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Serbia-Kosovo Handball Match cancelled because of security concerns

The Government of Serbia has decided to cancel today’s match of the women’s junior handball game between Kosovo and Serbia because of security concerns. This was the first time a Kosovo National Team has travelled to Serbia to play an official game. Original post Here

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Hahn after meeting Thaci: Fighting organised crime fastest way to visa liberalisation

EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, said after meeting Kosovo President Hashim Thaci in Brussels that fighting organised crime is the best and fastest way to visa liberalisation for Kosovo. Original post Here

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Kosovo, Serbia Presidents to meet today in Brussels

The EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, will host today a meeting with Presidents Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia and Hashim Thaci of Kosovo. The high level meeting comes after Pristina-Belgrade technical talks held from 19-21 March that according to the EU officials no progress was achieved. Original post Here

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Specialist Prosecutor reflects on experience and challenges at SPO in valedictory talk

In a wide-ranging final public talk as Specialist Prosecutor, David Schwendiman discussed the origins of the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (SPO), the challenges he had faced as Specialist Prosecutor and the challenges that the organisation will face in the years to come, as well as what makes the investigation he has …

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Kosovo made progress in consolidating rule of law, says PM Haradinaj

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj says Kosovo has progressed in consolidating rule of law. He made the comments after meeting the Head of the EU Office in Kosovo Natliya Apostolova and the US Ambassador Greg Delawie to discuss rule of law situation in Kosovo. Original post Here

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Kosovo Imam acquitted of inciting of terrorism

Kosovo imam Shefqet Krasniqi has been acquitted on Friday of charges that he had encouraged Kosovars to join radical Islamic groups in Syria and Iraq. Original post Here

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President Thaci: Kosovo has fulfilled all visa liberalisation criteria

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci is in Brussels when he met Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn. Original post Here

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Kosovo to do more on visa liberalisation, says German Ambassador

German Ambassador to Pristina, Christian Heldt, has congratulated Kosovo leaders after the Parliament has ratified the Agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro saying that more needs to be done in order for Kosovars to enjoy visa free-regime. Original post Here

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Kosovo minister pledges fulfilling of the last benchmark on visa liberalisation

After Kosovo Parliament ratified on Wednesday the Agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro, Kosovo now has to fulfil the very last benchmark – fighting organised crime and corruption – in order for Kosovo citizens to enjoy visa free regime in the EU Schengen area. Original post Here

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Kosovo Feride Rushiti Receives Women of Courage Award

Feride Rushiti, executive director of the Kosovo Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (KRCT), has been awarded by the U.S. State Department with the International Women of Courage (IWOC) Award. 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 …

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Korça Revives Historic Ties with France Through Culture and Vision

By Tirana Times  As the cobblestone streets of Korça echo with French music, scent of Alpine cuisine, and the laughter of children discovering animated French classics, the southeastern Albanian city reaffirms a timeless connection with France—one rooted in history, education, and enduring cultural admiration. From June 14 to 24, Korça …

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Albania’s Demographic Time Bomb: A Silent National Emergency

By Lutfi Dervishi For decades, the most pressing keywords in Albania’s political lexicon were democracy, corruption, and justice. Today, however, the most dangerous threat to the country’s future may lie elsewhere—hidden in plain sight and dangerously underdiscussed: demography. According to the most recent official census, Albania’s population stands at approximately …

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 …

News

Korça Revives Historic Ties with France Through Culture and Vision

By Tirana Times  As the cobblestone streets of Korça echo with French music, scent of Alpine cuisine, and the laughter of children discovering animated French classics, the southeastern Albanian city reaffirms a timeless connection with France—one rooted in history, education, and enduring cultural admiration. From June 14 to 24, Korça …

News

Albania’s Demographic Time Bomb: A Silent National Emergency

By Lutfi Dervishi For decades, the most pressing keywords in Albania’s political lexicon were democracy, corruption, and justice. Today, however, the most dangerous threat to the country’s future may lie elsewhere—hidden in plain sight and dangerously underdiscussed: demography. According to the most recent official census, Albania’s population stands at approximately …