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Albania’s parliament in deadlock as opposition disrupts proceedings over investigative commissions, electoral reform

TIRANA, Jan. 19, 2024 – Albania’s parliament has started the new year in deadlock with now familiar scenes of opposition MPs disrupting proceedings in protest of what they say are “anti-democratic maneuvers” by Prime Minister Edi Rama to exclude the largest opposition group from investigative committees and a key electoral …

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Leskovik, man burned alive in cabin fire

A serious event was recorded late on Wednesday evening in the village of Oseckë in Leskovik, where a person was burned inside a cabin. It was the victim’s brother who notified the police. He told the police that he and his brother had consumed alcohol and then he left to …

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Valter Bami suspect of assassination released from prison

Valter Bami was released Thursday from the cell, after he was arrested in July of last year as being involved in the assassination attempt in Larushk of Kruja where 29-year-old Ramazan Sino, the brother-in-law of Gentian Bejtja, who was allegedly the target, was killed. On July 3, Ramazan Sino (the …

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Rama-Meloni deal on migrants to be reviewed by C.Court

Constitutional Court will review this Thursday at 10:00 a.m. the lawsuit of MPs of the group of Gazment Bardhi and Sali Berisha regarding the agreement for immigrants with Italy. 30 MPs consider the agreement between the two countries in violation the Constitution and international law. On December 13, the Constitutional …

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Three romanians wanted for robbing ATMs in Tirana

Three Romanian citizens have been declared wanted by the Tirana Police, after they robbed several ATMs in the capital. ABC News reporter Ervin Leka reports that the Romanians allegedly entered the territory of Albania in December 2023 and committed the first robbery on December 9. Also, it is suspected that …

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As Ecuador violence makes global headlines, experts point to Albanian connection 

TIRANA, Jan. 16, 2024 – Ecuador’s war on organized crime has made headlines across the world recently as the country’s president declared an internal state of war following armed clashes, unleashing the army to take on powerful gangs. The violence has been building for a long time as the Latin …

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Heir to Albanian throne, wife announce they are divorcing

TIRANA, Jan. 16, 2024 – Crown Prince Leka, grandson of the late King Zog of Albania, and his wife, actress Elia Zaharia, have announced in separate statements that they have started divorce proceedings.  The announcements come after weeks of speculation in the Albanian press after the couple did not appear …

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Foreign minister visits North Macedonia, agenda revealed

Foreign Minister Igli Hasani will visit this Wednesday North Macedonia on Wednesday as part of a three-day regional tour, after being to Kosovo on Tuesday. During the visit, Minister Hasani will be met by his counterpart Bujar Osmani, with whom he will hold a meeting at 08:50, while they are …

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Ambassador Hoxha moved to EU after finishing term in UNSC

Government has decided that after the end of Albania’s mandate in the UN Security Council, it will move Ambassador Ferit Hoxha to the EU. Graduated in 1988 at the Faculty of Foreign Languages; French Language and Culture, University of Tirana, Albania. He also graduated from the Dutch Institute of International …

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Sessions on former PM Berisha’s questioning postponed by SPAK

Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) has accepted this Wednesday the requests of the lawyers of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha and Jamarbër Malltez, postponing the interrogation sessions for next week. Former Prime Minister Sali Berisha was summoned on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. to the Special Prosecutor’s Office to be questioned as …

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Clan Capitalism: Albania’s Privileged Investors and Their Seaside Villas

Instead of stimulating investment in agriculture or energy, critics say a 2015 ‘special law’ on strategic investment in Albania has simply made it easier and more profitable for certain privileged businesspeople to build luxury villas on the coast. Original post Here

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Albania’s TikTok Ban Widely Flouted, Even by Allies of PM

Halfway into a 12-month ban on TikTok in Albania, anecdotal evidence suggests the prohibition is being widely flouted while the government remains silent on promised filters to weed out ‘undesirable’ content. Original post Here

News
Week in Review: Deadlocks, Unexpected Twists and New Approaches

Our selection of Premium stories this week looks at the challenges facing the region as the summer season winds down and business-as-usual resumes. Original post Here

News
Kosovo Court Imposes New Ban on Parliament Over Deputy Speaker Logjam

Court again bans MPs from forming institutions deriving from the February elections while it considers a complaint about the failure to elect a deputy speaker from the Serb community, as guaranteed in the constitution. Original post Here

