Kosovo applauded the Trump administration’s military operation against Venezuela’s regime and the ousting of Nicolas Maduro, while other states in the region initially remained silent or called for calm and restraint. Original post Here

News

Roaming Like at Home and the Western Balkans

By Genc Pollo Tirana, 02 January 2026 – Today’s decision by the European Union to grant “roaming like at home” to Ukraine and Moldova deserves praise. It is a practical citizen-centered step that immediately lowers costs improves connectivity and makes Europe tangible in everyday life. Yet the non inclusion of …

News

Albania in the EU Fast Lane – Accelerating Without Democratising?

Tirana’s EU accession process is running in top gear – but worryingly, there’s no sign this is being matched with a democratic deepening at home. Original post Here

News

Albania 2026: Power Under Investigation

As Albania enters 2026, the country stands at a political and institutional crossroads shaped decisively by the shocks of 2025. What initially appeared to be a year of electoral routine and managed stability evolved instead into the most serious confrontation between executive power and the justice system since the launch …

News

Saudi Arabia’s Yemen Action: Between Deterrence, Diplomacy, and Regional Responsibility

The latest Saudi action in Yemen should be understood not as escalation for its own sake, but as part of a broader strategic approach that combines deterrence with diplomacy, aimed at safeguarding regional stability and preserving internationally recognized state authority. Riyadh’s move comes in response to concrete security concerns arising …

News

Exposing Scams, Probing the Powerful: A Year of BIRN Investigations

As 2026 begins, we look back on some of the most important investigations published by BIRN in its 20th anniversary year – from brutal migrant-smuggling gangs and arms deals with Israel to state surveillance of protesters and online frauds. Original post Here

News

Letter From Washington: The US Just Blasted Balkan Authoritarians – Or Did It?

The recently-passed Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act shows that some US lawmakers still care about the region. But it doesn’t mean that Donald Trump is going to tell Aleksandar Vucic to be nicer to student protesters. Original post Here

News

PM Kurti claims victory in Kosovo vote, no clear majority

Tirana Times PRISTINA, Kosovo December 29, 2025. Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti secured another clear electoral victory in Kosovo’s repeat parliamentary election on Sunday, with his left wing Vetëvendosje movement significantly expanding its lead over rivals but once again failing to secure the parliamentary majority needed to govern alone, according …

News

Deputy PM Balluku Arrest Bid Shakes Albania’s Rule of Law

Will Parliament Lift the Deputy Prime Minister’s Immunity? Tirana Times, December 28 th , 2025. Albania has entered one of the most serious institutional confrontations since the launch of its justice reform, as the Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) formally requested parliamentary authorization to arrest Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of …