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Kosovo postpones Serbian dinar ban amid international pressure

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister, Besnik Bislimi, said on Wednesday that a regulation enforcing a euro-only policy for cash payments will enter into force as planned on February 1, while announcing a transition period for local Serbs who still use Serbia’s currency, the dinar. However, Bislimi did not specify how long …

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Elbasan prosecution seizes assets of 2 citizens

In Elbasan, assets worth about 550 thousand euros were seized, as part of the coded police operation “Real Estate” and in implementation of the measures defined in the national operational plan “Rule of Law”. It is suspected that these have their source from the criminal activities of 2 citizens, who …

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GJKKO postpones session for Berisha

 The Special Court did not come out with a decision this Thursday, regarding the complaint of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who requested permission to participate in the sessions in the Assembly. ABC News reporter Ermal Vija reports that the hearing has been postponed and the next one will take …

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Albania’s Constitutional Court clears controversial deal with Italy to host third-country migrants in extraterritorial camps

TIRANA, Jan. 29, 2024 – In a tight 5-4 vote, the Albanian Constitutional Court has ruled that a controversial agreement between Albania and Italy on migrants is “in line” with the country’s constitution, greenlighting the ruling majority to approve the government decisions in parliament.  The ruling came after a group …

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Five arrested for hosting illegal gambling in Tirana

Five people have been handcuffed in Tirana as part of the police operation codenamed “Shady Snake”. They had adapted the premises of some entities for the organization of games of chance, as well as practiced the illegal activity of placing sports bets through mobile phones. During the checks carried out …

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Tirana, four arrested in middle-of-drugs-deal sting operation

Four people were arrested in Tirana as part of the police operation coded “Location”, sic anounced Wednesday. Democrat Dylgjeri, 32 years old, Haziz Zylfa, 23 years old, Vladimir Kani, 23 years old, and Hyxhers Mete, 23 years old, were put in handcuffs after being caught in the act. Police revealed …

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EUR one million assets of former operational police chief seized by SPAK

Special Prosecutor’s Office against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has seized the property worth about 1 million EUR of the former chief of the Operational Police, Oltion Bistri. From the investigations carried out and the evidence administered from the investigation of this proceeding so far, it has been evidenced that …

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Jewelery store robbed in Korca city

A jewellery was robbed in the city of Korça during the early hours of this Wednesday morning. This event happened on the city’s pedestrian street in one of the areas where there are many jewelry stores. According to police sources, it was only a masked person with a hood who …

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Four arrested on drug charges in Fier

Four people were arrested by the Fier police after they were caught selling drugs in different neighborhoods of the city. Persons aged 33, 34, 39 and 41 years, were arrested red-handed in the “Apollonia” neighborhood. From the verifications carried out, it was found that these citizens procured the narcotic substance …

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Tirana, eight arrested on illegal gambling charges

Eight people were arrested in Tirana as part of the police operation coded “Last bet”. They were put in handcuffs after exercising the illegal activity of placing sports bets, through mobile devices. Arrested are Oligert Rozani, Fatjon Spahiu, Ergys Shollo, Bledar Mici, Alban Balliu, Nexhmedin Tola, Ilion Mile and Olsi …

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Belinda Balluku: Albanian PM’s Loyal Ally at Centre of Political Firestorm

The criminal charges facing former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku have dominated headlines in Albania for months – prompting her boss, Edi Rama, to pick a fight with the judiciary. Original post Here

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Parliament Blocks Arrest Bid for Former Deputy Prime Minister Balluku

Shielding Balluku Could Cost Albania More Than a Court Case. Tirana Times, March 09, 2026 – Albania’s ruling Socialist majority moved Monday to block the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, in a decision expected to be ratified by parliament this week and one that is rapidly becoming …

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Albanian Ruling Party Refuses to Support Lifting of Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

Ahead of a vote in parliament on Thursday, the ruling Socialists reject a prosecution request to support lifting the immunity of dismissed former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here

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Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 9, 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

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Do the Balkans really want EU membership?

By Daniel Serwer Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – While all eyes are on the Iran war, subtle but important changes are taking place with respect to the Balkans. I think the two most important are these: The Trump Administration is abandoning state-building and instead wants local people to make the basic …

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Marx on the Beach

By Zef Preci Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – Two centuries ago, Karl Marx offered a blunt description of how capitalism is sometimes born and consolidated: through what he called “primitive accumulation,” a historical process—often violent—by which people are separated from their land and productive assets, while wealth is concentrated …

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Week in Review: Friends, Foes and Chocolate Thieves

From European Union accession hopes to ongoing corruption investigations, our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the political wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes in the region. Original post Here

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The Biblical Dog and our chances for full EU membership 

by Genc Pollo Let’s start with the dog. “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly,” says the Old Testament (Proverbs 26:11), offering a blunt metaphor for stupidity and the stubborn repetition of mistakes. That proverbial dog may be the right analogy for Prime Minister Edi …

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Albania Must Not Mirror Serbia’s EU Rejection

By Augustin Palokaj Tirana Times, March 03 2026 – EU enlargement does not lack ideas; it lacks political will. That is why the recent joint opinion piece by Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, published in the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, is troubling not so …

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Share Your Experience: Child Support Payments After Divorce in the Balkans, France

Do you live in the Balkans or France, and have you been awarded child support payments after divorce? Was the process easy – and did you receive the money as the court ordered? Original post Here

News

Belinda Balluku: Albanian PM’s Loyal Ally at Centre of Political Firestorm

The criminal charges facing former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku have dominated headlines in Albania for months – prompting her boss, Edi Rama, to pick a fight with the judiciary. Original post Here

News

Parliament Blocks Arrest Bid for Former Deputy Prime Minister Balluku

Shielding Balluku Could Cost Albania More Than a Court Case. Tirana Times, March 09, 2026 – Albania’s ruling Socialist majority moved Monday to block the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, in a decision expected to be ratified by parliament this week and one that is rapidly becoming …

News

Albanian Ruling Party Refuses to Support Lifting of Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

Ahead of a vote in parliament on Thursday, the ruling Socialists reject a prosecution request to support lifting the immunity of dismissed former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 9, 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

Do the Balkans really want EU membership?

By Daniel Serwer Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – While all eyes are on the Iran war, subtle but important changes are taking place with respect to the Balkans. I think the two most important are these: The Trump Administration is abandoning state-building and instead wants local people to make the basic …

News

Marx on the Beach

By Zef Preci Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – Two centuries ago, Karl Marx offered a blunt description of how capitalism is sometimes born and consolidated: through what he called “primitive accumulation,” a historical process—often violent—by which people are separated from their land and productive assets, while wealth is concentrated …

News

Week in Review: Friends, Foes and Chocolate Thieves

From European Union accession hopes to ongoing corruption investigations, our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the political wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes in the region. Original post Here

News

The Biblical Dog and our chances for full EU membership 

by Genc Pollo Let’s start with the dog. “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly,” says the Old Testament (Proverbs 26:11), offering a blunt metaphor for stupidity and the stubborn repetition of mistakes. That proverbial dog may be the right analogy for Prime Minister Edi …

News

Albania Must Not Mirror Serbia’s EU Rejection

By Augustin Palokaj Tirana Times, March 03 2026 – EU enlargement does not lack ideas; it lacks political will. That is why the recent joint opinion piece by Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, published in the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, is troubling not so …

News

Share Your Experience: Child Support Payments After Divorce in the Balkans, France

Do you live in the Balkans or France, and have you been awarded child support payments after divorce? Was the process easy – and did you receive the money as the court ordered? Original post Here