Blog
News

Montenegro officially joins NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo

Montenegro has on Tuesday joined the KFOR mission in Kosovo as the 29th troop contributing nation, which is the longest peacekeeping mission in NATO history. Original post Here

Read More
News

Austrian President lobbying for Kosovo to get visa liberalisation by the end of year

Austrian President, Alexander Van der Bellen, was hosted on Tuesday by his Albanian Counterpart, Ilir Meta, Gazeta Express reports. During the meeting the two presidents discussed visa liberalisation for Kosovo. The Austrian President said that visa liberalisation for Kosovo citizens should happen as soon as possible. Original post Here

Read More
News

State Dept official visits Kosovo amidst debate on border adjustment with Serbia

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj hosted in separate meetings the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Matthew Palmer. Haradinaj briefed the US State Department official on transition of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into army, whereas Thaci said after the meeting that he discussed with Palmer …

Read More
News

Army to be deployed throughout Kosovo territory, KSF Commander says

Future Army of Kosovo will be deployed throughout the territory of Kosovo, says Kosovo Security Force (KSF) Commander, General Lieutenant, Rrahman Rama. He said approval of laws in Parliament on Thursday on transition of the KSF into army is one of the most important milestones for the state of Kosovo. …

Read More
News

US Embassy comments Kosovo's initiative to transform Security Force into Army

US Embassy to Kosovo continues to support disciplined and transparent transition of the KSF into a professional, multi-ethnic, NATO interoperable army with limited mandate of territorial self-defence. This was confirmed to Gazeta Express by the US Embassy in Pristina commenting the laws that the Kosovo Parliament passed on Thursday, enabling …

Read More
News

Turkey calls for closure of Gulen schools in Kosovo

Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Çavusoglu who is visiting Kosovo, asked the Government of Kosovo to close all schools of the “FETO” organisation, sponsored by religious leader Fetulah Gulen, an organisation which as Çavusoglu said is a terrorist organisation responsible for killing of over 200 people during a failed coup in …

Read More
News

Kosovo PM vows 'uncompromising fight' against terrorism

Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, hosted Ambassador Nathan A. Sales, the US State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism. Haradinaj in a Facebook post said that joint with Sales they discussed current political developments in Kosovo. Original post Here

Read More
News

UN Secretary General looking into UNMIK exit strategy initiative proposed by the US

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres is looking into the US initiative on an exit strategy for UNMIK, Belgrade based news agency Beta reported citing its sources within the UN headquarters on Friday. Original post Here

Read More
News

Kosovo in continuous contact with NATO over army, PM Haradinaj says

Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, said Kosovo is in continuous contact with NATO and expressed his optimism that the country will join NATO. He made the comments a day after the Parliament of Kosovo passed in principle a package of laws on transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into …

Read More
News

Attack on Albanian house in northern Kosovo

A molotov cocktail was thrown last night at the house of an Albanian living in northern part of Kosovo dominated by Serbs. The motives of the attack remain unknown, whereas the police reported that in addition to material damages no injuries have been reported in this incident. Original post Here

Read More
News
Albania Could Face Costly Arbitration Battle After Scrapping Vlora Airport Plans

Experts say the government’s move to ditch a controversial concession contract to build Vlora International Airport, at significant cost to taxpayers, highlights structural weaknesses in Albania’s public-private partnership framework. Original post Here

News
Zelenskyy’s Kosovo Stance Puts Solidarity With Ukraine to the Test

Pristina and Tirana push back against Kyiv’s stance, insisting that Kosovo’s sovereignty cannot be diminished or equated with Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Tirana Times , August 09, 2026 – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s confirmation in Belgrade that Kyiv has not changed its position on Kosovo has triggered criticism in Albania and …

News
Mecca Defense Pact Signals Saudi Arabia’s Bid to Shape a New Security Order

The agreement with Turkey and nuclear-armed Pakistan strengthens Riyadh’s position as a central architect of regional security, while reflecting a broader shift toward a more multipolar international system. Tirana Times, August 08, 2026 – The signing of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan represents more …

News
Albanian Court Puts Turkish Activist in Custody After Extradition Demand

Activist Julide Yazici, who is wanted by Turkey, was remanded in custody in Tirana pending extradition proceedings, despite having political asylum status in France. Original post Here

News
“Fustanella” exhibition showcases Albanian cultural identity in Berat

TIRANA, August 7 – The “Fustanella” (Albanian kilt) exhibition has opened at the Ethnographic Museum in Berat, presenting one of the most recognizable symbols of Albanian cultural identity through a blend of art and tradition. The exhibition presents the fustanella, the traditional pleated kilt worn by Albanian men, as both …

News
Defense minister visits Italian shipyard to support Fincantieri Albania project

TIRANA, August 7 – Defense Minister Ermal Nufi visited the Naval Vessels Division of Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri in Muggiano as part of cooperation on the Fincantieri Albania project in Vlora. The Muggiano facility is one of Europe’s leading centers for the construction of naval vessels and maritime defense systems. During …

