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Op/Ed: 2.3 million Palestinians from Gaza to Albania!

Biting satire by LUTFI DERVISHI One of the world’s most complicated conflicts, the Arab-Israeli conflict, could be resolved by Albania. It’s not just about offering ideas, which we’ve never lacked, but it’s about a practical solution: Europeanizing the Palestinians. Albania can offer that 2.3 million Palestinians from Gaza come and …

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Op/Ed: Is the controversial Albania-Italy deal an anti-migration publicity stunt?

By ANDI BALLA  The recent Albania-Italy bilateral deal aimed at processing irregular migrants and refugees rescued in the Mediterranean in camps within Albanian territory under Italian extraterritorial jurisdiction has sparked intense debate in both countries and beyond.  However, a closer examination of the deal reveals some critical points that call …

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EC report on Albania based on EU’s political agenda, economic convergence

European Union Ambassador in Tirana, Luigi Soreca and Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku introduced this Thursday the European Commission Report for Albania 2023. During his speech, Soreca stated that this package of the European Commission Report is based on two very important political developments, such as the expansion of the …

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Deputy PM comments migration agreement signed by government

Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku has commented on the agreement signed by the Albanian government with the Italian state for the establishment of two camps in Lezhë for housing immigrants. Balluku said that Albanian politicians deal with the skin colour of the immigrants who will be temporarily sheltered in Albania, …

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3-year-old hit by teacher, two police officers prosecuted

Two police officers have been criminally prosecuted, who are suspected of not having carried out full investigative actions to bring to justice the persons who violated the 3-year-old girl in the premises of the “Stinët” kindergarten. Deputy commissioner Ylli Cako, with the duty of Chief of the Crime Investigation Section, …

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Statement of Albanian’s sister that got shot dead in carpenter’s shop

Desara Myrtaj, sister of the 34-year-old Albanian Klaudio Myrtaj who was shot in the head a few days ago in Cuneo, Italy, has spoken about this serious event. In a statement to the Italian media, the 29-year-old confessed that she talked to her brother every day and that she had …

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Forensic report on child that got violated in nursery released

Institute of Forensic Medicine has performed the expert examination for the 3-year-old girl who was raped a few days ago by a teacher in a private kindergarten in Tirana. Examination was carried out on Wednesday, November 8, and on the same day it was sent to the Prosecutor’s Office of …

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Young mother kept under police custody after abandoning newborn

A 30-year-old mother who abandoned her child in the basement of a building in the Yzberisht area is being kept under police custody. According to Article 124, “abandonment of minor children”, when the offense has caused serious damage to the child’s health or death, is punishable by imprisonment from three …

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Majority votes draft laws amid chaos

Speaker of the Assembly, Lindita Nikolla, started this Thursday the voting of several draft laws and agreements amid the chaos of the session. MP of the Socialist Party (SP), Ermonela Felaj, demanded the overthrow of several draft laws proposed by the opposition. With 75 votes against, all opposition proposals were …

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Kukes, man arrested after punching bank director

A 41-year-old man from Kosovo was arrested this Wednesday in Kukës, during the police operation codenamed “Office”. This citizen punched the director of a bank in the city, because of his duty, and then left the bank. After being stopped by the Police, during the control of his vehicle, 16,813 …

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Clan Capitalism: Albania’s Privileged Investors and Their Seaside Villas

Instead of stimulating investment in agriculture or energy, critics say a 2015 ‘special law’ on strategic investment in Albania has simply made it easier and more profitable for certain privileged businesspeople to build luxury villas on the coast. Original post Here

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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

News
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

News
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

News
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 …

News
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

News
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 …

News
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

News
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

News
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

News

Clan Capitalism: Albania’s Privileged Investors and Their Seaside Villas

Instead of stimulating investment in agriculture or energy, critics say a 2015 ‘special law’ on strategic investment in Albania has simply made it easier and more profitable for certain privileged businesspeople to build luxury villas on the coast. Original post Here

News

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

News

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

News

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

News

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 …

News

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

News

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 …

News

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

News

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

News

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