2024 budget approved despite chaos in parliament
2024 budget has been approved this Thursday morning with 74 votes in favor, while the session closes after 8 minutes due to the tensions. At the launch of today’s plenary session, the opposition MPs clashed with the Guard of the Republic, which has been put on standby to ensure the …
40 arrested, 50 prosecuted in operation against illegal gambling
Cybercrime in Tirana’s Police Department has arrested at least 40 people and has proceeded with 50 others at large. These measures have been taken as part of the operation launched on Wednesday evening against gambling. ABC News journalist Ervin Leka reports that the police action has been extended to all …
Former PM Berisha’s son summoned by court for Gerdec file
Court summoned this Thursday Shkëlzen Berisha, the son of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, to testify in the process for the Gerdeci file. In today’s session, together with Shkëlzen Berisha, the court decided to call former minister Aldo Bumci as a witness. Today’s session was postponed due to the absence …
Man accused of involvement in former cop’s assassination denies knowing him
Blendi Teta, a person who is accused of having knowledge about the murder of ex-policeman Santiago Malko on August 27, 2019, testified this Wednesday in the court process in charge of Leonard and Elis Duka, Fatmir Hysen, Oltion Logut, Aleksandër Manxhak and Dritan Agaj. Teta answered the questions of the …
Rama: Albania needs luxury tourism
Prime Minister Edi Rama declared this Wednesday that Albania needs luxury tourism, so that the income of ordinary people in the country can have a greater income. In his speech during the presentation of the three finalist ideas of the International Competition of the Multifunctional Center and Information Stations for …
Man that provided ammo, bulletproof vests to criminals busted in Shkodra
A base with illegal materials, which would be used for criminal events, was found in Shkodër, the Police announced this Wednesday. Among the items seized were 7 bulletproof vests, 2 pairs of gloves, 3 masks, 2 wigs, combat ammunition, 1 metal shell, 1 shotgun and other illegal items, as well …
Rama-Meloni deal, opposition MPs hampered blocked commission
Opposition MPs have blocked the work in the Security Committee this Wednesday, where the discussion on the agreement with Italy for immigrants was expected to start. Members of Parliament did not allow the start of the meeting, while the democrat Flamur Noka sat in the chair of the commission. After …
Man who stalked, abused young woman arrested in Tirana
A person was arrested this Wednesday morning in Tirana during the “Following” coded police operation. This citizen, 33 years old, a resident of Lushnje, stalked a 24-year-old woman, abused her and threatened her to withdraw the report she filed against him a few days ago. His arrest was made by …
Deputy Mayor of Kukes suspended on corruption charges
Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) suspended this Wednesday the deputy mayor of Kukes Municipality, Granit Gjana, on the charge of violation of tenders equality. According to SPAK, Ghana, in violation of the law, did not provide an authorization for the use of fuels to an entity competing for a tender worth …
Cocaine smuggler arrested in North Macedonia-Albania border
A 59-year-old man was arrested in Blata, on the border with North Macedonia, as part of the “Border” police operation, a follow-up to the “Temple” coded mega-operation. Rami Çela carried out the activity of distributing cocaine in the city of Peshkopia, near schools and in various premises. Based on police …
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
Balkan countries are continuing to sacrifice their remaining clean river stretches to development and pollution, a new assessment warns. Original post Here
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
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 …
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
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. …
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
The United States has once again issued an unusually clear and public warning about the threat posed by Albanian organized crime groups and their links to Latin American drug cartels, framing the issue not only as a criminal challenge but as a direct risk to Albania’s national security and economic …
As the new year gets off to a cold start in the region, our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories takes a look at the high expectations and sobering realities of what 2026 holds in store. Original post Here
Critics warn of deepening inequality, impunity and potential money-laundering exposure. Tirana Times, January 16,2025 – Albania’s newly adopted “fiscal peace” package framed by the government as a reset of relations between businesses and the tax authorities, has sparked sharp criticism from economists, business associations, the opposition and international observers. Although …