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Police director: 273 arrested in ‘Temple’ Mega-Operation

The General Director of the police, Muhamet Rrumbullaku, held a press conference regarding the ‘Temple 2’ operation developed throughout the country, where he gave even more details about the arrests and the checks carried out. From the operation that, according to Rrumbullaku, started in December last year, it is known …

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Javelins for Kosovo, Black Hawks for Albania, U.S. reinforces military defense, as experts worry about the future

TIRANA, Jan. 22, 2024 – As tensions in Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina continue, and with worries of Russian meddling, there has been an increase of investment in the defense of staunchest U.S. allies in the Western Balkans — both Kosovo and NATO member Albania.   Last week, the United States approved a …

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Couple of swiss hikers stranded in Korab mountain

A couple of Swiss tourists were stranded near Sorokoli in Mount Korabi, as announced Monday.  According to the authorities, the tourists left yesterday afternoon and could not return. In advance, it is suspected that they were trapped by an avalanche.  Police of Dibra and the force from Tirana immediately went …

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Permet, rock falls on young man while in house

A young man was trapped in his apartment this Monday morning in Permet, after a rock mass slid down the mountain and fell into the 25-year-old’s house. As a result, the 25-year-old man was trapped in the apartment, and part of the rock mass caught his lower limbs and made …

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New details on 21 January 2011 protest killings’ investigation

Prosecutor’s Office of Tirana has given this Monday new details regarding the ongoing investigations into the case of January 21, where four people were killed, namely, Ziver Veizi, Faik Myrtaj, Hekuran Deda and Aleks Nika. In the official response, it is emphasized that as a function of the conducted investigations, …

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PM Rama’s message to Balkan leaders

“We are not the best, but we deserve integration”, said Prime Minister Edi Rama in his speech at the Balkan summit in Skopje. “I would like to thank the US undersecretary, our friends. With this, O’Brien emphasizes the importance that this initiative has, not only for our countries, but for …

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Two injured in Tirana by falling scaffold near under-construction building

A serious event has been recorded this Moday on “Gjergj Fishta” Boulevard in Tirana, where the scaffolding of a building under construction collapsed.As a result, two passers-by were injured, namely a 70-year-old and a 45-year-old. At the time being, the two injured are in the hospital, under the care of …

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Why Albania sees Kosovo as an Autonomous Province of hers

The article below was first published on Feb. 26, 2020 in the Tirana Observatory. Many of the issues affecting the Albania-Kosovo relationship remain the same since then, albeit new issues have risen to add fuel to previous disagreements. It is part of a book authored  by Albert Rakipi, “Albania and …

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Op/Ed: The Future of Europe – Assuming Responsibility with Courage

By Karl von Habsburg In mid-December last year, a friend from Ukraine paid a visit to Vienna. Ihor Zhaloba, a historian from Chernivtsi, a university professor, a member of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, co-chairman of the Austrian-Ukrainian Historical Commission, President of the Pan-European Union of Ukraine, and: soldier. Three …

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Tirana, two arrested after embezzling EUR 10,000 off employer

Two people were arrested in Tirana in the framework of the police operation coded “All in”, as informed this Saturday. They were put in handcuffs after, in different periods of time, they stole the amount of EUR 10,000 from a company where they were employed, in the “Ali Demi” neighborhood. …

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Albania and the Balkans in the Epstein Files

Tirana Times, 01 February 2026 – The release of more than three million pages of documents linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case by the United States Department of Justice has expanded the scope of one of the most disturbing scandals of the past decade far beyond the United States. The …

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Week in Review: Plots, Twists and Chaos

Expecting the unexpected seems to be the name of the game in both global politics and the domestic politics of the region, as 2026 kicks off with a few unexpected twists. Original post Here

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Unlikely Friendship: Albanian PM Eyes Potential Gains From Israel Alliance

Critics accused Edi Rama of overlooking Palestinian suffering during his recent visit to Israel. But both he and his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, see advantages in a closer relationship. Original post Here

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Elbasan County Council Honors Saudi Ambassador for Humanitarian Contributions

