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Berisha’s son summoned at Special Court for Gerdec case

Son of Former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, Shkëlzen Berisha, like his father, will face the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO) this Wednesday. Hearing for the Gërdeci case will be held at 09:00 and will be judged by judge Irena Gjoka. GJKKO has called the son of the …

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Special Court to impose arrest measure in former PM Berisha

Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO) will decide this Thursday the measure of arrest for former Prime Minister Sali Berisha. Special Prosecution (SPAK) sent a request to the court to replace the mandatory security measure with house arrest. Request was filed on Friday, and judge Irena Gjoka is …

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Lushnja mall’s fire extinguished after about ten hours

“Metropol” shopping center in the city of Lushnja was engulfed in flames on Monday, and it took the firefighters about ten hours to extinguish the flames. Firefighters and other rescue teams fought the flames for about ten hours, making it possible to extinguish them and evacuate the citizens, who had …

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Rama: Over ten million tourists entered Albania until Christmas evening

Oer 10 million foreign tourists have entered Albania until Monday evening. This figure was announced by Prime Minister Edi Rama through a reaction on his official Facebook page. Furthermore, Prime Minister Rama said that this figure was unimaginable years ago, but nowadays it is an achieved objective. “Together with Christmas, …

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Wanted Ervis Martinaj’s brother-in-law’s assets seized by SPAK

Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has confiscated 15 assets of Arben Kaçorri and his family members. Kaçorri is the brother-in-law of Ervis Martinaj, who is missing for quite some time now. List of seized assets includes apartments, garages on the main streets of Tirana, …

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The hearing session for former P.M Sali Berisha is postponed

The court session in charge of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha is postponed. The reason was the request of the defense lawyers, who asked more time, to familiarize themselves with the documents and evidence presented by the Prosecutor’s Office. On Wednesday, at 11:00, a hearing session will be held in …

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Christian believers celebrate christmas throughout Albania

Catholic and Orthodox believers all over the world celebrate the holiday of Christmas, while praying for more prosperity, health and prosperity in their family bosom. As in any other country, in Albanian believers light candles and pray for health. In the “Resurrection of Christ” Cathedral in Tirana, this Monday morning …

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Dibra man arrested after stealing car in Tirana

A 42-year-old man from Dibra was arrested this Monday after a few days ago he stole a vehicle in Tirana. After stealing it, the man sent the car to his service station in the village of Gjoricë in Dibra. Along with the 42-year-old, a minor, who is suspected of being …

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Drunk teen falls to death off ninth floor hotel room

An 18-year-old from the city of Durres killed himself this Monday morning. ABC News journalist Roland Beqiraj reports that the young man threw himself from the 9th floor of the building in the terminal area. According to preliminary information, it is reported that the 18-year-old had come to party with …

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Shooting at Fier barber shop solved

The authorities have disclosed the event of Sunday in Fier where a business, which was operating as a barber shop, was shot with a firearm. According to the police, one of the perpetrators was arrested, while efforts are being made to capture another. Specifically, Nikola Muçi (Mahmutaj) was arrested and …

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Week in Review: Commitment, Stasis and the Epstein Effect

An unfolding scandal of global proportions combines with eventful developments in the region in our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week. Original post Here

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Kosovo, Albania Parliaments Adopt Resolutions Seeking Justice for Thaci

MPs in both Kosovo and Albania on Thursday adopted declarations in support of the four former guerilla KLA leaders, including Thaci, whose trial for war crimes in The Hague is coming to an end. Original post Here

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Actress Sues Albanian Govt for Using Her Image for AI ‘Minister’

Actress Anila Bisha told BIRN that her image was used as the face of Albania’s AI-generated public procurements ‘minister’ without proper permission. Original post Here

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Albania’s AI Facade Cracks While Neighbors Win EU Funds

Tirana Times, February 10, 2026 – Serbia and North Macedonia have secured concrete European Union funding to integrate into Europe’s emerging artificial intelligence infrastructure, while Albania—despite high-profile political messaging around AI—has been left outside the first wave of financed projects. According to the latest map and project list published by …

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Behind Albania’s Collapsing Roads: Clientelism and Corruption

