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Imprisoned mayor of Himara transferred to Durres detention center

General Directorate of Prisons has transferred this Wednesday the elected Mayor of Himara, Alfred Beleri and the former mayor of Bulqiza, Lefter Alla, to Durres Detention Center. They were kept isolated in the premises of the prison hospital in Tirana because they had shown health problems. Beleri was arrested 2 …

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“Oil in Shpirag like Saudi Arabia”, Rama: Big impact on the country’s economy

Prime Minister Edi Rama and the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku talked about oil in Shpirag, which is at an advanced stage and approaching the decisive hour. Rama said that this can have a historical impact on social development, but also on the geopolitical and geostrategic positioning of …

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Pine forest fire in Lac area partially contained

Pire that broke out yesterday in the crown of the pines in Laç, has been partially contained this Wednesday.  Throughout the night, firefighters worked to contain the fires near the Shnandou Church. In the meantime, several other fires have appeared near the former tank department, while work is being done …

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Ksamil, four tourists saved by police after being stranded at sea

Border Police and Delta Force have helped this Wednesday four vacationers, two of them minors, who were stranded at sea with a pedal boat.  Vacationers couldn’t pedal ashore because of the wind and high waves. Fortunately, the rescued citizens are in good health.  In the meantime, the State Police invites …

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Kosovo youth caught trying to smuggle gun through Durres port

A 21-year-old from Kosovo, resident in France, has been arrested by the police this Wednesday in the Port of Durres.  According to the police report, young Valmir Ademi tried to smuggle a pistol-type firearm to France. During the checks carried out on the second line, in the “Fiat 500” type …

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About 500 cannabis plants destroyed in Mat, brothers wanted

Fifth phase of the anti-cannabis operation, codenamed “Kreshta te Pastra” has been carried out this Wednesday, resulting in the finding and destruction of 453 cannabis plants in the village of Madhesh, Mat area. After the finding, Police identified and declared wanted two brothers as suspected perpetrators for the cultivation of …

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New details on youth that crashed luxury BMW at Tirana lake’s dam

Aldi Allushi, the driver who ended up at the Tirana Artificial Lake’s dam with his BMW “x6” in the early hours of Tuesday morning, was detained by the traffic police on Arbri street later in the afternoon. Initially, the 26-year-old denied having been the driver of the luxury vehicle, but …

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Young driver crashed on Elbasan-Tirana highway

A serious accident happened this Monday afternoon on the “Elbasan – Tirana” highway, where a 24-year-old man lost control of the car and collided with the metal barrier on the side of the road. As a result of the collision, the 24-year-old man was injured and is receiving medical help …

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A businessman dies in a car accident

In the early hours of the morning, as a result of an accident in the place called “Kapelja”, 62-year-old Nadir Gjata died. After the incident, the family members, seeing the injuries on the head, raised doubts whether the incident was accidental or intentional, since the bag with personal tools and …

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Smuggler caught in Gjirokastra hauling over 20 illegal migrants

A 34-year-old man has been arrested in Gjirokastra area, after he was caught transporting 22 immigrants in a van, the police announced Tuesday.  During the attempt to get away from the police at midnight, he crashed two vehicles and injured a police officer, whose life is out of danger. Following …

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Albanian PM’s Private Jet Trip to Israel Raises Transparency Questions

During last week’s visit to Israel, Albania’s Prime Minister used a private jet once owned by Sam Bankman Fried, now-jailed owner of crypto exchange FTX – but it’s unclear who footed the bill. Original post Here

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Albania Arrests 20 for Toxic Waste-Trafficking to Thailand

The suspects are among 33 people accused of involvement in shipping a cargo of dangerous industrial waste from Albania to Thailand. Original post Here

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As Trump’s Family Eyes Pristine Albanian Coast, Villagers Cry Foul

The US president’s son-in-law wants to build a tourism development in southern Albania, but residents of the unspoilt strip around Zvernec say a dispute over ownership of the land is being ignored. Original post Here

News
Local roads, national standards: Tropojë case tests Albania’s procurement and oversight

Tropojë Mayor Indicted for Illegal Roadworks Tirana Times, 02 February 2026 – In a case related to alleged abuse of office, Albania’s Special Court has sent Tropojë’s mayor Rexhë Byberi and his deputy Abedin Kërrnaja to trial on charges of “abuse of office” related to local infrastructure projects. The officials are …

