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Albanian Police Rescue Eagle in a Special Operation

Albanian police in northern town of Puka were engaged in a special operation, not to catch criminals but to rescue an eagle, after environmentalists shared a video online showing the Albanian national symbol portrayed also in Albanian flag, tied up to its legs by illegal poachers. The bird is threatened …

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Thaci met Shahriar Alam: Recognition from Bangladesh came at the very important moment for Kosovo

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci received on Monday the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, Shahriar Alam, who came to Kosovo to attend celebrations od the tenth anniversary of Kosovo’s independence. Original post Here

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EU considers as political interference Rama’s suggestion on a joint president for Albania and Kosovo

The European Commission has reacted to statements of the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama who addressing Kosovo Parliament on Sunday suggested a joint president for Albania and Kosovo. He made the proposal on the day Kosovo was celebrating 10th anniversary of independence. Original post Here

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Vetevendosje Wants International Probe on Attacking Kosovo Parliament

The Vetevendosje movement in a press conference held on Monday asked the Government to launch an international investigation for their jailed activists, including an MP, who were found guilty on firing a grenade at the Kosovo Parliament building in 2016. Original post Here

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Haradinaj Asks Thaci-Vujanovic Declaration be Voted in Parliament

Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, asks the joint declaration signed last week by Kosovo and Montenegro presidents on border delineation be voted by Parliament. Haradinaj refers to the declaration as annex Agreement and insists that it should be legally binding. Original post Here

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Parliament likely to vote demarcation this week

Kosovo Parliament is expected to convene this week in a new effort to vote the ratification of the Agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro. Sources within the Parliament confirmed to Gazeta Express that MPs most likely will convene this week, but they are waiting for Parliament’s Presidency to schedule new …

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Thaci: Partition of Kosovo impossible

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said that partition of Kosovo is impossible and said that there will be no autonomy for the northern part of the country inhabited mainly by Serbs. Original post Here

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EU confirms: Kosovo-Serbia technical dialogue resumes on 26 February

The EU facilitated technical dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia will resume on 26 February. This was confirmed by Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson to the EU High Representative, Federica Mogherini. Original post Here

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Edi Rama Proposes One President for Albania, Kosovo

Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, proposed that Albania and Kosovo should have one president. He made the proposal while addressing Kosovo Parliament solemn session organised to celebrate tenth anniversary of Kosovo’s independence. However Rama was careful reminding that is unlikely for the idea to become reality any time soon. Original …

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Thaci: Kosovo will become members of the EU, NATO and the UN

Kosovo President, Hashim Thaci, organized on Sunday a state reception as part of activities for celebration of the tenth anniversary of the independence. 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

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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

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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
Heavy Rains Cause Evacuations and Discontent in Albania

Dramatic situation reported in several towns, while some locals complain of being abandoned. Original post Here

News
Albania Under Water: A Return to a Hobbesian State of Nature

TIRANA TIMES, December 6, 2025 – Albania is once again under water. Torrential rains over the past days have triggered massive flooding across almost the entire country, exposing not only the fragility of urban infrastructure but, more fundamentally, the long-term failure of governance. From the northern plains to the southern …

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

News

Heavy Rains Cause Evacuations and Discontent in Albania

Dramatic situation reported in several towns, while some locals complain of being abandoned. Original post Here

News

Albania Under Water: A Return to a Hobbesian State of Nature

TIRANA TIMES, December 6, 2025 – Albania is once again under water. Torrential rains over the past days have triggered massive flooding across almost the entire country, exposing not only the fragility of urban infrastructure but, more fundamentally, the long-term failure of governance. From the northern plains to the southern …