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Rita Ora’s independence concert draws over 300 thousand people

Pristina-born British pop star Rita Ora gave a spectacular concert before more than 300 thousand people at the Kosovo’s capital main square, as part of celebrations of Kosovo’s first decade as independent country. She greeted the crowd with the words in Albanian ‘happy independence’. Original post Here

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Behgjet Pacolli offers evidence that Burundi has not revoked Kosovo’s recognition

On the day Kosovo was celebrating ten years as independent state, Serbian Foreign Minister, called an urgent press conference announcing that the state of Burundi has withdrawn its decision to recognise Kosovo . But Kosovo Foreign Minister, Behgjet Pacolli, has offered evidence confirming that this country has not retracted its …

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Kosovo President: Binding Agreement with Serbia This Year

Kosovo President, Hashim Thaci, who is attending the e Munich Conference on the topic: ‘In or out? The countries in-between Russia and Europe?’ said he expects Kosovo and Serbia will sign a legally-binding agreement this year. Thaci stated that Kosovo is interested to successfully conclude the EU-brokered dialogue with Serbia. …

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Rita Ora offers support to survivors of wartime rape in Kosovo

Kosovo born singer, Rita Ora, who is in Kosovo to give a concert on country’s tenth anniversary, offered her support to the survivors of wartime rape in Kosovo. She told them that they inspirted her with their strength resilience and courage to move forward. Original post Here

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Rita Ora’s triumphant return to her homeland, says Daily Mail

“Rita Ora returns to her homeland Kosovo to celebrate 10 years of independence: Singer makes triumphant return years after her family fled,” this is the headline the Daily Mail has announced the visit of Kosovo-born pop star, Rita Ora to Kosovo. Original post Here

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Girl Named Independence: My Birthday Wish Is Kosovo Become A Great Country

Kosovo’s Ambassador to the U.S., Vlora Citaku, has published in her Twitter profile a congratulation letter of the girl called Pavaresia Sopa, which was born minutes after Kosovo declared Independence on 17 February 2008. Original post Here

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Thousands of people visit Adem Jashari’s memorial on Kosovo’s Independence Day

Thousands of people visited on 17 February the village of Prekaz in Drenica region and the memorial of the leading figure of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), Adem Jashari, who together with 50 members of his extended family were killed after three days of resistance against Serbian Police and military …

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11 Important Facts on Declaration of Independence of Kosovo

On 17 February 2008 Kosovo declared Independence. It was one of the coldest days of the year, but this was not a problem for hundreds of thousands of citizens who took streets to celebrate the Independence. Original post Here

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Rita Ora arrives in Kosovo: Let’s celebrate 10 years of Kosovo’s Independence

Kosovo-born pop star, Rita Ora, arrived in Kosovo on Saturday afternoon when she will play a concert and will be main highlight of the events to celebrate the Kosovo’s tenth anniversary of Independence. Original post Here

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European Commission President Kosovo President Thaci on 10th anniversary of Independence

President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, has on Friday sent a letter to Kosovo President, Hashim Thaci, congratulating him on the tenth anniversary of Kosovo’s independence, according to President’s Office. 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

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Heavy Rains Cause Evacuations and Discontent in Albania

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

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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 …

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Europe Tightens the Fight Against Corruption, Albania at a Crossroad

By Zef Preçi, Executive Director of ACER As Albania presents itself as closer than ever to the European Union, a troubling contradiction has emerged in its domestic legal and political debate. While the EU is moving decisively toward tougher and more harmonized criminal rules against corruption, Albania is simultaneously discussing …

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Housing Boom Prices Out Albanians

Allegations of money laundering in construction and claims of informal power networks, including the case of Ergys Agasi, fuel concerns over a distorted housing market Tirana Times, TIRANA, 05 January 2026 – For many middle income families in Tirana, buying an apartment has shifted from a realistic life goal to …

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In Albania, Women Often Quit Local Councils to Make Way for Men

Democracy and the rights of women are being undermined in Albania by the practice of filling electoral candidate lists with women, only to have them resign en masse once the results are in and cede their seats to men. Original post Here

News
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: January 5, 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

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 …

News

Europe Tightens the Fight Against Corruption, Albania at a Crossroad

By Zef Preçi, Executive Director of ACER As Albania presents itself as closer than ever to the European Union, a troubling contradiction has emerged in its domestic legal and political debate. While the EU is moving decisively toward tougher and more harmonized criminal rules against corruption, Albania is simultaneously discussing …

News

Housing Boom Prices Out Albanians

Allegations of money laundering in construction and claims of informal power networks, including the case of Ergys Agasi, fuel concerns over a distorted housing market Tirana Times, TIRANA, 05 January 2026 – For many middle income families in Tirana, buying an apartment has shifted from a realistic life goal to …

News

In Albania, Women Often Quit Local Councils to Make Way for Men

Democracy and the rights of women are being undermined in Albania by the practice of filling electoral candidate lists with women, only to have them resign en masse once the results are in and cede their seats to men. Original post Here

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: January 5, 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