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New details on Tirana’s footwear factory TNT explosion

New details have been revealed this Friday regarding the blast in a footwear factory, owned by an Italian businessman in Tirana, which took place late on Thursday evening. Based on the reports, the author of the event approached on a bicycle, placed the explosive and then left. On his part, …

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Alert for an air attack in North Kosovo

Alert for an air attack sounded in North Mitrovica, at noon on Friday, while citizens gathered in front of municipal facilities in Zubin Potok, Leposavič and Zveçan. In front of the municipality building in Zveçan there are also cars of the Kosovo Police.  The former councilor in the Municipal Assembly …

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Tension in North Kosovo/ Gunshots in Zveçan, police cars set on fire

Gunshots were heard in Zveçan, while police cars were also burned. Kosovo Police used tear gas to disperse the Serbs in front of the Zveçan Municipality facility. Earlier, the police announced that they are assisting the elected mayors to enter the municipal facilities. https://t.co/AEWZfZkHjg 👈👈 okupljanja građana u centru Zubinog …

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Tensions in the North/ Kosovo: Violence will not prevail, Serbia is responsible

The Presidency of Kosovo has reacted regarding the tensions in the north of the country. Spokesman Blerim Vela has stated that the illegal and criminal structures of Serbia have received orders to escalate the situation. Serbia’s illegal and criminal structures in north Kosovo have received orders to escalate the situation …

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Archive Documents Reveal Dissent Did Exist in Communist Albania

Reports written by Albanian academics who were allowed to travel abroad and official documents detailing students’ nonconformist tendencies show that some citizens were critical of the country’s authoritarian communist-era regime. Original post Here

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Yuri Kim meeting with the chairman of the Constitutional Court: US continues to support judicial reform

Yuri Kim meets with the chairman of the Constitutional Court: US continues to support judicial reform. The American ambassador, Yuri Kim, held a meeting with the chairman of the Constitutional Court, Holta Zaçaj. The American diplomat congratulated the judge on her new position and reconfirmed the US support for judicial …

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The Assembly approves salary increase for the administration, 130,000 employees will benefit

The Assembly has approved the salary increase for the public administration. In the session held this Thursday, the decision was approved with a vote in favor of 97 deputies, while 3 voted against. 130,000 employees who are part of the public administration will benefit from this decision. The focus of …

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30-year-old prosecuted for attempting to bribe Kakavija border police officers

A 30-year-old man has been criminally prosecuted this Thursday after trying to bribe a Border Police employee in Kakavija. Based on information released by police, the 30-year-old man had put 50 EUR inside his passport so that the police would allow him to cross the border irregularly after he had …

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Draft on ministers, MPs’ salary increase in parliament’s agenda

The focus of today’s plenary session in the Assembly will be the discussion and voting of the draft law that provides for the increase in salaries for the public administration, including MPs and ministers. The green light for the wage increase was given by the Economy Commission at Tuesday’s meeting. …

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Unemployment has dropped, Rama: We are making a historic increase in wages

Prime Minister Edi Rama estimates that the Albanian economy is growing. In his speech at the plenary session in the Assembly, Rama said that consumption has increased, while unemployment has decreased. According to the head of the government, the government is making a historic increase in salaries. “The simple truth …

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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

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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

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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 …

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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
After Major Wildfires, Albania Warned to Boost Preparedness Urgently

As Mediterranean fire seasons grow in intensity, Albania’s government faces calls to invest in firefighting and reforestation. 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

News

After Major Wildfires, Albania Warned to Boost Preparedness Urgently

As Mediterranean fire seasons grow in intensity, Albania’s government faces calls to invest in firefighting and reforestation. Original post Here