Tirana Times, February 12 2026 – The rapid deterioration of newly inaugurated roads and tunnels across Albania has exposed far more than technical shortcomings. What authorities have sought to explain as weather-related damage is increasingly understood as a symptom of deeper governance failures rooted in clientelism, weak oversight, and systemic …

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Solar Energy Revolution Comes at a Cost in Rural Albania

Photovoltaic parks are multiplying across Albania as the country aims for ‘energy sovereignty’ – but locals say losing agricultural land to solar panels is a blow to their livelihoods. Original post Here

News
Albania’s TikTok Ban Expires, But Promised Protections Still Pending

As a one-year ban ends, Albanian authorities say they are still working with TikTok on ‘relevant filters’ to better protect young users of the video-sharing app. Original post Here

News
Letter From Brussels: The Epstein Effect Hits Europe

In her latest monthly dispatch from Brussels, Gjeraqina Tuhina looks at the ripple-effects of the Jeffrey Epstein saga, while Serbia falls behind on the long march to EU accession. Original post Here

News
Opposition Takes to the Streets as Corruption Scandal Reaches the Heart of Power

Tirana Times, February 10, 2026 – Thousands of Albanians filled the streets of Tirana on Tuesday evening in a national protest called by the opposition Democratic Party, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, the dismissal of his government, and the establishment of a technical cabinet to lead the …

News
Balkans Seeing ‘Serious Stagnation’ in Tackling Corruption: Transparency International

As Transparency International releases its latest corruption perception index, the watchdog’s Lidija Prokic tells BIRN that anti-graft drives have faltered across the Western Balkans – in Serbia especially. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: Commitment, Stasis and the Epstein Effect

An unfolding scandal of global proportions combines with eventful developments in the region in our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week. Original post Here

News

Kosovo, Albania Parliaments Adopt Resolutions Seeking Justice for Thaci

MPs in both Kosovo and Albania on Thursday adopted declarations in support of the four former guerilla KLA leaders, including Thaci, whose trial for war crimes in The Hague is coming to an end. Original post Here

News

Actress Sues Albanian Govt for Using Her Image for AI ‘Minister’

Actress Anila Bisha told BIRN that her image was used as the face of Albania’s AI-generated public procurements ‘minister’ without proper permission. Original post Here

News

Albania’s AI Facade Cracks While Neighbors Win EU Funds

Tirana Times, February 10, 2026 – Serbia and North Macedonia have secured concrete European Union funding to integrate into Europe’s emerging artificial intelligence infrastructure, while Albania—despite high-profile political messaging around AI—has been left outside the first wave of financed projects. According to the latest map and project list published by …

News

Behind Albania’s Collapsing Roads: Clientelism and Corruption

Tirana Times, February 12 2026 – The rapid deterioration of newly inaugurated roads and tunnels across Albania has exposed far more than technical shortcomings. What authorities have sought to explain as weather-related damage is increasingly understood as a symptom of deeper governance failures rooted in clientelism, weak oversight, and systemic …

News

Solar Energy Revolution Comes at a Cost in Rural Albania

Photovoltaic parks are multiplying across Albania as the country aims for ‘energy sovereignty’ – but locals say losing agricultural land to solar panels is a blow to their livelihoods. Original post Here

News

Albania’s TikTok Ban Expires, But Promised Protections Still Pending

As a one-year ban ends, Albanian authorities say they are still working with TikTok on ‘relevant filters’ to better protect young users of the video-sharing app. Original post Here

News

Letter From Brussels: The Epstein Effect Hits Europe

In her latest monthly dispatch from Brussels, Gjeraqina Tuhina looks at the ripple-effects of the Jeffrey Epstein saga, while Serbia falls behind on the long march to EU accession. Original post Here

News

Opposition Takes to the Streets as Corruption Scandal Reaches the Heart of Power

Tirana Times, February 10, 2026 – Thousands of Albanians filled the streets of Tirana on Tuesday evening in a national protest called by the opposition Democratic Party, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, the dismissal of his government, and the establishment of a technical cabinet to lead the …

News

Balkans Seeing ‘Serious Stagnation’ in Tackling Corruption: Transparency International

As Transparency International releases its latest corruption perception index, the watchdog’s Lidija Prokic tells BIRN that anti-graft drives have faltered across the Western Balkans – in Serbia especially. Original post Here