Fier apartment engulfed by flames
A fire broke out during the night on the 9th floor of a multi-storey building in the “Apollonia” neighborhood in the city of Fier. Flames are suspected to have started as a result of an electrical spark, while there was only one elderly person with vision problems in the apartment. …
Minister Hasani calls on Serbia to not send army in border with Kosovo
Albania’s Foreign Minister, Igli Hasani underlined Tuesday that Serbia should give up actions such as sending the army to the border with Kosovo. In the conference with counterpart Donika Gërvalla, he was asked about the risk of other attacks like the one that happened in Banjska a few months ago, …
RENEA’s action to arrest Eljon Hatos fails
ENEA forces and those of the police of Shkodra have carried out a surprise control in a residence in the village of Grudë in Shkodra in search of Eljon Hato, declared wanted for the “Metamorfoza” file, also known as a friend of Ervis Martinaj. Controls were carried out in his …
Minister for public administration and anticorruption decreed
President Bajram Begaj has decreed the appointment of Adea Pirden as the head of the Ministry of State for Public Administration and Anticorruption. This decision has come few days after Prime Minister Edi Rama proposed the approval of the new member of the government cabinet to head this newly created …
Three cars collide in Fushe-Preze, one dead and three seriously injured
A fatal accident occurred on Monday morning at the turn of Rinas in the direction of Fushë-Kruja. The police announce that a “Benz” type vehicle, a “Skoda” and a “Volvo” truck collided with each other, as a result of which one person lost his life and three others were seriously …
President Begaj’s message 25 years after Recak massacre
President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj commemorated this Monday the massacre of Recak, which happened on January 15, 1999 in Kosovo. Through a post on social networks, Begaj underlined that the memory of the Reçak massacre is a strong motive to protect peace, security, freedom and human dignity from any …
Newest MP to swear in during plenary session
Plarent Ndreca will be the newest MP in the Parliament of Albania, taking the place of former Vice Prime Minister and Minister Arben Ahmetaj. Head of the Central Elections Commission (CEC), Ilirjan Celibashi, made the decision to give him the mandate, and then he will be sworn in at the …
Minister Hasani in regional tour for deepening of COOP
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, will conduct a 3-day regional tour on January 16-18: Kosovo – North Macedonia – Montenegro. Kosovo will be the first stop, where Minister Hasani will be met by homologation Donika Gërvalla, with whom there will also be a press conference, to continue …
Emigration is top economic risk to Albania, says EBRD head
TIRANA, Jan. 14, 2024 – A potential deepening demographic crisis due to the increased emigration of young people is one of the top economic risks Albania faces, according to the head of the European Bank for Development in Albania EBRD’s Ekaterina Solovova emphasized this week the need for concerted efforts …
Albania government reshuffle leaves experts puzzled
TIRANA, Jan. 14, 2024 – Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has revealed the latest in a series of changes to his cabinet, reshaping two ministries and establishing a new one. The changes feature the establishment of a ministry dedicated to fighting corruption, and a puzzling merging of the economy and …
Forty-one environmental organisations from 28 countries have called for a halt to the planned development by Jared Kushner of Albania’s Sazan island as a luxury resort, saying it threatens the valuable biodiversity of the area. 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