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 …
Opposition Protests as Corruption Case Deepens Political Crisis
The crisis deepens as the government shields Deputy PM Balluku and a criminal network emerges in AKSHI Tirana Times, January 25, 2026 – Albania’s main opposition party returned to the streets on Saturday with a second national protest against Prime Minister Edi Rama, challenging the legitimacy of his fourth term …
Environmentalists Urge Suspension of Kushner Island Resort Project in Albania
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, Turkey Join Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’
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
‘Worrying’ Loss of Pristine Rivers in Balkans Highlighted by Study
Balkan countries are continuing to sacrifice their remaining clean river stretches to development and pollution, a new assessment warns. Original post Here
‘Balkan Nostradamus’: Baba Vanga’s Visions Still Flood Albania’s Media Landscape
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
King Salman Center Launches Fourth Cycle of International Disability Research Prize
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 …
Albania to Join Trump Peace Board, Other Balkan Countries Silent
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
Brussels Freezes Albania’s Digital Funds?
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. …
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: January 19, 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
Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania has entered the final stage of its European journey. He called it the most important moment in the country’s path toward the European Union. First, Rama spoke in episode 21 of season six of the podcast FLASIM. He reviewed the main events of the …
Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani Hoxha, met Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti on Sunday. First, they discussed practical steps to deepen cooperation between Albania and Kosovo. They said strong political ties should bring more direct results for citizens in both countries. Next, Hoxha said they stressed …
Albania’s Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha began his first official visit to Kosovo on Sunday. First, he met Albulena Haxhiu, Speaker of Parliament and acting president of Kosovo. Hoxha wished Haxhiu success in her constitutional duties. He also praised her role in protecting democratic standards and supporting the work of institutions. …
Prime Minister Edi Rama on Sunday honored former volleyball player and coach Kreshnik Tartari and praised his outstanding contribution to Albanian sport. Rama shared a message on social media after Tartari passed away at the age of 83. He called Tartari a legend of Albanian sport and praised his years …
KF Egnatia secured the Abissnet Superiore title on Saturday night, winning the Albanian championship for a third consecutive season. Egnatia defeated FC Dinamo City 2–0 at Elbasan Arena to seal the title. The Rrogozhinë side scored both goals in the first half. Albaneze opened the scoring from the penalty spot …
Glauk Konjufca, First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kosovo, said that coordination between Kosovo and Albania is a natural and smooth process in international relations. He made the remarks during a joint press conference in Prishtina together with Albania’s Foreign Minister Igli Hasani Hoxha. First, Konjufca emphasized that …
Ferit Hoxha said Albania will not tolerate any violation of Kosovo’s security during his first official visit to Kosovo in his current role. He made the statement during a joint press conference in Prishtina with Kosovo Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca. First, Hoxha described Albania and Kosovo as a strategic partnership …
Prime Minister Edi Rama described May 26 as a historic date, as Albania completed the phase of opening the chapters of its EU accession negotiations and entered the final phase of closing them. Speaking on his podcast “Flasim” (“Let’s Talk”), Rama said that this achievement represents a certification of the …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–header-height)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”cad5cd8e-5b87-40b2-8f87-a6827d2c76d0″ data-turn-id-container=”cad5cd8e-5b87-40b2-8f87-a6827d2c76d0″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-11″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”user”> Just 15 kilometers from the city of Pogradec, the village of Peshkëpia is experiencing some of the most difficult years in its history. *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:0981fa6a-3e79-4791-b704-0147d0641e3c-5″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:0981fa6a-3e79-4791-b704-0147d0641e3c-5″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-12″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> Once home to around 800 residents, the …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:0981fa6a-3e79-4791-b704-0147d0641e3c-1″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:0981fa6a-3e79-4791-b704-0147d0641e3c-1″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-4″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> “Kosovo is a priority of Albania’s foreign policy,” declared Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, in Pristina alongside his counterpart, Glauk Konjufca. “Kosovo is an absolute priority of our foreign policy. It is a clear and unchanging …