Minister: New law on tourism approved
Minister Kumbaro announced this Thursday the approval of the new law on tourism. At the end of the meeting of the council of ministers, Kumbaro said that the 2015 law did not respond to the reality and the new dynamics that tourism suffered last year. “Today, at the first meeting …
Navigating Challenges in Rehabilitating Violent Extremist Inmates: A Multilayered Approach to Prison Reform
By Denion Meidani “Prison continues, on those who are entrusted to it, a work begun elsewhere, which the whole of society pursues on each individual through innumerable mechanisms of discipline.” – Michel Foucault Globally, there is a concerning surge in incarceration rates, with around 12 million individuals currently behind bars. …
Families of 28 dead in 9 Jan 2004 tragedy seek reinvestigation
Family members of the 28 people who died in the tragedy of January 9, 2004 in Karaburun have again requested an investigation into this serious event, also demanding the punishment of those responsible. In a short statement, Ndoc Bjeshka emphasized that it has been 20 years since they took the …
Fier Cocaine dealer arrested
A 30-year-old man was arrested by Fier police after being caught with doses of cocaine that he had prepared to deal. During physical checks and in the apartment, the Police services found and seized from this citizen, a quantity of the narcotic substance cocaine, divided into doses, with the purpose …
Operations against organized crimes, Balla: 30 arrested in 24 hours
The Minister of the Interior, Taulant Balla, has reacted regarding security in the country. Through a status on Facebook, Balla states that only during the last 24 hours, 30 citizens from different cities in the country have been arrested and prosecuted. “30 citizens arrested/processed during the last 24 hours in …
The murder of the young man in Vlora, the perpetrator is suspected to be a contract killer
New details have been revealed from the execution of the 23-year-old in Vlora. Journalist Elton Nika told ABC News that Gezim Sinomati was allegedly shot from the back seat of the car at a distance of about 34-40 meters. The 23-year-old was shot by a sniper from a “BMW” type …
Robbery, drugs and accidents, 12 arrested in Tirana
At least 12 citizens have been arrested for various criminal offences. According to the Tirana Police, narcotics were found in vehicles during checks carried out on the main roads. Several people have also been arrested for robbery. So the procedural materials were passed to the Prosecutor’s Office at the Court …
Who are 5 arrested for beating three Albanians in Montenegro
Names of 3 of the 5 arrested in Montenegro for violence against 3 Albanians have been revealed this Monday. According to the Montenegrin Police, the arrested are Branko Vuksanovic, Sergej Devic and Kosto DunCerovic. All these people live in Zelenika, exactly in the neighborhood where the incident happened. Based on …
Infrastructure Minister releases report of 2023, what’s expected in 2024
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku, made this Monday the balance of the year 2023, while she said that important infrastructure works are expected to be completed during this year. During a conference, Minister Balluku listed the Llogara Tunnel, the Thumanë-Kashar axis as well as …
Ten accompanied to police after Vlora sniper assassination
Ten people have been accompanied to the police of Vlora until this Monday morning in connection with the incident that happened on Sunday evening around 10:00 p.m. where a 23-year-old man was killed. A single bullet to the head is believed to have taken his life. Sources from the police …
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