Tirana Times, January 29, 2026 – This Tuesday, the Elbasan County Council has formally honored the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Albania, Faisal Ghazi Al-Hafthi, in recognition of his humanitarian engagement and his contribution to strengthening bilateral relations at the local level. The ceremony, held in Elbasan, …

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Albania’s EU Progress ‘Says More About Brussels Than Tirana’

Albania has opened every negotiation ‘cluster’ as it races along the road to EU accession, but who should get the credit – Edi Rama’s government? Anti-graft prosecutors? Or even Vladimir Putin? Original post Here

News
How a Balkan Wind Farm Aids US National Security

Energy suppliers in southeastern Europe are heavily politicized and sometimes nefarious. The US can aid democratic stability through energy engagement. By David J. Kostelancik When Congress passed the Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act as part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), it sent a clear signal: energy security in Southeastern …

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Albanian Law Only Partially Decriminalising Defamation Disappoints Media Groups

New changes to the Albanian criminal code that only partially abolish defamation as an offence have been criticised by media freedom organisations, citing concerns over freedom of speech. Original post Here

News
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: January 26, 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
A Case of Theatrical Diplomacy

Tirana Times, January 26, 2026 – Albania’s attempted entry into the Peace Board has become a revealing episode, not because of the significance of the initiative itself, but because of the way Albania’s leadership chose to stage and communicate it domestically. The Peace Board represents a new and ambitious international …

News
Albania Joins the Peace Board

Tirana Times, January 25, 2026 – Albania has joined the Peace Board, a newly established international mechanism initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at overseeing peace agreements and post-conflict stabilization efforts, with an initial focus on the Gaza Strip. The Peace Board was formally launched during the World Economic …

News

Albania and the Balkans in the Epstein Files

Tirana Times, 01 February 2026 – The release of more than three million pages of documents linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case by the United States Department of Justice has expanded the scope of one of the most disturbing scandals of the past decade far beyond the United States. The …

News

Week in Review: Plots, Twists and Chaos

Expecting the unexpected seems to be the name of the game in both global politics and the domestic politics of the region, as 2026 kicks off with a few unexpected twists. Original post Here

News

Unlikely Friendship: Albanian PM Eyes Potential Gains From Israel Alliance

Critics accused Edi Rama of overlooking Palestinian suffering during his recent visit to Israel. But both he and his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, see advantages in a closer relationship. Original post Here

News

Elbasan County Council Honors Saudi Ambassador for Humanitarian Contributions

Tirana Times, January 29, 2026 – This Tuesday, the Elbasan County Council has formally honored the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Albania, Faisal Ghazi Al-Hafthi, in recognition of his humanitarian engagement and his contribution to strengthening bilateral relations at the local level. The ceremony, held in Elbasan, …

News

Albania’s EU Progress ‘Says More About Brussels Than Tirana’

Albania has opened every negotiation ‘cluster’ as it races along the road to EU accession, but who should get the credit – Edi Rama’s government? Anti-graft prosecutors? Or even Vladimir Putin? Original post Here

News

How a Balkan Wind Farm Aids US National Security

Energy suppliers in southeastern Europe are heavily politicized and sometimes nefarious. The US can aid democratic stability through energy engagement. By David J. Kostelancik When Congress passed the Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act as part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), it sent a clear signal: energy security in Southeastern …

News

Albanian Law Only Partially Decriminalising Defamation Disappoints Media Groups

New changes to the Albanian criminal code that only partially abolish defamation as an offence have been criticised by media freedom organisations, citing concerns over freedom of speech. Original post Here

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: January 26, 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

A Case of Theatrical Diplomacy

Tirana Times, January 26, 2026 – Albania’s attempted entry into the Peace Board has become a revealing episode, not because of the significance of the initiative itself, but because of the way Albania’s leadership chose to stage and communicate it domestically. The Peace Board represents a new and ambitious international …

News

Albania Joins the Peace Board

Tirana Times, January 25, 2026 – Albania has joined the Peace Board, a newly established international mechanism initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at overseeing peace agreements and post-conflict stabilization efforts, with an initial focus on the Gaza Strip. The Peace Board was formally launched during the World Economic …