Albania’s TikTok Ban Widely Flouted, Even by Allies of PM
Halfway into a 12-month ban on TikTok in Albania, anecdotal evidence suggests the prohibition is being widely flouted while the government remains silent on promised filters to weed out ‘undesirable’ content. Original post Here
Week in Review: Deadlocks, Unexpected Twists and New Approaches
Our selection of Premium stories this week looks at the challenges facing the region as the summer season winds down and business-as-usual resumes. Original post Here
Kosovo Court Imposes New Ban on Parliament Over Deputy Speaker Logjam
Court again bans MPs from forming institutions deriving from the February elections while it considers a complaint about the failure to elect a deputy speaker from the Serb community, as guaranteed in the constitution. Original post Here
Ambassador Faisal bin Ghazi Hafzi: Saudi Arabia Cultural Week, a Bridge of Communication Between the Two Countries
On the eve of Saudi Arabia’s Cultural Week, which will take place in Tirana from September 16–20 at the Palace of Congresses, the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of Albania, Mr. Faisal bin Ghazi Hafzi, through a press statement, praised this event as …
Dirty Water: Albania’s Polluted Rivers Need Cleaning Now, Activist Says
When Denisa Kasa returned from abroad and saw the state of Albania’s filthy waterways, she was shocked. Now she has formed an independent collective of young people dedicated to the ‘dream of clean rivers’. Original post Here
Saudi Cultural Week to Bring a Taste of Arabia to Tirana
Tirana will soon open its doors to the sights, sounds, and flavors of Arabia. From 16 to 20 September 2025, the Palace of Congresses will transform into a vibrant stage for Saudi Cultural Week, a five-day celebration of art, heritage, and creativity hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Culture. The festival promises to be more …
Iranian Opposition Group’s Stay in Albania Turns Sour
Albania’s hosting of an exiled Iranian opposition group was never likely to be easy. Now it’s under criminal investigation. Original post Here
Week in Review: Tricks and Surprises
Our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week sheds light on police brutality, hidden influence, strained bilateral relations and other turbulent issues across the region. Original post Here
Years After Discovery, Albania’s Roman-Era Mosaics Remain Hidden to Public View
The city of Durres on Albania’s Adriatic coast boasts a fine selection of Roman-era mosaics. But due to a lack of initiative by the local authorities, progress has been slow to preserve them and make them available for the public to view. Original post Here
After Major Wildfires, Albania Warned to Boost Preparedness Urgently
As Mediterranean fire seasons grow in intensity, Albania’s government faces calls to invest in firefighting and reforestation. Original post Here
Greece is increasing efforts to restart talks with Albania on maritime borders. Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias will visit Tirana next week for high-level meetings. He will meet Albanian Defense Minister Ermal Nufi and Prime Minister Edi Rama. The visit aims to revive talks on maritime border delimitation. In October …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania will officially open the final phase of European Union membership negotiations on May 26 in Brussels. He said Albania successfully completed the opening phase of the process. During his weekly remarks, Rama highlighted the discussions between the European Commission and EU member states in …
The Albanian Football Federation took part in the “UEFA Grow for Human Resources and Financial Management” conference in Warsaw. The event brought together representatives from European football federations. The conference focused on human resources and financial management inside football federations. Participants discussed organizational structures, internal processes and strategic planning. They …
Igli Hasani praised Italy’s support for Albania as steady, concrete and sincere. He said the backing extends across Italy’s political spectrum. During an official visit to Rome, Hasani met senior Italian officials. They focused on Albania’s path toward European integration and parliamentary cooperation between the two countries. Hasani met with …
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha thanked U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for honoring Mother Teresa. He praised her as a saint of Albanian origin who left a strong legacy of compassion, humility and service to humanity. In a social media post, Hoxha said Mother Teresa’s life …
Parliamentary Group Chair of the Socialist Party Taulant Balla said Albania’s European Union integration requires continued reforms and strong citizen involvement. He spoke during a discussion with students of the European University of Tirana held at Preza Castle. Balla focused on the progress of reforms and the fulfillment of conditions …
Three young innovators presented their projects on the podcast “Flasim”, hosted by Prime Minister Edi Rama. First, they introduced ideas focused on technology, research and agriculture. Then, they explained how innovation can become industry in Albania. Fabjola presented a self-healing concrete technology. She said the material uses industrial waste. It …
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio paid tribute to the legacy of Mother Teresa during a visit to the Missionaries of Charity. The U.S. Embassy in Tirana shared Rubio’s statement on social media. Rubio said Mother Teresa left an extraordinary legacy of compassion and service. He said he was honored …
The European Union Delegation in Albania has condemned the latest Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine. It said the strikes targeted Kyiv during the night and caused several casualties. It also said the residential complex where the Ambassador of the Republic of Albania in Ukraine lives was hit. The …
The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs summoned the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Tirana, Alexey Zaitsev, to deliver a strong protest. The ministry responded to massive drone and missile attacks overnight in Ukraine. It said the attacks hit the residential complex where …