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Austrian EU minister Gernot Blümel visits Kosovo

Gernot Blümel, Austrian Federal Minister for the EU, Arts, Culture and Media, who is visiting Pristina on Thursday, has met Kosovo’s EU Minister Dhurata Hoxha when they discussed visa liberalisation for citizens of Kosovo. Original post Here

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Another Kosovo MP arrested for intimidating prosecutor

Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) MP, Shkumbin Demaliaj, has been arrested on Thursday for allegedly intimidating former special prosecutor, Elez Blakaj, who was investigating alleged wrongdoings during the verification of war veterans status. This is the second Kosovo MP arrested within days after MP Milaim Zeka was arrested …

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Kosovo President says the US supports ‘slight correction’ of border with Serbia

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci says the US supports “slight correction” of border between Kosovo and Serbia, Gazeta Express reports. Original post Here

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Thaci-Trump posed for the traditional photo

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci published on Wednesday a photo with the US President Donald Trump accompanied by respective first ladies. The President and First Lady Melania Trump hosted all heads of the UN General Assembly delegations on Monday night as part of the annual event held ahead of the UN …

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Kosovo MP arrested for threatening prosecutor

The Kosovo Police have arrested on Wednesday a Member of Parliament for threatening a prosecutor. Zeka has been indicted for alleged involvement in a visa scam. In a televised interview he said that he will deal legally and privately with the special prosecutor of the case for as he said …

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Kosovo war veterans to protest on Wednesday

Association of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) War Veterans of the Dukagjini region has announced organising a protest on Wednesday in Pristina in defence of the war values and dignity of the KLA veterans. Original post Here

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Strong winds cause damage in Pristina

Trees were knocked down and roofs were damaged on Monday by powerful winds ripped through Kosovo’s capital, Pristina. Original post Here

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No more unregistered vehicles in northern Kosovo

On Monday, the Kosovo Police have started implementation of an operation plan to stop participation in traffic of all unregistered vehicles in the northern part of Kosovo inhabited by Serbs. Pristina authorities have never extended their full authority in the north and this has created a heaven for local Serbs …

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LDK does not support Vetevendosje’s protest

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) is not intending to support the protest called by the Vetevendosje movement set to be held on 29 September against President Hashim Thaci’s plan to discuss land swap with Serbia. Chief of parliamentary group of LDK, Avdullah Hoti, says they will decide on their …

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Serbia continues building illegal settlement in northern Kosovo

Kosovo Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning has filed a criminal report against the Municipality of Zvecan in northern Kosovo, for failing to implement their order on suspension of the construction work at the illegal settlement of 350 houses financed by the Government of 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

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 …

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 …