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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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Dibra stricken by heavy snowfall, drivers urged to use tire chains

Snowfall has covered Dibra since the early hours of Saturday morning. Thickness of the snow in the city of Peshkopia and Bulqiza reaches 10 cm, while in the mountainous areas the thickness is greater, ranging from 15-20 cm. Peshkopi-Tirana road is passable after the snow removal vehicles have passed and …

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Man steals ALL 5000 off Fier shop after breaking glasses

An unidentified person committed a theft in a grocery store in Fier, during the very early hours of this Saturday morning. Incident took place while it was still dark, in the “Apollonia” neighborhood, where the perpetrator broke the windows of the shop and took 5,000 ALL. On its part, the …

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Two apartments burned in Memaliaj building, residents evacuated

A 2-story building was engulfed in flames on “Ali Pashë Tepelena” street in Memaliaj, in the early hours of this Saturday morning.  From the fire on the second floor, 3 apartments were completely burned, while 3 other apartments were partially affected by the flames. Intervention of the fire brigade made …

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Rama: East bus terminal in Tirana fully functional

Prime Minister Edi Rama and Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj have published this Friday morning the images from the East Bus Terminal in the capital, which is already in full operation. Students and citizens, who travel from the east to Tirana and vice versa, will not wait for hours to …

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Criminal event prevented in Tirana, explosives seized

Tirana Police have prevented this Friday a criminal event that would have been carried out with a remote-controlled explosion of explosives. During police operation coded “Brothers”, 20-year-old Jesar Shabaj was arrested and his brother, 23-year-old Jaser Shabaj, is wanted. During the investigative actions, 2 remote-controlled mines with C4 explosives weighing …

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Berisha’s request to participate in plenary sessions rejected

Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) has rejected the request of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha to participate in the plenary sessions in the Assembly, in the capacity of a deputy. After becoming familiar with the content of this request, the prosecutors have decided not to accept it. Berisha’s lawyers argued that …

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Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 2, 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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Balkan Govts Scramble to Safeguard Citizens in Middle East Conflict Zone

Some Balkan countries are planning to evacuate stranded citizens from the conflict zone around Iran, others have already managed to fly people out – although some have only issued security warnings. Original post Here

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Albanians Pay Price of Legal Row over Wastewater Treatment Project

For decades, sewage from the Albanian capital has been discharged untreated into the waters of the Lana River in Tirana. Original post Here

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Albania Aligns With U.S. and Israel on Iran

Albania also voices solidarity with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf partners after Iran’s missile attacks. Tirana Times, March 1, 2026 –   Albania threw its support behind U.S. strikes on Iran in the opening hours of the latest Middle East escalation, with Prime Minister Edi Rama declaring that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary …

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Albania Backs U.S. Strikes on Iran

Kosovo and North Macedonia join support for Washington. Tirana Times, February 28, 2026 – Albania threw its support behind U.S. strikes on Iran on Friday, with Prime Minister Edi Rama declaring that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps should be officially designated a terrorist organization and saying Tirana would move to …

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Albanian Prime Minister Under Pressure Dismisses Deputy Accused of Corruption

After months of defending his deputy and Minister of Infrastructure, Belinda Balluku, who faces allegations of manipulating public tenders, Edi Rama finally dismissed her on Thursday night. Original post Here

News
Week in Review: Trades and Betrayals

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
PM Rama’s Big Shake-Up as SPAK Closes In

Tirana Times, February 26, 2026 – Prime Minister Edi Rama carried out one of the deepest cabinet reshuffles of his fourth term, replacing officials across several of the most powerful ministries in a move that comes as his government faces rising scrutiny, swelling scandal pressure and an intensifying anti-corruption push …

News
Letter from Washington: Buying Friends and Finding Common Foes

As Milorad Dodik comes in from the cold, Albanians impress on Trump that they have an enemy in common. Original post Here

News
Strategic-Sector Governance Under Strain:The Bankers Petroleum Case and China-Linked Risk Exposure in Albania

Tirana Times, February 25 2026 – Domestic governance gaps are the primary entry points through which foreign actors can generate corrosive outcomes in strategic sectors. The Bankers Petroleum illustrates how this happens: when fiscal terms are unclear, cost verification is weak and enforcement is irregular, revenue disputes can last for …

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 2, 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

Balkan Govts Scramble to Safeguard Citizens in Middle East Conflict Zone

Some Balkan countries are planning to evacuate stranded citizens from the conflict zone around Iran, others have already managed to fly people out – although some have only issued security warnings. Original post Here

News

Albanians Pay Price of Legal Row over Wastewater Treatment Project

For decades, sewage from the Albanian capital has been discharged untreated into the waters of the Lana River in Tirana. Original post Here

News

Albania Aligns With U.S. and Israel on Iran

Albania also voices solidarity with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf partners after Iran’s missile attacks. Tirana Times, March 1, 2026 –   Albania threw its support behind U.S. strikes on Iran in the opening hours of the latest Middle East escalation, with Prime Minister Edi Rama declaring that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary …

News

Albania Backs U.S. Strikes on Iran

Kosovo and North Macedonia join support for Washington. Tirana Times, February 28, 2026 – Albania threw its support behind U.S. strikes on Iran on Friday, with Prime Minister Edi Rama declaring that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps should be officially designated a terrorist organization and saying Tirana would move to …

News

Albanian Prime Minister Under Pressure Dismisses Deputy Accused of Corruption

After months of defending his deputy and Minister of Infrastructure, Belinda Balluku, who faces allegations of manipulating public tenders, Edi Rama finally dismissed her on Thursday night. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: Trades and Betrayals

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

PM Rama’s Big Shake-Up as SPAK Closes In

Tirana Times, February 26, 2026 – Prime Minister Edi Rama carried out one of the deepest cabinet reshuffles of his fourth term, replacing officials across several of the most powerful ministries in a move that comes as his government faces rising scrutiny, swelling scandal pressure and an intensifying anti-corruption push …

News

Letter from Washington: Buying Friends and Finding Common Foes

As Milorad Dodik comes in from the cold, Albanians impress on Trump that they have an enemy in common. Original post Here

News

Strategic-Sector Governance Under Strain:The Bankers Petroleum Case and China-Linked Risk Exposure in Albania

Tirana Times, February 25 2026 – Domestic governance gaps are the primary entry points through which foreign actors can generate corrosive outcomes in strategic sectors. The Bankers Petroleum illustrates how this happens: when fiscal terms are unclear, cost verification is weak and enforcement is irregular, revenue disputes can last for …