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Kosovo’ will not remove tax until full normalization with Serbia, Arifi says

Chief of Staff of the Kosovo Prime Minister’s Office, Avni Arifi, said that the decision for imposing 100 percent tax on all Serbia’s goods will not be revoked until full normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. Original post Here

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EU Commissioner Hahn urges Kosovo, Serbia to work on de-escalation of situation

EU-Commissioner for European Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn following today’s development in Kosovo and Government’s decision to impose 100 percent tariffs on Serbia’s goods spoke over phone with president of Kosovo Hashim Thaci and Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj. Original post Here

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No incidents during Kosovo Serb protest

Hundreds of Serbs protested on Friday in Mitrovica North and other localities inhabited by Serbs over Pristina decision to increase import taxes for goods from Serbia to 100 percent. The protest has ended without incidents. Original post Here

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Kosovo Serb Party supports police operation in the north

The Kosovo Serb Party headed by ex-Kosovo Minister Aleksandar Jablanovic, has supported Friday’s operation of the Kosovo Police in Mitrovica North resulting with the arrest of four people suspected of killing Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic, Gazeta Express reports. Original post Here

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KFOR does not have to comment Serbia’s President statements, a spokesperson says

KFOR does not have to comment Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic’s statement and reiterated that this morning a Kosovo Police operation has been conducted in northern Kosovo, based on a warrant issued by Pristina’s prosecutor. Original post Here

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Thaci-Vucic plan on partition of Kosovo in action

The Kosovo Police (KP) operation in northern part of Kosovo resulting in arrest of four Serbs suspected of their involvement in Oliver Ivanovic’s killing contains the signature of President of Kosovo. He wants to keep Serb-controlled northern part of the country under continuous tensions at any cost. Original post Here

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KFOR: Police action in north to bring suspects to justice

KFOR spokesperson said on Friday they were informed about the Kosovo police Special ROSU unit operation in Mitrovica North, adding the reason was bringing to justice four people suspected of involvement in Oliver Ivanovic’s murder. Original post Here

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Kosovo Serb Leader Milan Radoicic wanted by the police

Kosovo Serb politician, Milan Radoicic, who according to media is the real power holder in northern Kosovo, is in the list of wanted people. The Kosovo Police Special Units – ROSU, have searched on Friday morning the house of the deputy head of Srpska List, Milan Radoicic. Original post Here

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Kosovo Police operation has nothing to do with political developments, Haradinaj says

Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj says operation of the Kosovo Police Special Units in Mitrovica North on Friday morning when four Serbs were arrested suspected of their involvement in assassination of the Kosovo Serb leader Oliver Ivanovic in January 2018, has nothing to do with the current political developments, Gazeta Express …

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Kosovo Police arrests four people in Mitrovica North involved in Ivanovic’s case

Kosovo Police have arrested three Serbs in Mitrovica North early on Friday suspected of their involvement in murder of Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic, and one for resisting police. Two of the arrested persons are police officers. Original post Here

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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

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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

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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
Week in Review: Plots, Twists and Chaos

Expecting the unexpected seems to be the name of the game in both global politics and the domestic politics of the region, as 2026 kicks off with a few unexpected twists. Original post Here

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Unlikely Friendship: Albanian PM Eyes Potential Gains From Israel Alliance

Critics accused Edi Rama of overlooking Palestinian suffering during his recent visit to Israel. But both he and his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, see advantages in a closer relationship. Original post Here

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Elbasan County Council Honors Saudi Ambassador for Humanitarian Contributions

Tirana Times, January 29, 2026 – This Tuesday, the Elbasan County Council has formally honored the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Albania, Faisal Ghazi Al-Hafthi, in recognition of his humanitarian engagement and his contribution to strengthening bilateral relations at the local level. The ceremony, held in Elbasan, …

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Albania’s EU Progress ‘Says More About Brussels Than Tirana’

Albania has opened every negotiation ‘cluster’ as it races along the road to EU accession, but who should get the credit – Edi Rama’s government? Anti-graft prosecutors? Or even Vladimir Putin? Original post Here

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 …

News

Week in Review: Plots, Twists and Chaos

Expecting the unexpected seems to be the name of the game in both global politics and the domestic politics of the region, as 2026 kicks off with a few unexpected twists. Original post Here

News

Unlikely Friendship: Albanian PM Eyes Potential Gains From Israel Alliance

Critics accused Edi Rama of overlooking Palestinian suffering during his recent visit to Israel. But both he and his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, see advantages in a closer relationship. Original post Here

News

Elbasan County Council Honors Saudi Ambassador for Humanitarian Contributions

Tirana Times, January 29, 2026 – This Tuesday, the Elbasan County Council has formally honored the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Albania, Faisal Ghazi Al-Hafthi, in recognition of his humanitarian engagement and his contribution to strengthening bilateral relations at the local level. The ceremony, held in Elbasan, …

News

Albania’s EU Progress ‘Says More About Brussels Than Tirana’

Albania has opened every negotiation ‘cluster’ as it races along the road to EU accession, but who should get the credit – Edi Rama’s government? Anti-graft prosecutors? Or even Vladimir Putin? Original post Here