Naser Kelmendi sentenced to six years imprisonment for selling drugs, cleared of murder charges
The alleged Balkan drug baron, Naser Kelmendi, has been sentenced to six years in prison for selling and trafficking narcotics but was cleared of murder charges. The verdict on Kelmendi’s case was given on Thursday. Original post Here
Serb Gendarmerie arrests two Kosovars
Two Kosovo Albanians have been arrested by Serbian gendarmerie at the village Llaushe of Podujeva near the border with Serbia, the Kosovo Police have confirmed. Original post Here
President Thaci commends EULEX but says it is time for Kosovo to take the lead
President Hashim Thaci addressed the media ahead of the tenth anniversary of Independence and mentioned Kosovo’s achievements during the first decade as an independent country. He said that Kosovo maintained cooperation with all mechanisms present in Kosovo. Original post Here
German Foreign Minister visits Kosovo on 7 February
German Foreign Minister, Sigmar Gabriel, will visit Kosovo on 7 February. During his official visit to Pristina he will meet Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj and other senior state officials, chief of cabinet of the Kosovo Prime Minister, Avni Arifi, confirmed on Thursday. Original post Here
PM Haradinaj obtains United Kingdom visa
Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has obtained a UK visa. Avni Arifi, chief of cabinet of the Prime Minister, confirmed the news to Gazeta Express. Original post Here
Thaci: Kosovo doesn't forget Serbia’s genocide but we are committed to peace
Kosovo President Hashim Thaci during an interview with the Croatian state broadcaster HRT said that the dialogue on normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia lead the Western Balkans towards the EU future. Original post Here
US congressmen nominate Natasa Kandic for Nobel Prize
Two US congressmen have nominated Natasa Kandic and the Humanitarian Law Center NGO for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. Voice of America reported this on Thursday. Original post Here
Spain says Kosovo can only join EU as region of Serbia
Madrid is not giving up its stance on blocking the EU integration of Kosovo, the Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti writes adding that Spain will agree to Kosovo in the EU – but only as a region of Serbia. Original post Here
Pacolli confirms Rita Ora to perform in Kosovo for 10th anniversary
Rumors have been looming around lately concerning the possibility of the return of Kosovo’s most beloved superstar, Rita Ora, for the 10th anniversary of Kosovo’s independence. Original post Here
Haradinaj: Nobody quizzes Special Court existence
Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, said that the special war crimes court set to try alleged crimes of the KLA will not be abolished. Original post Here
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 …
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 …
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 …
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
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
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 …
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
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
Dramatic situation reported in several towns, while some locals complain of being abandoned. Original post Here
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 …