Bank of Albania keeps key rate unchanged as record strength of local currency helps curb inflation, puzzling experts
TIRANA, May 3, 2023 – Albania’s central bank announced Wednesday it is keeping its key interest rate unchanged at 3 percent with global trends and a strong local currency taking the edge off domestic inflation and thus making rate increases less necessary. Bank of Albania Governor Gent Sejko said the …
Balkan, Central European Journalists Highight Safety Concerns on Press Freedom Day
Journalists’ associations in Balkan countries used the World Press Freedom Day to urge authorities to take the ongoing threats made against them more seriously. Original post Here
Central Election Commission removes all political posters
The Central Election Commission has ordered the removal of all posters of political entities throughout Albania, since according to this institution, none of them have met the requirements and conditions, which are provided by the Electoral Code. Under these conditions, Chief Commissioner Ilirjan Celibashi has asked the Municipal and State …
The murder of former policeman, 32 years in prison for two defendants
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Southeast, Central Europe – Bar Serbia and Turkey – Rise in RSF Freedom Index
Press freedom improved in most countries in Southeast and Central Europe according to RSF’s latest World Press Freedom Index – though Turkey and Serbia bucked the trend. Original post Here
Counterfeit $100 bills, a 37 year old arrested in Tirana
A 37-year-old man from Tirana has been arrested by the police, after throwing suspected counterfeit banknotes into the market. It is suspected that the citizen with the initials F.A. has continuously put into circulation, through various commercial subjects, banknotes of denomination 100 dollars. So, according to the blues, it is …
Fier, two teenagers arrested for dealing drugs
Two people: citizens with initials M. B., 18 years old and S. Y., 17 years old, both residents of Fier, have been arrested by Fier police after being accused of selling narcotics. During checks, the officers found on these citizens, ammunition and a metal stick like the Police, which were …
The murder in Shkodra, police arrest the killer after 21 hours
The police of Shkodra have caught and arrested the perpetrator of the murder of the 51-year-old yesterday in the city of Shkodra. Police in cooperation with the Special Forces RENEA, has made it possible the arrest of the 34-year-old after 21 hours of search and pursuit. According to the police, …
Gjirokastra man detained for violating minor daughter
A 41-year-old man was arrested by the Gjirokastra police this Wednesday after physically and psychologically abusing his minor daughter. According to the police, the detainee is citizen with initials S. Ç., 41 years old, resident in Gjirokastra. Meanwhile, the materials against him were passed to the Prosecutor’s Office at the …
Fight against organized crime and corruption in focus, Yuri Kim meets General Director of the State Police
American Ambassador Yuri Kim this Wednesday held a meeting with the general director of the State Police Muhamet Rrumbullaku. Journalist Xhensila Kodra reports for ABC News that the meeting lasted a few minutes and it is learned that in this meeting cooperation between institutions was discussed. Also at the core …
Energy suppliers in southeastern Europe are heavily politicized and sometimes nefarious. The US can aid democratic stability through energy engagement. By David J. Kostelancik When Congress passed the Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act as part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), it sent a clear signal: energy security in Southeastern …
New changes to the Albanian criminal code that only partially abolish defamation as an offence have been criticised by media freedom organisations, citing concerns over freedom of speech. Original post Here
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
Tirana Times, January 26, 2026 – Albania’s attempted entry into the Peace Board has become a revealing episode, not because of the significance of the initiative itself, but because of the way Albania’s leadership chose to stage and communicate it domestically. The Peace Board represents a new and ambitious international …
Tirana Times, January 25, 2026 – Albania has joined the Peace Board, a newly established international mechanism initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at overseeing peace agreements and post-conflict stabilization efforts, with an initial focus on the Gaza Strip. The Peace Board was formally launched during the World Economic …
The crisis deepens as the government shields Deputy PM Balluku and a criminal network emerges in AKSHI Tirana Times, January 25, 2026 – Albania’s main opposition party returned to the streets on Saturday with a second national protest against Prime Minister Edi Rama, challenging the legitimacy of his fourth term …
Forty-one environmental organisations from 28 countries have called for a halt to the planned development by Jared Kushner of Albania’s Sazan island as a luxury resort, saying it threatens the valuable biodiversity of the area. Original post Here
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