Albania Judges Warned Police of Threats Before Fatal Court Shooting
The shocking killing of judge Astrit Kalaja on Monday inside a Tirana court has led to serious questions over levels of security in the country’s institutions. Original post Here
Troubled Waters: Albania’s Wild River ‘Protected Only on Paper’
A wild river given protection as a ‘national park’ in 2023 still faces serious threats to its biodiversity from pollution – and Albania’s government is doing little to stop it. Original post Here
Albania’s Opposition Backs Actor-Activist for Tirana Mayor
The Democratic Party declared its support for an independent candidate, the actor Florjan Binaj – who is known for lampooning Prime Minister Edi Rama – in Tirana’s high-profile mayoral byelection next month. Original post Here
Judge Shot to Death in Albanian Courtroom
Judge Astrit Kalaja was shot and killed during a hearing at the Court of Appeal in Tirana, drawing shocked reactions from political leaders. Original post Here
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: October 6, 2025
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
Week in Review: Between Hope and Despair
While political deadlock feeds despair in some corners of the region, glimmers of hope shine through in others, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week highlights. Original post Here
Albania and Colombia Arrest 17 for Trafficking Women for Sex Work
The EU police agency said 17 people suspected of trafficking women from South America to Europe for sexual exploitation have been arrested in Albania and Colombia. Original post Here
Rama’s Trump Joke Overshadows Copenhagen Summit
Tirana, Albania (Tirana Times). Prime Minister Edi Rama’s attempt at humor during a European summit turned into a viral spectacle on Thursday, overshadowing the European Political Community’s agenda in Copenhagen and sparking both international scrutiny and domestic criticism. The incident unfolded when Rama, known for injecting jokes into international meetings, …
Mayoral Election in Capital Stirs Albanian Opposition Hopes of Comeback
The byelection in Tirana, whose Socialist mayor is behind bars, is a precious opportunity for Albania’s opposition – but analysts warn that victory remains unlikely. Original post Here
Albania Govt Demands Elections in Capital Despite Jailed Mayor’s Court Appeal
Ruling Socialists push for new elections in Tirana as jailed mayor tries to block the move, claiming his dismissal is in breach of his constitutional rights. Original post Here
Prime Minister Edi Rama attends the 8th European Political Community Summit in Yerevan, Armenia. He shares photos from the event on social media. The summit gathers 48 European leaders under the theme “Building the Future: Unity and Stability in Europe.” Leaders discuss stronger cooperation. They focus on democratic resilience, economic …
MP Sara Mila raises concerns about the implementation of Corridor VIII in Parliament. She says residents in the Elbasan County face several problems on the ground. In Papër and nearby areas, people report land registration issues. Some families are missing from official records. Others face errors in land size. Residents …
The Embassy of Albania in Greece has launched the “Islands 2026” project in Rhodes. The initiative brings consular services closer to Albanian citizens living on Greek islands. It improves access to biometric documents and other consular services. The project is carried out in cooperation with IdentiTek and under the supervision …
The Assembly of Albania opened its plenary session with a minute of silence. The tribute honored two children who died in a tragic road accident in Durrës. Deputy Speaker Klodiana Spahiu expressed condolences to the families. She said: “The angels rest in peace.” The accident happened on May 3 in …
The American Week opens a new cultural highlight in Tirana with the “Founding Fathers” exhibition at the National Library of Albania. The exhibition showcases portraits and biographies of 13 signers of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. It marks the 250th anniversary of the United States. U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Nancy VanHorn …
Ermal Nufi meets a delegation from the New Jersey National Guard in Tirana. The delegation is led by Brigadier General Yvonne L. Mays. The meeting marks 25 years of cooperation between the Albanian Armed Forces and the New Jersey National Guard. The partnership began in 2001 under the U.S. State …
Players of the Albania national football team delivered an impressive weekend, producing key performances across European leagues and MLS. Kristjan Asllani stood out for Beşiktaş JK, providing an assist and scoring from the penalty spot in a win over Gaziantep. Qazim Laçi scored and assisted for Çaykur Rizespor in a …
TIRANA, May 4 – Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha said Albania’s EU accession process continues normally. He rejected claims of any blockage or veto from member states. He made the remarks during a hearing in the Committee for Europe and Foreign Affairs on the IBAR report and …
TIRANA, May 4 – The National Center for Children’s Culture closed the year’s largest painting event with the participation of around 500 children from Albania, Kosova, and North Macedonia. Meanwhile, Director Melsi Qirici described the second edition of the National Children’s Painting Competition as successful. She noted that children from …
TIRANA, May 4 – President Bajram Begaj attended the 70th anniversary of the priestly ordination of Cardinal Ernest Simoni at the Florence Cathedral “Santa Maria del Fiore”. He described Simoni as a symbol of resilience, faith, and sacrifice, and as a “living martyr”. In his message, Begaj said Simoni’s life …