News
Ambassador Faisal bin Ghazi Hafzi: Saudi Arabia Cultural Week, a Bridge of Communication Between the Two Countries

On the eve of Saudi Arabia’s Cultural Week, which will take place in Tirana from September 16–20 at the Palace of Congresses, the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of Albania, Mr. Faisal bin Ghazi Hafzi, through a press statement, praised this event as …

News
Dirty Water: Albania’s Polluted Rivers Need Cleaning Now, Activist Says

When Denisa Kasa returned from abroad and saw the state of Albania’s filthy waterways, she was shocked. Now she has formed an independent collective of young people dedicated to the ‘dream of clean rivers’. Original post Here

News
Saudi Cultural Week to Bring a Taste of Arabia to Tirana

Tirana will soon open its doors to the sights, sounds, and flavors of Arabia. From 16 to 20 September 2025, the Palace of Congresses will transform into a vibrant stage for Saudi Cultural Week, a five-day celebration of art, heritage, and creativity hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Culture. The festival promises to be more …

News
Iranian Opposition Group’s Stay in Albania Turns Sour

Albania’s hosting of an exiled Iranian opposition group was never likely to be easy. Now it’s under criminal investigation. Original post Here

News
Week in Review: Tricks and Surprises

Our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week sheds light on police brutality, hidden influence, strained bilateral relations and other turbulent issues across the region. Original post Here

News
Years After Discovery, Albania’s Roman-Era Mosaics Remain Hidden to Public View

The city of Durres on Albania’s Adriatic coast boasts a fine selection of Roman-era mosaics. But due to a lack of initiative by the local authorities, progress has been slow to preserve them and make them available for the public to view. Original post Here

News

Clan Capitalism: Albania’s Privileged Investors and Their Seaside Villas

Instead of stimulating investment in agriculture or energy, critics say a 2015 ‘special law’ on strategic investment in Albania has simply made it easier and more profitable for certain privileged businesspeople to build luxury villas on the coast. Original post Here

News

Albania’s TikTok Ban Widely Flouted, Even by Allies of PM

Halfway into a 12-month ban on TikTok in Albania, anecdotal evidence suggests the prohibition is being widely flouted while the government remains silent on promised filters to weed out ‘undesirable’ content. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: Deadlocks, Unexpected Twists and New Approaches

Our selection of Premium stories this week looks at the challenges facing the region as the summer season winds down and business-as-usual resumes. Original post Here

News

Kosovo Court Imposes New Ban on Parliament Over Deputy Speaker Logjam

Court again bans MPs from forming institutions deriving from the February elections while it considers a complaint about the failure to elect a deputy speaker from the Serb community, as guaranteed in the constitution. Original post Here

News

Ambassador Faisal bin Ghazi Hafzi: Saudi Arabia Cultural Week, a Bridge of Communication Between the Two Countries

On the eve of Saudi Arabia’s Cultural Week, which will take place in Tirana from September 16–20 at the Palace of Congresses, the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of Albania, Mr. Faisal bin Ghazi Hafzi, through a press statement, praised this event as …

News

Dirty Water: Albania’s Polluted Rivers Need Cleaning Now, Activist Says

When Denisa Kasa returned from abroad and saw the state of Albania’s filthy waterways, she was shocked. Now she has formed an independent collective of young people dedicated to the ‘dream of clean rivers’. Original post Here

News

Saudi Cultural Week to Bring a Taste of Arabia to Tirana

Tirana will soon open its doors to the sights, sounds, and flavors of Arabia. From 16 to 20 September 2025, the Palace of Congresses will transform into a vibrant stage for Saudi Cultural Week, a five-day celebration of art, heritage, and creativity hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Culture. The festival promises to be more …

News

Iranian Opposition Group’s Stay in Albania Turns Sour

Albania’s hosting of an exiled Iranian opposition group was never likely to be easy. Now it’s under criminal investigation. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: Tricks and Surprises

Our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week sheds light on police brutality, hidden influence, strained bilateral relations and other turbulent issues across the region. Original post Here

News

Years After Discovery, Albania’s Roman-Era Mosaics Remain Hidden to Public View

The city of Durres on Albania’s Adriatic coast boasts a fine selection of Roman-era mosaics. But due to a lack of initiative by the local authorities, progress has been slow to preserve them and make them available for the public to view. Original post Here