Albania Beats Serbia, Keeps World Cup Dream Alive
By Tirana Times Staff | October 12, 2025 LESKOVAC . Albania stunned Serbia with a 1–0 victory on Saturday night, a result that not only strengthens its bid for a first-ever World Cup but also carries enormous symbolic weight in one of the most politically charged rivalries in European football. …
Week in Review: Leaping into the Unknown
Electoral races, political comebacks and anti-corruption efforts: our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week looks at how current developments are shaping the region’s future. Original post Here
Arab Scientist Among 2025 Nobel Chemistry Laureates for Groundbreaking Molecular Architectures
In an era when Arab nations are investing heavily in science and technology especially under initiatives such as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 Yaghi’s Nobel Prize is seen as both a personal triumph and a symbolic breakthrough for scientific ambition across the Middle East By Tirana Times Staff | October 8, …
‘No One’s Above the Law’: Albania’s Anti-Graft Prosecutor Leaves Formidable Legacy
As head of Albania’s special anti-graft and organised crime prosecution, Altin Dumani proved no one is ‘untouchable’ anymore. Experts say he set a high bar for his successor. Original post Here
Praise for ‘Hero’ Dictator Hoxha Sparks Outrage in Albania
MPs slammed the Albanian parliament’s administration for sending out an official document listing the country’s Communist-era dictator Enver Hoxha as a ‘hero’. Original post Here
NY Mayor’s Visit Puts Spotlight on Rama’s Foreign Links
By Tirana Times StaffTIRANA — October 7, 2025 The visit of New York City Mayor Eric Adams to Tirana this week at the personal invitation of Prime Minister Edi Rama has reignited scrutiny of the Albanian leader’s expanding network of foreign political connections and associates. Adams’ trip, coming just days …
Judge’s Killing in Courtroom Shakes Albania’s Justice System
By Tirana Times Staff TIRANA, October 7, 2025 — The fatal shooting of Appeals Court Judge Astrit Kalaja inside a courtroom in Tirana on Monday has sent shockwaves across Albania, raising profound questions about the state of justice reform, courtroom security, and the country’s fragile rule of law. Judge Kalaja, …
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
Kosovo, Bulgaria and Turkey have signed the Board of Peace Charter, under Donald Trump’s auspices, but several other Balkan countries are still pondering whether to join the initiative. Original post Here
Balkan countries are continuing to sacrifice their remaining clean river stretches to development and pollution, a new assessment warns. Original post Here
The Bulgarian mystic’s doomy predictions continue to grab headlines in Albania and elsewhere – even though many seem fabricated and sometimes appear to serve Russian geopolitical narratives. Original post Here
Tirana, 21.01.2026 – Research on disability has increasingly moved into the centre of international scientific and policy discussions, reflecting broader debates about inclusion, quality of life and access to public space. Against this wider backdrop, the King Salman Center for Disability Research (KSCDR) has opened nominations for the 4th cycle of …
While Albania’s Edi Rama welcomed an invitation to join Donald Trump’s proposed Board of Peace, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania and Greece merely confirmed that they had received invitations. Original post Here
When the “Choo Choo” Train Never Came It begins with a scene that now feels almost surreal. In 2022, during a staged media event in Tirana, Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku enthusiastically explained to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that the Tirana–Durrës–Rinas railway would be completed by 2024. …
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
The United States has once again issued an unusually clear and public warning about the threat posed by Albanian organized crime groups and their links to Latin American drug cartels, framing the issue not only as a criminal challenge but as a direct risk to Albania’s national security and economic …
As the new year gets off to a cold start in the region, our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories takes a look at the high expectations and sobering realities of what 2026 holds in store. Original post Here
Critics warn of deepening inequality, impunity and potential money-laundering exposure. Tirana Times, January 16,2025 – Albania’s newly adopted “fiscal peace” package framed by the government as a reset of relations between businesses and the tax authorities, has sparked sharp criticism from economists, business associations, the opposition and international observers. Although …