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Kosovo leaders are not giving up plans to repeal war crimes court law

Kosovo main leaders – President Hashim Thaci, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, and Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli, are not giving up on their plans to abrogate the war crimes court law. Despite warning of international community to stop the initiative for repealing the law, Kosovo leaders continue backing the initiative launched …

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Kosovo-Serbia dialogue resumes on Tuesday

The Pristina-Belgrade dialogue will resume on Tuesday (16 January) in Brussels. The news has been confirmed by Avni Arifi, who on Friday was appointed chief negotiator of Kosovo Government in talks with Serbia. Original post Here

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Minister of European Integration asks ratification of demarcation

Kosovo Assembly should ratify the Agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro as soon as possible, says Minister of European Integration, Dhurata Hoxha. Original post Here

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Kosovo PM says he will not use Albanian passport when traveling abroad

Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, who on Thursday received Albanian passport, told the media that he will not use it when traveling abroad. Haradinaj was granted Albanian citizenship in 2017 by the then Albanian president, Bujar Nishani. Original post Here

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PM Haradinaj appoints his advisor as chief negotiator in talks with Serbia

At the proposal of the Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, the Government has appointed Avni Arifi as chief negotiator of Kosovo’s delegation in talks with Serbia. Arifi currently is chief of staff of the Prime Minister’s Office. Original post Here

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Kosovo President hires US firm to improve image internationally

Kosovo President, Hashim Thaci, has contracted a US company aimed at improving his image internationally. According to Kosovo news outlet Insajderi the President’s Office confirmed the contract on the night Kosovo MPs launched an unexpected initiative to undo The Hague based international war crimes court. Thaci’s name is mentioned as …

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Fajon: The EU needs to bring the Western Balkans to better life

We need to bring the Western Balkans to better life, to give perspectives to young people, to open the borders, stated the Member of the European Parliament, Tanja Fajon for Euronews. Original post Here

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Draft Law on Army ready by April

On 17 February Kosovo celebrates tenth anniversary of its Independence. But despite being independent and sovereign the country has not established its regular army which is one of the main pillars of a sovereign state. The Ministry of Kosovo Security Force (KSF) says that the Draft Law on transformation of …

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EU issues fresh warning about Kosovo plans to undo war crimes court

The European Union has issued a fresh warning on Friday against Kosovo Parliament initiative to abrogate the Law on Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecution Office, established to try alleged crimes committed by the KLA during and after the war. In a joint statement of the Head of EU Office and …

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Macedonian MPs pass law making Albanian official language

Macedonian lawmakers have passed a law making Albanian the country’s second official language in a vote boycotted by main opposition party. 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

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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

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 …