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Hamid’s Story: A Tale of Death and Europe’s Drift Towards Offshore Detention

The Italy-Albania asylum ‘offshoring’ scheme is being studied by other Western European governments wanting to look tough on migration. But the case of Hamid Badoui, who took his own life after being held at an Albanian migrant detention camp, highlights the human cost. Original post Here

News
We Were Always Here: The Balkans Should Honour Its LGBTQ+ Pioneers

Balkan LGBTQ+ people, both in the region and in the diaspora, are often told that their identities are incompatible. It’s time to hear a different story – and learn more about the region’s pioneers. Original post Here

News
Ivanka Trump Visit Reignites Property Dispute in Zvërnec

Plans by relatives of U.S. President Donald Trump to build a luxury resort in the scenic coastal area of Zvërnec have sidelined local residents and their property claims, while intersecting with a long-running court battle involving controversial real estate businessman Artur Shehu. By Vladimir Karaj Tirana Times, 02 February 2026 …

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Monday Briefing from the Balkans: February 2, 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

News
Tunnel Revelation Raises Awkward Questions for Albanian Government

The Murrizi Tunnel was opened to much fanfare in March last year, not long before a parliamentary election. Now the Albanian Road Authority says it has yet been certified for use. Original post Here

News
Albania and the Balkans in the Epstein Files

Tirana Times, 01 February 2026 – The release of more than three million pages of documents linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case by the United States Department of Justice has expanded the scope of one of the most disturbing scandals of the past decade far beyond the United States. The …

News

Albanian PM’s Private Jet Trip to Israel Raises Transparency Questions

During last week’s visit to Israel, Albania’s Prime Minister used a private jet once owned by Sam Bankman Fried, now-jailed owner of crypto exchange FTX – but it’s unclear who footed the bill. Original post Here

News

Albania Arrests 20 for Toxic Waste-Trafficking to Thailand

The suspects are among 33 people accused of involvement in shipping a cargo of dangerous industrial waste from Albania to Thailand. Original post Here

News

As Trump’s Family Eyes Pristine Albanian Coast, Villagers Cry Foul

The US president’s son-in-law wants to build a tourism development in southern Albania, but residents of the unspoilt strip around Zvernec say a dispute over ownership of the land is being ignored. Original post Here

News

Local roads, national standards: Tropojë case tests Albania’s procurement and oversight

Tropojë Mayor Indicted for Illegal Roadworks Tirana Times, 02 February 2026 – In a case related to alleged abuse of office, Albania’s Special Court has sent Tropojë’s mayor Rexhë Byberi and his deputy Abedin Kërrnaja to trial on charges of “abuse of office” related to local infrastructure projects. The officials are …

News

Hamid’s Story: A Tale of Death and Europe’s Drift Towards Offshore Detention

The Italy-Albania asylum ‘offshoring’ scheme is being studied by other Western European governments wanting to look tough on migration. But the case of Hamid Badoui, who took his own life after being held at an Albanian migrant detention camp, highlights the human cost. Original post Here

News

We Were Always Here: The Balkans Should Honour Its LGBTQ+ Pioneers

Balkan LGBTQ+ people, both in the region and in the diaspora, are often told that their identities are incompatible. It’s time to hear a different story – and learn more about the region’s pioneers. Original post Here

News

Ivanka Trump Visit Reignites Property Dispute in Zvërnec

Plans by relatives of U.S. President Donald Trump to build a luxury resort in the scenic coastal area of Zvërnec have sidelined local residents and their property claims, while intersecting with a long-running court battle involving controversial real estate businessman Artur Shehu. By Vladimir Karaj Tirana Times, 02 February 2026 …

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: February 2, 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

News

Tunnel Revelation Raises Awkward Questions for Albanian Government

The Murrizi Tunnel was opened to much fanfare in March last year, not long before a parliamentary election. Now the Albanian Road Authority says it has yet been certified for use. Original post Here

News

Albania and the Balkans in the Epstein Files

Tirana Times, 01 February 2026 – The release of more than three million pages of documents linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case by the United States Department of Justice has expanded the scope of one of the most disturbing scandals of the past decade far beyond the United States. The …