News
Power distributor strengthens grid for summer season in Lezha and Shëngjin

TIRANA, August 7 – Albania’s Electricity Distribution System Operator (OSHEE) has strengthened technical and operational measures to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply in Lezha and Shëngjin during the summer tourist season through investments in the distribution network. Speaking from the reconstructed Lezha substation, OSSH engineer Marjo Lajthia said the investments have …

News
Civil Protection reports eight active wildfires across Albania

TIRANA, August 7 – Albania’s Civil Protection Agency reported eight active wildfires across the country on Thursday, while firefighters brought several blazes under control in Elbasan County. Firefighting operations continue on Mount Dajti near Tirana. The response includes 30 firefighters, 10 staff from the Protected Areas Administration and an Albanian …

News
Albania welcomes nearly two million foreign visitors in July

TIRANA, August 7 – Albania attracted 1,955,099 foreign visitors in July 2026, extending the country’s tourism growth, Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja said on Thursday. Gonxhja said the figure compares with 1,825,490 foreign visitors in July 2025. The increase of 129,609 visitors represents year-on-year growth of about 7.1%. …

News
SPAK Brings New Charges Against Former Deputy PM Balluku

Tirana Times, August 07, 2026 — Albania’s Special Prosecution Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime has brought new allegations against former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, widening one of the most politically sensitive investigations since the country launched its justice reform. Balluku appeared before the special prosecution office, known as SPAK, …

News

Albania Could Face Costly Arbitration Battle After Scrapping Vlora Airport Plans

Experts say the government’s move to ditch a controversial concession contract to build Vlora International Airport, at significant cost to taxpayers, highlights structural weaknesses in Albania’s public-private partnership framework. Original post Here

News

Zelenskyy’s Kosovo Stance Puts Solidarity With Ukraine to the Test

Pristina and Tirana push back against Kyiv’s stance, insisting that Kosovo’s sovereignty cannot be diminished or equated with Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Tirana Times , August 09, 2026 – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s confirmation in Belgrade that Kyiv has not changed its position on Kosovo has triggered criticism in Albania and …

News

Mecca Defense Pact Signals Saudi Arabia’s Bid to Shape a New Security Order

The agreement with Turkey and nuclear-armed Pakistan strengthens Riyadh’s position as a central architect of regional security, while reflecting a broader shift toward a more multipolar international system. Tirana Times, August 08, 2026 – The signing of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan represents more …

News

Albanian Court Puts Turkish Activist in Custody After Extradition Demand

Activist Julide Yazici, who is wanted by Turkey, was remanded in custody in Tirana pending extradition proceedings, despite having political asylum status in France. Original post Here

News

“Fustanella” exhibition showcases Albanian cultural identity in Berat

TIRANA, August 7 – The “Fustanella” (Albanian kilt) exhibition has opened at the Ethnographic Museum in Berat, presenting one of the most recognizable symbols of Albanian cultural identity through a blend of art and tradition. The exhibition presents the fustanella, the traditional pleated kilt worn by Albanian men, as both …

News

Defense minister visits Italian shipyard to support Fincantieri Albania project

TIRANA, August 7 – Defense Minister Ermal Nufi visited the Naval Vessels Division of Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri in Muggiano as part of cooperation on the Fincantieri Albania project in Vlora. The Muggiano facility is one of Europe’s leading centers for the construction of naval vessels and maritime defense systems. During …

News

Power distributor strengthens grid for summer season in Lezha and Shëngjin

TIRANA, August 7 – Albania’s Electricity Distribution System Operator (OSHEE) has strengthened technical and operational measures to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply in Lezha and Shëngjin during the summer tourist season through investments in the distribution network. Speaking from the reconstructed Lezha substation, OSSH engineer Marjo Lajthia said the investments have …

News

Civil Protection reports eight active wildfires across Albania

TIRANA, August 7 – Albania’s Civil Protection Agency reported eight active wildfires across the country on Thursday, while firefighters brought several blazes under control in Elbasan County. Firefighting operations continue on Mount Dajti near Tirana. The response includes 30 firefighters, 10 staff from the Protected Areas Administration and an Albanian …

News

Albania welcomes nearly two million foreign visitors in July

TIRANA, August 7 – Albania attracted 1,955,099 foreign visitors in July 2026, extending the country’s tourism growth, Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja said on Thursday. Gonxhja said the figure compares with 1,825,490 foreign visitors in July 2025. The increase of 129,609 visitors represents year-on-year growth of about 7.1%. …

News

SPAK Brings New Charges Against Former Deputy PM Balluku

Tirana Times, August 07, 2026 — Albania’s Special Prosecution Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime has brought new allegations against former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, widening one of the most politically sensitive investigations since the country launched its justice reform. Balluku appeared before the special prosecution office, known as SPAK, …