Under Spain’s EU Presidency, the Issue of the Western Balkans Will Be Sidelined
Spain’s 6-month presidency of the Council of the EU has been upended by a snap election in July. Yet regardless of who wins that vote, prospects for progress on the issue of EU enlargement are poor. Original post Here
Albania Pressed to Act Over Currency’s Unexplained Rise
The rapid rise in the value of Albania’s currency, the lek, is alarming exporters and tourist operators – but the government is unwilling to take action. Original post Here
A 31-year-old thief arrested in Tirana
A 31-year-old man from Kamza was arrested on charges of theft this Wednesday. He was put in handcuffs, as it is suspected that on July 10 he stole work tools in two different businesses. In the meantime, the young man is expected to be interrogated about the motives that led …
Arrested for abuse of duty, former mayor of Durres will appear at court on July 18
The former mayor of Durres Vangjush Dako, arrested for abuse of duty, will appear in front of the Court of Special Appeal on July 18 at 10 am. The appeal session will be reviewed by Judge Daniela Shirka. Dako was arrested on June 6 by order of the Special Prosecutor’s …
Rama: Vilnius summit finds NATO allies stronger and more determined
On July 11 and 12, the leaders of the member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will meet in Vilnius, Lithuania. They are expected to address the most urgent challenges for the alliance, to increase the defensive and preventive capacities of NATO, as well as to bring Ukraine …
Two Kruja men arrested on drugs cultivation charges
Police of Kruja has put this Tuesday in handcuffs two citizens, who were wanted for criminal offenses in the field of narcotics. In the village of Shkoze, a 36-year-old resident of Thumanë was arrested. This citizen, together with his father and another citizen (previously arrested), cultivated 925 cannabis seedlings in …
Tirana, woman found dead by husband
A 33-year-old woman has been found this Tuesday without signs of life inside her apartment in the Kombinati area, in Tirana. According to the police, the victim was found by her husband, while no signs of violence were found on her body during the preliminary examination. Meanwhile, the investigative group …
Today the decision on Arben Ahmetaj’ arrest
The Council of Mandates meets this Tuesday at 16:00, to consider the request of SPAK for the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj. The Special Prosecutor’s Office asked the assembly for permission to arrest the former finance minister and former deputy prime minister Arben Ahmetaj at the same …
Begaj: Vilnius Summit, crucial to Euro-Atlantic security
President of the Republic Bajram Begaj declared Tuesday that the NATO meeting in Vilnius is a decisive moment for the Euro-Atlantic security. Through a social media statement at the beginning of the NATO summit in Lithuania, Begaj underlined that Albania continues to be steadfast in supporting the Alliance’s efforts to …
Op/Ed: Remembering the Srebrenica Genocide
by George Monastiriakos In 1993, one year into the Bosnian War, the United Nations declared “safe areas” in the Muslim enclaves of Republika Srpska to protect Bosniak refugees fleeing from the violence. Security Council Resolution 819 designated the city of Srebrenica in eastern Bosnia as a “safe area.” Security Council …
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
The suspects are among 33 people accused of involvement in shipping a cargo of dangerous industrial waste from Albania to Thailand. Original post Here
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
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 …
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
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
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 …
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 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
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 …